On the wall of Adam Blackaby’s office at LEE Building Products hangs a quote from his former pastor that guides his approach to work and life: “When you’re born, you look like your parents. When you die, you look like your decisions.”
It’s an apt mantra for Blackaby whose own journey in the hardscaping industry came from a bold, “leap of faith” decision.
The Leap of Faith
Thirteen years ago, Blackaby stood at a crossroads. After more than a decade with Home Depot, where he’d climbed from receiving associate to store manager, he was burned out. As much as he loved Home Depot, the 70- to 80-hour weeks at a store had taken their toll, and, with young daughters at home, something had to give.
“I had just told a contractor, a big commercial contractor that I did a lot of business with, that I was maybe starting to look other places,” he said. The contractor ended up connecting him with LEE Brick and Block, now known as LEE Building Products.
The opportunity came with a significant pay cut, but the trade-off was regular working hours and time with his family. He and his wife Katie made the decision together.
“’You’re going to be at home a lot more, get to spend more time with the kids. Let’s just take a leap of faith,’” Blackaby said. “I mean, that’s what it was, and it’s turned out amazing. It couldn’t have been any better.”
From Factory Work to Engineering to Hardscaping
Blackaby’s path to that pivotal moment was anything but conventional.
Raised by his grandmother and mother working on family farms, Blackaby developed a strong work ethic early on.
“I grew up working on family farms, raising tobacco, cutting and baling hay during my early years,” he said.
From his 8th grade summer through his senior year of high school, Blackaby worked at Fast Stop, a local institution for his one-stoplight-town of about 600 people. This job is where he first developed an aptitude for customer service. Blackaby credits his boss at Fast Stop for helping him continue to foster his work ethic and achieve good grades in school.
When he graduated high school in 2001, Blackaby earned a scholarship to study engineering. However, he soon dropped out and found work at a local steel mill.
But meeting his wife changed his perspective.
“She went to college, got a nursing degree, and that inspired me to go back to college,” he said.
Blackaby ultimately earned his electrical engineering degree. Yet despite this achievement, he never actually transitioned into an engineering career.
“I was working at Home Depot while I was in college, and I loved the job so much that even though I got the degree, I never made the transition into that environment, because I just enjoyed what I did,” he said.
Building a Career Through Relationships
At LEE Building Products, Blackaby discovered that his decade of customer service experience at Home Depot transferred seamlessly.
“This is a customer-facing business,” he said. “Working at Home Depot for so long, and just having that relationship piece. This is a business of relationships, not only relationships with customers, but also relationships with vendors.”
From his start with an inside sales role, Blackaby gradually moved into management, though titles have never been the focus at LEE. LEE is an employee-owned business so everyone is committed to the company’s success.
“A good leader is someone that empowers their team to make decisions every single day,” he said. “They don’t need me to get through the day.”
As General Manager, he spends much of his time on production scheduling while also working to grow the company’s hardscapes division in a competitive market.
Building a Career Through Relationships
“When it comes to hardscapes, within half a mile of our offices, there’s four competitors or companies that people would consider our competitors. But I just don’t see it that way at all. There’s room for all of us in this market,” Blackaby said.
“I’m not here to undercut anybody. I’m not going to be the cheapest price. Let’s work together. Let’s all get what we can get. There’s enough for all of us and you’re going to do better that way. My big goal is for any hardscaper, anybody in this line of business, to make relationships, build relationships, and learn from each other.
Blackaby is deeply involved in the Emerging Professionals Group (EPG) with the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA).
“I’ve made relationships with people all across this industry that I know will pick up the phone at any time if I have a question,” he said.
He’s looking forward to hosting an upcoming EPG event in Louisville in May, where attendees will tour LEE’s plant, visit Churchill Downs for horse racing, and experience the city’s bourbon culture.
“I’m excited for all those people to come here,” he said. “They’ll see some of those ideas that they’ve shared in person. Some of those ideas haven’t even been put into place yet, but now those folks will be able to see our plant and see how it operates daily.”
Advice for Aspiring Hardscapers
For aspiring professionals who find networking nerve-wracking, Blackaby has straightforward advice rooted in his own experience.
“It’s going to be weird starting out, talking with people, but you do develop that skill and those relationships,” he said.
As a manager, Blackaby has team members ranging from 45 years of experience to relative newcomers, creating a dynamic environment where knowledge is shared across generations.
“I’m always looking for people that are personable, seem to have a work ethic, are very outgoing and can relate with our customers,” he said.
One particularly successful recent hire was a bilingual team member.
“It’s changed our counter business,” he said. “People are walking in the front door a lot more because there’s contractors that are comfortable talking with her and having someone to talk to in their first language.”
Blackaby highlights the wealth of opportunities in the industry and said the industry is looking for fresh talent.
“Even though it may not be the job that you think will be your career, just take a leap of faith. Jump in, learn the business, and grow from within,” he said.
“All the old school guys, at some point, they’re going to retire, and we need a succession plan in this industry. This industry’s not going away. There’s plenty of opportunities for you to grow here.”
Life Beyond LEE
The decision to join LEE didn’t just change Blackaby’s career, it transformed his ability to be present for his family and community.
“They really support family. They really support you being there for your family,” he said.
He extends the same philosophy to his team.
“I tell them, look, if you got something going on, just let’s put it on the calendar, let’s all work together, let’s cover each other’s backs so you can just be there for your family,” Blackaby said.
The father of four daughters, Blackaby coaches high school softball and serves as the President of South Oldham Little League, which serves over a thousand kids.
“We have a lot of fun with it. It’s what I do every day when I leave here,” he said. “I’m always doing something at the ballpark. It’s our home away from home, really.”
He is active in his church and also serves on the LEE Cares committee, finding ways to give back to the community.
In 2022, Blackaby was nominated as one of the top 20 young professionals under age 40 in his county. This recognition was in large part to his dedication to youth sports and community involvement.
Looking Ahead
Looking back on that pivotal decision 13 years ago to leave the security of Home Depot for the unknown, he has no regrets. The leap of faith paid off, and now he’s committed to helping the next generation discover the same opportunities he found in this relationship-driven industry.
Blackaby returns to that guiding quote on his wall, explaining its daily relevance.
“Make the best decisions every day. Be the best person for everybody, every day,” he said. “Show up, give them some energy. Even if you’re having a bad day, I still try to be there for everybody.”
For Blackaby, the hardscaping industry has become more than a career.
“I just enjoy what I do. I wake up every morning and I don’t want to not come to work,” he said. “It’s a very good industry to be in. It’s all family.”
