Prole To Read
Howard Davidson CMO, Almond FinTech
Elevating Workplace Spirit: Innovative Employee Recognition Programs for 2025
PAULIN
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Editor’s Note
DAVID PAULIN: THE MAN BEHIND ALWAYS UNDERGROUND INC.'S SUCCESS
InthiseditionofEntrepreneurTimes,webringyouan exclusivecoverstoryonaleaderwhohasbuilthiscareerfrom thegroundup—quiteliterally.DavidPaulin,VicePresidentof AlwaysUndergroundInc.,isatestamenttohardwork, resilience,andvision.Fromstartingasalaborerinthelate’90s toleadingacompanywithover500employees,David’s journeyisoneofdetermination,leadership,andanunwavering commitmenttogrowth.
WhatsetsDavidapartisn’tjusthistechnicalexpertisein undergroundconstructionbuthisdedicationto people—whetherit’stheyoungmenandwomenhementors, thefamilieswhorelyonhim,orthenextgeneration,including hisownson.Hisphilosophyissimple:setbiggoals,take calculatedrisks,andneverstoppushingforward.
Inthisfeature,wediveintoDavid’spersonalandprofessional insights,hisleadershipprinciples,andhowhe’sshapingthe futureofAlwaysUndergroundInc.andtheindustryatlarge. Hisstoryisoneofgrit,innovation,andanenduringpassionfor building—notjustinfrastructure,butopportunities.
Wehopethisstoryinspiresyouasmuchasitdidus.
Editor-in-Chief
ONTENT S T ABLE OF
18. 24. 32. 08.
David Paulin - Vice President, Always Underground Inc
Elevating Workplace Spirit: Innovative Employee Recognition Programs for 2025
Howard Davidson - CMO, Almond FinTech
Strategic Human Resource Management: The Key to Business Growth and Organizational Success
Cover Story
David Paulin
WhenyoumeetDavidPaulin,VicePresidentof AlwaysUndergroundInc.,youimmediatelysense hispassionfortheindustry.Withover24yearsof experienceinundergroundconstruction,design, andmaintenance,Davidhasplayedapivotalrole intransformingAlwaysUndergroundInc.froma smallteamintoathrivingorganizationwithover 500employees.Hisleadership,workethic,and commitmenttoexcellencehavehelpedestablish thecompanyasatrustednameinutility construction.
AHumbleBeginning
David’sjourneyintotheworldofunderground constructionbeganinthelate90sinan unexpectedway Afriend’sfatherpurchaseda boringmachine,andDavidtookonalaborerrole, quicklybecomingfascinatedwiththeindustry Whatstartedasjustanotherjobsoonturnedintoa lifelongpassion.Fromthere,heworkedhisway up,gaininghands-onexperienceandanin-depth understandingofthefield.
TheLeadershipPhilosophyThatDrives Success
Daviddescribeshimselfasaneasy-goingguy untilsomeoneliestohim.Hevalueshonesty, hardwork,andthegrowthofthosearoundhim. Hisleadershipstyleisbuiltoncollaboration, creativity,andsustainability.Asatransactional leader,herewardsemployeesfortheir accomplishmentswhileencouragingthemto reachtheirfullpotential.“Therearealotof familiesthatcountonmedayinanddayout,”he says,underscoringhissenseofresponsibilityasa leader
Hismotivationstemsfromwitnessingyoungmen andwomensucceedinlife.ForDavid,successis notjustpersonalachievement;it’sabouthelping othersgrowanddeveloptheircareers.He
Cover Story
believesinsettingbiggoalsbecause,asheputsit, “Theskyisthelimit.Ifyousetsmallgoalsandnever havelargegoals,youaregoingtobestuckinthat mindset.”
ADayintheLifeofaVicePresident
RunningacompanythesizeofAlwaysUnderground Inc.isnosmallfeat.David’sdailyroutineispacked withresponsibilitiesthatkeepoperationsrunning smoothly.Hisdaytypicallyincludesphonecallswith managers,customerinteractions,officemeetings,job sitevisits,andattendingdailysafetymeetings.Safety, afterall,isacorepillarofAlwaysUndergroundInc.’s success.UnderDavid’sleadership,thecompanyhas developedandenforcedsafetyprotocolsthathave significantlyreducedjobsiteincidents.
