Episode 58
Ben Westra, fourth-generation builder and president of WDS Construction, joins the show for an inspiring conversation on family legacies, leadership, and giving back. Known for steering his company to national prominence while staying rooted in core values, Ben Westra shares real stories from his journey and reveals how partnership and perseverance are the foundation for business success.
From humble beginnings working in his family’s yard to building a business that serves clients across 47 states, Ben Westra pulls back the curtain on the relationships, moments, and philanthropic spirit driving WDS forward.
Highlights:
03:43 - Well, I'm a fourth generation contractor and you know, WDS stands for William, Dewey and Steve. That's my great grandfather, grandfather, and father. So as a young kid, I still remember getting in the back of the car on a Saturday morning, driving around to job sites with my dad and my grandpa and just loved being on the job site, having my own little hard hat and being able to hear the stories from the backseat of what were they working on that week, what were they struggling with, and just left a real impression on me. And from there, I realized that construction was just in my blood. It's what I was meant to do.
06:59 - One of the things that I've realized over the last 20 years has been that where I originally thought construction is notoriously transactional, whether it's low dollar, low bid, whatnot. But the way we get repeat work is all relational, all because of our relationships. 80% to 90% of the work at WDS is with repeat clients. And it's all due to our people, to be honest with you. Right? They're the ones that are continually building those relationships. And that's completely foreign from the way I thought it was when we started.
17:58 - At WDS, our core purpose is to provide for WDS families and build communities through our passion for construction. And that doesn't just mean we're building the 250,000 square foot cold storage facility. And that's all we do, right? To be able to build communities, we need to help others and maybe help the least of these. Right? So how do we work with these nonprofits to make that happen? WSD Works makes that a priority. Like we're going to try to knock these jobs out of the park, just like we would for a massive pharmaceutical plant. Right? So they are the best ribbon cuttings you could go to. Not a dry eye in the room.
The Banking on Business podcast is aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses with practical strategies they can start using today. Hosted by Erik Waisanen and Becki Schimpf, each episode features an expert guest and explores ways to innovate the way you do business.