Exceeding Expectations

duties required, Keith found himself making contacts in the building industry that would laterprove valuable in building his own business. He continued to study and was successful inobtaining his own general contractor’s license.In 1985, when it became obvious that Tucker Construction was struggling to remain solvent,Keith created a business plan to start a concrete subcontracting firm and invited Eric to joinhim as a partner. Both had been taught that you couldn’t “get ahead” working for someoneelse, and they felt the possible rewards out-weighed what was a substantial risk for them atthat time. Each managed to raise $3,000.00 to contribute to a company bank account forWayne Brothers, Inc. (WBI). Eric and one employee began to do some small jobs for the newcompany, while Keith stayed on with Tucker Construction until October 1985 in order to helpclose things out there in an orderly way.The brothers were beginning their business in an optimistic business climate for Kannapolisand its surrounding area. After more than three-quarters of a century as one of the country’slargest unincorporated towns, the citizens of Kannapolis had been motivated by the sale ofCannon Mills, annexations by neighboring Concord, and the desire to guide their own future, toincorporate after years of spirited debate over the question. New mill owner and entrepreneurDavid Murdock, who purchased the giant mills in February 1982 in a leveraged buyout,encouraged the town to assume responsibility for its local governance after years of leadershipby Cannon Mills Company. Despite concerns over the costs and taxes involved in operatinga city government, there was also excitement over all the building projects underway inKannapolis. In some Kannapolis circles, there was also concern about the ambitious annexationprogram being pursued by the City of Concord. The spirit of optimism and confidence in thefuture displayed by Mr. Murdock was infectious, and local business owners expressed a similarconfidence in the future of an energized Towel City.With their small initial capital, Wayne Brothers began work with rented equipment. Theyleased two backhoes and a dump truck from Griffin Leasing, and began to solicit concretesub-contracting jobs. The contacts Keith had made at Tucker Construction began to paydividends, as small jobs were referred to them. As they demonstrated an unfailing attention todetail and a strict adherence to scheduling deadlines, the contracts increased in both difficultyand in amount. The young company worked on motel projects in the growing Rock Hill area,then secured its first substantial contract in 1985 for the concrete work at the Carowinds OutletMarketplace. Keith Wayne’s third child, Daniel, was born later the following year.16 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS