Our Story
With nearly 12,000 people turning 65 every day, and over half of U.S. businesses owned by individuals 55 and older, the trades: construction, and industrial world is facing a generational shift. And for founders who’ve spent decades building something real, succession isn’t just a business challenge; it’s personal.
You’ve poured your life into your people. You’ve carried the weight of every decision. You’ve shown up early, stayed late, solved every problem, and treated your team like family. Then one day you look up, and you’re tired. Ready for a change. But not willing to abandon the people who helped you build it. That’s where we come in.
William Dean Co. partners with founders who want a fair exit and want their people taken care of. We’ve lived on both sides, being the employee during an acquisition and being the leader integrating one. And what I’ve learned, over and over, is this: once the deal is signed, the real work starts.
Integration isn’t about systems or org charts. It’s about people, new relationships, new expectations, new cultures, new roles. I've helped integrate teams of dozens and teams of hundreds. The challenges are the same, and the answer is always the same: clarity, consistency, empathy, trust, and inspiration. That’s how you build something that lasts.
Before graduate school and my time as an executive, I started my career in the trades, fixing equipment, digging ditches, running teams, and learning what authentic leadership looks like: show up, do the work, listen to your people, and never cut corners. That foundation shaped everything I’ve done since, leading national initiatives, building leadership teams, integrating acquisitions, shaping cultures, establishing boards, and growing companies from $50M to $400M, and I have the scars to prove it.
But the growth I care about isn’t just financial. Its significance.
It’s building companies that matter, companies that outlast us, serve their communities, and give their people a place to grow.
William Dean Co. was born out of that mission, out of a lifetime spent in the field, the shop, the jobsite, the boardroom, and everywhere in between. I’ve made the 2 AM emergency calls, lived out of suitcases, led from the front, and learned from leaders who showed me the kind of character this industry deserves. Now my job is to pass that forward.
We’re here to help founders and teams grow into their next chapter. To protect what’s been built, strengthen what needs support, and build pathways for the next generation to thrive.
We’re here to honor legacy and build what’s next.
We’re not for everyone, and that’s intentional.
We partner with people who want to grow, lead with purpose, and build something enduring. If that’s you, we’ll create something significant together. If not, that’s okay, we’re not your firm.
Our Mission
To grow People and Businesses.
Vision 2030
William Dean Co - Your Trusted Partner for Construction Services
By 2030, William Dean Co. envisions itself as the preferred partner for founders who want to see their businesses transition with purpose and integrity, a trusted steward for founder-led companies in the trades and industrial sectors. Recognized for transforming f businesses into enduring enterprises that continue to grow and serve their communities for generations. Our vision is to be the go-to name for founders who want their life's work carried forward with care, and for investors who believe in growth that honors both legacy and people.
Adam Williams - Founder, Managing Principle
I began my career in the trades, learning early that real leadership starts with understanding the people doing the work. That foundation shaped how I’ve grown companies and built teams, through clarity, consistency, empathy, trust, and inspiration. There are no shortcuts, just show up. I have been blessed with great leadership in my career, and I am on a mission to re-pay that to others in the field.
Over the years, I’ve helped create Operational systems, leadership teams, nationwide transformative initiatives, and integrate new acquisitions and boards of directors. I have been honored to help shape cultures, and guide organizations toward a higher standard of excellence. Growing companies from $50M - $400M in revenue, and I have the scars to prove it.
But what matters most to me isn’t just growth for its own sake, it’s building significance. Through William Dean Co., I’m focused on helping founders and their teams grow a continued legacy for their people, continue their legacy, while creating companies that thrive, endure, and make a lasting impact long after the next generation takes control.