Join the ranks of Wilco Electronic Systems, a communications company with a legacy of expanding access to technology that’s been in the works for 40 years.
The Fort Washington-based company, which was founded by the late Will Daniel, became the first Black-owned firm in the eastern United States to receive a franchise from Home Box Office in 1980. Wilco also forged strong relationships close to home with significant city partnerships. In 1984, Wilco was involved with the City of Philadelphia’s first municipal cable franchising process. And in 2001, Wilco entered into an exclusive agreement with the Philadelphia Housing Authority as its sole cable provider, the first Black-owned firm to do so.
Each member of Wilco’s tight-knit team is dedicated to upholding the company’s reputation as a provider that partners with underserved communities of Philadelphia to expand their digital access. Brigitte Daniel-Corbin, Daniel’s daughter, is Wilco’s CEO and president. She is passionate about her part in leading Wilco as a second-generation company. As a hands-on manager, Daniel-Corbin works with Wilco employees directly on a day-to-day basis.
Comcast acquired Wilco’s cable assets in 2018. The company continues to serve commercial and residential properties in the city through low-voltage wiring, surveillance tools, smart technology and access control system installation.
With the agility to offer a variety of services to an array of clients, no day is ever the same as the last when you’re on the job or out in the field for Wilco. The team is expecting high growth and wants quick-thinking, driven people ready to get their boots on the ground and go to work for the residents of Philadelphia.
“The thing I enjoy the most and my biggest challenge is the diversity of the work that we do. The jobs vary, and your technical expertise has to be high, so that keeps me on my toes. Plus, all of our work is individualized to the client, and nothing is cookie-cutter. It’s always an involved process.”
John Lucas Sales Development Consultant“It's definitely a tight-knit team, and that means I have a lot of connections throughout the company. You get to be a part of a lot more conversations than may be possible at a larger company. Wilco allows me to have high-level involvement with all the backend stuff.”
Brandon Ortiz Social Media and Marketing“When I came on board, I really wanted to start pivoting our business — particularly after the acquisition of the cable subscribers — to being back in that built world, making buildings and communities smarter with technology. We've honed that expertise of what it means to create impact and economic development within communities.”
Brigitte Daniel-Corbin President and CEOWilco has a long history of broadening technology access in the city. What is on the company’s horizon?
If the COVID-19 pandemic taught the world anything, it’s how important the technology we have in our homes and surrounding us for work is. Now, access is a question of health, with prevalent tools like telemedicine. Wilco is already thinking about how we will be a part of the renaissance of smart tech and how it can help all of us gain access to care. For commercial residents, we also offer COVID-19 building safety solutions that include hands-free entry, door scheduling and activity notifications.
We aim to take our years of experience to find ways to harness the interconnected nature of our services to give every resident a fair chance to have the digital tools they need.
What roles are you hiring for?
On the technical side, we are seeking candidates with engineering backgrounds, people who have worked with CAD and Revit, and people who can help us understand a building and assist Wilco with the specs and design of an access control system. We are also growing our marketing and sales team.
What does a Wilco employee expect during a workday?
Our residential and commercial work can take you all over the city. On the same day you knock on a neighbor’s door to ask about their Internet connection, you may talk to a large company’s CEO about the smart tech they want for an office building.
Wilco’s work is driven by relationships, not a bottom line or quota. No matter where a job takes you, expect to be embedded with the client you’re working for and the Wilco team member helping you along the way.
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