SIGMA Salutes Custom Pipe on 50th Anniversary, Congratulates Greg Wood on Leadership
Three years ago, Greg Wood, President of Custom Pipe, found himself at the helm as part of an accelerated succession plan. He was brought into Custom Pipe while running Imperial Pipe, a portfolio company of Shapco, Inc. The move was made as part of a longer-term transition strategy for Custom Pipe, but Greg was catapulted into the Presidency when his predecessor fell ill. His tenure has been tremendously successful, marked by expansion, penetration of new markets, a rebranding, and a focus on excellence. Greg comments, “The company had a very strong position in the agriculture and irrigation markets, which we have served well. I saw an opportunity for investment and growth in the waterworks and distribution sectors, and we have been effective at capturing significant share in those areas.”
In 2025, Custom Pipe marked its 50th anniversary, and that is no small feat. Greg continues: “Our reliability, our reputation for integrity, our core products and our position in certain markets set a standard for stability, all of which have enabled us to remain successful for five decades. But if you don’t change and grow, you stagnate and can be left behind. I saw a way to build on what is great about Custom Pipe by investing in new areas. We have made major gains in the Midwestern and Southeastern US, where we have built large facilities, and are looking to expand our footprint into the Northeast soon.” Under Greg’s leadership, Custom Pipe has made sizeable investment in three key areas: management, marketing, and service. By bringing in operational management expertise, Greg freed up the sales teams to focus on selling product. The marketing effort and rebrand have helped reposition the company as a leader in waterworks and distribution across the country, creating more opportunity for the sales team. And by investing in personnel, Custom Pipe has assembled a corps of experts in both customer service and inside sales to support the outside sales team and provide the support needed to serve the customers and accounts most effectively.
Greg has also focused on bricks and mortar manufacturing facilities in new regions. These “Centers of Excellence” enable high-volume production in sites across the US—which saves time and shipping costs for both Custom Pipe and its customers. For example, in the past, the production process for threading a pipe took 30 minutes. In the new facilities, the timing is down to 6 minutes with perfect precision. Custom Pipe also stocks spool pieces. This is unique in the industry and offers an added convenience to customers, who can source these needed components from a reliable and trusted vendor.
Dennis Wilson, SIGMA Technical Sales Engineer, comments, “Under Greg’s leadership, Custom Pipe has undergone a transformation that has optimized the operation. Their service team, their support team, and their fulfillment processes are second to none.”
When asked to make predictions and share strategies for the future, Greg is clear: “We will continue to prioritize service. We know that customers come back when we deliver. That also drives growth, which is our top line goal.” He sees potential growth in the treatment plant sector as well as in outfitting the data centers that are sprouting up all over the US: “The data centers need pipe to bring water in, but they also need employees, and those employees often have families and they need a place to live. That type of development will drive the building of infrastructure and we are ready to supply the material.”
When Greg is not leading Custom Pipe into new regions and markets, he is a competitive horseman. He, his wife, and their two daughters have competed over the years in cutting horses, ranch sorting, team penning, and barrel racing: “From about age 4, my daughters were involved in all types of equestrian competition and we spent so much time as a family training and traveling to competitions…I wouldn’t trade that for the world.” His daughters no longer compete; now in their twenties, one is an ER Nurse and the other works in aerospace, but when they return home, they jump on a horse and take a ride with their parents. Greg and his wife continue to compete and thoroughly enjoy the sport. Greg describes it: “I guess I could apply my equestrian activity to my professional life—it’s a lot of herding and spurring people on. And there is an incredible escape when you get on a horse and just ride out into nature. You can really unplug, check out, and come back with a clear head and a fresh perspective.”
SIGMA congratulates Greg on his successful tenure as President of Custom Pipe and wishes the company a Happy 50th Anniversary!