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Columbia Business Monthly

2019 SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies: No. 16 H&W Electrical

LEADERSHIP Alan Holcombe | President

INDUSTRY Industrial/commercial electrical

LOCATION Greenville

FOUNDED 1973

If someone were to make a movie about your company, what would be the story you'd want to tell?

Hard work works. Do what is difficult and other tasks will become easy.

Stay prepared for opportunity to present itself.

If you're in an unbearably demanding position then you're in the right spot to produce growth. 

What is the one thing that you would want others to know about your company?

We are successful because of our great employees and the networks we surround ourselves with.

How do you manage fast growth? What advice would you give to a company in growth mode? 

We primarily manage growth through delegation to key individuals with proven talent. We salary tier based on talent and bonus structure to incentivize on individual terms. Our employees know what they're working for and they take ownership.

Be fluid and adaptive. Do what works and don't stay rigid in your approach.

What lessons did you learn the hard way? If you could go back five or 10 years, what advice would you tell yourself?

Don't try and do everything yourself. Generally the project profitability and customer satisfaction will be higher through delegation to trusted peers who can address and respond quicker.

Do you have a mentor or life coach? What books would you recommend reading? Is being involved in your community important and why? 

Being involved in the community and giving back to others in need is part of the ethos here at H&W. We sponsor homeless shelters, help with grant money to female scholars, and also help support the local school systems with local agendas for community change.

What marketing tips would you offer other companies? 

For us, the best marketing is word of mouth. Perform your job to the best of your ability, be fair, don't take shortcuts, and your reputation will precede you.

What is the secret to your success?

Having a vision and a dream.