About Wink: History
Wink Companies, LLC was founded in 1970 (as Wink, Incorporated) by Joseph C. Wink, Jr., P.E. and his wife Ann Smith Wink.
Beginning as a one-man consultancy, Wink Companies has grown into a regional engineering consulting firm with more than 650 employees in multiple office locations.
Two generations of the Wink family now own 100% of this closely-held company, which became a Limited Liability Company in 2006. All of the shareholders are working managers of Wink or its sister company, Universal Personnel, LLC.
The history of Wink Companies is rooted in the professional talent and entrepreneurial spirit of its founder, Joseph C. Wink, Jr., P.E. It is an extraordinary success story. Customer service is its business hallmark; Integrity is at its core.
| 1970's | Wink, Incorporated begins as a small, process-oriented mechanical design firm serving the local refineries in the New Orleans area | |||
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| 1977 | First Home Office - above Joe and Ann’s Garage on Cove Street, 400 square feet | ![]() |
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| 1979 | Move to first commercial office – 2 “shotgun” houses on Mayo Street in eastern New Orleans | |||
| 1979 | 30 employees, $1,500,000 annual revenues | |||
| 1980's | ||||
| 1980 | Surveying division established (W/E Professional Surveys) Universal Personnel begins as a division of Wink, Incorporated | Hayne office was expected to be the last office the company would need – large enough to accommodate long-term expansion goals |
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| 1982 | Company moves to “new” corporate office on Hayne Boulevard | |||
| 1986 | Opening of MS Gulf Coast office in Biloxi Larry Wink is named Vice President of Wink, Incorporated |
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| 1989 | Architectural division is started Office moves to new building on Hayne Blvd: 8000sf |
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| 1989 | 240 employees, $3,500,000 annual revenues | |||
| 1990's | ||||
| 1991 | Company moves to new corporate headquarters at 4949 Bullard Avenue – 35,000sf building, 40% occupied by Wink | ![]() |
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| 1992 | Universal Personnel is made a separate corporation Larry Wink becomes President of Wink |
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| 1997 | Lafayette office is opened | |||
| 1999 | 275 employees, $21,000,000 annual revenues Company occupies 100% of 4949 Bullard | |||
| 2000's | ||||
| 2001 | Baton Rouge Office opens | ![]() |
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| 2002 | Management responsibility transitions to second generation of Wink owner/managers:
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| 2003 | Establishment of offices in James Industrial Park, St. Charles Parish, as a “task force” for major clients in area | |||
| 2005 | Michele Wink Vignes named President of Universal Personnel
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| 2006 | Company becomes LLC, effects major change in management structure | |||
| 2006 | October: 625 employees, projected $70,000,000 revenues | |||





