As a teenager, Wilford Barlow (Wil) wasn’t sure he wanted to be a plumber. Despite coming from a family of plumbers, the idea of residential repair jobs, repairing toilets, and backed-up systems weren’t exciting to him. But he loved working with his family, so he graduated early and began his apprenticeship with the family business, UMC Inc. at seventeen years old.
Just like his brother, Heber, Wil grew to love the company and the industry. He loved working outside (except when it was cold) and was pleasantly surprised that UMC’s niche of working on new build multi-unit projects was a great fit for him. It wasn’t typical plumbing repairs. Instead, it was large-scale, commercial plumbing and mechanical work that started from the ground up. In 2010, Wil earned his journeyman certification and began taking on more responsibility in the company.
In 2012, Wil moved to Colorado and began working as a superintendent and project manager/estimator for the company. Though UMC was new to Colorado, by 2013 they had five projects in the area, including a Marriott hotel. As a project manager, Wil began to oversee nearly every part of a project, from the budget, project timelines, reviewing contract changes, pricing materials, and approving design changes. The work excited him, and he grew to love all the aspects of large-scale multi-unit construction that UMC quickly became known for.
In 2014, Wil moved back to Utah with his family. He’s now one of the top leaders at UMC, Inc. and has learned nearly every aspect of the business. One of the things he’s most proud of is being part of the team that developed the company’s core values. For him, integrity is the most important. As a company, he wants UMC, Inc. to be an industry leader in providing quality work. It’s a passion of his to help find the right people who embody the family spirit of UMC, Inc. and the core values he helped envision.
The past year hasn’t been easy. Though the company was spared from project shutdowns due to COVID-19, some team members still caught the illness, and some projects slowed. Things are opening back up quickly, and work is progressing just as material prices are soaring. But Wil isn’t too worried. He knows that the hard work and integrity that guides the UMC, Inc. team will help them succeed through each challenge.
It’s hard to imagine that Wil was hesitant to join the family business or work in the plumbing industry once upon a time. Now, he speaks excitedly about one of the largest projects UMC, Inc. ever tackled, the Liberty Sky project, a 21 story high rise in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s the largest scale project the company’s participated in, and it will dramatically change the city’s skyline. Working with their contracting partners to develop and complete this project will be a major accomplishment. Wil’s excited to see what opportunities it may bring in the future!
