Mike Oswald, a longtime Hill & Wilkinson executive who is now the general contractor's CEO, said he's looking to strengthen an employee-focused culture at a growing firm where most of the staff is always scattered on far-flung work sites.
He's taking over the Richardson, Texas-based firm after 40-year industry veteran and CEO Paul Driscoll recently moved to chairman after being the top executive for 13 years. The firm — which has about 400 employees, many of whom are on various jobs at one time — is headed toward posting close to $500 million in revenue this year, Oswald said, after revenue topped out at $400 million last year.
"Businesses that have a field component to their operations need to make sure they are providing good conditions for their employees," he said. "When you have hundreds of people out building on 30 to 35 projects spread out throughout the state, you need to make sure they have what they need to make sure everyone gets to go home every day."
To that end, the firm has a chaplain who goes to the firm's various job sites to meet with employees to discuss life issues, he added, all part of a culture that seeks to improve the satisfaction of employees.
Hill & Wilkinson also has been working to expand its mental health efforts to ensure workers have access to the doctors they need through the firm's insurance, Oswald said.
The firm is seeing added financial stability, so he's helping it plan for projects a year ahead of time and giving it the financial flexibility to help focus on employees: "Pricing has stabilized and there's confidence in the market."
Employee Retention Focus
Oswald, who joined the firm in 2004 and was named chief operating officer in 2016 to manage its field operations, wants other employees to follow a similar longevity path. He said one of his goals is to make Hill & Wilkinson known as the go-to general contracting firm where employees "spend their entire careers."
Oswald is an alum of Northern Michigan University, where he earned a varsity letter in football and recognition as a two-time Academic All-America.
A father of three young girls, he likes to hunt, fish and golf in his limited spare time, according to his Hill & Wilkinson biography page.
Hill & Wilkinson has offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Temple, Texas. Besides selecting Oswald as CEO, the firm said Cyndi Amador will continue to serve as its chief financial officer.
The firm also said Peyton Boddie is being promoted to chief business officer, Matt Shem to president and Matt Sisco to chief operating officer.