In 15 years, Hubert Whitlock Builders (Big50 1993) more than doubled its number of employees from 10 to 22, and its revenue has gone from just under $2 million to a projected $12 million in 2009. “We’re doing the same things we did in 1993, but the mix is a little different,” says Steven Whitlock, vice president of resources and marketing: Custom home building is up, as is high-end condo renovation, and there is a new home-services department.
The Charlotte, N.C., company, begun by Steven’s father, Hubert, has weathered the vagaries of the economy for more than 50 years.
“We have a mission to be a client’s builder for life,” Steven says. “Our idea is to simply keep up with them.
[Clients] were treated a certain way by my father and believe they’ll get the same treatment going forward.”
The Whitlocks — Steven runs the business with brother Scott (president) and sister Stephanie (administration) — have modernized by investing in technology and refining business and management practices.
They’ve nearly met the company’s 2009 goals, with a backlog, but have lost some work because of the economy. They intend to keep the same mix of custom home building and remodeling. “Were working on the next 50 years,” Steven says.
