August 2020 – Q&A with Paul

Get to Know Paul Raymond

As the new CEO of Monument, Paul has joined the team at one of the most interesting chapters in our history. The Monument Communications team recently sat down with Paul, who was happy to share his insights about the career journey that led him to Monument, his unique interests and sources of inspiration, and his early thoughts about our path forward.

How have your first couple of weeks at Monument been going?

I’ve been warmly welcomed by all, and with lots of energy and eagerness – both to help me understand Monument’s history and to share thoughts on what our future might look like. I’m enjoying the many opportunities to chat with team members, to learn more about their diverse backgrounds and experiences, and to hear their thoughts about how we can continue to invest in the company – from our people, to our facilities, to future acquisitions. There’s definitely a lot of interest in growth!

I have also been enjoying my discussions with our customers, who clearly value their partnership with Monument and see us as “mission critical,” especially now.

As I shared in my first-day letter to you, a big part of why I joined Monument was the family-like culture of the team, and I have been impressed and touched by the care you show for the safety and well-being of your teammates, particularly through the challenges of the pandemic. I know these challenges have been incredibly difficult – both at work and at home – and I appreciate all you are doing to support each other.
 

What attracted you to the Monument team?

I enjoy the entrepreneurial spirit of the Monument story. Amy and Bill shared the company’s history and successes with me while I was working on projects with The Heritage Group, and I was immediately drawn to Monument’s vision for people and growth. I admire the drive to invest in employees and sites to grow to fulfill their potential – and to commit to our future potential and give our business the proper tools and support to thrive.

I also appreciate the “sweet spot” where Monument operates. We’re not a huge, bureaucratic company that moves slowly. And we’re not a small private company looking to fix up and “flip” assets. We sit in that “sweet spot” where we can move quickly – to help a customer or seize an opportunity – while also having the size and expertise needed to grow with a purposeful and entrepreneurial approach. I believe many of our team members (including me!) joined Monument because this approach felt like a better fit than what they were doing before, and I know there’s going to be a special joy in working with people who share this growth mindset.
 

What excites you the most about being part of the Monument team?

I’m fully aware that I’ve joined an organization that is already successful and talented. Monument has clear competitive strengths and a path to grow, and we have a diverse, global team with an impressive range of professional backgrounds and skills.

What excites me as a leader is the opportunity to connect even more of those dots. I know much effort has been made to increase collaboration, but I’m confident we have even more opportunities to bring teams together – across regions, sites, and functions – to shape where and how we want to grow. By increasing our alignment, we ensure that every team member understands our vision and the role they play in making it a reality. I’m also very eager to support career development across the company; I truly enjoy helping talented people figure out what they want, what they’re good at, and how we can connect those dots to create opportunities for individuals, teams, and Monument as a whole.

What are some of your proudest career moments?

A few years ago, I experienced a really bad process fire at the main plant where I was working, and I was amazed by how skillfully and collaboratively everyone managed the incident. I was proud to be part of a team effort to successfully recover from the fire while strengthening our business reputation with customers. As we face the challenges today of the pandemic, we’re seeing the exact same thing just about everywhere – proof that the toughest challenges can reveal strengths that exist within individuals, teams, and companies.

I also feel a great sense of pride when I can help coach a team or individual employees toward success. I started mentoring team members early in my career, and I quickly discovered the rewards of uncovering hidden talent and potential, so that people can make the future they want a reality. There also have been opportunities throughout my career to help very talented teams who were tripping over each other to get organized and start rowing in the same direction. It’s rewarding to help get people excited about where we’re going, become more aware of how they contribute to success, and then get out of their way!

It’s rewarding to help get people excited about where we’re going, become more aware of how they contribute to success, and then get out of their way!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Those who have coached me in my own career journey have encouraged me to be very purposeful in my choices – and to not necessarily take the traditional path, even when it looks good on paper. I was told that the two best questions to ask about a new career opportunity are: 1) Is it something you will enjoy? 2) Is it something you’ll be good at? When you can answer “yes” to both questions, there is likely a good fit. The advice to be purposeful and choosy in my career choices has served me well – including this amazing opportunity with Monument!