Acquisition adds established Iowa operations and strengthens XKIG’s growing family of specialized infrastructure service companies

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XKIG, a national leader in critical infrastructure services for the power and gas utility sectors, today announced the acquisition of Wilderness Land Management, Inc. (WLM), an Iowa-based provider of utility vegetation management, rights-of-way clearing, and land clearing services. WLM will effectively merge with XKIG’s Kendall Vegetation Services operating unit.

The acquisition expands Kendall’s vegetation management capabilities and strengthens its presence in Iowa and adjacent states by adding an experienced team with specialized expertise to support critical utility infrastructure. Services include electrical and pipeline rights-of-way, storm and emergency response, chemical vegetation management, and tree removal.

“Wilderness Land Management has built its reputation by doing business the right way, earning the trust of its customers, standing behind its work, and building strong relationships across the communities it serves,” said Randolph Hoover, Chief Executive Officer of XKIG. “That reputation, along with an experienced team and established operations in Iowa, gives us a strong foundation to build on. Together, we look forward to preserving what has made WLM successful while creating new opportunities for its employees, customers, and the communities it serves.”

“I’m proud of what we’ve become at WLM. We started with a vision to build a company our customers could trust and our employees could be proud to join. That didn’t happen overnight — it took a lot of hard work from a lot of good people,” said Brady Bennett, President of WLM. “Joining XKIG gives us the opportunity to grow what we’ve built here in Iowa, with additional resources, expertise, and opportunities. We’ll stay hungry and humble while focusing on what got us here: taking care of our customers and our people, working safely, and getting it right the first time.”

About XKIG

Through its portfolio of companies, XKIG is a national leader in critical infrastructure services for the power and gas utility sectors, specializing in the development and maintenance of rights-of-way; the construction, upgrade, and upkeep of transmission and distribution systems; vegetation management; and disaster response and restoration. XKIG brings together expertise, technology, and resources to support utility partners and keep America’s critical infrastructure running.

About Wilderness Land Management

Wilderness Land Management, Inc. is a Burlington, Iowa-based vegetation management and rights-of-way contractor providing services throughout the state. WLM specializes in utility vegetation management, rights-of-way clearing, land clearing, forestry mulching and mowing, and related vegetation management services. The company is committed to delivering safe, reliable service for its customers.

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SOURCE XKIG