A change in name only

New name won't alter Wilder Construction's long county ties

DAVE GALLAGHER

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BELLINGHAM � Wilder Construction has had a long history of being involved in the local community, and Rich Henderson is hoping to recapture some of that experience.

Henderson is the new area manager for the Bellingham facility on Hannegan Road, which is now known as Granite Northwest Inc. dba Wilder Construction Company. In November the employees of Wilder Construction agreed to sell their shares to Granite, a national company that�s headquartered in Watsonville, Calif. In January the company name will simply be Granite Northwest Inc.

While he�s new to the Bellingham facility, Henderson grew up in Whatcom County and is no stranger to the significance Wilder Construction has had for the local community.

CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
Founded: 1911 in Blaine by Charles Vincent Wilder Sr.
What they do: The company does heavy civil construction work, including highway and paving work. Current projects include paving on Guide Meridian and work on Interstate 5 in Bellingham. They also do small projects, such as paving driveways.
Highlights: Was awarded a $200,000 contract in 1934 to build a portion of the Stevens Pass Highway� The company headquarters moved to State Street in Bellingham in 1937� Charles Vincent Wilder Jr. took over as president in 1963, holding that position until 1981, when he became CEO and Warren Bestwick became president� In 1990 the Wilder family transferred ownership to Robert Helsell� In 1994, the company became employee-owned� The company moved its headquarters from Bellingham to Everett in 1997� In November 2007, employee shareholders of Wilder agreed to sell their shares to Granite Construction, allowing Granite to take over the company� Currently known as Granite Northwest dba Wilder Construction Company, it will become Granite Northwest Inc. in January.
Whatcom County workforce: The company employs 45 people full time and around 100 seasonal workers at the Bellingham facility and two other operations in the county.

SOURCE: WILDER CONSTRUCTION

�When I tell people where I work, they will say �Oh, I had an uncle or brother who worked there,�� Henderson said. �Just the essence of changing the name is a big deal to them, because the company has so much history here.�

Henderson said the company plans on being more active in Whatcom County in areas that don�t involve construction work, whether it�s going to city council meetings or participating in community events. He believes the company lost that feeling of being embedded in the community when Wilder moved its headquarters to Everett 11 years ago.

�It is something I want to get back,� Henderson said. �I remember what this company meant around here.�

Other than the name, Henderson said there will be no big changes that customers will see, and the same people will be at the facility.

�I�ve been asked by a few people if we�re going to leave Bellingham, and that�s not the case. Granite was interested in this company because this was an area they wanted to focus on, and saw Wilder as a successful company around here,� Henderson said.

One change they will be making has nothing to do with the change in ownership: They are starting a small-tools store at the Bellingham facility. Henderson said they plan to start selling tools next week and add inventory based on demand.

�It�s meant to be for the small contractor that can�t find a tool in another store,� Henderson said. �We have something similar in Everett that we started about four years ago, and it�s been very successful.�

ADJUSTING TO THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Like many other construction companies that focus on paving and road work, Granite Northwest has had to adjust to a slowing economy and fewer projects this year. One of the biggest issues is the price of oil, a key ingredient for a lot of their work.

�We�ve always paid attention to oil in the past, but I have never seen the market this volatile,� Henderson said. �When bidding on a project, we have to be conservative and build in extra cost, because you just don�t know how much the cost of oil will rise.�

The toughest part for Henderson has been in not being able to hire as many seasonal employees as the company usually does.

�Even though they are seasonal employees, these are people that have been with the company up to 40 years,� Henderson said. �It really put them in a pinch when they are counting on the summer work.�

The company will cast a wider net, looking at bigger projects and expanding the area it serves. Even so, bidding for public projects has been very competitive this year, but something he enjoys.

�(Bidding on projects) is an exciting sport; there is a lot of pressure getting it in on deadline,� Henderson said.

Henderson originally left Granite for Wilder in January 2007 because he wanted to settle down with his family back in Whatcom County. He had spent some time in Florida, where he had the experience of having three hurricanes go through his neighborhood in a four-week period four years ago.

Having been a part of Granite before and after it took over Wilder, Henderson has that insight about the company to know they can have the flexibility to be more involved in the local community again.

�Granite is bigger, but they are a great company. I didn�t want to leave it and move to Whatcom County, but I have kids that I want to raise here,� Henderson said. �I want people to know what�s going on here, and that is continuing being a part of this community.