In this episode of Servant Leader’s Library, Nicholas Paulukow sits down with Jeremy Blount Vice president and owner of General Construction Management to talk about servant leadership, faith, business, construction, family, and what it really means to build people.
Jeremy’s leadership journey has taken him from ministry and hospice chaplaincy to construction and community leadership. Along the way, he has learned that leadership is not just about titles, projects, or business growth. It is about people.
From navigating hard conversations to empowering employees, setting clear expectations, and learning when to let people take ownership, Jeremy shares a practical and deeply personal view of servant leadership from the ground up.
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From Ministry to Construction
Nicholas Paulukow
Jeremy, your career has spanned so many different areas, from ministry to hospice to construction and community leadership. Tell us a little about your journey and what brought you here today.
Jeremy Blount
In high school, I was like a lot of students. I was unsure of where I was headed and trying to figure out what I enjoyed, while also thinking about how I could someday provide for a family.
I ended up at Lancaster Bible College, thinking I was going to become a teacher. Then I realized there were some difficult tests involved, and after football and concussions, I knew that was probably not the path for me.
I eventually moved into youth ministry, mostly because I was not sure what else to do at the time. While I was working with a local youth group, I saw my life making an impact on young men. That changed something for me. I realized that helping people grow could be meaningful work.
At the same time, I knew I did not want to be the older youth pastor forever. My roommate told me about a program that allowed me to study at both Lancaster Bible College and Thaddeus Stevens. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Lancaster Bible College and an associate degree in business from Thaddeus Stevens.
That combination helped shape me. I was grounded in faith, but also learning how to function in the world of business. Those two things have continued to collide throughout my journey.
Learning to Meet People Where They Are
Nicholas Paulukow
What changed for you as you moved from ministry into hospice and then into construction?
Jeremy Blount
A lot of my perspective changed when I entered hospice and then construction.
For me, the focus became helping people discover things for themselves. It is not about preaching at someone or trying to force them to believe something. It is about asking questions, meeting people where they are, and giving them space to think.
In hospice, I learned that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply be present. I remember one visit where I called ahead and said, “We’ll be there in a few minutes.” When I arrived, the woman asked where the other person was. I told her I had come alone.
After the visit, she hugged me and said, “You didn’t misunderstand. You said we were coming, and you brought Jesus into this house with you.”
That moment transformed me. It showed me the power of presence.
Bringing Faith Into Everyday Work
Nicholas Paulukow
You went from ministry and hospice into construction. That feels like a big shift. How did that happen?
Jeremy Blount
When I was in ministry, I moved from youth ministry into church planting. We were connected with Penn State York, reaching people who were not necessarily connected to a church, and I was seeing God do some really meaningful things through ordinary people.
At the same time, I was working in hospice to provide income for my family. I kept hearing people near the end of life say that if they could do anything differently, they would have spent more time with family.
Then my dad came to me and said he had this construction company and needed a plan for the future. At first, I did not think that was my path. But over time, I felt like God was showing me that everything I was dreaming about in ministry could also happen in construction.
I could lead in the workplace. I could impact people. I could be involved with family. I could help shape community.
That is what I felt called to step into.
People Matter, Even When It Is Hard
Nicholas Paulukow
How did your values translate into the construction world?
Jeremy Blount
One of my values has always been that people matter. That was true in ministry, and it became part of our company values too.
But when I entered construction, I realized something quickly. People matter, but people are also hard.
You have to wrestle through difficult situations and ask God to help you value the person in front of you, even when the circumstances are frustrating.
When I hire someone, I am open about who I am. I tell them they do not have to believe everything I believe, but they do need to know that my faith shapes how I lead. It will come up because it is part of who I am.
If someone is going through something difficult, I will probably offer to pray for them. I do not need them to agree with me, but I want them to understand that my values are part of how I show up.
Building People, Not Just Businesses
Nicholas Paulukow
You have talked about wanting to build people. How has that shaped the way you lead?
As I have wrestled with what servant leadership means, I have realized that a lot of it comes down to equipping people.
In youth ministry, I always thought about how to equip people to grow. When I moved into construction, it was easy to focus on the task in front of us. But over time, I started asking a different question.
What does it mean to equip my people to be successful?
Part of that is task-related. People need the tools, expectations, and training to do the job well. But the bigger goal is that I want them to become who they were created to be.
That is the shift I am trying to make. How do I empower people, not just manage tasks?
