Greg SpeidelJune 6, 2019
Community involvement

The spring and summer months are a good time to volunteer and invest in others - to find an organization or cause that is making a difference. For me, that organization is the Reds Community Fund. I worked with them for 5 years before joining Pepper, and when I found out we would be working with them this year, of course I volunteered. I always look forward to seeing how the projects touch our local communities.

This year, as part of the Reds 150th anniversary, the Reds Community Fund is renovating two ball fields for two different communities:  Ross Park located in St. Bernard, Ohio, and Bellevue Vets Park, located in Bellevue, Kentucky. Both will feature a new synthetic turf infield, fencing, scoreboard and a backstop structure designed in the spirit of the original home of the Reds, the “Palace of the Fans.”  As their official Construction Management partner, we are helping to coordinate both the trade work and volunteer work. These two small projects pack a huge punch through community support and aid the growth of Pepper in Cincinnati, and because of that, we're just as excited to talk about them as our other work for clients like NKU, and VanTrust.

In April, the Reds Community Fund announced their partnership and held their groundbreaking events. Since then, we've been planning and coordinating work leading to volunteer day. As the momentum builds, my heart is full. I'm reminded just how much organizations like the Reds Community Fund mean to our communities. It's not just about bettering the lives of those who will use the fields. By enabling volunteers to make a difference in others, they're also touching our lives. In fact, I can't decide which of us is impacted more.

Click here to learn more about the Reds Community Fund and their projects.

About the Author

Greg-Speidel-PepperConstruction

Greg SpeidelProject Executive, Ohio

With nearly 20 years in the industry, Greg specializes in civic, cultural and entertainment construction markets.  He enjoys working with owners and architects to provide creative solutions for their one-of-a-kind projects.  Throughout his tenure, Greg has played an instrumental role in more than a dozen LEED certified projects. Most recently, Greg has worked with the Newport Aquarium's Stingray Hideaway and the University of Cincinnati's Stratford Heights mixed use project.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Toledo.  His passion to improve communities through entertainment and cultural enrichment does not stop once the projects are complete.  Greg is an active member of the Reds Community Fund -helping in this year's coordination of volunteers and construction schedules for the Fund's field renovation projects. In addition, he participates in the annual Little Miami River Clean up and Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church food drives.