INVESTING IN THE REGION By Debra Solomon Baker Michael Perry president, HBD Construction HBD Construction’s first employees, once upon a time, could not even celebrate the end of a work week with an adult beverage. It was, after all, as far back as the Prohibition era when HBD, (which was then known as H.B. Deal & Company), first opened its doors. Founded in 1922, HBD has been an established St. Louis City-based contractor for decades. This long history in the City is, at least in part, why current President Michael Perry is so thrilled to be involved in the rejuvenation of downtown. Although he has been with the company since 1980, Perry, along with Brian Kowert and Daniel J. O’Keefe III, took over leadership in 2004. With the change in leadership came, too, a shift in focus. HBD had traditionally worked on new construction, but now the firm has developed a niche in the historic renovation market and has worked on a number of City loft projects. In fact, a substantial portion of HBD’s volume stems from renovation. Perry understands that as the City’s population continues to grow so, too, will its need for added development, and he fully anticipates being involved in these undertakings as well. This should come as no surprise, as Perry has managed a wide range of projects, including the Galaxy 14 Cine, a 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art theater for Wehrenberg Theatres, and thirteen free-standing Walgreens. Other HBD projects include the new Dierberg’s store in Edwardsville and the Shoppes at Cross Key, a 340,000-square-foot power center. “We do virtually every aspect of commercial construction,” Perry says. “We are a true general contractor with a large field staff.” Perry currently employs 26 in his Manchester office and about 150 more on projects, most of which are in the bi-state area. In the future, Perry expects to have a modest, controlled growth that builds on the company’s strengths, while continuing to improve the construction delivery process. “We are big enough to handle most large commercial projects, but our clients still have one point of contact from start to finish,” he says. “This allows us to deliver a greater level of service than our competitors.“ Perry’s first exposure to construction came as a college student working for his father, and he still finds the work exciting. “We deliver a good product—something that people are happy with,” he says. “It makes me proud to be a part of that.” Perry also takes pride in knowing that his company supports worthwhile non-profits within the community, including American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and The United Way. LEADERSHIP CIRCLE INSIGHTS What advice would you give to someone who is making a career change? “As someone who made a career change, my advice would be to follow your instincts. Second, pursue your passion, and not money as your primary objective.” Thomas Campbell Managing Partner, Gallop, Johnson & Neuman “Look for something that you truly enjoy, and will be passionate about. Doing something you don't enjoy is more of a sentence than a career.” Jim Weddle Managing Partner, Edward Jones “The best advice I can give to someone making a career change is to be patient. Often, Individuals who are making a career change “jump” at the first opportunity that comes along. It is important to critically analyze several opportunities prior to making a final decision. Careful selection will significantly contribute to your success.” David M. Wadell, MS, CPHQ General Manager, Magellan Health Services For more information on the Leadership Circle, please contact John Diefenbach, vice president-membership, (314) 444-1184 or jdief@stlrcga.org.

November 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CEO John Eilermann and Chairman Rick Sullivan The Manhattan Transfer Mike Pukszta Dominic Gardner - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.technologygateway.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SLU’s Edward A. Doisy Research Center James Castruccio Michael Staenberg Pujols 5