This month, we’re excited to put the spotlight on Brian Piper, a dedicated member of our Knik Construction family since 1993. Though Brian prefers to stay in the background, his wealth of experience and love for construction are truly worth celebrating.
Brian hails from Northwest Washington, between Ferndale and Lynden, where his journey into construction began at a young age. Al Jansen, who owned JIJ Construction, suggested to Brian’s dad, the equipment manager at JIJ, that he put Brian and his three older brothers to work. And that’s exactly what happened! Under his father’s watchful eye, Brian learned the ins and outs of operating and maintaining heavy equipment—a skillset that has defined his nearly four-decade-long career.
“My dad worked construction all his life,” Brian recalls, “I live to build things—it’s what makes
me happy.” That passion for building, along with his father’s teachings, laid a strong
foundation for Brian, who started in the construction industry at just 20 years old. Since
joining Knik, he has specialized in operating bulldozers, excavators, and graders, with a
particular love for building and fabricating. “I live to build and fabricate,” he says, and that
drive is evident in every project he tackles.
Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Brian has faced his share of challenges, from unpredictable weather to dealing with worn-out equipment. But his ability to plan ahead and
think creatively has always helped him overcome these hurdles. One of his most memorable
experiences came in 1999 when he, Greg Kelly, and Brad Jansen put together a top-notch crew. Together, they delivered outstanding results on multiple airport runways, earning well-deserved praise from engineers and designers. Their teamwork and dedication were pivotal in the success of runway locations like Levelock, New Stuyahok, Goodnews Bay, Tuntituliak,
Manokotak, Ekwok, Atmautluak, Bethel, and Chuathbaluk. Beyond runways, Brian fondly recalls working on projects like Weary River Road, Bethel Tank Farm, Akutan Harbor, and various other Bethel Roads and Highways.
When asked about the key to his success, Brian credits the on-the-job training and
constructive criticism he received from mentors like Bud Liebrant, Brad Jansen, Kenny Hersch, and, of course, his dad. “They all gave me constructive criticism when I was young and taught me many of the things I do on the job each year,” he says. These lessons have stuck with him, shaping the way he approaches his work to this day.
Brian’s dad also passed on some practical wisdom, famously telling him, “It’s an easier life being an operator than a mechanic.” With a chuckle, Brian admits there’s truth in that, especially when you love what you do as much as he does.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys hunting, fishing, and rebuilding old muscle cars and engines—a
testament to his hands-on nature and love for creating and fixing things.
Though he’s humble about his accomplishments and prefers to stay out of the spotlight we can’t help but shine a light on Brian’s contributions to Knik and the construction industry. His dedication, experience, and passion for building things that last are truly inspiring, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.
Topics from this blog: Lynden Employees Knik Construction