Built from the Ground Up: Will Poppie’s Story of Grit, Risk & Resilience

Today on Small Towns Unscripted, we’ve got Will Poppie.Will’s story starts in Montana and Pullman, Washington. His dad was a civil engineer, his mom a veterinarian and cattle rancher—so from the beginning, he was raised around both precision and grit. After his parents divorced, he split time between Pullman and Arizona before eventually landing in East Wenatchee.And this is where things really started to take shape.By the time he was just 8 years old, Will wasn’t watching from the sidelines—he was already climbing onto a D8 dozer, working alongside his dad in the family construction business. That early exposure turned into a lifelong passion for equipment and excavation. He carried that path forward, even spending time in Alaska where his dad had moved the construction company.Back in East Wenatchee, he was also just a hardworking kid—working at the Cove Marina and at 7-Eleven, doing whatever it took. That work ethic showed up early. When his dad moved to Alaska, Will had a choice to make. At 16 years old, leaving behind his friends and life in the Chelan Valley wasn’t something he was ready to do.So he made a decision most people don’t make at that age—he emancipated himself and went out on his own.That independence shaped him.Over time, Will branched out on his own—working in different roles from employee to owner, managing everything from small excavation jobs to large-scale projects. He eventually spent about 18 years in Covington, where he not only built his career, but also raised two kids—a son and a daughter.Today, his son Billy works alongside him in the excavation business as a leader and foreman, and both of his kids have built impressive careers of their own.But that connection to the Chelan Valley never left.An opportunity eventually brought him back to North Central Washington, where he stepped into development—first partnering with family, and then launching his own project, The Ridge at Haystack. Since the mid-2000s, he’s been part of shaping the Lake Chelan Valley through excavation, development, and infrastructure work.Today, Will runs Central Services Inc., has expanded into owning a rock quarry, and has opened a gravel pit right here in Chelan—creating real advantages for the people he works with in land development.But what really defines Will’s story isn’t just the work—it’s the mindset.Like many of us, his path has been full of ups, downs, and steep learning curves. And at one point, it nearly ended. Will survived a devastating equipment accident—trapped between machines, suffering massive internal injuries, losing half his liver, and experiencing severe blood loss.Experiences like that change you.And in Will’s case, it built something deeper—gratitude, resilience, and a perspective on life that’s hard to shake. He leads with enthusiasm and optimism, believes life should be fun, and doesn’t take himself too seriously—which might be one of his greatest strengths.Will, really glad to have you on today.