Lucas Builders, Inc.

Sam Silva comes from a long line of builders. Originally from Sri Lanka, Sam's father was a contractor. His grandfather worked in construction, too, erecting scaffolding out of bamboo. When Sam joined the U.S. Navy, he served in the Naval Construction Battalion, then went on to study civil engineering.

As the founder and President of Lucas Builders, Inc. (LBI), Sam intends to continue his family's legacy. The company was named after one of his sons and Sam hopes to one day hand the reins to his kids, who are currently gaining experience by working for their father.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program has been instrumental in helping Sam to grow his company. An initial contract to work with Skanska on the Exposition Light Rail Transit project as a DBE firm then led to work with Skanska, as well as Stacy and Witbeck, on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit project in San Diego. LBI went on to earn a contract for storm drain relocation on the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project in 2016. This initial scope of work led to further contracts. LBI is currently installing fencing along the bridge and ramps.

Like any structure, Sam says that the key to building a company is having a strong foundation. "I focus on hiring and developing a skilled crew," he explains. From this solid infrastructure, the LBI team is able to fulfill whatever client requests are asked of them.

Sam's crew always has to be prepared, since they often work according to others' timetables. LBI will be one of the last teams on the new Sixth Street Viaduct before it opens to the public, so Sam knows his firm cannot be the one to delay the grand opening. Fortunately, his family has been doing this for a while and will be well into the future.

LA Steel Services

Retirement isn't for everyone. It certainly wasn't right for Lee Albright.

After a 30 year career, Lee walked away from the reinforcing steel business and headed off into retirement. Two years later, she was bored. So she called her longtime friend and former colleague Rich Rabay with a proposition. They should start a company of their own together. Lee didn't want to retire; she wanted to be her own boss.

LA Steel Services opened its doors in March, 2015, and Lee has no regrets about coming back to work. "I love the business and loved it ever since I got into it," she says.

Lee's first job was in reinforcing steel. She began as a sales assistant for a post-tensioning company and quickly rose into a management position, in an industry that at the time had very few women in high-level roles. "Find good teachers," Lee recommends to anyone considering a career in construction. She was fortunate to have mentors willing to teach her more about the trade.

And for those who might want to start a company of their own? "Know what the numbers mean," Lee says. Her experience managing large, complex reinforcing steel projects gave her the insights necessary to successfully found her own firm.

LA Steel specializes in building bridges. The company just completed their work on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project in San Diego and have worked on various other bridge projects in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) furnishes and installs reinforcing steel throughout the Project, including the rebar used in the Bridge Deck shown above.

The upcoming Arch Ribs will be even more complex and require sequencing coordination with the entire SSW team. There will be a lot of rebar in the Arch Ribs, as well as inserts, couplers and design elements that all must perfectly fit into place.

The work may be challenging, but, at least for Lee, it sure beats retirement!

VT Electric, Inc.

As described in previous newsletters, a series of LED lights will be installed along the Bridge Deck to illuminate the Arch Ribs and will have the ability to be programmed to change colors for special occasions. In charge of all this intricate installation is Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) firm VT Electric, Inc.

Tony Tran, President of VT Electric, started his company just over 20 years ago and has worked on lighting projects throughout Southern California. His firm has installed roadway lights and traffic signals along the 405 Freeway in Orange County and decorative lighting systems as part of a beautification project in Beverly Hills. But the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project (Project) is the largest operation VT Electric has worked on so far.

As each part of the Projects is constructed, Tony's team must embed their power conduits and wiring within the rebar and other elements tightly packed within the concrete. All of this preparation will allow VT Electric to install the color-changing LED lights once the Bridge Deck and Arch Ribs are completed.

Tony immigrated to America from Vietnam when he was just 14 years-old. He worked part-time for a contractor to help pay for his BS degree in Science and Engineering, then worked as a chief estimator and later as a general manager. These experiences taught Tony how to anticipate costs and meet project budgets. So why shouldn't he start a company of his own?

In 1999, Tony did precisely that when he started VT Electric. At first, the company focused on small projects with quick turnaround times. Over time, he was able to position the company to take on larger projects until it became what it is today. "Grow slowly but surely," Tony advises other DBE firms and entrepreneurs. "Stay determined and reinvest in [yourself] and in the business."

Entrepreneurship may seem like a long journey, but Tony has a mantra to remind him how to achieve his company's goals:

Stay true to what you are doing.