Celebrating 70 years in business, WLC Engineering and Surveying (WLC) continues to provide services to Wyoming residents, businesses and governments just as it did in 1948.
Don Davis, WLC’s past president, retired in 2017 after more than 40 years with the company. He was part of WLC’s 5th generation of ownership and shared some thoughts about why he thinks WLC is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
“WLC has always held true to the values of professionalism and integrity,” said Davis. “After 70, years clients know that’s what they’ll always get from WLC. We have always had a commitment to excellence and known there’s only one way to do something, and that’s the right way.”
Davis is the last WLC president to know the original group of owners including Spec Worthington, Elmer Lenhart and Jim Carpenter. They were known for providing top quality service and had many long-term clients.
From a 1988 WLC newsletter: “In 1948, Spec joined with Elmer Lenhart to form Worthington and Lenhart Partnership and located their office in the Townsend Building at Second and Center. The early days of the firm were filled with residential property surveys, miscellaneous construction surveys for oil well, pipeline, roadway, and drill site locations together with small local subdivision surveys. Spec had run into Jim Carpenter at the VFW by chance after the war and in 1952 Carp joined the firm after much effort on Spec’s part. During this early time of survival, survey crews included one of the partners as crew chief and a part time help, often firemen working on their day off.”
Davis reminisced about the original founders. “I think the original founders would be in shock and awe,” Davis said. “We lost most of them in the 80s and we hardly had CAD. We had 15 employees and one office.”
Today, WLC is 35-people strong, and serving many clients throughout the state from offices in Casper, Rawlins and Cheyenne.
“I’m sure they’d be proud today of the next generation seeking opportunity,” Davis said.
Over the years WLC has experienced challenges just like any business. The company is no stranger to the boom and bust cycle that Wyoming has historically experienced. Other challenges presented over time include the labor market and finding the right people as well as keeping up with rapidly evolving technology. According to Davis, “More has happened with the development of technology in the last 40 years than hundreds of years prior to that.”
Both Davis and Shane Porter, the current president of WLC, agree that one of the biggest challenges WLC always faces is educating new clients that with engineering and surveying, the old saying “you get what you pay for” is very real. WLC has never been then the low cost provider. We believe in providing high quality service at a fair price. The majority of our business is repeat clients, who realize the value of WLC’s experienced staff.
WLC has persevered the last 70-years and found that providing quality service at a fair price is the key to its long-term success.
Porter stated, “I am proud to be a part of the next generation of WLC and continue to provide the same commitment to excellence that has been instilled in WLC since the beginning. I firmly believe that if we maintain our core values of honesty, integrity and relationships, WLC will continue to be a leading service provider for the next 70 years.”