Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Wright.
Doug, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 2009 with a degree in Civil Engineering and immediately relocated to Houston to begin my professional career, first working as a Superintendent at a well-known private country club. Within two years, I was introduced to Jon O’Donnell, Division President of Heritage Links, an internationally recognized golf course construction company. I joined Heritage Links five years ago and currently serve as a Project Manager for both domestic and international projects.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In general, it has been a pretty smooth road. I was fortunate to receive a good education and found myself in the right place at the right time. Success isn’t just about skill – there is also some luck involved, and I was lucky to meet the right individuals. In my five years at Heritage Links, we have created a wonderful team and culture that has allowed us to grow every year. As with any business, there are constant challenges, but we have yet to encounter one that we haven’t overcome.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Heritage Links – what should we know?
Heritage Links is a golf course construction company based in Houston with offices in California, Florida, Nebraska and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I like to think of ourselves as a boutique company because we are experts in a very specialized field of construction. We are a Certified Builder by the Golf Course Builders Association of America, a certification which indicates we are one of the few companies at the pinnacle of the industry and have achieved the highest standard within the golf course construction field. Over the years we have also branched out to include sports field construction. As a Project Manager, I am personally responsible for developing new business, generating estimates and submitting proposals, negotiating contract terms, managing the operations of specific projects, and ensuring the successful and profitable completion of our projects.
As a result of our hard work and reputation within the golf industry, we are proud to have been involved in many of the most well-known golf course construction projects of the past fifteen years. We built Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, venue for the 2015 US Open. In 2007 we built Liberty National for Reebok owner Paul Fireman, at the time the most expensive golf course ever built, and is also the immediate past site of the Presidents Cup. We have also completed projects for Donald Trump, then a non-President, and Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons football team, along with many other well-known clients. Additionally, we have constructed sports field for the Liverpool FC and Houston Dynamo soccer teams.
There are several things which sets us apart from our competitors. Firstly, we are owned by a parent company, Lexicon, Inc., which is based in Little Rock, Arkansas and specializes in steel fabrication and erection. As a division of a large parent company, we are provided with unparalleled financial support which allows us to target projects of any scope and size. In 2015 we formed a joint venture partnership with Asian golf retailer MST Golf and was created out of the necessity to serve the growing Asian golf market. This partnership provided clients and customers with turn-key services that include design, construction, and renovation of new and existing golf facilities.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
With every project we undertake, we apply the three same goals: deliver the project on time, on budget, and to the highest quality of work possible. The fact that we have been involved with some of the most recognizable golf courses in the world and have had the opportunity to work with internationally recognizable businessmen and women is a testament to our ability to achieving these goals.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6707 Cypress Creek Parkway
Houston, TX 77069 - Website: www.heritage-links.com
- Phone: (281) 866-0909
- Email: dougw@heritage-links.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heritagelinks/
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