Company Profile
Western Land Services, Inc.
Company Overview
WLS harbors a flexible, stimulating work environment that is family-oriented and recognized for employees who work hard, not because they have to, but because they want to. If you walk into any one of our offices, you will be greeted with smiling faces and warm welcomes – a direct testament to the positive culture that epitomizes WLS. Hard work and dedication is noticed and rewarded, through advancement and monetary incentives. As an Employee Owned Company, our employees also have the ability to share in the financial rewards of ownership. It is our ultimate goal to ensure each and every employee never feels that what they are doing is a menial task, but rather an important contribution to overall organizational success.
Company History
In 1980, John K. Wilson joined the firm as a landman. A graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Business, Mr. Wilson worked his way up through the firm to Vice President of Land in 1989, purchased the company in 1992 upon retirement of T.T. Thompson, and changed the name of the company to Western Land Services, Inc.
During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Western Land Services, Inc. developed into a major oil and gas brokerage service company providing regulatory and land services to oil and gas companies and utilities. Significant clients of Western Land Services during these decades included: Unocal, Arco, Gulf Oil, Mark West, Tenneco, CMS Oil & Gas, Chevron, Martin Marietta, Williams Energy, Marathon Oil Company, Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation, Berry Petroleum, Western Gas Resources, and numerous other smaller independents.
In the late 1990s, Western started emphasizing its expanded service portfolio and also began venturing geographically into other emerging oil and gas plays throughout the U.S. In 1999, for instance, Western Land opened its Sheridan, Wyoming office to service the Powder River Basin CBM play. Western has always managed to stay ahead of the curve, anticipating industry trends and positioning itself amidst the bustle of the oil and gas industry to be easily accessible to clients. Today, Western Land Services, Inc. is a thriving firm, with offices in six states, employing professionals engaged in projects in nearly every state of the nation, and working with many distinguished players of the industry. By 2014 we had over 600 employees working on projects in 18 states.
In 2017 John Wilson sold 49% of the Company to a Trust creating an ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which means eligible employees can become part owners of the Company. The Trust represents employee owners and together we share in the benefits of continued growth and prosperity.
Benefits
As an employee owned Company, our employees have the opportunity to become "employee-owners" and to reap the benefits of their hard work on behalf of our clients as the Company continues to grow.