Lessons That Last: Meet Philip Sturgill

Raised in the Trades 

At eight years old, Philip Sturgill knew one thing—he loved spending time with his dad. While most kids were playing with toys, Philip was spending time at his dad’s construction business and hanging out with the company’s crews. 

Philip began getting more involved with the business by mowing the company yard and assisting with property maintenance before taking an interest in the mechanic shop. There, he began working on construction equipment. He continued working through high school, then went on to study at Western Kentucky University.  

During summer breaks, Philip joined his dad’s crews on projects across the country, gaining hands-on experience while learning from the people around him.  

As graduation grew closer, Philip considered several career paths. Unsure of which way to go, he called the man who had been there for him from the start.  

“I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I loved the work my dad’s company did, so I asked him if I could learn the project management side of the business with him,” Philip recalls.   

His dad didn’t hesitate to say yes.  

As he learned about project management, Philip realized he had found a career he genuinely enjoyed. He spent the next 14 years managing projects across the country with his dad.  

“One of the biggest benefits was getting to spend so much time with him,” Philip says

It’s All About Your People 

Managing projects wasn’t the only skill Philip learned from his father, “I think my father is the greatest leader I’ve ever worked for,” he says. When Philip began his career in project management, he thought the PM needed to be the toughest person in the room.  

Philip recalls watching his dad handle a situation that he needed advice on, “I remember asking him to help me out, tell me what I could have done differently,” he says. His dad had a simple response—”it’s all about your people.”   

Philip’s father believed that investing in people—and creating the right environment for them to grow—would produce great project results. Philip has carried this defining leadership lesson with him throughout his career.  

“I credit my dad with a lot of success I’ve had with Gray, with understanding people and creating an environment where my team feels supported,” Philip says.  

Bringing Lessons to Gray 

Philip spent nearly 14 years managing projects in the oil and gas sector when the pandemic brought new challenges to the industry. By 2022, the market remained volatile, prompting him to consider what might come next in his career. 

Then came another major turning point. When his father announced he was ready to retire, Philip had to decide whether to remain with the family business or forge a new path of his own. Philip felt pulled between two paths, stay with his dad’s company or venture into the unknown. After talking to his wife as well as his dad, Philip made the difficult decision to pursue new opportunities. His father fully supported him.

Not long after, Philip was talking with an old roommate from college who happened to work at Gray. The more his friend told him, the more interested he became. “If you’re in construction in Central Kentucky, you know about Gray,” Philip says. 

With his father’s support, Philip joined Gray in November of 2022 as a project manager in the data center market and was promoted to senior project manager just a year later. “It’s been a wild ride since I joined,” says Philip. “Within a month of joining Gray, I knew I’d made the right decision.”  

When asked what Philip enjoys most about working at Gray, he answers quickly. It’s Gray’s commitment to its people. “We work in an industry that is very demanding—long hours, time spent away from you family—and it’s true that we have to fulfill the needs of our customers,” Philip says, “but Gray is very intentional about making sure we get home safe and that we get to see our family.” 

Building What’s Next 

Today, Philip serves as a project executive in Gray’s data center market, overseeing projects in Central Ohio. While the industry differs from the oil and gas work that defined much of his early career, he sees familiar challenges—particularly when it comes to helping people understand this growing market. 

“People ask questions, and it gives me the opportunity to have those conversations,” Philip says. 

Rather than viewing conversations as obstacles, Philip sees them as opportunities to share information and build understanding. 

“Being ingrained in the industry gives me the opportunity to shed some light and help people better understand the work being done,” he says. 

For Philip, it’s another example of a lesson he’s carried throughout his career: listen first, lead with empathy, and invest in people. Whether he’s supporting a project team or helping a community understand a new development, the approach remains the same. 

The Impact of a Simple Lesson 

Much has changed since Philip first started mowing grass and helping around his father’s construction business. The projects are larger, the industry is evolving, and the responsibilities have grown. But the values at the center of his work remain unchanged.  

Every day, Philip carries forward the lessons his father taught him—proof that some of the most important foundations are built long before a project ever begins.