"I always liked construction," said Steven Blalock, founder of Blalock Building Company, headquartered in Trussville, AL. Growing up in Center Point, Blalock was inspired to get into his line of work by his father, who made a living in construction himself. During high school, Blalock took jobs at a construction company in Pelham working as a house framer and electrician's helper. He continued in construction after he graduated, working in plumbing and as a HVAC's helper and ceiling mechanic. In a profile of Blalock, he reminisces about when he had his first ambitions in construction after high school as he was interviewing with a general contractor. "When I interviewed with him, he asked me what I wanted to do in the company," he says in the profile. "My response was I wanted to do everything, but eventually I want your job. I worked there nine years learning at every level." He earned promotions working as a superintendent, foreman, and project manager. He eventually worked his way up the ranks in various positions until he was able to realize his dream of owning his own construction business. Blalock Building Company was established in 2006. In 2018 they had an annual sales volume of $85.6M. Blalock Building Company, Inc. was ranked 14th among contractors in Alabama in Top Rank Alabama. Blalock specializes in building movie theaters, namely for brands such as Regal Cinemas, Cinemark Theaters, and Premiere Cinemas. In addition to movie theaters, Blalock also constructs schools, churches, and retail buildings. Some of Blalock Building Company's projects include the new Premiere Entertainment Center in Pell City, Saint Mark Catholic Church Parish Addition, Winterboro High School, Hewitt Trussville Football Stadium, Pelham Park Middle School, Library and Recreation Center. They are currently working on the University of Montevallo Center for the Arts, Hueytown Intermediate School, U.W. Clemon Elementary School, and Bryant Park Elementary. To get in his position as an owner of a business you have to work for it, Blalock said. And even though it won't be easy, it has to be done. In order to carve out a living in the building industry you have to be qualified for the work, otherwise people who are new to this business won't have potential. "That's a weak spot in this industry: qualified tradesmen," he said. "Kids that come out of the high schools, they want to be vice presidents and CEOs, but nobody wants to get their hands dirty. You've got to have the workers before you have vice presidents and CEOs. This is our goal at Blalock: to develop that within, which will also help the industry." Blalock offers advice to young people with potential in the building industry. One aspect of that advice is to try and do everything if you can. "My advice to a young person is to research the business first of all and then I would experience every facet of the business, every job opportunity, every trade to know the business in its entirety," he said. With the challenges come great rewards. In the end when the work is done all of the competition, restrictions, and regulations is worth the time when it ends in a nice little ribbon cutting for a completed project, which is one of the things that makes the job rewarding for Blalock. "The most rewarding thing is the ribbon cutting and the dedication of a building, and the most challenging thing is in between." Steven Blalock was born in 1970 and graduated from Hewitt Trussville in 1988 where he wrestled and played baseball for six years. He married Wendy Blalock in 1992. They have three children, Garrett, 24, (married to Courtney), Molly, 22, (married to Michael Holt), and Maryann, 18. Steven and Wendy have four grandchildren, Jackson, Bowen, Wakley, and Adeline.