When Troy Porter was a little boy in Cedar Falls, Iowa, trips to construction job sites with his Uncle Reed were a highlight — but not for the reasons you might think. Sure, seeing the equipment was cool. Demolition was even cooler.
But Troy was in it for the refreshments.
"We would always stop and get a pop between sites," he recalls with a laugh. "That was the highlight of the day for me and my cousin. When I think back, what I probably liked was just the camaraderie of hanging out together."
Thirty years later, one could say things haven't changed much. After working as a laborer for a construction company, at a lumberyard, and as a framer — and thinking maybe he'd like to be an architect — Troy earned degrees in construction management and business management from the University of Northern Iowa and immersed himself even deeper in the world he'd always known.
While he no longer has to rely on Uncle Reed to buy him a bottle of pop, Troy says his belief in the importance of relationship still stands. And he feels his commitment to treating people as he might wish to be treated has helped him succeed in fields that are not known for a focus on feelings.
"Relationships are a two-way street, and the fact is that in construction and development, sometimes the way people treat one another is secondary to the work being done," Troy says.
"It can be a little cut-throat. But I like to do what I can to win people over in a genuine way by letting them know I want what's best for everyone involved in a project."
That commitment has stood Troy in good stead during a career in which he's garnered tremendous experience in a relatively short time. After working in several high-profile roles throughout the Midwest and forming his own company, Troy joined WesleyLife earlier this year as a consultant, quickly beginning to shepherd the organization's single-family home/townhome project at Brio of Johnston at Johnston, Iowa, to completion.
Having become a fully fledged team member — WesleyLife's director of development and facilities — in September, Troy is also focusing on a multi-million-dollar planned redevelopment of The Village in Indianola, Iowa, with plenty of other projects and initiatives in his immediate future.
"I like the ability here to be involved with all components of a project, from making sure we're diligent about contracts and agreements to hopefully being a valuable asset in dealing with people," Troy says. "Above all, I always strive to bring a well-rounded perspective to every situation I'm in, seeing and respecting the other person's point."
"I would fall asleep with my head on his bed as he held on to my fingers, and I remember thinking, 'none of the other stuff even matters; I just want to get him home," Troy recalls. "That made me look at people and think even more closely about what they were going through.
"No matter what line of work you're in, when you lead with that empathy, you'll be better off."
Allison Pendroy, chief operating officer for WesleyLife, says she looks forward to Troy's contributions to the organization.
"Troy came to us highly regarded; we contracted with him on a few projects initially, which afforded both of opportunity to try out the fit," Allison says. "Troy didn't miss a beat, jumping in immediately with a quick and complete grasp of projects and details.
"Moreover, we've been able to witness his excellent match for our WesleyLife culture. I couldn't be more pleased Troy has officially joined us!"