A nimble, talented team, up for any challenge
Work with Block and you'll experience a refreshing mix of construction and design veterans and enthusiastic, service-driven industry newcomers. We all share the belief that the best work comes from strong client relationships — and that happens here from the top down.
Owners Jason Keller and Steve Keller, along with Block Companies Vice President P.J. Simpson, visit project sites weekly, and Jason is personally involved in all project estimates. Our project managers also communicate directly with the firm partners, eliminating the excessive hierarchy that can affect a project's progress and ultimate success.
Leadership
Jason Keller
Partner
Jason Keller
Partner
Jason Keller is a construction industry veteran who has personal experience in every facet of multi-family and commercial construction. Over the past 28 years, he has built a reputation of outstanding customer service and an unwavering commitment to deliver projects far beyond his clients’ expectations.
After successfully growing Block Construction in three short years, Jason partnered with his brother, Stephen, to form Block Builders, to bring a new level of dedication to the apartment, senior residence and affordable housing sectors.
Whether it’s affordable housing to give Katrina evacuees a new home or an intimate retail space for a young entrepreneur establishing his first store, Jason believes that each customer deserves respect. He works to foster a solid relationship with his clients as well as the solid building of their dreams. This was Jason’s dream. Achieving that took hard work, close observation and a steady stream of jobs across the southeast U.S.
Jason began working in construction during a summer “vacation” when he was only 15 years old. He was hooked. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in construction management, he quickly became a full-time estimator for a construction firm,
overseeing apartments, retail, office buildings, schools, rehabilitation, public works plants, prisons, hospitals, airport terminals, historical projects, demolition, warehouses, and athletic field projects
, ranging in size from $50,000 to $100 million. With that experience under his belt, he moved to the role of project manager for a large, national construction company where he bid and managed projects. He spent the next ten years serving as an estimator, superintendent, project manager, safety director and vice president for a large Baton Rouge, La., firm. Today he runs Block Companies LLC, where his clients benefit from his experience, his tenacity, and his desire to get the job right every time.
Jason is a member of the Our Lady of the Lake College Advisory Committee, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Sigma Lambda Chi alum, and the Catholic High School Men's Club. He is also Past-President of Woodstone Home Owners' Association and formerly served on Woodstone's Architectural Review Committee. Jason holds a degree in construction management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a nationally recognized building construction program.
Stephen Keller
Partner
Stephen Keller
Partner
Stephen Keller brings more than 36 years experience, including HUD, Section 8, tax credit, and conventional housing projects in the construction and management industries. He leads the Block Builders’ team in the multi-family building sector and in navigating the complexities of both conventional financing and affordable housing projects.
In 1982, Stephen moved to Houston to manage N&J Constructors’ Houston office. The company focused on commercial and multi-family construction. It was there that Stephen first worked with Everett Jackson. In 1988, Stephen and Everett created Creekstone Companies, a fully integrated real estate investment group, offering real estate acquisition, development, construction and property management services. Creekstone has constructed more than $1.7 billion in commercial and residential properties in more than 15 states. In addition, Creekstone currently manages 1,795 multi-family units, one lifestyle center, and one power center.
In 2008, he joined Block Builders with his brother, Jason, in order to leverage their project professionals and extensive relationships with subcontractors and vendors. With Block Builders, Stephen handles everything from development, estimating, management and client service. Stephen’s reputation of high-quality construction – be it a high-end luxury development or housing that provides a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities for low and moderate incomes – ensures his clients they will receive only the best for their project from start to finish.
Stephen is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, the National Apartment Association, the International Conference of Shopping Centers and the Houston Association of Building Contractors. He is a member of the Louisiana State University Laboratory School Foundation and a past member of Southwest Bank of Texas’ advisory board.
Stephen has a degree in building construction from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a nationally recognized building construction program.
Executive Staff
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![PJ Simpson]()
PJ Simpson
PJ Simpson
Vice-President
P.J. has performed many jobs at Block. From Lead Estimator, to Project Manager, to Safety Director, to Operations Manager, P.J.'s attention to detail, his tenacity, and client relations are unsurpassed. Currently, P.J. serves as Vice President of Block Companies, LLC. His knowledge of construction is complete. While earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management from LSU, he worked in the field from the ground up – starting as a laborer and advancing to project management. P.J. also served as Block’s preconstruction manager for several years. This thorough understanding of all aspects of construction has given him the perspective needed to manage even the most complex projects while maintaining tight budgets and quality control. His experience is varied ranging from multi-family, commercial, municipal, highway and bridge to industrial. Since joining Block, PJ has managed a wide range of projects including our featured Juban Crossing project which includes a shopping center, tilt-up construction, large scale site work, and tenant build-outs.
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![Wesley Gifford]()
Wesley Gifford
Wesley Gifford
Senior Project Manager
Wesley brings a depth of construction knowledge garnered from over three decades in the construction industry to his role as a project manager at Block. Prior to joining Block, Wesley served as senior project manager responsible for multi-million dollar projects in a variety of sectors including the industrial, multi-family, educational, retail and recreational fields.
