Meet the Blockheads

Karen Block

I’m Karen Block, a strategic thinker with 30 years’ experience directing market strategy, business development and sales activities in the infrastructure industry. After a career in big firms, I’ve decided to get more personal, by offering my expertise to small and mid-size firms looking to grow and evolve.

There’s tremendous opportunity for investment in the infrastructure industry today, but capturing your fair share requires focus and commitment, and leaders who embrace a client culture. At Blockhead, it’s not just about providing advice, it’s about preparing a new, diverse generation of client-savvy business and technical leaders through knowledge transfer, coaching and mentoring.

Why me? I bring a national view of the infrastructure market to apply to your growth strategy. I have “large firm” insights to help guide your best practices. And I’m a strategist with soft skills—communications, creativity, and multi-cultural sensitivity—to coach and mentor your future leaders.

Peter Smith, PE

I’m Peter Smith. A transplanted Englishman, I began my engineering career in the US with TxDOT in 1981, leading to the role of State Hydraulics Engineer with TxDOT’s Bridge Division. Then, I headed to the private sector, working for some of the largest consulting firms, as well as smaller firms looking to grow in the transportation space. I returned to TxDOT in 2016 to serve as the Director of the Transportation Planning & Programming, Division, supporting the agency’s bold vision to boost the size of its Unified Transportation Program from about $35B to more than $70B.

I’ve had a unique and varied career so far, and that’s why I’ve joined Blockhead…I see opportunities to help people and firms achieve their ambitions faster, by becoming better leaders, thinking more strategically, and enhancing their business development skills and processes.

I’m particularly focused on firms that are investing in strengthening their executive leaders through personal coaching, and in firms that are putting energy into winning larger transportation programs and delivering them better. I’ve served in multiple capacities, including as owner, consultant, and business executive. I know what success looks like in each of those roles, and now, as part of Blockhead, I can offer my perspective and expertise to a wider audience.