Beyondprojectoversight,heisalsodeeplyinvolvedin equipmentprocurement,wagemanagement,and regulatorycompliance.Hisabilitytojugglemultiple roleshasbeeninstrumentalinthecompany’ssteady growthandabilitytocompletelarge-scaleunderground utilityprojectsontimeandwithinbudget.
ValuesRootedinFamilyandHardWork
Davidcreditshisfather,great-grandfather,and grandmotherasthebiggestinfluencesinhislife. Growinguponafarm,helearnedthevalueofmoney, hardwork,andperseverancefromanearlyage.“My fatherwasamentor,andhenevergaveup,”heshares. Thoselessonshavestayedwithhimthroughouthis career,shapinghimintotheleaderheistoday.
Despitehisdemandingschedule,Davidmakestimefor whatmattersmost,hisfamily.Heenjoysspendingtime withhisfour-year-oldsonandunwindingonhisvast acresofland.Hisfavoriteretreat?Apolebuildingon hispropertywherehecandisconnectfromworkand recharge.
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
When asked about a defining lesson in his career, David’s response is simple but powerful: “Never work for people you don’t know.” Trust and strong relationships are key to his business philosophy, and he has built Always Underground Inc. on those very principles.
As for the legacy he hopes to leave behind, it’s not just about the company’s success it’s about people. “I want to help others succeed in life and leave behind a great future for my son,” he says.
Under David’s guidance, Always Underground Inc. continues to thrive, not just as a business, but as a company that values its employees, clients, and the communities it serves. His story is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the belief that success is measured not just in numbers, but in the lives you impact along the way.
HOWARD DAVIDSON
TheArtofLeadership:Howard’sJourneyto TransformingBusinessThroughCreativity andInnovation
CMO|AlmondFinTech
DrivingInnovationatAlmondFinTech
AtAlmond,innovationisattheheartof everything.Howardandhisteam continuouslyexploreemergingtechnologies likeAI,machinelearning,andquantum computingtorefineandenhancethe company’ssolutionsforcross-border payments.
“Impactrequiresinnovation,”hestates.“We arenotjustsolvingtoday’schallenges—we’re preparingfortomorrow’s.”
Byfosteringacultureofopen communication,collaboration,andfearless experimentation,Howardensuresthat Almondremainsaheadofthecurveina rapidlyevolvingindustry.
Work-LifeFulfillment:RedefiningBalance
Formanyentrepreneursandexecutives, maintainingahealthywork-lifebalancecan beastruggle.Howard,however,prefersthe conceptof“work-lifefulfillment.”
“It’saboutdesigningascheduleandlifestyle thatalignwithmypersonalandprofessional aspirations.Idon’tseemyworkassomething Ineedtoescapefrom—Iseeitassomething thatenrichesmylife,”heexplains. ThisphilosophyisembeddedinAlmond’s culture,whereflexibilityandwell-beingare prioritized.“Whenpeoplefeelvaluedand supported,theydotheirbestwork,”Howard says.
LessonsforAspiringEntrepreneurs
Forthoselookingtobuildtheirownbusinessorcarve outaleadershippath,Howardoffersthisadvice:
• DefineYourVision:Understandwhatsuccess lookslikeforyou,notjustintermsofbusiness, butinlife.
• StayCurious:Thedigitallandscapeisconstantly evolving.Keeplearning,experimenting,and adapting.
• BuildMeaningfulRelationships:Strategic partnershipsandauthenticconnectionscanopen doorsthatnoamountofmarketingcan.
• TrustYourself:Ifyoufeelnervousaboutan opportunity,you’reprobablyontherighttrack.
ALegacyofPurposeandInnovation
Howarddoesn’tdwellonleavingalegacy;instead,he focusesonmakingameaningfulimpactinevery moment.“Entrepreneurshipisn’taboutshortcutsor formulas—it’saboutintentionality,persistence,and learningfromeveryexperience,”hesays.
ThroughhisleadershipatAlmondFinTechandhis influenceinthemarketingindustry,Howardcontinues toinspirethenextgenerationofentrepreneursto embracecreativity,challengethestatusquo,andbuild businessesthatmakeadifference.
Asheputsit:“Workhard,bekind,staycurious,and don’tforgettolaughalongtheway.That’sthereal formulaforsuccess.”
