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R.D. Olson Construction has expanded from about $60 million in annual revenue before Bill Wilhelm became president to a reported current range of $250 million to $345 million, while sharply reducing its reliance on work from sister company R.D. Olson Development. The October 5, 2026, Orange County Business Journal profile attributes that transformation to diversification, repeat customers and a leadership approach centered on developing people from within. The figures and forecasts below are statements reported by the Journal, not independently audited results.
From project engineer to president
Wilhelm joined R.D. Olson Construction after graduating from Cal State Long Beach. “This was my first job,” he said. More than 32 years later, he leads the company as president, a role he took on in 2014. Founder Bob Olson remains chairman and described Wilhelm as having “incredible tenacity.”
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Wilhelm’s rise through the company informs the strategy he describes: grow the business while creating advancement opportunities for employees already there. That approach links the company’s expansion to its leadership pipeline rather than treating growth as a matter of winning more projects alone.
Less dependence on sister-company work
Before Wilhelm became president, R.D. Olson Development accounted for about 80% of the construction company’s projects, according to the Journal profile. The reported current share is about 8% to 12% of R.D. Olson Construction’s business. The company’s reported annual revenue was about $60 million before the leadership transition and is now between $250 million and $345 million.
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Wilhelm framed diversification as both a growth opportunity and a way to navigate market swings: “I recognized the opportunity to grow the company, create advancement opportunities from within and diversify the business to better navigate market fluctuations.” The profile does not provide audited financial statements or independent corroboration for these figures, so they should be understood as company information reported by the Journal.
A broader mix of projects
The portfolio described in the profile spans hospitality, market-rate and affordable multifamily housing, assisted living, student housing and special projects. For the five years preceding the October 2026 article, the reported mix was:
| Sector | Reported share of work |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | About 45% |
| Market-rate and affordable multifamily, assisted living, and student housing | About half |
| Special projects | 5% |
The figures are approximate shares reported for the preceding five years, not a forecast or a breakdown of a single year. The portfolio also includes work across a wide area: the company’s Southern California operation extends from Santa Barbara to San Diego and from the coast to La Quinta, while its Northern California office focuses on wine-country projects.
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Projects that illustrate the pipeline
The Journal named several projects as examples of current work and upcoming activity. Costs, sizes and schedules in this section are as stated in its October 5, 2026 profile.
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Senoa Resort and Spa
In Sedona, Arizona, the reported $116 million Senoa Resort and Spa is planned as a 70-room, villa-style wellness resort on 11.5 acres. Construction reportedly began in September 2026, with opening expected in late 2028. The plans described include 29 freestanding buildings, a 5,500-square-foot spa, a two-story restaurant, and 3,200 square feet of meeting and event space.
De Soto Apartments and Ivy Park at Arcadia
The $62 million De Soto Apartments project is a 207-unit affordable housing development in Woodland Hills. Ivy Park at Arcadia is a $33 million, 100-unit assisted living and memory care community. The profile says both projects broke ground in January 2026.
Other hospitality work
Additional projects cited include a $30 million Anaheim hotel renovation and the conversion of Hotel Palm Springs into an upscale boutique hotel. The profile does not state a schedule or unit count for these two projects.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Repeat business and a near-term hiring plan
Repeat customers reportedly generate 77% to 80% of the company’s yearly business. That level of repeat work helps explain how a more diversified portfolio can still rely on long-running customer relationships rather than a single development source.
Wilhelm said the company expects annual revenue growth of 20% to 30%. He also said it planned to add 15 to 20 employees over the two months following the October 5, 2026 article. The company had more than 100 employees at the time, and the profile reported an average employee tenure of 12 years. Growth and hiring are expectations and plans, not completed results.
Wilhelm also described a backlog of projects moving slowly toward kickoff: “We’ve had between 12 and 15 projects that we’ve been engaged in that have not stalled, but have been very slow to the kickoff.” The profile does not identify all of those projects or give a schedule for when they will start.
The longer plan: internal advancement and succession
With the company approaching its 50th anniversary, Wilhelm said the leadership focus extends further ahead: “Today, our focus extends beyond reaching our 50-year anniversary to positioning the company for its 75th anniversary.” The 10-year growth plan, developed over five years according to the profile, emphasizes continued diversification, repeat customers, advancement from within and succession planning.
Wilhelm’s own career is part of that continuity. He said, “I look forward to reaching the 40-year milestone and perhaps even the 45-year mark in another capacity.” His comment points to a possible future role beyond his current post, but the profile does not report a named successor or a specific transition timetable.
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