The man behind Star Paving's Success, Chuy Caves, is one of many talents-from singing to baseball.
At age 18, with guitar in hand, you could find Chuy Caves performing in various bands, trios and duets. He is a vocalist, and specializes in Latino romantic ballads; and he has a hankering for country, and classic American music as well. When he wasn't singing, he was playing ball, baseball. This was his cherished sport, and he was good enough at it to qualify for two professional baseball team try-outs: once in Mexico, and once with the Dodgers in Santa Maria. Although equipped with a great arm, and lightening foot speed, the speed of those professional fast balls (whizzing by at over 90 mph) was a little too much for him. Life was also whizzing by for him, and he found a mellower place in his day job.
This was in the asphalt business, where he started working for Granite Construction in 1962. From laborer, he quickly moved up to grade checker, operator, then lead journeyman. Though successful in this business, he really had not planned on making it his career, until his father asked for his help in starting an asphalt paving company in Santa Barbara. So, in 1970, the new asphalt paving company began.

It seems that those eight years in the asphalt business taught him much. For in only ten years' time, the business was successful enough for him to buy out his father. Then, two years later, with an eye on expanding his business, he moved to San Diego in 1982. He wanted the business to grow from residential and small tenant improvements, on to larger projects. And today, the company performs jobs up to $2 million, from driveways to streets and parking lots. Much is to be said for taking a small asphalt business, with annual revenues at around $100,000 to over $3 million in revenues today. This from a company that began with hand tools and a pickup truck.
Future prospects are shinning brightly since they recently purchased a new ProPav 1010 paving machine. This has allowed them to take the next step up. They look to 2001 as being very successful business-wise for them; and even plan on purchasing a second similar machine. And they also plan on expanding into familiar territory.
They plan on opening an additional office in Ventura, or Santa Barbara. These familiar stomping grounds should provide them with an edge. And they have an edge, family-wise, too. Chuy's sister, Rachael is the President of Star Paving. His wife, Gloria is the Vice-President/Secretary. His brother, Carlos, is the Chief Estimator and Project Manager; and his other brother, Ernie, also serves as an Estimator. Chuy rather fancies himself as the organizer behind it all, managing the vital affairs.
Chuy is very proud of his two children, Americo, 13, and Gloriana, 11. Both are accomplished musicians, and active participants in their schools' bands. Americo even plays in the San Diego Regional Band, which consists of the best musicians in San Diego County.