Scaling to Industry Leader in Telecommunications Infrastructure

Craig Snyder is the Chairman and Founder of VIKOR, a full-service wireless infrastructure construction company that builds and services telecommunications, renewables, and utility infrastructure across the United States. Under his leadership, VIKOR has been named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list for four consecutive years. Over his more than 30-year career, Craig has emphasized a people-first culture dedicated to cultivating talent and leadership from within.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [2:27] Craig Snyder describes his early entrepreneurial drive and the events that led him to start Sioux Falls Tower
• [4:52] How Craig selected his business partners and the support they provided in the company’s early years
• [6:41] Lessons Craig learned from losing his largest customer and diversifying to de-risk the business
• [13:32] How the rise of cellular networks fueled VIKOR’s growth and why Craig scaled without outside capital
• [19:34] Technology and safety innovations VIKOR adopted to improve operations and efficiency
• [23:43] Why Craig co-founded the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) and its industry impact
• [27:38] The decision to build VIKOR into a multi-generational business and implement a board of directors
• [32:59] Craig’s long-term vision for the continued growth and future leadership of VIKOR

In this episode…

Many founders begin with nothing more than a vision and the determination to pursue it, but the journey rarely unfolds the way they expect. Early wins can vanish overnight, and unexpected crises can threaten to derail even the most committed entrepreneurs. What does it take to build a resilient company that can withstand volatility and growth?

Telecommunications industry pioneer Craig Snyder emphasizes perseverance, diversification, and disciplined leadership. He highlights the importance of expanding beyond a single major customer, adopting technology early, and building strong operational systems. Setbacks can become catalysts for innovation, and principle-driven decision-making sets the foundation for long-term growth.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Craig Snyder, Chairman and Founder of VIKOR, to discuss building and scaling a resilient business. He shares how losing a key customer strengthened his strategy, why adopting new technology accelerated growth, and how establishing a board shaped his company’s future.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Susan Kearney on LinkedIn -   / susanpkearney  
• Heather Bennett on LinkedIn -   / heather-h-bennett  
• Newport LLC - https://newportllc.com
• Craig Snyder on LinkedIn -   / craig-snyder-57436a143  
• VIKOR - https://www.vikor.com/
• Prairie Family Business Association - https://fambus.org/
• National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) - https://natehome.com/
• “Choosing Leaders To Scale Your Business” with Kelly Schrad on Growth + Exit - https://newportllc.com/podcast/choosi...
• “Technology Intelligence: What Business Owners Need To Know” with Jody Jankovsky on Growth + Exit - https://newportllc.com/podcast/techno...
• “How To Launch a Tech Company Into Space” with Jeff Janicik on Growth + Exit - https://newportllc.com/podcast/how-to...
• Peter Pintar on LinkedIn -   / peter-pintar  

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Newport LLC, a national business advisory firm.

Newport is a team of over 50 seasoned C-suite executives who have founded, built, bought, and sold businesses. We help CEOs of privately held companies achieve exceptional value quickly and with less risk.

We use our proprietary Value Acceleration Program — a set of research-based tools and methodologies — to help growth-stage businesses build and sustain value.

To work with us, visit https://newportllc.com/.