The Balance Between Serving and Enabling
Nicholas Paulukow
One of our core values at ONE 2 ONE is “we before me.” But there can be a fine line between helping someone and enabling them. How do you think about that?
Jeremy Blount
That is a real challenge.
I do not mind stepping in to help the “we.” But I am not always going to do someone else’s job for them. Sometimes serving someone means helping them take ownership of what is theirs.
Because people matter, I want to give second chances. I want to create development plans. I want to see growth, even if it is slower than I would like.
But there comes a point where you have to ask whether keeping someone in a role is hurting the company, the team, and even that person. If their performance is creating an unhealthy environment, then it may not be best for the “we,” and it may not be best for them either.
Sometimes serving someone well means letting them go.
When Letting Go Becomes an Act of Service
Nicholas Paulukow
Do you ever feel like you want success for someone more than they want it for themselves?
Jeremy Blount
Yes. That is hard.
I have had people I believed in deeply. I could see their potential, but they could not see it yet.
There are two people we had to let go from our company who come to mind. One became like a best friend, but he had addiction issues, and it was impacting the company. We had to part ways. Today, he is in church with me on Sunday mornings, and his life has changed.
Another person had a similar situation. The way we handled letting him go helped him realize how difficult his circumstances had become. I reached out recently, and he told me he is doing really well. He has been in his job for three years, is excelling, and has a boss who is a strong mentor.
Sometimes I had to let someone fail so they could take the next step.
Joe Palm
Culture vultures are corporate bullies. They are people whose behavior damages trust, safety, and culture.
One misconception is that we are powerless against them. But we have choices. We have agency. We can decide how to respond in ways that protect dignity while still refusing to accept toxic behavior.
Servant leadership does not mean allowing poor behavior. It means dealing with it honestly, courageously, and constructively.
Purpose Is Found in Impact
Nicholas Paulukow
When you think about purpose, what makes a day feel successful to you?
Jeremy Blount
Yes. That is hard.
I have had people I believed in deeply. I could see their potential, but they could not see it yet.
There are two people we had to let go from our company who come to mind. One became like a best friend, but he had addiction issues, and it was impacting the company. We had to part ways. Today, he is in church with me on Sunday mornings, and his life has changed.
Another person had a similar situation. The way we handled letting him go helped him realize how difficult his circumstances had become. I reached out recently, and he told me he is doing really well. He has been in his job for three years, is excelling, and has a boss who is a strong mentor.
Sometimes I had to let someone fail so they could take the next step.
When Letting Go Becomes an Act of Service
Nicholas Paulukow
Do you ever feel like you want success for someone more than they want it for themselves?
Jeremy Blount
Yes. That is hard.
I have had people I believed in deeply. I could see their potential, but they could not see it yet.
There are two people we had to let go from our company who come to mind. One became like a best friend, but he had addiction issues, and it was impacting the company. We had to part ways. Today, he is in church with me on Sunday mornings, and his life has changed.
Another person had a similar situation. The way we handled letting him go helped him realize how difficult his circumstances had become. I reached out recently, and he told me he is doing really well. He has been in his job for three years, is excelling, and has a boss who is a strong mentor.
Sometimes I had to let someone fail so they could take the next step.
Purpose Is Found in Impact
Nicholas Paulukow
When you think about purpose, what makes a day feel successful to you?
Jeremy Blount
For me, the best days are not necessarily the days when we get a new contract or open a new restaurant project. The best days are when I have meaningful conversations and can tell that something impacted someone.
My director of business development and construction chose the word “impact” as his word for the year. He wants to impact our team and the people he meets at networking events.
To watch him shift from being focused only on construction to being excited because he had a meaningful conversation with someone, or because he helped someone through a hard moment, is more exciting to me than anything I could do on my own.
That is what I want to build.
Why Meaningful Conversation Still Matters
Nicholas Paulukow
What concerns you about future generations and leadership?
Jeremy Blount
I think there is so much opportunity coming for future generations, but I worry that if they become too tied to their devices, they may miss the value of meaningful conversation.
I try to encourage my kids and their friends to engage with adults, shake hands, look people in the eye, and answer questions.
People matter. You do not have to fix everyone, but you can listen to their story.
At a networking event recently, we were encouraged to listen to someone’s most impactful moment in their work and simply ask questions to learn more about them. That struck me because I think many people are afraid to be vulnerable because they assume the other person will try to give advice.
