Tim Block has run eight marathons and is training for another. But with his work as senior director in Enterprise’s Southeast market office combined with an active family life, a leadership role in his fraternity, and studies in a doctoral program, each day might easily be described as “a marathon” of its own.
Block, who joined Enterprise nine years ago, is responsible for overseeing Enterprise's Faith-Based Development InitiativeSM (FBDI) in the Southeast, where he works with a growing cohort of 32 houses of worship to create affordable housing on church-owned land in Atlanta and South Florida, with plans to expand into additional states. In addition to leading FBDI, he also oversees several other programs that focus on advancing affordable housing, strengthening community development, and supporting nonprofit capacity-building efforts across the region.
Tapping into his personal sense of discipline — with help from a scheduling app and the occasional Oreo Blizzard — Block balances this high-profile work on a calendar filled with local civic committees in Atlanta and a stream of outside activities that tie back to his commitment to affordable housing and community building.
Here’s what a typical day in May looks like for Tim Block.
Whether it’s my family, my work, my fraternity, or my school — all these parts of my life are interwoven, and they give me energy, focus, and purpose.
Greeting the Day
The first thing I do each day is to get on my knees and pray. I've been doing it for 30 years now. Before I even put my glasses on, or turn the lights on, I roll out a bed, and I pray and meditate for a few minutes just to think about the blessings and the responsibilities that I have, and I thank God for those things. That sets the tone for me to then get up and start my day.
My wife and I both have hybrid work schedules, so whoever’s working from home that day will make the coffee. We met at the Home Depot Foundation 17 years ago working on the philanthropy’s grant making initiatives, and we’ve both continued our careers in the community development space. She now oversees community investments as Atlanta Market Executive for Bank of America, and it’s great to have a partner whose life’s work is so aligned with my own.
When I sit down at the computer, the first thing I do is look at a scheduling application called Motion. This helps me integrate and balance everything that’s important in my life — my work calendar but also my fraternity calendar and my school calendar. In addition to my professional career, I’ve been a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity for almost 40 years. I’m currently first vice state representative for the state of Georgia and I’ll be running to the be the state representative in October. On the school side, I’m in the middle of getting my doctorate in strategic leadership. I have a lot of homework!
Work Time
It’s an office day, and I’m getting ready for a full slate of meetings. First up is a check-in with the FBDI team. Right now, we’re working alongside 32 houses of worship in Atlanta and South Florida, and we’re close to finalizing an opportunity to expand into a new city. On top of that, we’ve either submitted or are preparing to submit proposals in several other cities across the southeast. It’s exciting to see the momentum building.
To make sure we're providing the right support and tracking their progress, we schedule six-week check-ins with each house of worship. During those meetings, we focus on next steps that either Enterprise or their assigned development consultant has identified. For instance, if they need to complete a feasibility analysis or a market study, and they’re not sure where to start, we connect them with the right professionals in their area. We also share templates and examples to help them engage development consultants and seek out grant funding opportunities. We understand that development work isn’t their day job, so we try to make the process as clear and accessible as possible.
While most of these check-ins are virtual, we also prioritize in-person peer exchanges. Earlier this year, we hosted two of them — one in South Florida and another in Atlanta. It’s always powerful to gather in person, share lessons learned, and encourage one another along the journey.
Lunch Time Connections
Most days when we’re in the office, we carve out time to grab lunch together and bring it back to the conference room. Sure, we talk about work, but we also catch up on what’s happening in each other’s lives. I have the privilege of managing two incredible colleagues, Shannon Ball and Gabriella Lott, and we recently welcomed a new VP and market leader, Dr. Christie Cade. One thing I really appreciate about our team is that we make time to serve the community outside of work too — whether it’s volunteering at the HOPE Atlanta Women’s Community Kitchen or helping with the annual Point-In-Time Count. That experience is always a powerful reminder of how much more we need to do to support our neighbors facing homelessness.
We’re a team that truly supports each other, and our conversations often weave between current events, personal milestones, and celebrations. When it’s someone’s birthday, you can bet there will be cupcakes — and for the record, I’m a big fan of red velvet. We recently had a fun debate about our favorite sweets. Mine? The Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I love them so much that, back in the day, I had a GPS device in my car that could find the nearest Dairy Queen for me — no matter where I was.
Afternoon Visits
We’re a trusted advisor in the southeast, so we often get pulled into a lot of coalition meetings. For example, I recently went to a kickoff meeting of a subcommittee for the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), our regional planning commission. We talk about the resources we have at Enterprise to help Atlanta with its affordable housing goals.
On this day, we might also have our HouseATL Monthly Pipeline Review Committee meeting, where we bring together people from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Developers present the deals they’re working on, and it’s a chance for the committee to hear their pitch and offer feedback. It’s a little like a "Shark Tank" setup — giving developers a platform to showcase their projects and get real-time input.
A great example of this is Zion Hill Baptist Church. Their Community Development Corporation went through our FBDI cohort program, and after that, we provided them with grant funding to help move their pre-development activities forward. Once they brought a development partner on board, they were ready to present at the Pipeline Review Committee.
The developer helped them take their initial ideas and really shape them into a more detailed design and development concept. That put them in a strong position to pitch their project to the committee. After their presentation, they ended up connecting with a few potential investors — all because we were able to give them a platform to get in front of the right people. It’s a win-win all around.
A Refresh: Leaving Work for Part Two of my Day
I’m feeling a little tired, but the day’s not done yet. I’m heading to a committee meeting for my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. We’ll be diving into our social action work and finalizing the scholarships we’re awarding across Georgia. What I really love is how naturally my work with Enterprise and my fraternity flow together — whether I’m advocating for affordable housing at the state capitol or meeting with city officials and legislators to push for change.
My fraternity is one of the great loves of my life. I’ve been a proud brother for nearly 40 years, and it’s still just as meaningful today. It gives me the chance to combine everything I care about — service, leadership, and community — into a mission that’s all about lifting people up.
Homework and a Family Reunion
When I arrive home, I hear “G-pa, G-pa, G-pa!” Those are my three grandsons, all under the age of 5, calling for me. My daughter and her sons are living with us — it's a blessing right now. I love spending time with them. I try to be outside with them when the weather is nice and help give them baths. We have a full house, so everybody needs to pitch in and help where we can.
Sometimes, if I have time, I’ll put on my running shoes and at least get a few miles in. I’ve run eight full marathons in eight states. I’m trying to get to all 50 states, but I'm getting a little old now – the Marine Corps marathon is in the fall and it’s on my bucket list.
I’m also pursuing my doctorate degree in strategic leadership from Liberty University, so I’ll often end the day with reading or some type of homework. If I can stay the course, I’ll have my doctorate degree in 2026. May aim is to use all these learnings to help me become a better manager and add to my strategy skills.
Even though I’m tired at this point, I’m fulfilled. Whether it’s my family, my work, my fraternity, or my school — all these parts of my life are interwoven, and they give me energy, focus, and purpose.
