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60 Years in Business: Inside Business Anniversary Issue

July 13, 2020 by WPLSite

Founded: 1960 in Norfolk by Wilfred P. Large

Headquarters: 242 Mustang Trail, Suite 8, in Virginia Beach

About us:

WPL is certified as a Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned (SWaM) business in Virginia. The Virginia S corporation offers a full range of professional services in landscape architecture, land surveying and site engineering throughout southeastern Virginia and across the commonwealth.

Current owners: Billy Almond, principal in charge, Landscape Architecture Division; Eric Garner, principal in charge, Land Surveying Division; Brian Large, chief financial officer; and Erick “Smitty” Smith, senior associate/construction administrator

Milestones reached: In 1977, before 401(k)s were a standard, Wilfred set up a program to put money aside for employees’ pensions. Wilfred also paid for employees’ insurance back then.

Adding the site engineering division when Wilfred’s son, Lance, came to work for the family business after graduating from Virginia Tech with a site engineering degree.

Growing the firm by adding the Landscape Architecture division in 2000.

Obstacles overcome: In 1959 with the economic downturn, Wilfred and Buddy broke off to start their own land surveying firm. Wilfred borrowed $1,500 from his brother-in-law to buy their one set of survey equipment to get them started.

As a startup company, they had to battle the big survey firms to win work. The challenge was breaking into the business as a two-man firm with one administrative person, but they did it by forming relationships and providing quality service.

At one time, WPL was running eight crews but was not profitable at that size, so the executives cut back on the number of survey crews and became more efficient once again for all market sectors.

Keys to longevity: “Everyone can do what we do. But Wilfred preached service. Call people back and communicate with the clientele. Keep your promises. Building relationships, they can last a lifetime,” William “Buddy” Pritchard said. He said Wilfred used to turn his watch back 15 minutes to ensure he would always be on time and pushed Buddy to do the same.

What’s next: WPL is now on the forefront of major issues affecting coastal Virginia such as sea level rise, recurrent flooding and stormwater management, which are all design criteria in all development projects. Stewardship of the land is our mission for the future.

For more information: Kate Cerone 757-431-1041, Ext. 20; Wplsite.com or @wplsitedesign on Instagram

Source: https://digitaledition.pilotonline.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=b1a3f754-3ddb-4ca2-bc82-cd521ffef4f7

WPL Blog,  WPL News Site Engineering,  SWaM,  Professional Services,  landscape architecture,  virginia beach,  60 years,  60th anniversary,  Land Surveying

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242 Mustang Trail, Suite 8
Virginia Beach, VA 23452


t: 757-431-1041
f: 757-463-1412

Virginia License #0407003545
North Carolina Landscape Architecture License #C-434
North Carolina Land Surveying License #C-3995
Virginia SWaM Certified #672211

swAm Certified Pearl Business Virginia Green

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