ABC-SEMI Issue 4 2019

12 Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. DALE BELSLEY Dale and Wendy Belsley made an invincible team. The husband and wife duo of 45 years built The Summit Company, a general contractor out of Livonia, Michigan from the ground up and shared the roles of President and CEO. It seemed they were both destined to be in the construction business. Dale had an impressive industry pedigree, having worked at prominent companies like Detroit Edison, Darin & Armstrong/Walbridge-Aldinger, and including extended family ties to Barton Malow. Wendy’s father owned TH Marsh Construction, so she grew up around construction. Like most stories of building a successful business from scratch, the beginning was less than auspicious. Ultimately, a business disappointment led to striking out on their own and, in 1997, with their friend and partner Jerry Bell, launching their own general contracting business. While on vacation in California, during those early days, the family took notice of a beautiful mountain range inspiring a new company name, The Summit Company. Those formative years at the Summit Company were marked by struggle as many new businesses face. They often skipped paying themselves a salary in order to pay their loyal, valuable team. Slowly they began to build the business. Early clients included Bill Knapp’s restaurants, Beaumont Hospital, Wyndham Gardens, The Archdiocese of Detroit, and Shell Oil. Today, business is booming. This year may end up being the most successful yet. Among their projects are renovations to ZF Friedrichshafen facilities in Livonia and Washington Township, R eaches the Summit of Business, Life Belsley Family Dale andWendy have three grown adult children, Scott (Debbie), Kimberlee (Rain) and Jennifer (Tony) along with 12 grandchildren.