2019 SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies: No. 21 Harper General Contractors
LEADERSHIP David Wise | President
LOCATION Greenville
FOUNDED 1950
If someone were to make a movie about your company, what would be the story you'd want to tell?
Character, diligence, team work, and grit produce healthy and positive results.
What is the one thing that you would want others to know about your company?
Our mission is to build up our communities, our clients, and each other.
What interview questions do you ask or what hiring techniques do you use to hire the right candidate? How important is finding good talent in your company? Have you been able to find the talent you need in South Carolina?
Our culture is critical to our success.
People are our most valuable resource and selecting the right teammates are vital to our success. We conduct multiple interviews with various members of our team to confirm if the candidate and Harper are a good fit.
How do you manage fast growth? What advice would you give to a company in growth mode?
Our focus has been to become a better general contractor believing that good work will lead to more work and drive growth. As we have grown, we have been very intentional about maintaining our culture and operating from our core values. We do not want to lose what has made Harper what it is today. We then work together to position ourselves to take advantage of strategic opportunities as they arise in a dynamic market and industry. Flexibility and resilience are key qualities as we seek always to balance the business opportunities with the capacity of our team.
What lessons did you learn the hard way? If you could go back five or 10 years, what advice would you tell yourself?
To have a more open mind and to listen more.
Do you have a mentor or life coach? What books would you recommend reading? Is being involved in your community important and why?
Mentor/Life Coach: My father and my brother have exercised great influence in my life.
Books: The Bible, The True Measure of a Man, Extreme Ownership, Leaders Eat Last, Good to Great, Small Giants.
Community: Yes, Harper has always invested in the communities in which we live. We have been blessed greatly to be a part of our communities, and we wish to be a blessing to the community.