Military experience, strong relationships drive veteran-owned Ranger Construction to success

In the U.S. Army, Bernie Funck and the field artillery battalion he commanded provided direct support to the 30th Infantry Brigade. It was demanding work with little margin for error.

Decades later, he applies the same focus to his own business, Ranger Construction. Bernie’s initiative, commitment to customer service and eye for detail all contribute to the company’s success with commercial developers across North and South Carolina. Behind the scenes, Wells Fargo provides their banking, a 26-year relationship that’s seen the company from startup to a $50+ million enterprise.

“The two definitely relate,” Bernie said, comparing his current role as Ranger Construction’s CEO and founder with his more than 20 years in the military. He retired in 2003 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“At Ranger, we don’t say ‘no’—we figure it out together,” he explained. “We’re part of a team with our developers, providing direct support to achieve their goals.”

A family enterprise that recognizes the value of veterans

Ranger Construction specializes in commercial upfits. They work with about a dozen developers in the healthcare, industrial, and office interior sectors. From their headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, their workforce of 52 support projects across Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina. A separate business unit, Ranger ONE-CALL, provides electrical, mechanical and plumbing maintenance and repair services to commercial property managers, owners and tenants.

“Ranger’s longtime and loyal customer base is a testament to the work the company does,” said Chris Underwood, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo. “They hire good people who work collaboratively.”

Bernie’s wife Elizabeth Funck, an attorney, and two of their sons play critical roles in the company, with a third son providing essential services as a subcontractor. They’re also dedicated to hiring other military veterans.

"In construction, whether you’re in the field, a superintendent, or president of the company, everyone has a specific role. The veterans we hire instinctively understand that. There’s always a problem-solving attitude,” Elizabeth noted. 

Bernie’s own construction career began in 1987 when a fellow veteran hired him at Trammell Crow, an international commercial developer. Today, he prides himself on being a resource to other veterans as they transition to civilian careers, through direct hiring and in several veteran-run networking groups.

A bank that provides industry expertise and holistic support

Having a bank that prizes a military background is an added benefit.

“At Wells Fargo, we’ve proudly supported our military community for more than 170 years, and our commitment extends far beyond banking, it’s about building lasting relationships, supporting their growth, and helping veteran-owned businesses thrive” said Andrew Barnes, Head of Military & Veteran Segment, Commercial Banking, at Wells Fargo. “We’re proud to celebrate companies like Ranger Construction that continue to lead with purpose, create opportunities, and make a lasting impact on the veteran community. Their continued commitment to service and leadership reflects the values that have long strengthened both our military and business communities.”

Bernie and Elizabeth have been Wells Fargo customers since founding Ranger Construction in 2000 and even longer with their personal accounts. Elizabeth appreciates a banking team that knows their industry and brings fresh ideas. 

“Construction can be complicated from a banking perspective,” Elizabeth noted. “One of the things Wells Fargo brings is understanding both our customers’ and our subcontractors’ businesses. If we’re implementing something new, they understand how it impacts our relationships.”

She credited the bank with a smooth onboarding process for their new CFO. She also cited Wells Fargo’s care when they migrated payments from checks to ACH transactions.

“That’s benefited us by mitigating our risk of fraud, but it also gets payments to our subcontractors faster,” she said. “Wells Fargo understands what motivates us, what’s important to those subcontractor relationships we’ve worked for over 20-plus years. That transition was really seamless. Everyone has been really pleased.”

Navigating a financial crisis with Wells Fargo’s support

The strength of Wells Fargo’s balance sheet is another advantage for Ranger Construction. Bernie recalled how the bank’s size, stability, and backing helped them navigate the financial crisis of 2008.

Overnight, one of the company’s largest customers filed for bankruptcy, owing Ranger Construction approximately $1.8 million. The ripple impact to the local market was immediate. Other customers and subcontractors wondered if the loss would threaten Ranger Construction’s financial future.

“In our business, we’ve got to keep significant account balances to pay subcontractors,” Bernie explained. “We pay our subcontractors every two weeks—whether we get paid or not. They depend on that.”

Fortunately, they weathered the situation with Wells Fargo by their side. To reassure customers, they overnighted their financial statements. They kept business moving with other viable projects. As Bernie proudly noted, they never resorted to layoffs. Almost a year later, they finally received payment from the bankruptcy proceedings. 

“The backing of Wells Fargo really got us through that period,” Bernie said. “If we were banking with someone else, it could have been a bigger issue.”

Elizabeth agreed. “We could say to our customers, ‘we bank with Wells Fargo, we’ve got this covered’.”

Building a legacy for the next generation—and the community

With a second generation now established in the business, Ranger Construction is well-placed for continued success. Their innovative business model, problem-solving mentality, and overall reliability have created a lasting brand. 

Their community involvement continues to make a difference for other military families. In addition to hiring veterans, Ranger Construction supports ROTC events in local high schools, supports the Veterans Day parade to honor veterans, helps put flags in classrooms, and operates veteran-support trailers at their offices for homeless veterans and Gold Star families and Blue Star mothers.

Just as those in the construction industry and community rely on Ranger Construction, Bernie and Elizabeth appreciate the trust and confidence that comes from their extended relationship with Wells Fargo. 

“Some people just look at a bank and think it’s a checking account, it’s credit, but it gets beyond that when you get to a certain stage in the life of your company,” she explained. 

“You need resources,” she added. “It’s not just banking, it’s overall business operations. You have that in a banking partner like Wells Fargo. They see our growth, understand how we work, and what motivates us.”