Celebrating 50 Years: Stories from Kevin & Karin

As Coil continues to celebrate 50 years in business, we’re continuing to reflect on the people, projects and progress that have shaped our journey. Few stories capture that history better than those of Kevin Buckler and Karin Martin, who together represent more than 80 years of dedication, hard work and memories with the Coil team. Kevin was one of Coil’s first employees and retired from Coil in 2022 as Vice President of Operations, while Karin continues in her role as Coil’s Director of Accounting.

Finding Their Way to Coil

Kevin’s path to Coil came through word of mouth. While working as a subcontractor on a project on Vandiver Drive in August of 1979, a project manager told him, “You need to call Randy Coil.” Kevin did just that. The very next day, he was on the construction site at Boone Clinic in August of 1979.

Karin’s story was a little different. Out of college, Karin originally applied to work as an accountant at the Columbia Mall. After the opportunity fell through, she was recommended to Randy by a mutual connection. “I met with him the following week,” she recalls. “And that’s where it all started.” Karin joined the team in 1985 initially and did a variety of tasks at the office. “It was really a ‘do-all’ role!”

Why They Stayed

Decades later, both Kevin and Karin say the same thing- “it’s the people.”

Kevin, who spent more than 42 years at Coil, says, “Randy was great to work with. I liked the small group; there originally were just five of us in the field. It felt like family. We grew up together.”

Karin, who celebrates 40 years with Coil this August, agrees. Coil is really a family. “Lots of my own family members have worked here over the years — my brother, my nephew, even my mom. That’s what makes Coil different. It’s not just a job; it’s a place where families grow together.”

Life at Coil: Then & Now

The early days looked very different from today. The office stands where there was once a bike shop, appliance store and drug store. The team shared a single copy machine in Randy’s small office. “Kevin and I had to gang up on Randy to convince him to buy a fax machine. He didn’t think they’d last!” Karin shared, “We also pushed him to get a copy machine. Back then, $750 felt like a huge investment, but Randy was always willing to listen and adapt. That’s why Coil stayed ahead.”

“Randy was a pioneer,” Karin says. “He was the first in town to put logos on truck tailgates, and one of the first to computerize construction processes.”

From typewriters and pagers to bag phones and belt-clipped cell phones, the team adapted as technology evolved – always pushing forward.

Hopes for the Next 50 Years

Looking ahead, Kevin and Karin share the same hope for Coil’s future: continued success built on happy employees.

Karin puts it this way, “Coil’s strength has always been keeping employees happy and investing for the long term. That’s what made the company successful in the beginning, and it will still be the key going forward.”

As we celebrate 50 years, we honor the past while building for the future — with gratitude for people like Kevin and Karin who helped make Coil what it is today.