{"id":4649,"date":"2016-09-14T14:29:37","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T14:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mountainproductions.com\/blog\/?p=4649"},"modified":"2017-01-26T18:10:16","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T18:10:16","slug":"meet-mountain-decades-experience-lifetime-stories-ronald-wilkinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainproductions.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/14\/meet-mountain-decades-experience-lifetime-stories-ronald-wilkinson\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Mountain: Decades of Experience and a Lifetime of Stories\u2014Ronald Wilkinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of Mountain Productions\u2019 most loyal and experienced team members knows the value of longevity. On June 13, 1984, Ronald \u201cWilky\u201d Wilkinson<\/strong> was offered a two week job by Steve Thomas that sparked a lifelong career.<\/p>\n

This \u201ctwo week\u201d stint ended up occupying Wilky\u2019s time until Thanksgiving and, in February of 1985, he was invited to the first ever CM Hoist School hosted by Mountain Productions<\/a>. It was then that he was offered and accepted a full-time position within the growing company.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe rest is history,\u201d reminisced Wilkinson. \u201cI joined the Mountain team in 1984, serving as a truck driver and scaffold builder, and have been here ever since.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Ronald “Wilky” Wilkinson from 1991 at Stafford University<\/p><\/div>\n

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The long road ahead<\/h3>\n

Wilkinson has seen the entertainment industry grow to unimaginable heights and has seen Mountain Productions rise up to surpass expectations along every step of the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a part of Mountain\u2019s growth for a long time,\u201d said Wilky. \u201cThe company has evolved from gigantic scaffolding towers, holding huge stacks of speakers, to expertly engineered tower systems that support the demands of today\u2019s high-tech sound, lighting and video systems.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Wilky has worked with Mountain for decades on its largest projects (Left \u2013 1993 Clinton Presidential Inaugural Event; Right \u2013 1988 Staging for George Michaels)<\/p><\/div>\n

Wilky\u2019s time with the company has given him a rare glimpse into the \u201cdark ages\u201d of entertainment production that only long-time veterans share. Having been in the industry since Mountain\u2019s infancy, he remembers back on a time when safety wasn\u2019t always the number one priority.<\/p>\n

Mountain carried a rare and refreshing outlook on the importance of safety protocol that resonated with our current Director of Staging Operations. Wilky remained at Mountain Productions because he knew the challenges the industry faced, and saw the determination of the Mountain team to become the leader of a safer\u00a0and more effective entertainment industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over time, qualified engineering, safety protocols, reinforced equipment and fabrication processes became mandated throughout the industry. The fact that Mountain Productions was at the forefront of these advancements creates a tremendous sense of pride within\u00a0Wilky.<\/p>\n

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2000 \u2013 Tower System for Andrea Bocelli<\/p><\/div>\n

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A mountain of innovation<\/h3>\n

Nearly forty years later, Wilky remains loyal to his team at Mountain Productions. He finds that, as the industry evolves, new challenges arise, but can\u2019t imagine there being a team with more experience and with more fortitude willing to meet those challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy coworkers have proven themselves,\u201d said Wilkinson. \u201cWith every project, they deliver a sense of quality and integrity that demands my respect, and has earned the respect of our clients, throughout many years of dedicated service.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While Wilky has worked in a number of capacities within the Mountain Productions family, he finds himself deeply engaged\u00a0in his current position. As the Director of Staging Operations for Mountain Productions<\/strong>, Wilky looks toward his experience to help deliver a world-class experience to our clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cI coordinate the daily interaction between the Sales Department, Engineering, Clients, Warehouse and Road Staff and make sure that everything and everybody are where they\u2019re supposed to be to get the job done,\u201d he explained. \u201cI use my 41 years of experience to help facilitate the design, sales and engineering of the cutting edge, industry-leading services and products we provide.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Wilky and the Mountain crew working on the Bloomsburg Fair’s permanent installation stage system<\/p><\/div>\n

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Leading the industry into the future of event production<\/h3>\n

Wilky\u2019s extensive history with production allows him to tackle all of these tasks more efficiently than most teams can. While he knows the value and advantage of longevity, Wilky also keeps his eyes open for the up-and-coming prospects that will take entertainment production into the upcoming years and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are always on the lookout for promising talent from local crews at the various venues we serve,\u201d he explained, remembering his own hiring experience.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wilkinson finds the passion of his coworkers contribute to the long-term success of Mountain Productions and help to strengthen our reputation as North America\u2019s leader in staging, rigging, and installations.<\/p>\n

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Wilky was a lead supervisor, coordinating the construction of two Mountain Truss Systems for the NFL Draft Selection Square’s enormous system<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPride, hard work, dedication and innovation,\u201d started Wilky. \u201cThat is the culture of Mountain Productions. We are constantly improving and expanding the products and services we offer, and our venture into international markets opens a whole new spectrum of opportunities.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The term \u201cMTNStrong\u201d<\/strong> holds special meaning to Wilky, who witnessed its power long before the hashtag craze.<\/p>\n

\u201c#MTNStrong<\/strong> represents all of the dedicated employees of past and present who have made Mountain Productions into what it is today!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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