Like the manta ray that inspired our name, our family’s journey has never followed a straight line.  It has been guided by curiosity, resilience, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to both the natural world and the sea.

For us, wandering has never meant being lost.  It has meant remaining open to new experiences, new horizons, and new opportunities.

Our roots run deep along the coast of North Carolina, where the ocean has always been more than a backdrop.  It has been a way of life.  Growing up in the Outer Banks, Wil developed a deep respect for the water, the outdoors, and the hands-on problem-solving skills that come with living close to nature.  Jen’s childhood was also shaped by life on the water, spending countless hours of boating, as well as cruising with her family along the Carolina coast and southward into the Caribbean.  Together, those early experiences fostered a shared love of adventure, self-reliance, and exploration that would eventually define not only our family’s journey, but also the spirit behind Wandering Soul.

After marrying and starting a family, Jen and Wil shared their passion for the sea with their children.  What began as a family living in coastal North Carolina grew into something much bigger:  the decision to leave behind the ordinary and set off on an extraordinary voyage aboard their 48-foot sailing catamaran.

For six years, our family sailed through some of the world’s most remote and beautiful places, crossing oceans and experiencing life far beyond the familiar coastline of home.  The voyage carried us across the Pacific, through the islands of French Polynesia, Tonga, and New Zealand, introducing us to countless cultures, landscapes, and friendships along the way.  More importantly, it taught us self-reliance, adaptability, and the value of community wherever life leads.

Life afloat required every member of the family to contribute.  We learned to solve problems with limited resources, repair complex systems far from help, navigate changing conditions, and work together through challenges.  The experiences gained while living aboard would eventually become the foundation of many of the skills and values that shape our businesses today.

The cruising community also left a lasting impression on us.  Along our journey, we met people from around the world who shared knowledge, offered assistance when needed, and became lifelong friends.  Those experiences reinforced our belief that meaningful relationships are one of life’s greatest treasures and that success is measured by more than accomplishments alone.

Following our return to North Carolina, our family’s spirit of adventure continued in new ways.  Jen pursued a professional maritime career, earning her captain’s license and eventually logging tens of thousands of offshore miles as a yacht delivery and charter captain.  Today, she continues to help clients move vessels safely around the world while sharing her knowledge and passion for life at sea.

Their son Colin inherited both our family’s love of the water and its entrepreneurial spirit.  After earning a degree from Eckerd College, Colin joined the company full-time, bringing fresh ideas, technical knowledge, and a new generation of leadership to the business.

Alongside these professional pursuits, our family’s creative side remains strong.  Inspired by years spent exploring coastlines, reefs, anchorages, and marine environments, Wandering Soul Designs began as a creative outlet focused on handcrafted artwork and products influenced by the beauty of the ocean and the natural world.

Today, Wandering Soul Designs LLC serves as the parent company for our family’s current and future ventures.  While the businesses themselves may evolve over time, each is guided by the same principles that were shaped during our years at sea:

• Integrity & Accountability
• Craftsmanship & Quality
• Reliability
• Compassion
• Resilience

Our first operating company, Wandering Soul Services, proudly provides irrigation, drainage, well, pump, and landscape lighting services throughout Wilmington, North Carolina and surrounding areas.  As new opportunities arise, additional ventures may join the Wandering Soul family, each built on the same foundation of quality, innovation, and purpose.  

The manta ray has become our symbol because it represents many of the qualities we value most:  wisdom, graceful strength, adaptability, and purposeful movement.  Like the manta, we continue to move forward, exploring new horizons while remaining connected to the people, places, and experiences that shaped who we are.

The journey continues.