Sometimes people just want someone to listen, hear their story, and offer encouragement.
Clarity Is Part of Kindness
Nicholas Paulukow
How do you balance servant leadership with accountability and clear expectations?
Jeremy Blount
That is something I am still wrestling through.
We are currently working through a program called System & Soul. It focuses on systems, but also recognizes that you are dealing with people.
For me, the key is communication. If I am going to equip and empower someone, I need to make the expectations clear. Key performance indicators are not there to micromanage people. They are there to define what success looks like.
My role is to support someone in meeting the expectation, but I cannot do the expectation for them.
It becomes a conversation. Here is the role. Here is what you agreed to. Here is what success looks like. Are you doing it? If not, why? Is there something I can do to help empower you?
Each person is different. Sometimes they need support. Sometimes they need a different structure. Sometimes it may not be the right fit.
But clarity helps everyone.
Ownership Means Taking Responsibility
Nicholas Paulukow
We use an analogy sometimes about buying a house. When you rent and something breaks, you call someone else. When you own the house, you are responsible for fixing it. How does that idea of ownership show up in leadership?
Jeremy Blount
I love that analogy.
Once someone owns something, I do not mind coming alongside them and helping. If you own the house and a pipe breaks, I may come help you clean up the mess. But you still own it.
That is servant leadership. I can assist. I can support. But you are ultimately accountable for making sure it gets fixed.
That is a hard shift because many people are used to being told what to do. Ownership requires responsibility, and responsibility can feel scary. But it is also how people grow.
Recommended Books and Influences
Nicholas Paulukow
Are you a reader? Is there a book that has impacted you?
Jeremy Blount
I do read, though not as much as I would like these days with business, four kids, and my wife’s health journey.
Recently, I have been thinking about Brené Brown’s work and how she challenges people to think about vulnerability and courage.
I would also recommend John Mark Comer. His book Practicing the Way talks about spiritual development and what it looks like to grow in your spiritual journey.
Those are the kinds of books that have challenged me.
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finance
Nicholas Paulukow
You mentioned an event called Core Four. What is that?
Jeremy Blount
Core Four is a monthly gathering in York built for leaders. It focuses on faith, family, fitness, and finance. There is also a workout beforehand for those who want to come early.
We have talked about bringing something like it to Lancaster.
What excites me is the opportunity to connect people who may be curious about faith but not ready to walk into a church. We have also started doing something called Discovery Bible, where people gather, read a passage of scripture, and talk through questions like:
What do we learn about God?
What do we learn about humanity?
If Jesus is in this passage, what do we learn about Him?
If this is true, how does it impact the way we view life?
What are we going to do about it?
It is not about teaching at people. It is about discovering together.
Work-Life Balance and Being Present
Nicholas Paulukow
A lot of people talk about work-life balance. How do you think about that?
Jeremy Blount
For me, the key is presence.
Am I present with my family? Am I present with the things that fill me back up so I have something to give?
Work, faith, family, health, finances, and relationships are all connected. They do not fit neatly into separate boxes every day. Some days are out of balance, and you have to reset.
But I want my family to see that in everything I do, God is part of it. Work is part of it. Relationships are part of it. It all connects.
The Best Advice Jeremy Has Received
Nicholas Paulukow
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Jeremy Blount
I do not know if I can point to one person who said it, but the idea that faith and life are meant to be shared has shaped me deeply.
You cannot separate the two.
People often say you cannot talk about religion or faith in certain spaces. But for me, faith is not something separate from life. It shapes how I lead, how I serve, how I work, and how I relate to people.
Faith and life are meant to be shared.
Final Takeaway
Nicholas Paulukow
Do you have any parting words for listeners?
Jeremy Blount
Learn to be present in the moment you are given.
Be aware of the people around you and what they are going through. Ask who you can serve and who you can encourage.
Right now, one of the gifts in my wife’s cancer journey is that she is seeing the people she has impacted. A lot of times, people do not find out the impact they had until their funeral. But right now, my wife is seeing people serve her, care for her, pray for her, and send her cards.
That is a gift.
It is happening because she has served people well.
Closing Remarks
Jeremy’s story is a powerful reminder that servant leadership can happen anywhere: in ministry, hospice, construction, community leadership, business ownership, family life, and everyday conversations.
Leadership is not about a title. It is about people.
It is about showing up, serving well, creating clarity, giving people ownership, and helping others become who they were created to be.
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