Our Management

Oregon D.O.T. Prequalification

Letters of Recommendation

Rich Wanke - President & CEO - Rich began full-time contracting in 1971. Since that time, he has functioned in the capacity of a working superintendent in many trade areas, including virtually all phases of sandblasting, coatings, concrete & steel repair, and cathodic protection. He has completed numerous cathodic protection projects which consisted of design consulting recommendations and installing cathodic protection systems for both steel and concrete structures. Rich is licensed in the State of Oregon as a Limited Energy Journeyman Electrician. In addition, Rich has also been a certified journeyman welder, fabricator and pipe fitter, along with being a certified crane operator. Rich’s personal ratings also include a CDL drivers license, and although the company no longer owns it's corporate twin engine airplane Rich had logged well over a 1000 hours of both twin and single engine PIC flying time mostly in work related travel.

Karen Wanke - Executive Vice-President & Office Manager - Karen has been an integral part of the Great Western team since the beginning. She has performed our accounting and office management full-time since 1969. Her areas of expertise include record keeping, accounting, and an ability to keep the office running smoothly.

Kellie Wanke-Hanks - Vice-President - Kellie is our Quality and Efficiency Control Specialist as well as our EEO and Safety Officer. She has worked with us full-time since graduating from Seattle Pacific University in 1994, though she also worked with our company part-time since 1985. She has an excellent working knowledge of all phases of cathodic protection and is responsible for all of our cathodic protection classroom training and certification. Kellie also performs all of our in-house Computer Aided Design, CPM scheduling & web design.

Kevin Wanke - Transportation & Equipment Specialist - Kevin has worked with our company full-time since 1994. He is our primary truck driver and equipment operator. He is a journeyman crane operator and is also highly skilled at operating numerous other pieces of equipment, including boom trucks, forklifts, manlifts, and excavators.

Aaron Richard Wanke - “Executive Grandson" - Aaron is primarily in charge of toy acquisitions. Aaron may be a bit young for the construction industry, but his Dad, Kevin, and Aunt Kellie also started to learn the business at about the same age. As the photo depicts, Aaron is anxious to take over his dad’s role as crane operator.

Joel Richard Chester Hanks - “Junior Grandson” - Joel is primary in charge of office morale and performs his duties primarily by giving hugs and smiles and keeping everyone on their toes. He already shows an aptitude for the family business as he loves to help Grandma or Grandpa build with blocks and lincoln logs. We’re not sure if he is more interested in the building side of our industry or in demolition, however, as he seems to get great joy from knocking over whatever he has just built.

Mark Saxon - Superintendent - Mark is our project working Superintendent on the McCullough Bridge Project and has been with our company since 1990. He has been certified to perform all phases of cathodic protection work in the states of Oregon and Alaska. Mark has coordinated and performed all phases of cathodic protection work and railroad bridge repair. He has had an excellent working relationship with the State inspection forces on our public projects.

Robert Magill - Foreman - Bob is our project working foreman and has been with our company since 1990. He has been certified to perform all phases of cathodic protection work in the states of Oregon and Alaska. Bob has coordinated and performed all phases of cathodic protection work and railroad bridge repair. He has had an excellent working relationship with the State inspection forces on our public projects.

Jayme Morgan - Jayme has been a part of the GWC family for several years now and has taken on many roles, including facilitating, special projects, and assisting with project management duties. He has been very important to the success of our projects as his duties include working closely with all our management and crew. Jayme is also OSHA 10 & OSHA 30 & certified and will soon become a Certified Welding Inspector.

Wade Campbell - Superintendent - Wade is our project working Superintendent on the Siuslaw Bridge Project. He has been with our company since 2008, and has been certified to perform all phases of cathodic protection work. Wade has coordinated and performed all phases of cathodic protection work and has performed consulting for GWC on steel deck zincing on a project in St. Louis. Wade has an excellent working relationship with inspection forces and other contractors.

Tamara Williams - EEO, HR & Safety Compliance Specialist - Tamara has joined us after extension experience in HR. She manages our safety program & EEO compliance. She is also closely involved in all HR activities & assists with various other items within our office. Tamara is OSHA 10 certified & will soon begin working on her OSHA 30 certification.

Damon Saxon - Foreman - Damon started working with GWC several years as a general laborer, and has since shown his aptitude for being a working foreman. By working in various fields, he has developed proficiency in the cathodic protection processes as well as the assembly, disassembly, and moving of our enclosure system. Damon is also an NCCCO Certifed Crane Operator.