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With 18 years of industry experience behind him and $10,000 at his disposal, Doug Kuiper took a leap of faith and founded Suncor, Inc. in 1992 with the very specific goal of building a self-sufficient, debt-free operation.

Over the course of 25 years, Kuiper has accomplished just that. The $25 million structural steel fabrication specialist is free of bank loans and investment partners and, Kuiper says, “a comfortable size.”

“It took many, many years to build this company with our own resources and cash flows. There are other ways of growing a business faster but we chose to grow slow and solid to maintain complete control. This requires a great deal of patience but believe it was the right path for us”, says Kuiper, Suncor’s president.

Suncor, Inc. has forged a sterling reputation and regularly works with major national contractors ranked in the top 50 based on their volume. The company typically employs 30-40 and averages 20-25 jobs per year with competencies in office buildings, airports, medical buildings, public works and school projects. The company maintains offices in Longwood, FL, Hialeah, FL and De Forest, WI. Suncor’s state of the art plant is also located in De Forest, WI.

Suncor also shares common ownership and partners with National Metals, LLC, a separate company founded by Kuiper in 2009 with his sons. National Metals, LLC focuses on structural steel and aluminum fabrication. National Metals, LLC holds current certification by the American Institute of Steel Construction.

“Our focus is on the customer. When you develop solid relationships, we might be working with them on a sizable project but they might also need assistance on a smaller one. When you partner with customers, it is important that they know you will be there for them on projects that don’t fall within the range of our target work. So that’s why we have a pretty wide range of job sizes,” says Kuiper, adding “most of our customers we’ve had for many, many years.”

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WHC Energy Services LLC embarks on its 60th year in business in 2017 with a clear vision for the future and a reputation forged as a preferred contractor meeting the needs of America’s leaders in energy delivery.

Established in 1957 as Woodson, Holzer and Crain, and formerly known as WHC, Incorporated, the company maintains headquarters in Broussard, LA. In a move that strengthened its financial position and assured sustainable growth in the oil and gas industry, it teamed with equity group Alvarez and Marsal Capital Partners in December 2014, changing its name to WHC Energy Services, LLC.

Today this privately held general contractor is under the guidance of President Randy Warner and provides construction services for pipelines and related facilities. It also offers pipeline right of way and facilities maintenance services.

Warner became involved with the company in 2004 as a consultant, brought in by George Crain Jr., the son of founder George Crain Sr., to evaluate and determine whether to sell what was a small family-owned business or simply close up shop.

“I told them that I thought we could build it up and find a suitable buyer. I became President and COO in January 2005 and George Crain Jr. stayed on as CEO. In December 2014, the sale completed with Alvarez and Marsal Capital Partners after presentations from many other interested buyers.

In little more than a decade, WHC has transformed from a business catering to a select clientele into a dynamo that eclipsed USD $330 million in sales revenue in 2016. Leadership is at the very core of Warner’s DNA but he deflects any credit. “Our success is the result of dedicated teamwork,” Warner says.

“Our culture is about family first and working together. It’s not about me, or any individual. It’s about the people who do the work. It’s about the quality of our work – we do what we say we are going to do. We live our belief in the value of safety first and treating everyone with mutual trust and respect. We have received three letters of appreciation from clients in the last month alone who appreciate our work ethic and our professionalism,” says Warner.

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