Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/370987
"W e love to do any- thing that involves concrete," says Brian Winkler, 47, president of Wm. Win- kler Company. In fact, concrete has been Wm. Winkler Company's material of choice since Brian's grandfather started the firm in Spokane, Wash- ington, in 1919. His grandfather did curb and gutter work, and Brian's father, the oldest of 11 children, joined two brothers in continu- ing and expanding the firm. After working several years for another contractor, Brian bought the family company from his uncle in 1999. Brian had a clear career path when he graduated from high school: he would enroll in the U.S. Navy Seabees, and then take that experi- ence, plus all the summers he had worked for the family construction business and go into construction. In the Seabees, he gained the rank of chief petty officer. "The order and discipline I learned there has really helped in business," he says. Another plus: working in the Spokane area. "This area didn't get the high peaks and valleys of other places, which has really helped," Brian says. About three years ago, the company moved from down- town Spokane to its present lo- cation in nearby Newman Lake, taking over a retiring contractor's facility and allowing them to spread out. In 2011, Wm. Winkler merged with Reed Concrete, which gave the company the ability to offer a com- plete Division 3 package – struc- tural and flatwork concrete. Although concrete work – includ- ing airports, roads, commercial and industrial development – is what Brian calls the company's "sweet spot," the firm has added several capabilities in the past decade, including grading, excavation, de- molition and a recycling operation in Spokane. During the recession, Wm. Win- kler's union crews took on several out of town projects, and continue to work in several states in the Northwest. (This year it ventured into a new state for the company, EquipmentWorld.com | September 2014 53 Wm. Winkler Company Year started: 1919 Number of employees: 100-150 Annual revenues: $14 to $15 million Markets served: Civil and concrete construction, including highways, buildings, airports. Brian Winkler Newman Lake, Washington While concrete may be this company's sweet spot, that hasn't kept it from diversifying into a variety of markets. contractor of the year | by Marcia Gruver Doyle