Holin Wilbanks, Business Development, Forge Contractors

Holin Wilbanks, a Texas Tech University alumna with a rich background in marketing and business, is currently a key figure in business development at Forge Contractors. Her comprehensive expertise—spanning real estate development, construction, engineering, and local government—fuels her innovative strategies. Notably, Holin's four-year leadership as Weber County's Director of Economic Development in Northern Utah marked a pivotal era of growth and partnership. There, she masterfully developed the economic program and led business recruitment, also pioneering the Northern Utah Economic Alliance, a testament to her skill in fostering collaborative success in the AEC industry.

Can you share with us the kick-off moment of your career in the industry?

The first development that I was a part of from start to finish was a 314-unit apartment community in Denver, CO. Watching those buildings go vertical and eventually leasing up the units, knowing many of the residents, was an incredibly satisfying and challenging experience. I knew I was all in after that. Development led to property management, civil engineering, and public economic development making the construction industry a likely next step. . . . Right??

What teams have you played for in your career journey?

Lincoln Property Company, Dallas
CRS Engineers, SLC
Economic Development, Weber County
Big-D Construction, SLC / National
Forge Contractors, Sandy

What kind of training and education have you received to shape your professional game?

BS in Marketing from Texas Tech University
Training: Everyone around me

Do you have a mentor in the industry who has been like a coach to you?

Marianne Jenks: She’s a treasure in the industry. Her humility, her knowledge, and her devotion to family and her profession have been an inspiration to me from the day I first met her. She is usually the smartest person in the room, but she will gladly take on any task given to her.

Scott Wilder: My first boss in a “real” job. He challenged me, saw potential in me, and gave me a seat at the big kid table when I was young professional. I messed things up, learned a lot, and he always pushed me to continue to grow, be smart, work hard, and laugh at myself from time to time.

Where is your hometown?

Waco, Texas

As a rookie in life, what career goal were you aiming for?

I thought I was going to work in the sports industry as an agent or college athletic director. Then, when I was waiting tables after graduating from college, I realized that a career in athletics may not be my best path. I haven’t looked back since. Real estate and construction are intriguing, competitive, and risky, making them challenging, rewarding, and a ton of fun.

Looking at the scoreboard, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

My milestones and goals for Forge are to build it to a $250M company, bring in 8–10 new clients/year, and hit 75% negotiated business.

What drives you to give your best performance each day at work?

1. My 13-year-old daughter. I’ve loved how much she supports me professionally. I make it a priority to not miss her games and school activities. I know her friends, braid her hair, and participate in anything where a tweenager will let me in. She has a great respect for the balance that comes with work and mom-ing. It makes me work hard to be a good example for her.
   
   
   
2. Hate to be cliché, but the other part of why I love coming to work is the people I get to work with. Finding like-minded humans to grow a company together makes for a pretty special ride and a great place to come to everyday.

What’s one productivity tool you can’t imagine being without?

I’ll give you two: GPS and our iRobot vacuum.

Reflecting on your first month in the industry, what game plan advice would you give to your rookie self?

“Never stop growing, my darling.” Coming into the construction industry, I knew just enough about what I needed to—development, subcontractors, procurement, business partners, and the complexity of building something cool—that I had many awkward learning moments. Now, being able to point out projects dotting the Wasatch Front that have my fingerprint on them makes me really proud.

What is the last book you read?

Good to Great by Jim C. Collins. We read it as a company.

What podcast(s) that you tune into most frequently to get in the zone?

The Ed Mylett Show and Trail Manners

What are your most-used emojis?