Willdan Group Bundle
Who Owns Willdan Group?
Understanding a company's ownership is key to grasping its direction and accountability. For Willdan Group, Inc., a professional services firm, this insight illuminates the forces guiding its focus on energy efficiency and infrastructure solutions.
Willdan Group, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, has grown significantly. As of December 27, 2024, its annual contract revenue surpassed $565 million, with a workforce of 1,761 professionals. The company's market capitalization was approximately $1.22 billion as of August 3, 2025.
The ownership of Willdan Group, Inc. is primarily distributed among institutional investors and public shareholders. While specific individual holdings can fluctuate, major institutional stakeholders often exert considerable influence over a company's strategic trajectory. Analyzing the Willdan Group BCG Matrix can offer further insights into its business unit performance and strategic positioning.
Who Founded Willdan Group?
Willdan Group, Inc. was founded in 1964 by engineers William Stookey and Dan Heil. Their initial business model focused on providing outsourced engineering services to municipalities, a novel approach at the time. They began their operations in a modest trailer, serving Dairy Valley, now known as the City of Cerritos, in Los Angeles County, California.
Founding Engineers
William Stookey and Dan Heil established the company in 1964. Their combined expertise in engineering formed the bedrock of the business.
Initial Vision
The founders aimed to offer outsourced engineering services to public agencies. This included building and safety, contract staff support, and civil planning.
Early Operations
Operations commenced from a trailer, with the first client being Dairy Valley, California. This marked the beginning of their service to municipal clients.
Founding Partnership
The company was formed as a partnership between William Stookey and Dan Heil. Their collaborative vision guided the company's early growth and direction.
Early Service Offerings
Key services provided in the early stages included building and safety inspections, contract staffing, and civil engineering planning. These services were tailored for public sector clients.
Ownership Details
Specific details on the initial equity split between the founders are not publicly available. Information on early investors or funding rounds is also limited.
The foundational mission of Willdan Group, Inc., driven by its founders William Stookey and Dan Heil, was to provide essential engineering and planning services to public agencies. This focus on serving municipalities shaped the company's trajectory for its initial decades. While specific details regarding the precise equity distribution among the founders or the involvement of early angel investors are not readily available, the company's early growth was clearly propelled by its commitment to its core service offerings. Understanding the Growth Strategy of Willdan Group reveals how this initial vision evolved into a larger enterprise.
Early Ownership Landscape
The initial ownership of Willdan Group was vested in its founders, William Stookey and Dan Heil. Information regarding early external investment or the specific percentage of ownership held by each founder at inception is not detailed in available records.
- Founders: William Stookey and Dan Heil
- Establishment Year: 1964
- Initial Business Model: Outsourced engineering services for municipalities
- Early Client Base: Public agencies, starting with Dairy Valley, California
- Operational Start: From a trailer office
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How Has Willdan Group’s Ownership Changed Over Time?
Willdan Group, Inc. became a publicly traded entity on Nasdaq under the ticker WLDN following its initial public offering in 2006. As of August 3, 2025, the company's market capitalization reached approximately $1.22 billion, reflecting its growth and market presence.
| Shareholder Type | Percentage of Ownership (as of July 20, 2025) | Key Holders |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional Investors | 74% | BlackRock, Inc. (7.9%), Vanguard Group Inc. (5.34%), Forager Capital Management LLC (4.36%) |
| Insiders | 42.72% (as of 2025) | Michael Bieber (CEO, 1.1%), Linda L. Heil (11.68%), Thomas D. Brisbin (Chairman, 2.93%) |
The ownership landscape of Willdan Group is significantly shaped by institutional investors, who collectively held 74% of the company's shares as of July 20, 2025. This substantial institutional backing underscores the confidence major financial entities have in the company's trajectory. The top 23 shareholders alone account for 51% of the business, highlighting a concentration of influence among key stakeholders. BlackRock, Inc. stands as the largest institutional shareholder with a 7.9% stake as of the same date. Other prominent institutional investors include Vanguard Group Inc., holding 5.34%, and Forager Capital Management LLC, with 4.36% ownership in 2025. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds commanded 72.29% of the stock as of August 3, 2025.
Key Stakeholders in Willdan Group
Understanding the Willdan Group ownership structure reveals a blend of institutional and insider influence. This distribution impacts corporate governance and strategic decision-making.
- Institutional investors are the dominant shareholders, holding a majority stake.
- Major institutional holders include BlackRock, Vanguard, and Forager Capital Management.
- Company insiders also maintain a significant ownership percentage.
- Key executives like the CEO and Chairman hold direct stakes in the company.
- Strategic acquisitions can alter the ownership breakdown, especially when stock is involved.
