Do the Right Thing

If homebuilder Don Wilford were in a western movie he'd be the straight-shooter in the white hat, vanquishing evildoers and offering a helping hand to folks who are down on their luck.

The cowboy analogy is apt in several ways. The 51-year-old Wilford, president of ICI Homes' North Florida Division, becomes an actual cowboy, at least for a couple weeks annually, when he visits a Wyoming dude ranch to participate in a City Slickers-style cattle drive. And he's also an avid hunter and outdoorsman.

But when friends and co-workers compare Wilford to an Old West hero, they're most often referring to his honesty, his work ethic and his willingness to stand up for what he believes.

"Don is just a special man, cut from the same cloth as a John Wayne figure," says Bill Wilson, executive director of Builders Care, the charitable arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. "You can always count on him to do the right thing and get the job done."

Wilson credits Wilford with helping to get the nationally acclaimed Builders Care program started in 2001. Builders Care renovates substandard homes for local residents who are elderly or disabled and unable to afford repairs. Through the end of last year, the organization had completed work on 500 homes.

Wilford, notes Wilson, was among the first builders to throw his support behind Builders Care. Others quickly followed. "Don was one of the first in the area to recognize that the efforts of Builders Care would be a great way to give back to the community," adds Wilson.

Since then, Wilford and his company have contributed countless hours and resources to the nonprofit organization. Once a year, in fact, Wilford closes ICI's offices for a day so employees can work on a Builders Care renovation project. And all ICI employees are involved in volunteerism, ranging from Partners in Education to Second Harvest Food Bank.

"Don's philosophy of giving more than you're getting has extended throughout our company and to all the employees," notes Karen Sutherland, division vice president.

But Wilford's commitment-and organizational skills-were really put to the test last year during the most high-profile initiative ever undertaken by Builders Care. And it all happened on national television, with millions of viewers anxiously following its progress.

Wilson and Bryan Lendry, then NEFBA's president, called on Wilford to help with construction of a new home for a deserving family in Hastings as part of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition television show.

Dozens of local industry professionals joined forces to build the 4,280-square-foot home in an incredible 96 hours. But it was Wilford's ICI crews that were in charge of finishing the project-taking it from bare drywall to completion. Wilford himself worked 38 hours straight to make certain the job was completed.

"Don was like the cavalry riding in when he showed up to start his portion," Wilson remembers. "We were all exhausted, but he came in and refreshed everyone."

Adds Lendry, "I can honestly say that I don't think we could have finished that house without Don Wilford. But I knew that with him involved, I had nothing to worry about. If he says he's going to do something, it happens."

Then, when Builders Care decided to start its own makeover-themed television show earlier this year, Wilford stepped up to the plate again. He sponsored renovation of the organization's 500th home, which was documented in the first episode of Builders Care's Extreme Home Makeover. (The local program airs on WJXT-Channel 4 the second Saturday of every month at 7 p.m., with an encore presentation on Comcast Channel 7 every Wednesday at 7 p.m.).

When Wilford isn't busy helping put roofs over the heads of the needy, he's traveling the state, working to improve construction standards by ferreting out and sanctioning incompetent or unethical contractors as a member of the state's Construction Licensing Board.

Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Wilford to the 18-member panel, which spends two days a month hearing complaints and doling out penalties. Unfortunately, the workload has increased significantly due to an influx of questionable contractors following the tumultuous 2004 hurricane season.

"It's a lot of work," Wilford says. "You work from dawn to dusk those two days, not to mention the preparation you do before you go. But it's a very efficiently run board."

Although industry issues consume much of Wilford's time, he's also involved in other good works. In 2003 he became intrigued with the Inside/Outside program, which provides mentoring for juvenile males serving time in county jail for adult crimes. The program, founded in 1999, is operated under the auspices of the Jacksonville" target="_blank">Duval County state attorney's office.

After being paired with a young inmate, Wilford visited him on a regular basis, slowly building a trusting relationship. A year later, when the boy was released, he was sent to live at the Inside/Outside residential home in Springfield to complete his probation.

Wilford continued his relationship with the youth and, after seeing the positive impact he was able to have, accepted a position on the Inside/Outside board of directors. He's now the organization's president.

"These kids have no one-no positive role models at all," Wilford says. "All they need is someone in their lives they can count on and help guide them. We're all winners if these kids are successful."

As many as six boys at a time live with the organization's director, Johnnie Fisher, after they are released from jail. The goal is to help them further their education, get jobs, remain drug free and develop other skills needed to become self-sufficient.

"I cannot begin to tell you how much Don's involvement has meant here," Fisher says. "He gives so much of himself-his time, talent and money. He has a real knack for pulling people together for a common goal. He's just been an awesome leader for us."

Last year, Wilford was named Mentor of the Year by the state attorney's office. He continues working with and visiting several boys, and is proud of the fact that the first boy he mentored has since earned his GED and works as a plumber.

"It grounds me," Wilford says, "and it also keeps my juices flowing. I see myself working with these boys long after I retire from the construction business."

Not that retirement is in the immediate future. Wilford, who led his division from $6 million in annual revenue a decade ago to $200 million today, is now preparing to guide the company's expansion into Savannah, Ga.

Homebuilding is in Wilford's blood. He's a third-generation homebuilder, and all three of his sons work at ICI as construction superintendents.

The Dayton, Ohio, native started his career in southern Ohio. But by 1984, dismayed by the limited market and the brutal winters, he decided to head to Jacksonville after being recruited by an apartment developer.

"I was ready to go," Wilford says from his Southside office. "I didn't see any chance for growth and I was tired of the cold. It was just time to move on."

After arriving in Jacksonville, Wilford worked for the apartment developer for several years before becoming a freelance project manager for various multifamily and commercial construction ventures. He joined Arvida as a construction manager in 1990.

Five years later, ICI Homes founder and CEO Mori Hosseini, himself a noted philanthropist, offered Wilford the opportunity to head up the newly established North Florida Division of the company he had founded in 1980.

With just three other employees, Wilford began working to establish ICI Homes' local reputation as a quality builder of upscale communities and homes. Under his leadership, the company's local success stories have included Amelia National, Palm Coast Plantation, Julington Creek, Royal St. Augustine, Victoria Lakes, Highland Glen and Tidewater.

Wilford now has a fulltime staff of more than 60-plus 18 sales agents-most of whom have been with the company for five years or longer. Such loyalty has allowed Wilford to spend more time on his charitable work and with the licensing board.

Notes Sutherland, "Don's very fair. He makes decisions and supports the people who carry them out. He also surrounds himself with good people and lets them do their jobs. Those are some of the reasons for his success."

Plus, of course, the good karma that comes with making a difference. "I'm highly compensated in this business, and I believe if you have it, you should share it," Wilford says. "It really is all about giving back."

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP

Inside/Outside: For more information about the program or to volunteer or mentor, contact Johnnie Fisher at (904) 356-0475 or log on to www.insideoutsidejax.com. Donations of household items and furniture are needed in addition to monetary contributions.

Builders Care: To volunteer services or donate resources, contact Bill Wilson at (904) 727-3443 or log on to www.builderscare.org.