2024 GroundBreaker: Ben Barfield, Vice President & Division Manager, Brasfield & Gorrie
GroundBreak Carolinas is honored to spotlight Ben Barfield, Vice President and Division Manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, for being named to the Class of 2024 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of four individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference for the construction community in the Carolinas.
Barfield oversees Brasfield & Gorrie’s Greenville (SC) office. Over the past 60 years, Brasfield & Gorrie has grown to become one of the largest privately held construction firms in the nation with 13 offices in eight states.
Brasfield & Gorrie’s purpose is to build strong communities, and Barfield has made that a priority in Greenville. For example, when the American Heart Association approached Brasfield & Gorrie to lead their inaugural Hard Hats for Hearts event in 2021, Barfield was more than eager to help. That fall, he leveraged his construction industry relationships to garner participation in the first Upstate Hard Hats for Hearts event, raising more than $75,000.
Barfield is also focused on creating an inclusive construction industry. His strong efforts and leadership have led to mentoring minority- and women-owned businesses in Greenville County through a comprehensive mentorship program — offering access to educational workshops on industry best practices, upcoming project opportunities, and networking opportunities with the company’s preconstruction and project teams.
Barfield’s leadership and dedication to the community have made a huge impact on construction in the area, including attracting employees to work in Greenville County, where he has played an instrumental role in shaping Greenville’s skyline. Barfield and his team have contributed to revitalizing nearly every block of Greenville’s Main Street, including the original landmarks of One Liberty Square (formerly One Shelter Centre) and Poinsett Plaza; sought-after Class A office towers such as ONE Greenville and Falls Tower; world-class hospitality venues like Aloft and Embassy Suites Downtown Riverplace; and Camperdown, the biggest mixed-use development Greenville has ever seen.
GroundBreak Carolinas caught up with Barfield for a quick conversation. From our chat, it’s obvious how much he cares about people — both in his work and his personal life.
Tell us what you are most passionate about when it comes to the AEC industry and/or your role within your organization.
I’m passionate about giving back and making the communities we live in a better place by putting our talents and values into practice AND into the buildings we are blessed to construct.
I also care a lot about the growth of our team, both as professionals and individuals. Our #1 asset at Brasfield & Gorrie is our people, and investing in them and leading them is my highest honor and privilege.
What are some of the things you are doing inside and outside of your workspace and organization to improve the construction industry and your community?
I’m involved in my community because I care about making it a better place.
My civic engagement includes the Greenville Chamber, where I’m on the board of advisors. This group is blessed to provide the business community with leadership and shared knowledge.
At Hope Church, I find a caring biblical community as well as generosity.
In the business community, I’m part of C12, a CEO community that equips Christian business leaders to achieve excellence while encouraging relationship building amongst the team.
We also support charities through our match program at Brasfield & Gorrie. Each of our offices has relationships with local organizations, and we position our focus to help smaller nonprofits to get a leg up.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is living out my faith at work, which also fuels my ability to really care and love people at a deep level. Work in the construction industry is hard enough as is. Building relationships and carrying one another across the finish line is what it is all about.
What do you think are the most important personal attributes one must possess to be successful in the construction industry of tomorrow?
Even as the industry innovates, the key traits remain the same. No doubt people will need the key strengths and understanding of teamwork, hard work, organization and follow-through. But intangibles of humbleness, servant leadership, patience and sacrifice are all needed at the highest level today and always.
What are the 3-5 Leadership Principles that you have discovered and executed that have contributed to your success?
In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” This verse has driven me to treat my work and the relationships I have gained at Brasfield & Gorrie as bigger than me and my coworkers.
It makes me think often about the value of accountability, for me and my team.
I’m driven to remember to always be a good steward of our clients’ money, both related to budget and time.
And at Brasfield & Gorrie, we are convicted to live by the Golden Rule — a biblical value that shows up in our company foundation statement — to treat others as I would want to be treated.
And overall, all these principles motivate me and our team to live under the value of integrity.
Looking back over your construction career, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance? Why?
Slow down. Take each role seriously and really dig in and own it. Don’t look for the next role or next level. You cannot go backwards. Each step is so integral to gaining wisdom.
