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Upfront Well Drilling of the Carolinas
At Upfront Well Drilling of the Carolinas, we connect homes, families, and businesses with nature’s most valuable resource – water.
Upfront’s professional team of engineers, well specialists, and drillers brings over 30 years of extensive experience to every new construction, consultation, and drill.
With our engineering expertise, innovative equipment, and advanced techniques, we help you find, access, and power your home with the best quality water we can find, straight from the aquifer.
Headed by Felton Jacobs, artisan well driller, Upfront has experience working closely with Carolinian locals and regulatory bodies. Our unique regional and geographical knowledge helps us keep you fully informed, every step of the way.
About us
Our values
At Upfront, We’re Transparent
We adhere to loyalty for our customers and each other. Upfront understands that the well drilling industry can be complex and confusing – and it’s why our team goes above and beyond to keep you fully informed throughout any project. Whether it’s providing clear quotations, or post-project clean-up, ensuring your complete satisfaction is our top priority.
…And That Well Drilling is an Art
Upfront values water, our natural resource. When you walk to the garden, hike in the woods, or stroll on the beach, you are walking upon an aquifer buried deep within the rock, sand, and clay. You stand on the ground which provides an important natural resource, water. The art of digging wells into the aquifer dates back 800,000 years ago. Even though technology has evolved, we believe that well drilling will always remain an art.
We Believe in Teamwork…
Upfront’s innovative approach to creating a connected, loyal, and skilled crew gives us an edge in the industry. Together, we have 30 years of experience in drilling, electricity, welding, engine repair, and containment.
WHO WE ARE
We adhere to loyalty for our customers and each other.
Felton Jacobs
In 1989, when Felton Jacobs first started working in the well industry, the Raleigh and Franklin County landscapes looked a lot different. But one thing hasn’t changed: the tough crystalline granite beneath our feet. Over the last three and a half decades, Felton has drilled through thousands of feet of that rock, providing clean, reliable water to families across the Triangle.
Why Felton Founded Upfront Well Company
After years in the industry, Felton noticed a trend: well drilling was becoming more about "volume" and less about the "customer." He saw homeowners getting hit with hidden fees and confusing technical jargon.
He founded Upfront Well Company on a simple, old-school principle: Total Transparency. > "We named the company 'Upfront' because that’s exactly how we do business. Whether we’re troubleshooting a pump at 7:00 AM or drilling a new residential well, I’m going to give you the honest truth about what you need and what it’s going to cost. No games, no fluff." — Felton Jacobs
Master-Level Expertise You Can Trust
In North Carolina, not all well contractors are created equal. Felton holds a Level A Certification, the state's highest designation for well construction. This means he is qualified for the most complex drilling projects, from high-pressure air-rotary drilling in hard rock to sophisticated filtration diagnostics.
When you call Upfront, you aren't getting a revolving door of technicians. You’re getting Felton’s 35+ years of local wisdom on every job site. He knows the water tables in Louisburg, the rock formations in Wake Forest, and the specific pump challenges in Raleigh.
Outside the Well
When he’s not behind the controls of the drilling rig, Felton is a proud member of the Franklin County community. He’s a believer in doing things right the first time and treats every customer’s property like it was his own.
Championship Precision & Process-Driven Leadership
James V. Taggart
As the CEO of Upfront Well Company, Jim brings a unique blend of high-level business strategy and technical precision to the North Carolina well-drilling industry. With a background rooted in complex systems and competitive excellence, Jim’s mission is to ensure that Upfront Well Company delivers a "Fortune 500" level of service to every backyard in the Triangle.
A Foundation in Technology and Ethics
Jim holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Business from The Ohio State University, providing him with a rare perspective on how technology and data can improve traditional trades. Before entering the well industry, Jim was a pioneer in healthcare logistics. In 2002, he founded Physicians Pharmacy Alliance (now AdhereRX), a company built on the idea that better processes lead to better patient outcomes.
Under his leadership, the company grew into a regional powerhouse before its sale to private equity in 2011. His commitment to the community was recognized in 2008 when he received the Triangle Business Journal Healthcare Hero Award—a testament to his focus on integrity and service.
The Science of Performance: From the Track to the Rig
Beyond the boardroom, Jim spent years mastering the mechanics of high-performance machinery as a professional sports car racer. Competing with legendary brands like Lotus and Porsche in the Pirelli World Challenge, Jim learned that success is measured in fractions of a second and absolute mechanical reliability.
His career highlights include:
2011 SCCA National Rookie of the Year
2013 Pirelli World Challenge Rookie of the Year (GTS)
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Competitor (2014)
Track Record Holder at VIR, Sebring, Road Atlanta, and Barber Motorsports.
Why This Matters for Your Well
What does racing a Porsche at 180mph have to do with your water well? Everything. Jim applies that same "no-fail" mentality to Upfront Well Company. He oversees the operations, technology, and equipment standards that allow Felton Jacobs and our drilling teams to work with unmatched precision. By combining Felton’s 35 years of "dirt knowledge" with Jim’s high-performance operational standards, Upfront Well Company provides a level of professionalism that is rare in the well-drilling industry.
No drop too small, no task out of reach!
We will drill until ends of the earth for you. Water is worth it all.