Gig Harbor’s Wade Perrow Construction, LLC was called one of the state’s top 10 suppliers to local military bases in 2003 by a state-commissioned report. Wade Perrow, president, estimates the company is probably one of the top five builders for the state military, with projects including Fort Lewis, Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and the Bangor Submarine Base.

The company has projects nationwide, and keeps a mix of about 50 percent government/military clients and 50 percent from the private sector. The work locally includes such prominent buildings as the Russell Family Foundation Headquarters in downtown Gig Harbor, the Inn at Gig Harbor, Olympic Radiology in Bremerton, McCormick Woods Clubhouse and Pro Shop in Port Orchard, and Olympic Pope Resources Headquarters in Poulsbo and Charter Title Regional Headquarters in Silverdale. The list is extensive, as is the number of industry awards — not bad for a company that got started in Wade Perrow’s house 25 years ago with the help of his wife.

“Someone made the statement that everybody wants to succeed but not everybody wants to do the work. You have to do what it takes to be successful, set your standards high and expect your partners to set high expectations,” Perrow said.

As the company grew and became more selective, it turns down as many as three out of four projects if it doesn’t meet its quality standards. “A project needs to make a positive impact in the community. When development takes place, it should provide value to the community,” he said.

Perrow, a former Gig Harbor City Council member, can be regularly seen testifying at city meetings in favor of the development industry. He says jurisdictions often lack a vision that could help them identify a growth direction. “They don’t start with the beginning and end in mind, they create a ‘thou shall not.’ But if you accentuate the positive,” and identify what you want instead, that’s what you’ll get, he said.

The “start with the end in mind” philosophy is at the core of Wade Perrow Construction, Perrow said, including company growth and project development. Although he originally didn’t intend to stick around in construction a few decades ago, once he made that commitment, he knew that the “end” would be to start his own business and become successful.

Perrow worked construction jobs while attending University of Puget Sound. “The golden objective was to graduate so I didn’t have to work construction,” he said. At first, it worked — because he attended on a ski scholarship, he got a related job. But when he was laid off, he returned to the building option “until I could figure out what I wanted to do.”

He said with a smile, “I guess 30 years later I am still trying to figure out what I want to do.”

Today WPC is among Gig Harbor’s largest employers, with about 75 staff members. About 70 percent of the labor is subcontracted, and Perrow said finding the right subcontractors is the key. But he doesn’t view company growth from the perspective of increased volume. “Do you need to grow in volume or diversity? Our growth is to develop a niche market — design/build,” he said.

Design/build is a concept that has its roots in the 1800s, when the master builders were responsible for the project from start to finish. Government agencies use this model frequently, and the private market is also embracing it.

Perrow says dealing with the negative approach cities take to planning is discouraging, but he plans to continue staying involved in growth discussions and advocate for starting with the end in mind. “It’s my community. I believe in it and I care about it,” he said.