Q&A With Lee Proscia, New President of HBJL
By HBJL In General, Latest Projects, NewsHow does it feel to be in this position, taking over the helm as President of the company as John Libby retires?
I really see my role as steward. I’m continuing the legacy that John has built and overseeing the good work that’s being done. There are few iconic brands in Maine that are known as makers—but it’s what we’re known for. Whether it be maple syrup or Bean Boots by L.L. Bean, timber frames from Houses & Barns by John Libby are respected. There’s a real trust for the quality and sense of tradition we bring to each build.
John has been doing this for 50 years, so how do we now do it for another 50 with that same level of skill and craftsmanship? I call it staying power. I used to joke with my wife, who works for a technology company, that I never understood her business. But in tech, it’s all about lines of code. And if new companies entering markets that don’t have access to those lines of code, to be able to build upon and innovate them, they can’t compete. The analogy I make to our business is that we’ve got 50 years of code behind us. And I really believe we’ll be here for a long time to come. There will always be a wish for quality, especially in today’s day and age where you can get whatever you want instantaneously. But amid that, there’s this real hunger for craftsmanship and enduring quality.
You’ve spent more than 20 years in the Maine construction industry, as a carpenter and cabinetmaker Down East, but also in managerial positions for some of the region’s leading, high end residential general contractors. Why did you decide to come to HBJL in 2017?
When John invited me to come here, I leapt at the opportunity for two reasons. One, they were in the residential space, which I had a lot of experience with. And secondly, timber framing was a real craft. It was a unique differentiator that John’s business had, that most design build firms did not have. It was a unique aspect of his business that deeply appealed to my sense of craft.
There are other timber framers in this industry, but they tend to be timber frame only. They’re very specific to the art and craft of timber frame. Our differentiation is that not only do we do timber framing, we’re also a turnkey, full service, design build general contractor. So we have all this experience in concrete, steel, glass, and so on. We’re a multifaceted business that understands really complex building structures, from the oldest type of construction—timber framing—to the newest forms of construction.
Talking about the new, and looking ahead to the future, since moving here, you’ve introduced a lot of innovation, particularly on the project management side of things. Can you speak to that a little?
You know, after I got here, I realized the innovation in this company isn’t about automation. It isn’t about taking the hand-crafted work being done by master carpenters in our Freeport shop and replacing them with machines. We’re holders of a tradition, the craft of wood-joinery, and we use processes that have been handed down and refined by humans for hundreds of years.
Rather, the innovation here is about streamlining how our business develops an exceptional experience for our clients. People want to work with us because we’re hand-to-wood. We’re not selling kits! We offer an extremely personalized experience. John’s mantra of “the few, not the many” has been a really important factor in our success.
The innovations here are about integrated project management and accounting, 3D-design and how that information flows to create an efficient manufacturing and delivery in the field—all whilst staying true to our craft. I love it when people look at us from afar and say, “wow, they’re sticking to some old-fashioned, quality processes.” But when they look inside, they go, “wow – this thing really whistles.”