An iconic bridge, professional sports venues, downtown city streets and even a convention center are just a few of the places that Vista, California-based ProCal Lighting, Inc. has transformed from ordinary to extraordinary with energy- efficient…

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At this company that’s all about making things perfect at the surface level, it’s what’s underneath that matters most.

In 1990, when Mick Dapcevic was 19 years old, he decided he wanted to start his own garage door company. Having done service calls for his dad’s welding business since he was 16, he began to notice that the demand for roll-up sectional garage…

Six Star Framing Concepts (Six Star) specializes in transforming a concrete slab into the complex skeletal structure that will eventually become single or multifamily housing or commercial buildings in the fast-paced construction industry of…

On the side of every Progressive Heating & Air Inc. (Progressive) truck is a large caricature of Founder and President of Progressive, Adrian Alvarez. Adrian is pictured flying through clouds dressed as a superhero wearing an AC-repair toolbelt.

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In Greek mythology, King Midas is remembered for his power to turn everything he touched into gold. In time, English speakers adopted the idiom the “Midas touch” to refer to people who have a seemingly uncanny ability to turn every venture into…

People do not usually think of artisans as creating garage doors. It’s a term generally reserved for those who make things like handcrafted pottery or finely knit textiles.

When the folks at SCGWest Development (SCGWest) say they help clients build restaurants, shops and clinics from the ground up, they mean more than just showing up and erecting the brick-and-mortar structures to house them, says Managing Partner…

Aven Martin is not shy about seizing opportunities. Because of his willingness to take chances, he’s built a successful company, Magnum Plumbing Company Inc. (Magnum Plumbing), specializing in commercial and residential new construction work…

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Licensed environmental and general engineering company CVE San Diego offers varied services during these unusual times, resolving challenges with unique considerations. Some challenges are global; others more geographically defined. Its multilayered…

At Orange Mirror and Glass (Orange Mirror), customer orders can range from installing outsized storefront windows in hefty buildings to replacing small, broken windowpanes in cozy bungalows. At Orange Mirror, these jobs are all important to…

Have you ever wondered how the fuel you put into your gas tank gets to the pump in the first place? Well, if you live in one of five states in the Southwestern United States, it is likely that Western Pump played a part in the cycle.

Although brothers Carlos and Eddie Lara may not have started at their company at the same time, they share the same laser-focused goal for E. Lara Construction (E. Lara): executing and delivering outstanding service and results on structural…

For Colleen Bechtel, President of San Diego-based Co’s Traffic Control, Inc., traffic control has been a labor of love for over two decades. She founded the company in 1998 as a one- woman shop, building it cone by cone into one of Southern…

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With a background in general contracting and construction management, Accessories Plus Fabrication Owner Darren Slater is always creating something. As a kid he worked on race cars and hot rods, excelled in high school metal shop class and was…

When it was founded in 1970, San Diego became only the fourth local chapter of the 14-years-young American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). As it prepares to mark its 50th anniversary, it is recognized as one of the society’s Top 5…

San Diego-based Bright Ideas Lighting Solutions is making the world a brighter place at a much lower cost.

From commercial painting to waterproofing to architectural coatings, General Coatings Corp. has the expertise to deliver high-quality work with attention to safety and timeliness, says Craig Kinsman, President.

When Anthony Graves set out to build his own business, he did what he does on every building project: He went in with a plan.

When it comes to construction, Chris Hamilton is a jack-of-all-trades. He began working construction projects in high school and started his career as a roofer. Experience in carpentry and concrete construction later followed. Today, he’s using…

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Kelar Pacific looks to the future. The tech company based in San Diego, California, adopts, masters and then shares and sells ever-evolving, computer-aided solutions in the design and build industry.

With a master’s degree in architecture, Nick Taghavi has worked with clients and colleagues all over the world for more than 15 years, specializing in sustainable design for high-rise buildings. A few years back, he set out to address a gap…

What do you do when you have a young company growing into a success in the fertile soil of the Southern California construction market? Some would be content to stay the course, to not rock the boat. However, Chris and Amber Linde of Linde Construction,…

The growing workforce shortage is a hot topic in today’s construction space. There simply aren’t enough trade workers to fulfill the industry’s rising needs—though one group in Southern California is doing its best to meet the challenge.

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It’s no secret the three biggest expenses on a construction site are typically materials, payroll and insurance.

The Grenke family has more than 30 years of foundation contracting experience in California, Nevada and Arizona. Members of the family learned about foundations and how to manage a business by working for other companies. In 2012, Joan and Evan…

Every business owner knows that determining a new company’s moniker is one of the most important decisions to make. Glenn Torrez, CEO and President of PRAVA Construction Services, Inc., wanted to be sure his company’s name was especially meaningful.

For a contractor, purchasing insurance to cover both personal and business risks may seem as simple as calling an insurance agent and paying for a policy. In reality, the complexity of different policies is vast, the language used in the terms…

Laurann Volk has seen everything and heard everything in her nearly 50 years working in the fencing industry, and she is not afraid to call you on it.

Before Steve Lentz founded San Diego-based Enhanced Voice & Data Networks in 2005, he’d been employed in the communications infrastructure industry for several years. His experiences in infrastructure design and implementation led him to recognize…

Long before a plethora of publications and professional seminars made “partnering” a buzzword in the building industry, davisREED Construction Inc. (davisREED) understood the importance of working closely with clients and every member of the…

In its 2017 Safety Performance Report, the Associated Builders and Contractors affirms that the roadmap to world-class safety starts with leaders who “take a stand to challenge and transform the status quo to create a culture that is passionate…

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Attention to detail is more than a good business practice to Bert Faye, owner and CEO of Primary Mechanical, Inc. It’s absolutely essential in his line of work. The company provides mechanical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)…

Edward Biliunas lives the American dream. He immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1966 at the age of six without his family knowing a word of English. It was sink or swim, he says. So, at age 18, he left his family, moved to California…

Sometimes, success comes from inspiration. Other times, it evolves from what you’re already doing. For Mark Franklin, President of Faster Hot Water, both of those are true.

In just five years, Tri State General Contractors, Inc., has experienced exceptional growth and profitability. Dig below the surface of the company’s brief history and there is evidence that explains why it has been successful.

For James Morrell, flooring is more than plush carpet, fancy tiles or resilient wood systems. Flooring is often an environmental barrier, a non-slip safety system and even a soundproofing mechanism.

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Based in La Mesa, Calif., KAPPA Surveying and Engineering, Inc. has provided services related to surveying and civil engineering in the San Diego region for nearly 40 years. During this time, the family-owned company has gained a reputation…

C.E. Wilson Corp. is proud to be a family-owned business. C.E. (Willie) Wilson is President and Brian Wilson is Vice President, but they are not related.

If you need a wall, Hillside does it all. That’s the motto at the Hillside Companies. The Bonsall, Calif.-based firm has constructed millions of square feet of retaining walls in Southern California. Its work can be seen in counties across the…

With a quick look at the scope and scale of the George W. Weir companies, few would ever believe that the business was inspired by its namesake’s desire to surf the world’s biggest waves. But, that’s exactly what happened. As a 19-year-old…

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“Ihave this passion for building things … of seeing things change on a daily basis,” says Jody James Watkins, President and CEO of Watkins Landmark Construction, a general contracting firm that provides a full range of services, including preconstruction,…

How do you tackle drought restrictions in a California hotel? You cut water usage in half—and then engage tenants and the wider community in your efforts. And that’s exactly what Hersha Hospitality Trust (Hersha Hospitality), a real estate investment…

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