San Antonio Construction News • Nov 2016
Page 29
The gold standard
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rother and sister team, Wayne Orender and Sheila Ray, own and operate Ditch Witch of Central Texas, Inc. Orender is general manager in Austin and Ray is headquartered in Selma. Started in New Braunfels in 1974, the company soon split into its two current locations. The company is WBENC and Texas HUB certified as a Woman Owned business. In Austin, Vance Wells is service manager and Kevin Fortson is parts manager. In Selma, Jerry Almanza is parts manager and Mike Talka is service manager. According to Courtney Ray-Harris, manager of fixed operations and accounting, and daughter of Ray, each location has 16 employees. Recently, seven employees from the two locations achieved special certification from a dedicated facility at the Ditch Witch factory in Perry, OK. that provides training for employees, as well as cus-
tomers. Recognized for attaining goldlevel status in the Service ProTechnician program are Mike Talka, Ben Barnhart, Robert Heriford, Jesse Travis and William Yancey. Recognized for attaining gold-level status in the Parts Pro program are Jerry Almanza and Leo Robledo “Every tech at the Selma location is gold certified,” she said. “Vance and Kevin are gold certified and they are working on getting the rest of the Austin team certified.” As a company, Ray-Harris says they are avid sponsors of Austin Rodeo, FFA and also of employees who have outside interests, such as two who are professional fishermen. The company also hosts hunting tournaments for customers and employees, as well as special dinners for customers. Ditch Witch® designs, manufactures and markets products for the underground utility construction industry. –cw L-R: Jerry Almanza, Robert Heriford, Jesse Travis, Ben Barnhart, Mike Talka and Leo Robledo in Selma recently received special certification.D
Cemented in family
Alamo Hy-Tech Foundation Inc. includes, back row, L-R: Ray Hernandez, Bill Gregson, and Chad Gregson; front row, Naomi Armendariz, Cindy Gregson, and Lori Archer
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amily-owned Alamo Hy-Tech Foundation Repair, New Braunfels, has been around since 1989, and the business will continue as the new generation is taking the reins. Founders Bill Gregson and Cindy Gregson have taken a smaller role in the company while daughter Lori Archer and son Chad Gregson are continuing what their parents started 27 years ago. “My parents have just recently decided to kind of retire,” Archer said. “They’re still in the office little bit—only a couple of days a week. My brother, Chad, and I have kind of taken over our parents’ spots. “To be honest, I wasn’t going to work for the family, but then, it just all worked out to what I did. My parents were definitely about going and doing what you wanted to do, but if you want to come work for the family, we’d be happy to have you.” The foundation repair company does mainly residential projects with its 19 employees. “We are a family ran business and I think that’s what sets us aside from other people,” Archer said. “We also back all of our work. New Braunfels is kind of a small town, and I think that our reputation of doing things right and treating people right have been a mission statement for our company.” Beyond foundation repair, Alamo does steel and concrete pier repair, which makes up a third of its work. “A lot of time we will get a large flux of pier repairs and not as many of slab repairs then it’ll swap,” Archer said. “Our business is directly affected by weather.” With it being a small company, Ala-
mo has the chance to give back to its employees. “On occasion, all the guys will do a barbeque in the back,” Archer said. “We also for Thanksgiving, instead of giving them actual turkeys, we give them HEB gift cards so they can have dinner. We’re able to do that because we’re such a small company.” –cs
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