A native of Honduras, Wesley is a 1984 construction graduate of Louisiana State University. His confident management style coupled with strong organizational and leadership skills make Wesley an important asset to the Block team.
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![Kurt Miller]()
Kurt Miller
Kurt Miller
Senior Project Manager
As his role as Senior Project Manager, Kurt Miller brings over 20 years of single family, multi-family and commercial construction and real-estate development experience to Block. This unique combination along with Kurt’s results driven disposition produces expert implementation of construction and development plans from as early as site evaluation through project closeout.
After attending Loyola University, Kurt began his career as a licensed custom homebuilder. He currently holds a Louisiana Commercial General Contractor’s License.
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![Jason Catlin]()
Jason Catlin
Jason Catlin
Project Manager
Jason Catlin serves as a Project Manager for Block Companies on large commercial and multi-family projects. Jason is well-versed in the construction industry having served in many roles including preconstruction, project management, quality control and safety. He has experience with a variety of projects including detention facilities, office buildings, educational facilities, and warehouses.
A native of Livingston, Jason received his Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management in 2005 from Louisiana State University. Prior to joining Block, Jason worked as project manager of multi-million dollar contracts for Louisiana Facility Planning and various school boards. His calm but firm demeanor keeps owners and subcontractors alike working together to maintain tight schedules and stringent apartment budgets.
Jason and his wife Crystal reside in Walker with their three young children.
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![Sean Knight]()
Sean Knight
Sean Knight
Project Manager
As a highly motivated construction manager specializing in multi-family and commercial development, Sean is a perfect fit for the Block family. His sharp, analytical mind keeps him one step ahead of the task at hand avoiding unnecessary setbacks during the construction process. Sean’s intense work ethic contrasted with his subtle humor keep owners and subcontractors working together bringing very large, high quality projects to completion on time and in budget.
Sean is 1996 graduate from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Finance.
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![Adam Town]()
Adam Town
Adam Town
Lead Estimator
Adam is a seasoned contractor having lived in the construction business his entire life through his father’s company, Town Construction. His extensive knowledge of running a construction company makes him invaluable as Lead Estimator at Block. Adam thoroughly understands the importance of having all details accounted for prior to the bid to ensure a smooth construction process. He is a veteran home-builder which serves him well in the detail oriented multi-family market.
Adam has a degree in Business Management from Southeastern University in Hammond, LA. He was a Baton Rouge Business Report's "Top Forty under 40" 2006 Honoree, and the winner of the Baton Rouge Good Growth Award in 2009 and 2010.
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![Tricia Guitreau]()
Tricia Guitreau
Tricia Guitreau
Project Manager
Coming Soon!
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![Melissa Deshotels]()
Melissa Deshotels
Melissa Deshotels
Pre-Construction Services
Coming Soon!
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![Chris Conti]()
Chris Conti
Chris Conti
CSP Safety Supervisor
Coming Soon
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![Mark Stafford]()
Mark Stafford
Mark Stafford
Controller
Block Companies’ Controller, Mark Stafford, is a certified professional with CPA designation as well as CFMA (Construction Financial Management Professional). He attended Louisiana State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1982.
Prior to joining the Block Companies team, Mark worked at TOPCOR Companies, LLC and Subsidiaries managing the financial and accounting functions for the specialty contractor generating annual sales in excess of $75 million. Mark brings over 30 years of progressive financial leadership in the construction industry to the Block team.
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![Rhonda Matherne]()
Rhonda Matherne
Rhonda Matherne
Senior Project Coordinator
Rhonda is the catalyst at Block Companies. She provides full project management coordination for the construction team to ensure the smooth running of the construction administration operations including Contracts, Subcontracts, Purchase Orders, Change Orders and Payment Applications. Her can-do attitude, unsurpassed work ethic, and uncompromising perfectionism keep Block project management operations on track at all times.
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![Amy Trepagnier]()
Amy Trepagnier
Amy Trepagnier
Project Coordinator
Having served as Project Coordinator since 2008 for multiple projects simultaneously, Amy is invaluable to the Project Managers on the large multi-family projects under construction at Block. Extremely organized and professional, Amy is able to free the Project Managers of the day to day procedures allowing them to focus on construction compliance and quality control. Her lively personality while multi-tasking is invaluable to Block’s exponential growth in the multi-family market.
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![Amanda LeBlanc]()
Amanda LeBlanc
Amanda LeBlanc
Assistant Project Coordinator
Coming Soon!
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![Rebekah Gafner]()
Rebekah Gafner
Rebekah Gafner
Accounting
Rebekah has served in accounting for Block Companies since joining the team in early 2015. Using her prior experience in accounting, human resources, and insurance roles, she does it all with a friendly and personable touch. Block companies is proud to have a driven employee with a diverse skill-set such as Rebekah on its team.
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![Mimi Keller]()
Mimi Keller
Mimi Keller
Receptionist
Coming Soon
Need a Bid? Want to Learn More?
We're always excited to talk about new project opportunities. Get in touch with a Block Companies team member today...