Wilson Construction Company

Wilson Construction Company (WCC) is a small general contractor serving clients across western Pennsylvania since 1920. Ron Virostek, president and co-owner of WCC, and Richard Alt, secretary-treasurer and co-owner of WCC, gained ownership of the business in 1986. “My background is in architecture,” says Virostek. “I joined WCC in 1984.” For nearly 100 years, WCC has been providing design-build and project management services for regional customers in the institutional, industrial and commercial sectors.

“A few things set our business apart,” Virostek notes. “We do a lot of tight deadline projects. We can get the work done on time and on budget. We are also a union contractor and we are members of the Keystone Contractors Association [KCA]; I was actually president of the board for a few years. The organization has a great educational and safety program.”

The management team has utilized its industry connections to build relationships with potential partners and clients alike; however, WCC works exclusively in Pennsylvania. “We have one location in Windber, Pa.,” says Virostek. “We will travel within about a 100-mile radius of our office.”

Projects and Services

WCC works with clients from start to finish on hard-bid, negotiated and design-build contracts. The business offers architectural and engineering services to build a plan and schedule that fits client needs. During execution, customers rely on WCC’s knowledgeable, experienced employees with a range of capabilities and equipment to perform complex, vertical construction work. “School projects and medical facilities are our specialties,” Virostek elaborates. “We’ve done a range of projects such as car dealerships, banks, National Guard facilities and medical facilities.”

Most recently, the team completed work on Select Specialty Hospital. “It’s a transitional medical facility,” says Virostek. “The project was a major renovation in an existing hospital. We have a few other things going on right now. We recently started a dealership project and have a site contract for the new Cambria County Transit Facility.” Each venture comes with challenges, and Virostek and his team are well equipped to handle a range of complexities. “One of the best jobs we have ever worked on was a historical renovation of an old theater,” Virostek continues. “That has been a favorite of ours.”

The company self-performs much of the labor on its projects. “Typically we do our own concrete work, carpentry, stud, drywall, ceilings and case work.” Virostek elaborates. “We subcontract carpeting, flooring and other specialty trades. We have a small group of suppliers and contractors we work with regularly.” Through projects, the KCA and union connections, WCC has developed a small network of reliable partners.

Maintaining a Market Share

Despite strong connections, WCC has faced struggles stemming from the recent recession. “It has been a bit of a roller coaster,” Virostek elaborates. “It has gone up and down,” he details. “Last year we started with a lot of work then slowed up. Now we are back to a lot of work. You have to make cuts where you have to and tighten the budget. We focus on building and maintaining relationships. We do get a lot of repeat business. We have some clients here in town that we do a lot of work for. We want satisfied customers.”

However, Virostek remains optimistic. “Over the next few years we want to keep things moving in this same direction,” he continues. “We want to keep building the company up and getting stronger. Within the next few years, we may want to pass ownership along to one of our employees. We have fairly low turnover. A lot of our employees have been with us for many years.” WCC’s team members share the same dedication as Virostek to quality and professionalism. The team constantly seeks to provide leading service and a quality, durable end product.

It is evident that Virostek and his team are well connected. Regardless of project size or contract type, WCC works in close contact with owners to maintain communication throughout a project. The company provides full construction services and has broad resources to fit projects of a range of sizes. The business continues to be known in the region for quality work and lasting relationships.

With a longstanding reputation in the region for performance, WCC has become a known name in construction. In 2013, the company marks 93 years in business; an impressive feat. Virostek and his crew will continue to push toward growth while offering leading service to clients. Wilson Construction Company will continue to perform diverse, quality work for clients all over Western Pennsylvania.

For more information on Wilson Construction Company, please visit: www.wilsonconstructioncompany.com.