The Founding of Patriot: Bill Dubois Reflects on 30 Years

Patriot’s founder, Bill Dubois, shares a reflective conversation in honor of the company’s 30-year anniversary. Mr. Dubois shared his perspective on Patriot’s beginnings, the culture that shaped it, and the journey which brought Patriot to where it is today.

Founding Vision

Mr. Dubois started Patriot with a clear goal: to build a company that would last well beyond his time. Motivated by changes at his previous firm—including a sale to an outside buyer with little alignment to the industry—he decided to pursue a long-standing desire to create something of his own. Alongside co-founders Jim Sherer and Richard Kraft, Patriot was born with a simple but ambitious plan: do what they knew best, do it well, and build strong, lasting client relationships.

Starting from Scratch

Patriot launched with three experienced professionals, each bringing unique expertise:    Mr. Dubois in geotechnical engineering and leadership, Mr. Scherer in construction materials testing, and Richard Kraft in environmental services and sales. The early days were marked by hustle—meeting clients, running out of business cards, and focusing on quality service to earn trust. Some of the first projects included Connor Prairie, the Kendall Group, and a few years later the major contract that is now known as the Pacers home, Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Culture and Core Values

From the beginning, Patriot was driven by a collaborative, team-based decision-making approach. Mr. Dubois emphasized integrity, doing “good work”, and creating an enjoyable work environment—not just chasing size of projects or profits. Patriot’s culture was shaped around seven or eight core values, which guided the company’s early years and evolved with time.

Ownership and Opportunity

A key differentiator was Mr. Dubois’s belief in employee ownership. Influenced by his own experience at a previous company—where ownership was not initially shared—he made it a priority to involve others in Patriot’s success. Sharing ownership helps drive motivation, reduce turnover, and build a company that people are truly invested in.

Business Philosophy

Patriot’s growth was intentional and organic. Though it started with an Indiana focus, expansion into the Midwest came naturally through project opportunities. Mr. Dubois described the mindset simply as: “work hard, deliver quality, make a fair profit, and be proud of the work.”  It was not about being the biggest—it was about being the best at what they did.

Final Reflections

Looking back, Mr. Dubois and his co-founders never doubted they’d be successful. Their confidence came from experience, focus, and dedication. Despite challenges and uncertainty, their shared belief in what they could achieve—and how they would do it—carried them forward.

“It’s kind of like raising a child—now you step back and watch it thrive. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.” – Bill Dubois