Meet Greg Turner, builder, business leader, proud Huskie, and third-generation member of a family whose roots in Hemlock stretch back more than a century.
Born and raised in Hemlock, Greg has spent nearly his entire life in the community he loves. Aside from leaving home to attend Ferris State University, he has always found his way back to the place that shaped him. In fact, the Turner family's story in Hemlock dates back to the late 1800s.
For Greg, Hemlock has always meant one thing above all else: family.
He and his wife, Samantha, are both Hemlock High School graduates, classes of 1987 and 1989 respectively. Their connection to Hemlock Schools runs deep. Greg's parents both graduated from Hemlock in the 1950s, and his mother, Judy Turner, dedicated more than four decades to Hemlock Public Schools as a teacher, principal, mentor, and educational leader. Today, her legacy continues through the Judy Turner Black Box Theatre at Hemlock Middle School, a fitting tribute to the countless students and families she impacted throughout her career.
The next generation followed suit. Greg and Samantha's three children graduated from Hemlock High School in 2008, 2011, and 2017. Today, all three have married and chosen to remain in the area, allowing Greg and Samantha to enjoy one of life's greatest blessings: being close to their growing family.
"We are now grandparents and have been blessed to have all three of our grown children get married and live nearby," Greg says.
Growing up in Hemlock, Greg was active in baseball and golf, two pursuits that taught lessons he still carries with him today. Some of his most influential experiences happened at Maple Hill Golf Club, where he worked during high school.
There, under the guidance of the golf professionals, his teammates, and Hemlock teacher and golf coach Mr. Sutton, Greg learned much more than the game itself.
"It taught me how to respect people and communicate with all kinds of people," he says.
Those lessons would prove invaluable in the career he would eventually build.
Greg graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in International Business, expecting that his future might take him far beyond Mid-Michigan. Instead, he discovered something important.
"The unexpected part was realizing that everyone I loved was in Hemlock and that I didn't want to leave."
That decision led him to a career with Pumford Construction, where he joined the company in 1997. Over the past 28 years, Greg has helped lead the growth of one of the region's most respected construction firms. Along the way, he became the first non-Pumford family member to earn a partnership in the company, and in 2020, he was named President.
What Greg enjoys most isn't simply constructing buildings.
It's building trust.
"Our company has grown because of our consistent approach to treating employees and customers with respect," he says. "There is something very special and gratifying about being able to be a builder and be trusted."
That philosophy has served both Greg and the company well. Much of Pumford's work comes from repeat customers who return year after year because of the relationships that have been built along the way.
Those who know Greg know that his definition of success extends far beyond business growth. He believes trust, relationships, and responsibility matter just as much as the finished product. Whether working with employees, clients, or community partners, he has built a reputation for integrity, accountability, and treating people with respect.
His influence can be seen throughout the community. Beyond overseeing construction, Greg has often helped guide projects from their earliest stages, offering expertise, design insight, and problem-solving that help transform ideas into reality. Community leaders have described him as a "community champion" whose leadership and passion have helped move major initiatives forward.
Over the past two decades, Greg has personally helped lead the construction of several community landmarks, including the Richland Township Office, the Lockwood STEM Center, the addition at St. Peter Lutheran Church, and most recently, the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse. His company has also continued to support projects at Hemlock Semiconductor, helping shape the infrastructure that supports our region's economy.
Through those projects and many others, Greg has helped create spaces where people learn, gather, worship, work, and grow—investments that will benefit Hemlock families for generations to come.
His commitment to the community extends beyond construction. For more than a decade, Greg has served on the Richland Township Planning Commission and has spent the last eight years serving as its chairperson.
Despite a busy professional life, family remains at the center of everything.
This fall, Greg and Samantha will celebrate 34 years of marriage. Together, they enjoy golfing, traveling, spending time at the beach, and making memories with their children and grandchildren.
One title, however, may be his favorite.
"Bumpa."
The nickname comes from Greg's own grandfather, whom he affectionately called Bumpa growing up. Today, his grandchildren know him by the same name, continuing another family tradition that spans generations.
When he's not working or spending time with family, you'll often find him enjoying one of his favorite simple pleasures: stopping by Frosty's for a Sea Turtle ice cream cone and enjoying it from the comfort of his deck.
Ask Greg to describe Hemlock in a single word, and his answer comes easily:
Community.
It's a value that has shaped generations of the Turner family and one that continues to guide Greg today. Through his leadership, service, volunteerism, and commitment to building places where people can learn, gather, work, and grow, Greg has spent his life investing in the community that first invested in him.
And for nearly four decades, Hemlock has been fortunate to call him one of its own.
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