Background: It’s tough for any child to work side-by-side with parents in a family business - even if you’re just turning wrenches together. How about helping Ron L. Willard Sr. run The Willard Companies, which he started 30 years ago by building custom homes?

The corporation now encompasses 250 employees, a construction company, building supply outlet, three golf courses, several master-planned communities and a shopping center with Smith Mountain Lake at the center of it all.

One development - Water’s Edge - was recently named one of the top 50 country club communities in the nation (by Luxury Golf magazine).

The Westlake Towne Center retail complex is the new crown jewel for Ron Sr. and son Ron II, who came aboard full time after graduating from Virginia Tech in 1992 and currently serves as vice president. Ron II’s sister Kimberly Waters sells real estate part time for the company. Ron II was recently feted by the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce with the “Norma Jean Teass Community Leadership Award,” given to individuals who exhibit strong involvement with the chamber and the local community.

In helping to shape the Smith Mountain Lake area both Ron Sr. and Ron II (who participated in crafting a shoreline management plan) have made their presence well known for years.

Ron Willard Sr. says it is tougher on his children than it is on him when it comes to working together.
“They have to go the extra mile to prove themselves to their colleagues in the company. They [also] seem to go the extra mile to prove to Dad that they can do it beyond the shadow of a doubt.”

Willard says he has never gone out of his way to make it tough on his kids but feels they know there’s a lot to live up to. Ron Sr., 58, lives at the lake with wife Kris, who owns Interiors by Kris, a design firm located there.

Ron II always wanted to join the business according to his father while “Kim wanted to do something different.” She tried interior design and marketing in Atlanta and now sells real estate for The Willard Companies Waterfront Properties Division while also raising a family. Kim lives in Roanoke.

Another son, Lee, is pursuing his own career in Washington, D.C., but his name shows up as designer for the company website.

Ron Sr.’s advice for other business owners that may want to bring their children on board? “Don’t push them. Let them make their own decision. If they want to become involved in the business they will ask for it. In a lot of cases they may take that same business and improve upon it - but pushing doesn’t work.”

Ron Sr. wasn’t surprised by the Chamber award his son picked up earlier this year: “He is such a hard worker, very involved in the community. Ron puts full attention into integrity and people respect that. They appreciate his ability to communicate well with people.”

Ron II saw his award as a sign of respect from his peers that appreciate “what you’re doing for the community and the time you spent volunteering to make the lake area a better place.” Now living in Roanoke after years in Boones Mill, Ron II is also vice president of the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association.

Ron Sr. stays in touch himself through the Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke Valley Regional and Franklin County chambers of commerce and similar organizations in Bedford and Pittsylvania counties. He’s a charter member of the lake’s Lions Club and a past president of the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association.

“I stay connected by being involved in functions that contribute to the community and spend [my money] here,” he said.

For his part, Ron II (as he is known to all) says he didn’t have major trepidation about joining his father in business, having worked there since his early teens. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Willard the younger toiled in all areas of the company - on the golf courses and in the pro shops, in construction, marketing - before settling in as vice president. There are major benefits for him as well: “a sense of pride and a willingness to carry on the Willard name, what my Dad has done as far as building quality and integrity.”

Ron II, 34, calls working for his father a “great” situation he has never regretted, acknowledging that he does try harder to gain respect from other employees that may be looking for signs of favoritism. The relationship at work is as colleagues, not as family.

“I respect him as my boss. It’s on a very professional basis,” he said.

Some days they may not even see each other at the office or in the field, depending on the tasks at hand.

As for the future of Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding area, Ron II sees plenty of commercial growth ahead and a steady real estate market for at least the next 10 years. “Maybe not so much on the water but in the areas surrounding the lake.” Opposition from local residents that want limits on growth has surfaced in recent years, “so you have to be careful in how you plan and work with the community. That’s what we try to do.”

Staying away from shop talk at family gatherings is difficult, admits Ron II: “My dad has always worked six-seven days a week as far as I can remember and is always thinking about the next deal or asking my advice about a project.”

Ron II tries (with varying degrees of success) to steer the conversation elsewhere. Managing to find time for wife Sara and three young children is a daunting task. After-hour meetings and closing the office on a regular basis means weekends are when he makes up for burning the late night oil. “[But] it’s difficult,” he said.

Echoing his father, Ron II says whether or not his children grow up and join the firm is up to them.
“I know when I was coming out of college we had a lot of things going on in the company, and I just wanted to help out. I’ve kind of moved into the family business and really enjoyed it. It’s been very rewarding.”

Gene Marrano is a Roanoke-based freelance writer.

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