Best and Brightest: Eleni Christopoulos

Eleni Christopoulos 

Project Engineer 

Harper General Contractors 

Greenville

Age 24

I am native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and moved to Greenville two years ago after graduating with a BS in construction management. I quickly established deep roots in Greenville through both my professional contributions and community service. I serve as a project engineer for Harper General Contractors, where their mission is defined by a passion to support our local community, which aligns with my eight years of involvement with Habitat for Humanity. I am also passionate for my rich Greek heritage. As an active member of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, I enjoy dedicating my time by co-instructing the middle school Hellenic dance group and serving as the primary coordinator for the adult dance group.

My lifelong dedication to service started early on through scouting, where I attained the Girl Scout Gold Award. I was committed to making a meaningful impact with a service project for Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. As a NICU survivor, I recognized the profound grief of families navigating perinatal loss, so I established a program called Memories of Angels where I constructed wooden memory boxes, a private space for grieving parents to hold and honor the precious memories of infants who have passed away. 

Favorite Quote and Why: “Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable …”
– Peter McWilliams.  As a former NCAA cross country and track athlete, you learn from an early age that there is nowhere to hide and self-discipline is hard. While training for cross country, your coach will not always see you; so what do you choose when no one is watching? Do you walk, hide, slow down, or continue to push yourself? By finding comfort in the uncomfortable, I choose to do what is hard and transform my physical discomfort to mental dominance. 

Definition of a Successful Leader: A successful leader is consistently doing what is right even when it goes unnoticed, actively listening and valuing input, accepting responsibility for failures, and being forward-thinking because this allows you to anticipate future challenges to guide your team to long-term success and creative solutions. 

Advice to 18-Year-Old Self: I would tell my 18-year-old self that her passion for building is exactly how she will serve her community. Trust your confidence, stay grounded in your values, and remember to have gratitude.