Meet Jonathan Wiles | Grading and Excavation Contractor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Wiles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business while in the process of transitioning from Clemson University Back to Greenville Technical College a school I had previously left. I was having trouble with my truck in this season as well. So it seems I was in a season of adversity and transition. I had my truck parked in the back yard and I was doing a repair but over in the course of the night it rained our as I like to say, ” watered the seeds I had in the ground” non the less the place we were staying at the time did not have grass so when it rained the backyard turned into a complete mud pit. however since my wife and I were renting at the time knew I could not leave the truck in the backyard until it dried. which ironically was months later. So in my brave attempted to get my truck from behind the house I figured I would hit the gas and all started out well to begin with until I slowed down and changed my momentum and direction to avoid the side of the house. this taught me two things. One do not slow down and down not change directions, and two keep rope because at times in life you will get stuck and that’s okay. So I called a trusted friend to help me get out who came with his Toyota Corolla not my first choice of vehicles but it worked.

After this fiasco I noticed the property had what we call in the grading industry as ruts that were about knee deep so again to avoid any penalties from the landlord, I got to work with a shovel. At this point in life I felt I hit a pretty low, I had just left Clemson so I felt like a failure, This truck that I just fixed and got out of the mud now made another mess, and to top it off at the time I didn’t have job but I was exploring entrepreneurship by cutting hair down at Clemson a gift I had learned and mastered while in high school. needless to say I was doing so hot as a person right then and there; but as I continued to fill in the ruts something beautiful was going on in my mind.

I was not worried about any of those failures as I worked. In fact the further I got towards completion the more I realized I enjoyed this a lot more than any of engineering classes, and as I continued even more I felt myself reflecting on the earliest parts of my childhood where I was playing which my tractor toys in the dirt and working with my dad, uncles, and grandfathers and I felt a peace and it was in that moment this is what I need to be doing “Playing in the dirt” Now the shoveling part was for the birds because I was not about to tear my backup hahaha. but the overall process I was in love with so that started me down my path of creating New Venture Grading and Construction.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business New Venture grading and construction is in high demand, requires lots of strategy, and problem solving and is extremely rewarding if you enjoy projects and team work I love that right now it is in the growing stages and is really developing its own identity much like a child right now I have a smaller crew I know I can count on these guys to exceed any of thoughts on a project and really carry things out smoothly and efficiently. What sets us apart from our competition is being quality driven and treating every project like it is our own investment I believe keeping these things at the for front of every projects helps delivery a beautiful end project safely. I believe it is also the fact that we are hungry so we do not mind walking through neighborhoods passing out flyers and speaking to potential customers hearing their needs and working to close and drive the sales on projects we know we can do and others being okay with subbing the work out. I love hearing the Reviews after we complete our projects because I know each one is unique and we try to over deliver so its giving that little extra piece that we feel completes a project. getting to were we are today took prayer prayer! no doubt in that our first project took an act of God I was praying for a year solid for an opportunity to do my first project and it came in two ways that most would be devastated by one a tornado sweep through Spartanburg which led to the need of clean up crews and secondly Covid-19 this created timing for me to complete my first project. The rest has be a real grind and investment but I love it. Over coming challenges requires two P’s persistence and patience. you can not give up easily because if you do you’ll never make it any where you have to learn to ride the wave and know that God will provide and not be afraid to ask for help if your having trouble and be upfront if you do hit trouble that way you can receive help. I want the world to know about my brand and story that God called me to this and that I going to give every thing in my body to do things right when i am on your project.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Off bat we are going fishing, we are hitting the go kart track, and hitting the gun range. food wise barbeque, Jamaican, soul food, and wings, and fish we would be pretty open to experiment on the locations. I always love to go downtown I feel you get a great feel for the city as a whole based off of the culture and environment downtown experience brings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
firstly giving Glory to God My wife, Son, Fathers and mothers and Mentors.

Definitely to my wife, because she is the brains to my operation my “DOO” Director Of Operations as she calls herself. This woman keeps me grounded, prayed up, and encouraged when I start to slip she also keeps me motivated and challenged while also inspiring me to think beyond the moment so I guess you can say she amplifies my business. she is also that peaceful place where I can bounce my ideas off.

My Son while he doesn’t know how to use any of this equipment his eagerness to learn and get involved sparks my drive and keeps me going because it’s so crazy looking at him and seeing his interest in the equipment and how he studies YouTube much like I do. so it reminds me of who I am doing this for and why I move the way I need to so he can be in position to take over and run this corporation one day.

My Fathers so I have one Dad, a D.A.D and Pop and they all play different roles and it’s so crazy to me My dad I take to majority of the projects and he is always their lending a willing hand and helping me out he’s also the means of transportation for equipment and most of the time I can just lean on his wisdom and work ethic to get things done and see things from my point or another vantage point with very little words. My favorite part of this working relationship is when he told my own saying back to me because I honestly didn’t know at the time he read it his words, ” Hey your one grade about the rest right?” then fix it. To my in-laws I appreciate the many long nights of wisdom and helping me see how the industry works how to position my self and leverage every opportunity and the connections you’ve shared with me. I appreciate you guys pouring into my dream and giving me inspiration to dream about the various pieces of equipment we need to go pick up. of course my mothers keep filled with a mothers wisdom and sight.

To my mentors. lord knows I need you guys more than you know. you guys help me sharpen my skill and help aid me get to levels faster while also lending your resources and experience collectively you guys total over 150+ years of experience and I love to draw from that wealth of knowledge and don’t take a moment of it for granted.

Website: https://www.newventuresc.com/

Instagram: @newventuresc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanwiles

Facebook: @NewVentureSC