One of the newest members of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce hopes to capitalize on the area's natural gas boom.
Patterson and Wilder Construction, headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., recently has expanded its operations to Montoursville.
The pipeline contractor works in partnership with gas companies to transport the natural gas from the well sites,
"Without the pipeline they are just expensive holes in the ground," Ed Kosarek, vice president of field operations, said.
Kosarek said the company, which began in 1962, continues to be a family and employee owned operation.
"We feel being a family-owned company, we tend to operate as a partnership with the gas companies," Kosarek said. "The owner is very involved. Upper management is typically highly involved in all of the projects."
He said the owner and upper management easily can be found on the job sites during any given stage of a project.
According to Kosarek the company, which employs 10 people full-time and dozens more on a part-time basis, prides itself on its safety records and decades of experience to overcome any challenges any job presents.
"We can work on any size pipeline from two to 36 inches," he said. "We also feel comfortable working in any terrain."
He also said the company has been a part several world record attempts throughout the years, primarily in the company's additional locations in North Carolina.
The company recently set the world record for longest directional drill for laying two miles of 16 inch pipe in Charleston, N.C., Kosarek said, noting Patterson and Wilder is the only pipeline contractor certified as an OSHA Star contractor in North Carolina, a ranking based on the company's safety records and data.
The company also has received recognition from other agencies for its commitment to completing its projects in a safe manner.
Locally the company has been working on a job in Waterville and has bids out on several other jobs.
Kosarek said the company hopes by adding a local presence more opportunities will present themselves.
"Now that we have a presence in the area we think it will make it easier to win some of the bids," he said. "We needed someone here who could represent us at meetings and functions at a moment's notice."
Patterson and Wilder's local representative is Sandy Spencer who has been an active supporter of the Chamber for many years and encouraged the company to join.
Spencer, a business development specialist for the company, agreed that a local presence will benefit the company and present more opportunities in Lycoming County.
"Gas companies like to work with other companies with a local presence," Spencer said, noting the networking opportunities presented through the Chamber will help increase the company's local presence.
For more information about the services Patterson and Wilder Construction offers, visit the website www.pattersonwilder.com or contact Spencer at 279-6192.
