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Wallace & Smith General Contractors
R. “Bud” Wallace and E.O. “Smitty” Smith went to work as plumbers after World War II ended. Bud and Smitty met each other one evening in 1950 while playing Bridge at Hugh “Bart” Bartenstein’s home. Bart was Bud’s brother-in-law and the owner of Bart Electric Company. That evening, Bud asked Smitty if he would like to join him on a plumbing project that was bigger than he could handle. Bud and Smitty Plumbing was formed before the day was over and licensed in January of 1951. In June of 1951, a general contractors license was obtained in the name of Bud and Smitty Builders. Bud and Smitty Builders began to build houses and the company name was then changed to Wallace & Smith Contractors. Bud and Smitty then teamed-up with Jim Wattenbarger to form Wattenbarger, Wallace & Smith to build a
Jake Smith (son of Bob Smith) began working with Wallace & Smith and is now a project manager. In December of 2005, Alison Wallace Farler (daughter of Bart Wallace) joined the team and is now director of human resources/safety coordinator. Drew Wallace (son of Bart Wallace) began working in January of 2008 and is now an assistant superintendent. In September of 2004, Chris Cooper (son of partner Paul Cooper) became a member of the staff and is now a superintendent. For 60 years, Wallace & Smith
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company utilizes both Union and Non-union businesses in the industry to remain competitive and produce a quality product. The company sees its responsi-
For 60 years, Wallace & Smith has worked to provide its clients with professional, honest service and versatile, efficiently-designed, highquality buildings. tract of homes. After completion of that job, Wallace & Smith then ventured into the field of commercial building by bidding and building a new office facility for Kern Oil Company in 1957. Since then, a number of family members have entered the business. Bart Wallace, Bud’s son, came to work for the company full time after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1975. Bart Wallace and his childhood friend, Bob Smith (no relation to Smitty), assumed control of Wallace & Smith in September of 1983. In January of 2001,
has worked diligently to provide its clients with professional, honest service and versatile, efficiently-designed, high-quality buildings on time and within budget parameters. Wallace & Smith approaches each project with a spirit of teamwork. Wallace & Smith has contributed to the community by building a more beautiful Bakersfield, one building at a time. And though the landscape of construction has changed in our community, Wallace & Smith have kept up-to-date. Today, the
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bility as a general contractor to provide clients with qualified, knowledgeable subcontractors. With experienced staff and the advent of improved technology, the company seems to be building projects faster than ever before. Information and technology in both software and building systems has made the construction industry much more precise and controllable. The company continues to be very proud of its reputation and staff. The team at Wallace
& Smith provides a vast pool of knowledge necessary for daily operations. More and more of the staff are degreed professionals. Wallace & Smith treats clients, business associates, and employees with respect and fairness which has created a workplace environment that is relaxed but very productive. Part of that productivity involves being supportive of local nonprofits, including Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Shafter Chamber of Commerce, Kern Economic Development Corporation, Kern County Builders Exchange, Boy Scouts of America, and St. Vincent De Paul. As Wallace & Smith has grown, so has the size and complexity of its projects. Everyone at Wallace & Smith is in the construction business because they have a passion for building and each one of them believes that Bakersfield will continue to grow and provide the basis for the next generation of Wallace & Smith to move forward successfully.
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YEARS &
GROWING 3325 Landco Drive, Bakersfield, CA n 661-327-1436 Established 1951 www.WallaceSmith.com www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Spring 2011 77