Two Families, One Company
Success at C.E. Wilson Corp. relies on a lot of Wilsons
C.E. Wilson Corp. is proud to be a family-owned business. C.E. (Willie) Wilson is President and Brian Wilson is Vice President, but they are not related.
“People think he’s my son,” Willie says of Brian. Actually, Adam and John Wilson, both Project Foremen for the company, are his sons. And Craig, another Foreman, is Brian’s brother but is not kin to Adam and John. Willie’s wife, Patricia, is Secretary-Treasurer and Brian’s wife, Sharon, works in the office. Confused?
Keeping the Wilsons straight can be hard, but it is their close working relationships that continue to make the company easy to appreciate.
By happenstance and hard work, the two unrelated Wilson families combined efforts to create a successful San Diego County business working on underground utilities and other construction. The company principally installs large underground water, sewer and storm drains. “Most jobs have all three elements,” Brian says.
C.E. Wilson Corp. has done work for the county as well as numerous businesses, including several YMCAs, restaurants, shopping centers and schools. Projects can run up to $3 million with most averaging about $500,000. The company is fully licensed and has had California’s Small Business Enterprise and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certifications since 2013. It is a small company with fewer than 20 employees.
Most utility work is completed in San Diego County and Brian says the firm is not likely to branch out from this area. Business has been so good lately, Brian explains, that he’s had to turn down contracts. The company enjoys significant repeat business from those it has done work for previously.
When the business began, Willie started out doing heavy construction: grading and excavation work. Now, most projects are underground pipeline. Brian has substantial experience working with water, sewer and storm drainage, so the bulk of the company’s projects involve installing those types of systems. Willie says he’s fine with the direction.
Stepping into the Job
Willie says he started C.E. Wilson Corp. in 1984, focusing on development, grading and underground utilities. He was successful, but wanted to develop land he already owned in Arkansas.
“I spent 20 years in the Navy and I knew I didn’t want to do this the rest of my life,” Willie says. He wanted to turn much of the California operation over to a manager but couldn’t seem to find the right person. He says he eventually found the person he wanted—Brian.
Brian joined the company in 1989, doing field work. Then he hurt his hip and knew he would be out of work for a while.
“I asked Willie if he would teach me to be an estimator,” Brian recalls. Willie agreed and Brian moved into office work.
He began doing more and more management activities and became Vice President in 1992. “It just worked out with Brian,” Willie says. With Brian running the San Diego office, Willie had time to start work on apartments and other construction projects on his Arkansas property. He also is developing land in Nevada.
Digging Deep
Under Brian’s leadership, the company has gradually evolved out of grading. The massive utility projects begin with Project Manager, Dale DeLaney. He handles most of the work with the clients, including estimating costs and negotiating contracts. He follows up to make sure surveys are in place, materials are ordered and all the necessary equipment is on site, ready to go for a successful and smooth-running project.
Usually, work begins with a trench. The tricky part comes when it’s time for the pipelines to be lowered into the prepared trenches. It can be dangerous, Brian says.
Foremen must be sure each trench is properly sloped and stable before workers climb down to guide the pipes in by hand. That’s why training is so important, DeLaney says. “We teach our guys to watch out for each other.” The lines are then connected, tested and the trenches backfilled and smoothed.
“It’s challenging,” Brian says. “I like the satisfaction of taking on a challenging job that many others have passed on and being successful. Down in the dirt, that’s where I like to be.”
Finishing the Job
Properly completing the job is as important as the early work and installation, Willie says. “One big advantage is that we always finish our jobs. We have a reputation for reliability,” he says. C.E. Wilson Corp. controls all aspects of the work. It owns the equipment and uses few subcontractors.
Most of the core staff has been with the company for years. Several of the employees have worked there more than 30 years and are not part of either family. “They have been here so long, they feel like they are family,” Brian adds.DeLaney concurs: “I like the family-owned atmosphere. I appreciate the trust the company has put in me.”
Brian says he is proud there is so little turnover among employees. “I think there is more to it than just money. It’s the people you work with,” he says.
Brian says he is concerned about the future workforce. “It’s getting harder and harder to find new employees. Beginners must start with the hard, manual labor in the trenches and then work their way up. It may sound trite, but workers must be professional. You have to show up every day and be on time,” he adds. The reward is that the pay is good, he says, and “it’s gratifying work.”
Brian says he likes to build relationships with clients as well as employees. About 70 percent of the company’s work is for private companies. With honesty and integrity, “clients will use you over and over again,” Willie affirms.