Larry Wombles
STI/SPFA recently spoke with Larry Wombles, Chief Executive Officer at Paso Robles Tank, Inc., about his career in the steel fabrication industry.
STI/SPFA: Tell us about the history of your company.
Larry Wombles: We purchased Paso Robles Tank, Inc. (PRT) on June 1, 2006. At the time PRT was doing shop fabrication via tank plate squaring, beveling, blasting/priming, and small accessories for four to five field erected tank companies in the western USA. After we purchased, we started to bid field erected jobs as I had years of experience in the field as a tank erector as well as in-office as engineer, sales/estimating, and project management.
Shortly thereafter, PRT became the market leader in public works welded steel water tanks in primarily California. PRT grew over the years to include stainless steel wine/beer and some pharma stainless steel tanks.
PRT continued to look for ways to better serve the industry in complete turn-key operations. On January 1, 2011, PRT was acquired by Associated Construction and Engineering, Inc. (ACE) who also acquired Associated Tank Constructors, Inc. (ATC), and Canyon Springs Enterprises, Inc. (CSE).
Going forward, PRT would acquire all the intellectual property of Brown Minneapolis Tank (BMT), Sierra Stainless, and a couple other firms to grow its infrastructure, knowledge, and market share in both AWWA, API, NFPA, and other specialty shops and field erected storage tanks.
With the addition of ATC Paint and CSE, PRT was able to offer complete turn-key services thus creating a higher level of synergies in our strategic planning/growth. Recently, ACE (parent company) acquired all the intellectual and proprietary assets of Ultraflote LLC to help expand our offerings in aluminum geodesic dome roofs, internal floating roofs, and covers for wastewater treatment plants.
Today, PRT is the #1 water field erected welded steel tank manufacturer/erector in the western USA with ten to fourteen field crews in field erection and supporting those efforts in our two shops in Paso Robles, Calif. and Hemet, Calif. PRT continues to look for ways to expand and grow our services. PRT next adventure will be offering welded/bolted/concrete tank maintenance agreements for 5-10-15-20 years.
STI/SPFA: How did you get your start in the industry?
Wombles: Fresh out of the United States Marine Corps, I started working in the field as a boilermaker for a California tank company where my father-n-law, Carl Pape, was currently working.
(108) Shop Fabricated Tanks – Winery Expansion
STI/SPFA: Who has inspired you in your career?
Wombles: I have been inspired by many great leaders in this industry. Sadly, many have since passed, and I have benefited from having known them and watched, listened, and learning all they were willing to teach me over the years. All these mentors have forgotten more about the trade than most will ever know.
- Carl Pape taught me sales/estimating in the public works sector.
- Leslie Scott has taught me about tank engineering, professionalism, and dedication.
- Dean Shipp (deceased) taught me about private sales, project management, and material procurement.
- Ron Hogeland (deceased) taught me about shop and field blasting and coatings in the tank industry.
- Jess Marquez (deceased) taught me the basics of how to be a business owner and what to look for, seek, and identify.
The list could go on, but these men were greatly beneficial in my mentoring, training, and growth within the industry.
STI/SPFA: What’s been your favorite or most memorable moment of your career so far?
Wombles: Favorite or memorable moments have been watching the natural progression of my sons starting their careers of tank erection over last twenty years in the field, to shop, to office admin, project administrator, estimator, sales/marketing, to officers, and now one being the President of PRT and the other the Sales and Marketing Director of ACE.
Other memorable moments are watching staff grow within, stay for their career(s), and retiring with PRT; and the honor that goes along with all the above.
Mission Hills Reservoir
STI/SPFA: What advice would you give someone who is interested in working in the industry?
Wombles: Know when to hold and when to fold. Pride is both a blessing and a curse.
STI/SPFA: What do you think will be the biggest challenge facing the industry in the next three to five years?
Wombles: Continuing changing of codes/standards in design, safety regulatory compliance, and environmental efficiencies.
STI/SPFA: How has STI/SPFA Membership helped you and your company succeed and grow in today’s marketplace?
Wombles: Competitors, vendors, suppliers, etc. being able to come together and offer, listen, and learn from one another the changing landscapes of industry in safety, regulatory, and marketing. While most of us are competitors, we all have the best interest in our industry and offer help, advice, and forward thinking about our industries.
