Finding Our True North

An Interview with Our Founder

In this episode of Le Vrai Nord’s True North Entrepreneurial Docuseries, Rochelle Rizzi interviews Eric Army, founder and CEO of Signal Works. Eric cares about making cities better places and finds fulfillment leading teams on projects that create beauty out of brokenness. His passions for cities were piqued early on by the walkable streets of Portsmouth, NH, and was further honed during his urban experience living and studying in Boston. Early in his career he found early success leading projects and organizing teams, and enjoyed applying those skills to meaningful work in senior and low-income housing.

Eric founded Signal Works in 2011, their first project transforming a full city block of Downtown Providence into the mixed-use Providence G, which became the foundation of their ongoing urban rehabilitation work. Soon after, the firm expanded their specialties to include mission-driven schools, and office projects that shift organizational culture.

Eric spends his time at work casting vision for how his team can advance redemptive purposes in their sphere of influence and creating detailed, self-sustaining systems that empower others to excel in their talents. In addition to his architecture firm, he also leads Wide Plank, LLC, a real estate redevelopment group that repositions urban buildings to meet changing community and market needs. He serves on the board of the Woonsquatucket River Watershed Council as they advance social and environmental engagement throughout its namesake, as well as serving as a Commissioner for the Cranston Historic District. Finally, he is an active participant in C12 New England, a faith-based CEO mentoring group, which helps him align his commitments to his firm, family and community.

When out of the office, he can often be found jogging in Roger Williams Park in Providence with his two young children, or hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He and his wife, Melanie, reside with their family in the Edgewood section of Cranston, Rhode Island.