Our Team
Principal - Team Leader
Steve Keene
Steve works with WBA staff to prepare designs, estimates, and contracts. “I love solving the client’s problem, working hard so our clients are happy with our design and comfortable with the budget. When a contract is signed, we know we did a good job, and the project can move forward with our productions team.” Steve takes pride seeing all of WBA’s completed builds around town. Casual encounters with customers outside the build (a handshake, a thank you, a smile) that show they are thrilled with the final product and experience make his day.
Steve, a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, has two young children and treasures family time. He and his wife make it a priority to have dinner together every night. They also enjoy lakeside camping and hikes on vacation, where he can relax and be buddies with his son. Steve also loves working on his house (“a non-stop construction site”). Having completed two 2 major renovations, he appreciates what WBA’s guys in the field do and the challenges homeowners face. Little known fact: Steve is very good at yard games, (washer toss, corn hole, horseshoes, can jam). “I’m terrible at sports but If it’s a game where you stand still and throw something, you won’t beat me!”
Managing Partner
Doug Porter
Doug is the last of the original four founders of WBA. He is very proud that while leadership may change at WBA, the concept and direction of the firm has remained the same, “professionals from start to finish”.
As Managing Partner, Doug lends his years of experience and local relationships with building officials and other key stakeholders to shepherd projects forward when needed. Doug also spends considerable time on positioning the company for the future and providing continuity for new leaders. He enjoys the intellectual challenge of thinking about and preparing for the next decade and beyond. Doug’s mission is to make sure WBA does not lose all the experience and goodwill that has been gained over the last 40 plus years of operation. He sees too many successful firms simply close because someone retires.
To that end, Doug has enjoyed opening WBA’s new design center/showroom on Route 171 in Woodstock, CT and new shop space on Woodstock Avenue in Putnam, CT. These are practical examples of his future-thinking capabilities brought into play, hiring new staff and renovating the Village Plaza and the well-known Putnam Candy Building.
On the personal side, Doug is the consummate family man with four close siblings, two adult children, and three grandchildren. He and his wife, Gail, have spent their time with their local grandkids almost every Sunday since their births. As an avid road cyclist, Doug has added gravel biking, so he has another activity to do with the grandkids along with kayaking and hiking. He spends as much time as possible with them because “they grow up quick”.
Doug traveled extensively working for a bank in his early career, but truly loves where he lives in the beautiful “Quiet Corner”. A little-known fact: Doug might have switched to Tim Horton’s and became a Canadian as he attended college in Canada as an undergrad and almost stayed there. He eventually returned home to Connecticut.
Family and team are Doug’s foundation. As he says, “I am the owner, but WBA is a team, it’s always been, and will continue to be a team”.
Office Cat
Woody
Woody was found as a kitten, crying “all dirty and sad” on the side of the road near the old office building in Woodstock. The neighbor didn’t claim him, so Deb brought Woody to work as WBA’s second office cat. Woody is now 11 years old and lives at the new office full time. He does not go outdoors and usually stays in the back out of the way. He loves visiting with the carpenters and tradesmen and enjoys meeting clients. Woody is fully inoculated and does not bite. Deb calls him a comfort kitty, as he typically hangs out on her lap.