Watkins Services, Inc. has grown from humble beginnings as a father and son business, to a highly respected industry leading company. Our roots are in hands-on training, a professional southern work ethic, lessons learned from life experiences, honesty, and integrity. These values were passed on to Steve Watkins, from his father, Jesse, and continue to be the foundation of our company.
After working together in the Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina for several years, Steve and his father came together in 1978 to form Watkins Industries in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At that time the primary service provided by Watkins Industries was commercial roofing and waterproofing. With the combined experience and knowledge of both Jesse and Steve, as well as the business management and bookkeeping skills of Steve’s wife, Linda, the newly formed company began to grow. As the years passed, they eventually became viewed as an authority in commercial roofing. During this time Steve’s son, Steve “JR” Watkins II, came to work for the family business. JR continued in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps as a master at his trade.
A test of any company’s salt is often shown in its ability to adapt to changing market needs and demands, as was the case at Watkins Industries. Many clients were so satisfied and impressed with the level of workmanship, knowledge, and general caring that they were requesting Watkins Industries handle their entire remediation project. So the company’s evolution continued, and Watkins Services, Inc. was formed to fulfill this ever growing demand. The phones continued to ring, but now it was also attorneys asking Steve to handle the forensic inspection on a building, document all his findings, and serve as an expert witness. The calls also came in from engineers requesting assistance with destructive testing, detailed repair scopes, and project remediation. Property managers were asking for project consulting, detailed cost estimates, and repairs.
Watkins Services, Inc. continues to evolve and has again separated itself as the industry leader. We are one of the few companies able to handle any project from the initial consultation, including forensic investigations and destructive testing; to expert witness testimony; to full project management and remediation. With over three generations of experience and knowledge, we now handle projects ranging from relatively minor repairs to multi-million dollar full scale remediation.
