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CONSTRUCTION NEWS
The Industry’s Newspaper
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www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 24 H Number 12 H DECEMBER 2021
Functional art
Looking for someone
L-R: Jared and Mary Morris, owners of Infinite Concrete Designs, Canyon Lake, TX
Casteel Manufacturing Inc. team members L-R: Prisciliano (Jose) De La Garza, Alex Castillo, Frances Zamora, Suzanne Walker, Adolfo Fernandez and Christian Fernandez.
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ooking at Jared Morris, you might think “this guy looks like he could be a coach or an athlete of some sort.” He actually was. Morris began his career as a teacher and coach after graduating from college. During summer breaks, Morris flipped houses. Soon after getting a call from his uncle, Morris invested in a franchise remodeling garages. “After my uncle retired from Southwest Airlines as a pilot,” says Morris, “he got into a franchise called Garage Experts. It was basically a garage remodeling franchise with cabinets and coatings. He knew I was trying to find something other than teaching and coaching. “I decided to try it out. After two years, I dropped the franchise and went
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fter working for a few local contractors as a commercial/ industrial electrician, Palmer Johnson aspired to build an electrical business with his wife, Jerry Johnson. Together, they started Big State Electric in 1966. A second business partner was involved when forming the company and was bought out during the early years of the business. The Johnsons ran the business from 1966-2004 and had built relationships with Southwestern Bell/AT&T, Lone Star Brewery, Southwest Research Institute, and a few other small general contractors. They managed the business for many years with an office team of five and approximately 25 field personnel. During that time the business consisted of only electrical construction and service. In 2004, the owners approached Vince Real about buying out their shares of the company. After sleeping on it, he did just that.
independent. I really did not enjoy the cabinetry part of it, but I really enjoyed all the epoxies and coatings. When I dropped the franchise, I decided to basically focus on all types of decorative concrete.” In 2014, Morris started Infinite Concrete Designs (ICD). “Our business was created out of a need to create ‘curb appeal’ for our home flipping business. Once we realized there was a need for decorative concrete and through our passion for creating functional floors, we came up with the Infinite Concrete Designs brand,” adds Morris. While functioning under the franchise, Morris took a couple of classes learning all garage remodels and coatcontinued on Page 18
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rank Castillo honorably served his country in the United States Air Force where he learned the meaning of discipline and responsibility. Those lessons were a guiding force that stayed with him throughout his lifetime. After serving his country, Frank worked hard to provide for his family, never letting obstacles get in his way, to include being laid-off from back-to-back companies because there just wasn’t enough work to keep the ambitious Castillo on the payroll. Upon being released from the second company within a year’s time, Castillo went home to his wife, Maria, and told her he was ready to go out on his own. “I’m tired of relying on other people bringing the business and I think I can do
better on my own,” recalls Frank’s son, Alex Castillo. “My mom, who had worked at HEB for a really long time and had great benefits, told my dad, ‘I’ve got a steady job, a full-time job. Go for it.’ And he did.” In 1984, Frank officially opened the doors to Casteel Manufacturing Inc. specializing in light structural steel and custom sheet metal, and pipe/tube fabrication. He had one employee, himself, or as he liked to say, according to Alex, two employees – himself and an assistant, and he was the assistant. About nine months in, Frank was outside cutting angle sheet when a gentleman walked up to him asking for work. Frank’s initial response was, “I’m continued on Page 18
Just a dream
Big State Electric management team members L-R: Vince Real, President/CEO; Kevin Moses, Vice President Pre-Construction and Forrest Wilson, Vice President Field Operations
Real came to work at Big State in the spring of 1982 as a truck driver after leaving his rigger position for an oil company just before the oil slump. After about eight months, an interest in the electrical trade began to develop in Real, and knowing what electricians were earning on the job at the time helped spark that interest. With the approval of both the owner and the manager of Big State, Real applied to the local JATC (Joint Apprenticeship Training Center) and in the spring of ’83, Real was accepted into a class of 10 apprentices. “The apprenticeship training director was responsible for making appointments to signatory contractors and I was directed to report to Fred Clark Electric on St. Mary’s Street where I worked for 4 years,” recalls Real. “After four years and three months of service at Fred Clark, the company was sold. The day I turned out from the apprentice school I received a continued on Page 18