Originally from North Dakota, Bob Bidon has been building houses for as long as he can remember. From a young age, From a young age, he developed his skills working on trusses and frames, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in construction. Over time, he earned a fitting nickname both on and off the job site: “Bob the Builder.”

He joined Goodhue County Habitat 11 years ago, beginning as an independent contractor for two years supervising builds. For the past nine years, he has served as a construction manager, helping turn plans into homes and guiding projects every step of the way.

Today, Bob primarily leads the High School Builds program, an initiative where students from Kenyon-Wanamingo and Goodhue high schools spend the academic year constructing homes. Bob oversees the school builds. His role includes site supervision, mentorship and quality control.

Besides leading the school builds, he also leads a Saturday build day once a month at various build sites in the county. Bob says, “Working with volunteers is a reward.”

His impact reaches far beyond the build site. Bob has made his mark in Goodhue County. The Rochester Build Crew regularly travels from Rochester to build sites in Goodhue County to work with Bob.

Over the years, he has witnessed remarkable growth within the organization. “Going from one and a half houses a year to this past year, we have been working on four houses. Plus, Habitat is growing in other areas,” he shares.

Bob finds the greatest joy in seeing the pride and excitement on the faces of homeowners and students when they accomplish something.

When he is not at work, Bob enjoys time with his family and with his wife and self-described better-half, Carol. He especially enjoys spending time with his grandkids, sometimes on roller skates.