August 7, 2026
People Who Build
From first jobs to lasting legacies, these stories celebrate the people behind the work.
Every story starts somewhere. Bobby Peacock Jr.'s began more than 32 years ago at Stacy Witbeck and has been shaped by a consistent approach: show up, work hard, keep learning, and help others succeed.
Before joining the union, he spent his time washing trucks, running parts, and learning the business from the ground up—work that gave him an appreciation for every role on a project. At 18, shortly after learning to weld, Bobby got his first real assignment: an infrastructure project in Utah. It was the first time he'd left home. He showed up to a job site every day with people who'd been doing this for decades. The work taught him to weld under pressure. Being on his own taught him something else: how to handle responsibility when no one was there to fall back on.
Those lessons were carried into every project that followed.
Years later, as a foreman, he watched superintendents handle responsibilities that seemed overwhelming and wondered why anyone would want that kind of pressure. But over time, he realized that stepping into bigger roles was how he could keep growing. That mindset eventually led him to become a superintendent, and later a project manager. When the opportunity came along, he took the leap because he wanted to push himself and continue advancing.
Growth rarely comes from staying comfortable.
Bobby Peacock Jr. and Larry Goben working on the Interstate MAX Line Sections 10A/10B in 2002
Earlier in his career, Bobby inherited a crew member who had struggled to fit in with previous teams. He focused on setting an example by working alongside the crew every day, pitching in where needed, and never asking others to do work he wouldn't do himself.
Consistency earned the employee's trust and respect.
Ask Bobby what people outside the construction industry might not understand, and his answer centers on the people: the camaraderie, getting to know your colleagues, building true friendships beyond the job site. That sense of connection is what makes a crew work and what keeps him committed to helping others succeed.
Bobby Peacock Jr. & Kevin Irvin at Lakewood Subdivision and Sounder Everett Yard MOW in 2025
"You've got to be teaching people your role at the same time so they can take your spot and also grow within the company."
When a project starts falling behind, Bobby's response is to stop, look at the crew and the job at hand, and figure out how to make it better. That mindset has helped him navigate increasingly complex projects while keeping safety and teamwork at the center of every decision.
Along the way, he discovered the most rewarding part of the job is watching others grow into leaders themselves. He points to coworkers like Mike Cunningham, Nick Partridge, Derek Anderson, Mike Orueta, and Gavino Rodriguez who started alongside him years ago and eventually became superintendents. Watching people grow reminds Bobby that you measure success by the people you help along the way.
Inspired by the leaders who grew alongside him, he makes it a priority to create those same opportunities for others. Jason Gookins, Justyn Taggart, Matt Foust, and Kevin Irvin are just a few of the many people he has helped advance into leadership roles on projects.
That's the throughline of Bobby's career: he shows up for the work, but he keeps building because of the people. Thirty-two years later, he's still bringing the next one up behind him.