Justin Brame, senior manager of operations for Pennsylvania American Water, recalled the difficulties of growing up poor, including living in a camper and doing odd jobs for neighbors to earn money. He found his comfort zone in hunting, fishing and being outdoors and developed a strong work ethic, at first, out of necessity.

Brame enlisted in the Army after high school, which he described as the best choice he ever made. Over the past 15 years, he has worked his way up within Pennsylvania American Water. Now in a new role, he discussed his leadership style and how he prioritizes his team and the culture.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but I spent the first several years of my life at a farm in Adams County, down in apple country near Gettysburg. I was there until I was 6 or 7 years old, then my parents got a divorce. We lost the farm and lived in a camper for several months until we moved in with my grandma in the Linglestown/Paxtonia area.

There were eight of us in a three-bedroom house – four boys, one girl, two moms and a grandma. We didn’t always have it easy, but that helped me develop into what I became later in life.

What memories stay with you of growing up in that difficult home setting?

It wasn’t great. My most vivid memories are when my dad left and we moved into the camper next door to our house. The neighbor was our friend, and he said we could hook up the camper. But our house that I remembered was right next door, and I’d be like, “Mom, why can’t we go to our house?”

I just remember being poor, really poor. The camper would leak when it rained and we’d be lying in bed and the camper would be dripping on you. It was tough on my mom, and it was tough on us as kids because we didn’t understand what was happening.

How do you think that experience shaped you as an adult?

I started working as soon as I could find somebody to pay me, when I was 12 or 13. I would shovel snow, mow grass, pull weeds out of flower beds, literally any work that paid. I probably had to grow up a little earlier than some people.

What was your first serious part-time job in high school?

My first real job was at Giant, at the grocery store. I stocked shelves, I worked in the bakery for a while, I worked in the produce department and the dairy department. I would get lots of hours because I would fill in whenever they needed me.

I was 15 or 16 years old, but I knew every department, so I was able to fill in all the time and get 25 or 30 hours a week. They even offered me a promotion to assistant manager of one of the departments when I was 18.

Why the Army?

I knew I couldn’t afford college, so I worked construction full-time and worked part-time at the grocery store. One winter day when I was 19 years old, it was miserable and cold and we were up on a roof putting shingles on.  I said, “I’ve got to do something different with my life. I’m joining the Army.”

I called a recruiter that night and was sworn in shortly thereafter.   One month later, at 19 years old, I was on an airplane to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Let me come back to the military in just a minute. Did you play any sports in high school?

I wrestled for a short time, but ultimately, I liked the outdoors, hunting and fishing. I spent a lot of time in the woods – that was my comfort zone. So, during the fall sports, I was always hunting, and the spring sports, I was always fishing.

Did you have a favorite music artist?

Back in the ‘90s, it was Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks and that era.

Now let me go to the Army again. Looking back on your Army experience, was that a good choice for you?

It was probably the best choice I ever made in my life. I got out of school and I was a hard worker, but I wasn’t motivated to become something. But the Army literally broke down the old Justin and built up the new Justin.

So, all of a sudden, I was walking different, talking different, my respect level for adults was different. It’s just a different mentality. I was able to do things that I didn’t think I could do. In basic training, it was like a switch went off and I wanted to be the best at everything. All of a sudden, I had motivation. It came out of nowhere. And I had a different pride and carried myself differently.

When you look back over your career, who were the people that saw promise in you and opened up doors for you?

I don’t know if there was somebody that said something like that until the last couple years in my job now. In my younger years, nobody really said it. But I would see people in the military that outranked me, or somebody that was paid more money or had a better job. I was like, “How do I be that guy?”

How about on this job?

When I got into Pennsylvania American Water, I was a maintenance relief operator, which is an entry-level position. But I always tried to be the employee that was doing stuff above and beyond, and I feel like people would notice it.

I worked and learned several different plants in my first few years at American Water. Then when a water quality supervisor job came open that oversaw many of these systems, I applied and got it because I already knew them so well.  After a few years as Water Quality Supervisor, I was promoted to production supervisor of our facility In Hershey, Pennsylvania.

As a production supervisor I worked hard to develop a good team and culture.  I think the leadership style I developed in the military really helped me in this position and I feel like management started taking notice. 

In 2017, A superintendent role came open in Coatesville and I was encouraged to apply for it.  I believe my leadership style may have been a contributing factor in the company offering me the position.  I knew we had some challenges, the plants needed investments, and the culture was vulnerable to that stress. I really felt like I could help make a difference.  

What did you do to help with the culture?

I don’t think there’s a magic pill for improving culture. I think the best thing I do to improve culture is just treat people well. Let people know you appreciate them.

I would always sit in spots where I was noticeable. I wouldn’t go and sit in my office. I would sit in the lunchroom so that people would come by me, and I would talk to them. “Hey, man, how’s it going?” “How’s the kids?” “Hey, I saw the Eagles lost this weekend.” Just getting the camaraderie to know that they can come and talk to you and you’re available.

I try to give people the tools that they need to be successful, and I show them appreciation. At times, our jobs can be really hard. We’ve got guys out on main breaks in the middle of the night. I put myself in their shoes and think, “How would I want to be treated?”

We’re halfway through the year – what are your priorities?

I just moved to another role and took over the southeast region of the state. I have 118 employees within my organization now.  I am working hard to meet everybody, listen, hear what they have to say, and help give them the tools they need to be successful.  I want to be a solution to any roadblock they may have. So far, the leaders and staff seem receptive to me, and I am very optimistic. 

What do you do with all that free time that you have?

Free time? What is that? During the week, I don’t have much free time anymore. But my daughters are 11 and 14. They’re becoming more and more self-sufficient but when I get home, I become a part-time Uber driver and run them around to wherever they need to go. I love it though.

When I do have free time, we go to the cabin. I had some land I bought up in Potter County, Pennsylvania. When I bought it, it was just a piece of ground. Then, during COVID, I built a cabin from the ground up. Now that the cabin’s done, we spend a lot of our time going up there with my kids and getting outdoors and riding four-wheelers and fishing. My girls love to hunt.

What’s something big that you’ve changed your mind about over the last five or 10 years?

I’m noticing as I get older that things that used to matter the most don’t seem to matter as much.  At this point I’m just trying to balance the work/life situation and be a good Dad and Husband.  I realize how quickly things have gone by. I’m trying to soak up the last few minutes of my kids’ childhood and develop them into good people so that when they go out into the world, they’re successful.

What keeps you hopeful and optimistic? It’s a crazy world out there.

That’s a tough one because you’re right – the world is crazy. But if you don’t have hope, what do you have? I just try to remain positive in a world where there aren’t a whole lot of positive things happening. But my hope is in my kids – I’m hoping that I raised them right and that they’re going be good people.

Finally, Justin, what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

You are who you hang out with. I tried to surround myself with good people or people that I looked up to, and that helped steer where I am in life.

The other thing is something I learned in the military, probably in the primary leadership development course. When you lead people, be the type of leader people follow because they want to, not because they have to. And if you can do that, your potential’s unlimited because people work harder, they care more, the strive to become better and ultimately, they become leaders who will some day pass on that same trait.  Leaders breed leaders.   

I had a great leader when I was in Iraq, and I always said, “Man, I’ll do whatever he says. I’ll follow him right through that brick wall.” When we were deployed overseas, I would’ve followed him anywhere because he was a great leader. I knew he had my back, and he knew I had his. I followed him because I wanted to, not because I had to.