Local business honored by Hispanic Chamber
The Gonzalez Cos. honored as company of the year
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| Submitted photo/ Tony Gonzalez-Angel, left center, accepts 2008 Hispanic Company of the Year award from Al Gonzalez, right center, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis while Carlos Huddleston, left, and Patrick Judge, right, managing partners of Gonzalez Cos., watch the presentation. |
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The award is given every year to a Hispanic-owned company that demonstrates success and involvement in the community.
The Gonzalez Cos., is an engineering and contruction management firm, serving the private sector, municipalities and federal government.The company earned the award because of its rapid growth and its involvement with the chamber, said Al Gonzalez, the chamber's president.
"The company started with one person," said Anthony Gonzalez-Angel, senior managing partner of the Gonzalez Cos. "Now we have 30."
Gonzalez-Angel founded the company in 1999 after years of experience in construction management, including work with the St. Louis Development Corporation. Gonzalez-Angel has no relation to Al Gonzalez.
Gonzalez-Angel, 43, has been interested in building and designing since he was a child. He created architectural designs and made small mechanical machines.
After he earned his bachelor's degree in architecture, Gonzalez-Angel worked on projects for other companies, but wanted to start his own business.
"You're ingrained with it," Gonzalez-Angel said. "It's part of the American dream."
He established the business himself working out of a home office doing consulting and administration of construction projects.
In 2003 the Gonzalez Cos., moved from home to their first office at 3830 Washington Blvd. Gonzalez-Angel and his staff then took on a challenging project at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in an effort to make their name recognizable and to continue their growth.
The waste water treatment tank at the military base was malfunctioning, but still operable. The base possessed only one treatment tank and could not have it out of service for long. The Gonzalez Cos., prepared for the job for six months before completing the project in five days.
With this project business prospered for Gonzalez-Angel's company.
The business now occupies four offices across the Midwest and serves nine states. The company has worked for large clients, including Ameren and Heartland Bank.
Besides the rapid growth in the company it was also recognized for its contributions and participation in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Gonzalez-Angel and his business maintain a presence with the chamber, attending most of the events, such as forums and fundraisers.
They are involved in an internship program called the Hispanic Educational and Scholarship Fund in which the chamber presents the company with Hispanic internship candidates.
The annual awards dinner is the main fundraiser for the chamber every year. This year's event was the most successful in its history.
Gonzalez-Angel showed his commitment to helping the chamber with a donation of $3,000 at the record fundraiser.
"He matched mine, so that's not bad," Gonzalez said.
