Providing Quality & Service Since 1971
By Patricia A. Vamos
With a philosophy of providing the highest quality and service for on-time job performance in the drywall industry, brothers Bob and Jim Wies started their business over 37 years ago. Both men had years of experience in the industry with other companies and decided to go on their own. Now a well-established partner to numerous St. Louis area general contractors, Wies Drywall & Construction Corp.’s core business philosophy remains the same as it did upon conception.
Bob’s son, Terry, joined his father and uncle after graduating from college in 1975. He decided to attend carpenter’s school while he learned the trade in the family business. In 1997, Jim Wies retired. Bob Wies remained CEO and Terry Wies became the company President.
Wies Drywall got its start in 1971 with a handful of employees. Having grown steadily over the years, the company now employs approximately 180. According to Bob Wies, “The last five years have been particularly good for us, as we have seen annual revenues jump from the $14 million range to the $28 million range.”
The vast majority of the company’s projects represent commercial accounts and range from schools and offices to hospitals, museums, and airports. Some of the general contractors Wies Drywall works with on a regular basis include: Clayco, S.M. Wilson, McCarthy, J.S. Alberici, HBD, R.G. Brinkmann, R.G. Ross, Legacy Building Group, Harold Helmkampf, Murray Company, and Knoebel among others. A few residential builders that construct custom homes requiring a large amount of drywall are also among Wies Drywall’s customers. Most of the company’s work falls within a 100-mile radius of the St. Louis area, with occasional work for a local contractor out of the area.
On Time, High Quality Performance
“Our business philosophy has always emphasized an on-time job with the focus on quality and performance,” explains Terry Wies. However, the nature of the construction industry is hectic. Many times the construction schedules change and become compressed toward the end of the projects; it becomes challenging to meet the time demands. Bob Wies is himself extremely involved in “running the field,” visiting jobs daily, thereby setting Wies Drywall apart from the competition.
Wies Drywall employs a steady crew of people year-round, about 100 of whom have worked with Wies for upwards of 15 years. The Wies family counts many of them as more than just employees but as long-time friends. Bob Wies notes, “We are even beginning to see a number of second generation employees join the ranks of our team.” Young people are encouraged to enter the field, which is in demand and compensates its tradespeople well.
Over the years, Wies Drywall has completed some pretty innovative jobs. “One that comes to mind is the dome on the St. Louis Science Center,” recalls Bob Wies. It started as a steel structure, and Wies Drywall built studs around it and put on at least four layers of plywood.
“We are even beginning to see a number
of third generation employees
join the ranks of our team.”
The theater inside the building had very specific sound requirements with its high ceiling and various technical challenges. Another project with special sound considerations was the orchestra’s room at Washington University.
A number of these unique projects completed by Wies Drywall have been submitted to various contests. At a recent AWCI convention, a Gypsum Association award was given with an unusual spherical and spiraling design.
Knowledgeable Supervisors On The Job
According to Bob Wies, who has been in the business for 50 years, “I have seen many changes from the time that I started in the industry up until now.” One major shift has been that many customers employ construction project managers who don’t have specific experience, so it is important that Wies has knowledgeable supervisors on the jobs to work closely with these project managers. “This gives us a wonderful opportunity to shine in the area of customer service,” says Terry Wies.
As the construction industry experiences the peaks and valleys of the business cycle, one thing seems to shine clear—scheduling is of utmost importance and project owners are always seeking ways to condense work to complete jobs more quickly. To that end, it is a challenge to balance workloads and workforces. Wies Drywall & Construction Corp. has done an excellent job of managing the changes over the years and will continue to strive to remain on top of the ever-changing industry.