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Amburgey-Carich
Construction Inc. Think back to 1975. What were you doing in the late months of that year? Possibly working toward a better lifestyle through your own business? Just beginning at the bottom of the barrel? Some of us may not have even been born. Whatever your story may be, it is unique. It is individualistically specific and related to the actions that were taken up to that point. For two young men in Southern California, one with a background in carpentry and the other in concrete, a friendship was made. Out of the friendship came a partnership and a desire to do what they loved. In the late months of 1975, Ron Amburgey and Jack Carich were both students in construction technology and management classes at Orange Coast College. They met and were acquainted in the academic desks placed between the walls of the college institution they were attending. This is where their unique story begins. While still in school, the two men officially established Amburgey-Carich Construction Inc. They placed ads in the Pennysaver and local newspapers for small jobs doing anything and everything. They were soon hired to perform hillside foundation work in Laguna, which was one of their first and most significant jobs.
The two men decided to establish the company because of their similar goals, the fact that they got along well with one another and the simplicity of the match-up being a "good fit". Amburgey started working construction at an early age, during the summer breaks from school especially. He worked as a laborer alongside his cousins as they poured concrete for a curb and gutter company during the long hours of the day. He worked all the way through high school and found that he enjoyed the tasks at and as well as the rewards from finishing a job on time, on budget and with quality of workmanship. Carich, in much the same way grew up the apprentice to all things carpentry. He did work for a framing company in the early years and learned the fundamentals of concrete pouring. When they opened shop, the company did both concrete and carpentry work, so the skills brought to the worksite by the two men was of a great advantage to them. Today, Amburgey-Carich Construction Inc. primarily works with concrete using Power Curber equipment in the form of a 5700B curb machine. They stick with Ford Pickups and 2-ton trucks and a couple Apache trailers for hauling. Since they began in the mid-seventies, "the industry has become very competitive more specialized," said Amburgey. "We did all kinds of concrete and foundation work in the beginning, but over the last 10-15 years we have done more site work." Most of the work done by the company consists of large projects, such as apartment buildings and sizeable commercial projects. "We do everything but the slabs," said Amburgey. Mounting competition has convinced them not to involve their company with pouring slabs at major sites. Mainly, they complete curb and gutter and plenty of street work. The company is also involved with decorative work on apartments and other sites, such as stamp and colored, acid, and exposed aggregate techniques. In several of the apartment entryways, they will have decorative front walks that have different scoring patterns or two-color processes wherever possible, which can bring out a cobblestone effect. Pool areas are generally smoother and pedestrian friendly with various finishes. The company has a total of 35 employees, including laborers, finishers, form setters, foremen, general foreman, and Carich overseeing the field operations while Amburgey handles the administrative duties, estimating and office procedures. According to Amburgey, the employees are their greatest strength. "They are the backbone of the company, we rely on them, especillay because we know we canÕt be in more than one place at one time." Most of their guys have been there for over 15 years, which allows them to know how things operate. "We work closely together and they are the most valuable asset this company has," said Amburgey. In addition to Amburgey and Carich, Jim Smevog functions as the General Foreman, while a collection of talented supervisors, Tony and Roberto Felix, Javier Paz, and Juan Madrigal serve skillfully as foremen. Their current location is on the south end of Costa Mesa, close to Newport Beach, just off of the main drag in Newport. They have been in Costa Mesa for nearly 30 years and were just down the street ten years prior to the move. "We are kind of spoiled here, but we are looking inland to get a larger piece of land," said Amburgey. Currently, they have only half an acre and are, "tightly squeezed".
"Some of the years, the challenges and milestones we have experienced have been just to get through them," stated Amburgey. One of their greatest successes was about 3 years ago, when they purchased a curb machine, which enabled them to do more work and contract better jobs. "Everything has been a slow process. Slow and steady increases and maintenance of quality has been a challenge in todayÕs market." Just as many other small businesses, Amburgey-Carich Inc. has had difficulty with the changing face of the industry "The biggest problems we face today are the insurance costs. The premiums have tripled over last three years. WorkerÕs compensation and various liabilities have been a challenge." In the midst of struggle, they try to keep things simple. Amburgey stated that over the years they have felt pressure from different sources to grow and increase the staff, but they have strived to keep the company environment much the same, simply because it works for them. "We are comfortable with he structure as it is. We are able to give a good product for a good price and that is all that counts." According to Amburgey, decorative concrete has come a long way and is improving all the time. The demand for decorative concrete has allowed the industry to develop a full repertoire of new methods, products and techniques. "We try to stay on top of the new equipment available," said Amburgey. They make it a point to go to the annual World of Concrete Convention, which will be in Las Vegas this year. "We go to see the new products, the various techniques and anything else we can see in three days."
Over the years they have given charity donations, from Costa Mesa High School, where their kids go to school. They have lent their expertise to other schools as well in the form of construction of little league fields. It has been a while since they have gone on vacations, Hawaii, Yellowstone, Yosemite. Jack goes to Lake Mead on a houseboat for a week. Their hobbies are spending quality time with their kids. Amburgey-Carich Inc. has gained credibility and prowess in the work place as well as the industry. "People start to believe in you as you do a good job on a continual basis," said Amburgey. The future is difficult to predict, according to Amburgey, but in the span of 27 years the company has had good fortune. The Amburgey-Carich Inc. motto is to provide the highest quality product and the best service for the most competitive price. They have been successful with this in the past and will be in the future. TAKE ME BACK TO THE CONCRETE CONTRACTORS PROFILE DIRECTORY PAGE |
