Meet our Team
Phil Walkup, co-founder and current co-owner of P&E Building Services, was born and raised in Wichita, KS, and graduated from Wichita Southeast High School in 1970. After spending 30 years in the aircraft industry—most recently as a manufacturing engineer at Cessna—Phil was laid off in 2003. That turning point led to a career change and, through a connection with longtime friend Blaine Tharp, the founding of P&E Building Services in 2004. Today, Phil and Blaine are the sole owners of the company, known for its customer-focused building maintenance services.
A lifelong advocate for youth development, Phil has over 30 years of coaching experience in baseball, basketball, and softball, including high school head coaching roles. His impact is reflected in coaching numerous athletes who went on to NCAA and professional careers, and he was inducted into the Biddy Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Phil and his wife Rachel have three children and 11 grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys sports, family time, and golf.
Blaine Tharp, a Wichita native, is a co-founder and co-owner of P&E Building Services, established in 2004. With a mechanical career beginning in 1977 and HVAC industry experience since 1997, Blaine brought a strong service background to the company. While serving as General Manager of the HVAC service group at Piping & Equipment Co., Blaine helped launch P&E Building Services as a property management company focused on delivering consistent, high-quality service.
Blaine was instrumental in recruiting longtime friend Phil Walkup as co-owner and Operations Manager, a partnership that became the foundation of the company. Since 2009, Blaine and Phil have been the sole owners of the business.
Professionally, Blaine has served on Wichita’s Mechanical Board of Appeals and holds several prestigious certifications, including AWS Certified Welding Inspector, Master Plumber, and recognition from the Local Union 441 Pipefitters Program.
Outside of work, Blaine enjoys golf, fitness, and spending time with his wife Susie, their three children, and two grandchildren. He is also active in his faith and regularly attends Bible study.
Casey Walkup joined P&E Building Services in 2012 as a Sales and Account Manager, bringing a strong background in sports, broadcasting, and marketing. A Wichita native and standout athlete, Casey earned All-State honors in both football and baseball at Valley Center High School before playing four years of collegiate baseball at Wichita State University, where he earned a degree in Sports Administration.
His career has included roles as Promotions Manager at Coleman, Sports Reporter and Anchor at KSN, and Director of Operations for the Wichita Wingnuts and NBC World Series. He also founded the Park City Cowboys and was named 2005 NBC Manager of the Year. Casey continues his involvement in collegiate summer leagues, serving as Commissioner of the Sunflower Collegiate League and founding the Sunflower Softball League in 2021.
Casey is the son of P&E Co-Owner Phil Walkup, and he and his wife Sara have two daughters, Blakely and Brogan. He enjoys church, golf, coaching his daughters in youth sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Dakotah Smith serves as the Bookkeeper and Office Manager at P&E Building Services. Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Dakotah is proud to be part of a company that values hard work, integrity, and strong relationships—principles she brings into the office every single day.
With a background in accounting and several years of experience managing cash flow and office operations, Dakotah ensures the numbers add up and everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. From balancing books to streamlining processes and keeping the team organized, she thrives in a role that supports both people and performance.
Outside of work, Dakotah enjoys spending time with family, browsing Wichita’s local farmers markets, and catching the latest release at the IMAX theater.