By Jean Sealey
Northeast Florida Builders Association
Twins Matthew and Michael and their younger brother Justin Wilford are builders. And, according to their father Don, also a builder, they are fourth - maybe even fifth — generation builders.
Don Wilford, president of ICI Homes of Jacksonville, is justifiably proud of his sons and their choice of career. He can imagine no other that would be more satisfying than building.”
Dad didn’t talk us into becoming builders,” said Matt, a new-home superintendent with ICI Homes. “But we obviously were influenced by his love of the industry and his pride in his work.”
Don, who has been with ICI for 10 years, says his experiences with ICI and company founder and owner Mori Hosseini have made him a better person and a better manager.”
I’ve learned so much from Mori about integrity and honesty,” he said. “It’s not about being perfect or about building a perfect house. That’s not even possible. It is about being honest with your customers and having a commitment to make things right.”
When Don looks to the past, as he has in tracing his genealogy, he is proud of his construction background, which he believes may extend back to a fifth-generation stonemason ancestor. When he looks to the future, he is equally proud - if not more so.”When I am 80, I want my kids coming to my house talking about construction problems, only then it will be their problems, not mine” he said. “I want to relay the message to my sons that this is an honorable and rewarding career.”
Don, who married his wife Lou Ann just after high school, began his career in construction when he was about 12, laying brick and carrying water for his father. During the summer months he remembers his grandfather lamenting that there were no craftsmen left, something he didn’t understand then.
“Technology has changed much of the way we do business,” Don said. “Take communication for example. Everyone today carries a cell phone. A few years ago, we were carrying beepers. Before that we had those cumbersome mobile units. And, at one time, we carried quarters so we could use a pay phone when we needed to talk to someone. In a 50-hour work week, Matt has about 10 more hours of productive time than we did.”
Don enjoys seeing the passion in his sons’ eyes when they talk about construction.”
I like being the person people come to when they have a problem,” said Matt, who in addition to a full time work schedule, is a part-time student at the Florida Community College at Jacksonville in business administration. “I love knowing that I’m building a home for someone who will live in it for along time. We’re building dreams, and that is very gratifying.”
Michael took a slightly different path on his way to becoming a builder. Originally, Michael wanted to become an architect.”
When that didn’t work out, I explored some other options, including several years designing amusement park rides,” Michael said. “But that’s sort of limited in terms of future advancement, and I saw how much Matt and my dad enjoyed what they were doing and decided to go that direction.”
A superintendent with Morrison Homes for the past two years, Michael enjoys being a builder because of the action that goes along with his job.”
There’s always something going on,” he said. “It never slows down. All of us had been around construction all our lives, helping dad around the house, visiting job sites and just watching him, so he has had a major influence on all of us.”
Like his brother Michael, younger brother Justin did not go directly into construction. His career path took him to New York initially.
“I went to film school in New York, but realized that wasn’t for me,” Justin said. “When I watched my dad and brother Matt talk about what they were doing, I could see how much they enjoyed it.”
Justin, an assistant builder with ICI Homes of Jacksonville, said his father and his brothers were positive influences in his decision to go into building.
Now that he’s part of the industry, he plans to stay.”
I’ve always liked designing and working with my hands - taking things apart and putting them back together,” he said. “Now my goal is to advance to builder. Then we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Matt, who has been in residential construction for four and a half years, was recently recognized as an outstanding superintendent for his work with past employer, Mattamy Homes in Jacksonville, by Builders Professional Services. The award is made periodically to a member of the Northeast Florida Builders Association who has been proactive in the industry, has demonstrated a strong work ethic, is responsible to the new-home owner and is dedicated to the building industry.