Beyond institutional holdings, individual insiders also possess a considerable stake in Willdan Group, with 42.72% of the company's shares owned by insiders as of 2025. This includes significant holdings by key management personnel. For instance, CEO Michael Bieber held 1.1% of the company's shares as of July 20, 2025. Linda L. Heil is identified as the largest individual shareholder, owning 1.69 million shares, which equates to 11.68% of the company and was valued at $97.81 million in 2025. Thomas D. Brisbin, who serves as the Chairman of the Board and is the former CEO, holds a 2.93% stake in the company. These insider holdings demonstrate a strong alignment between leadership and shareholder interests. The company's growth strategy also involves strategic acquisitions, such as the March 2025 stock purchase of Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (APG), an electrical engineering and construction management firm that generated approximately $37 million in revenue in 2024. Such transactions can influence the overall equity distribution and are a key part of the Mission, Vision & Core Values of Willdan Group.
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Who Sits on Willdan Group’s Board?
As of July 17, 2025, Willdan Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors comprises seven members, with Thomas D. Brisbin, Ph.D., serving as Chairman. Michael A. Bieber, the current Chief Executive Officer since December 30, 2023, also holds a board seat. This structure guides the company's strategic direction and oversight.
| Director Name | Role | Key Committee Involvement |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas D. Brisbin, Ph.D. | Chairman of the Board | |
| Michael A. Bieber | Chief Executive Officer, Board Member | |
| Dennis McGinn | Independent Director | |
| Cynthia Downes | Independent Director | Audit Committee, Compensation Committee |
| Mohammad Shahidehpour | Independent Director | Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee |
| Steven Cohen | Independent Director | |
| Wanda Reder | Independent Director |
Willdan Group operates under a straightforward voting power structure where each share of common stock carries one vote. This means that voting power is directly proportional to the number of shares held by an individual or entity. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, and there are no provisions for cumulative voting, which could otherwise allow minority shareholders to secure board representation. All other matters requiring shareholder approval are decided by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast, unless preferred stock rights dictate otherwise. The company's certificate of incorporation confirms the absence of cumulative voting rights.
Shareholder Engagement and Voting
At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 12, 2025, a significant portion of the company's stock was represented, establishing a quorum. Stockholders voted on key matters including director elections and the ratification of the independent auditor.
- 7 director nominees were elected.
- Crowe LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025.
- Executive officer compensation was approved on a non-binding advisory basis.
- 83.06% of total shares were represented at the meeting, based on the April 15, 2025 record date.
- The company's voting structure is one-share-one-vote.
- No cumulative voting rights are granted.
Understanding the Marketing Strategy of Willdan Group involves recognizing how its corporate governance, particularly the board of directors and voting power, influences decision-making. The one-share-one-vote system ensures that the largest Willdan Group shareholders, in terms of share count, hold the most sway in electing directors and approving corporate actions. This structure is fundamental to understanding who controls Willdan Group and how its strategic direction is shaped by its shareholder base. The composition of the board, with a mix of experienced executives and independent directors, aims to provide balanced oversight, crucial for maintaining investor confidence and guiding the company's growth, impacting Willdan Group ownership dynamics.
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What Recent Changes Have Shaped Willdan Group’s Ownership Landscape?
Willdan Group has seen significant shifts in its leadership and ownership structure over the past few years. A key transition occurred with the retirement of Thomas D. Brisbin as CEO on December 29, 2023, though he remains Chairman of the Board. Michael A. Bieber assumed the CEO role and joined the Board of Directors on December 30, 2023.
| Shareholder Type | Ownership Percentage (Approx.) | As of Date |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional Investors | 74% | July 20, 2025 |
| Institutional Investors & Hedge Funds | 72.29% | August 3, 2025 |
| General Public (Individual Investors) | 21% | July 20, 2025 |
| CEO Michael Bieber | 1.1% | July 20, 2025 |
| Largest Individual Shareholder (Linda L. Heil) | 11.68% | July 20, 2025 |
The company's strategic growth is evident through its acquisitions, including Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (APG) in March 2025, which reported approximately $37 million in revenue for 2024. Earlier, in October 2019, Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3) was acquired, and as of July 1, 2025, E3 secured a $9.8 million contract to support CPUC's Integrated Resource Plan. These developments contribute to the company's evolving Revenue Streams & Business Model of Willdan Group.
Leadership Transition
Michael A. Bieber became CEO on December 30, 2023, succeeding Thomas D. Brisbin. Brisbin continues as Chairman of the Board.
Strategic Acquisitions
Willdan acquired APG in March 2025, adding to its previous acquisition of E3 in 2019. APG generated $37 million in revenue in 2024.
Institutional Ownership Dominance
Institutional investors hold a significant majority of Willdan Group's stock, indicating their substantial influence. This trend suggests that the company's stock performance is closely tied to institutional trading activities.
Financial Performance Highlights
Willdan reported $565.8 million in contract revenue for fiscal year 2024, a 10.9% increase. Net income rose by 97.5% to $22.6 million. The company projects fiscal year 2025 net revenue between $320 million and $330 million.
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