Anayaent: Owner Background

Ray Anaya – Principal Member
I started working in the concrete business for my father in 1978, and passed my first concrete license in 1979, when I was 19 years old. Operating under Anaya & Sons Concrete Company, we did mostly commercials projects and ended up being a signatory to the union for the highway projects. Then in 1981, I passed a second concrete license under Anaya Concrete Company and kept this license non-union for all other projects. Then a third concrete license was given under Summa Concrete Company to be independent from my father.

In 1983, I took a $300,000 loss due to general contractors and owners that had either filed bankruptcy or simply did not pay for all of the work we completed. It took me two and a half years to get back on my feet, without filing bankruptcy, and yes I did pay all of the suppliers off and was not able to get my credit back even after paying my debt. Lesson learned (file bankruptcy).

We only borrowed money twice – approximately $20,000 each about 3 years apart – and both were paid back. The rest of the time the companies operated on their own cash flows.

One example of a bad project:
In 1985, after completely paying the company debts, I worked one last project, a homeowner/ builder (school teacher by profession) for his personal home in Mesa, Arizona. I completed his concrete slab and outside flatwork. His plans detailed a 0" step in the garage and I explained in detail to the homeowner/ builder, even so far as to walk to another home nearby and visually show him the step in the garage. I told him that it did not matter to me whether he wanted a step or not with no extra cost, just that I needed to explain that his drawings indicated a 0" step. He told me to go by the plans, so we completed the project. He had given me $1,500 with a balance of $3,500 on the labor only contract, then after we completed the job he refused to pay me the balance for the reason that I did not put a step in the garage. He said he would pay me after I remove and replace his garage floor, driveway, and front entry sidewalk. After two weeks of arguing, I told him to keep the $3,500 and I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After two years, I received a letter from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, stating that I had a complaint from this homeowner/ builder and that the hearing was scheduled for the following day. I called the registrar’s office and spoke with the investigator that was named on the letter and explained that I had just received this letter and that I lived in New Mexico, and to please re-schedule a date. I very much wanted to explain my side, especially since I still had the original drawings.

Two weeks later, I received another letter from the registrar with a notice that I defaulted and that my license was revoked. I called numerous times to speak with the investigator and not once did I ever get a return phone call.

I burned all of the past blueprints and papers. Such a one-sided state department refused to hear both sides of the complaint, their only purpose was to please the public, not give a true judgment of events from both sides.

I am still displeased with the registrar's performance on my case, but maybe over the last 20 years they have improved on their biased one-sided approach to being a true unbiased judge, while listening to both sides of the story before handing their decision down.

I do want to say that I never received a complaint before or after.

In New Mexico, I passed a General Contractors license and did mostly residential projects until I started getting government contracts as a sub-contractor. I had lots of contracts and I always completed my contracts, but the last three general contractors did not pay me all of my monies and once again I had to start over.

I never sued any company simply because of the attorney costs. One law firm told me to sue for an $80,000 claim against a multi-billion dollar contractor. The legal fees would be approximately $300,000 over 2 years with a 50/50 chance. He explained that it didn't matter how accurate my records were and it was clear cut that they indeed owed me the money even with daily signed change orders. In the eyes of the law there was a chance I may not be awarded the legal fees and lose another $300,000. That is one example of a true story.

I have worked in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii and Utah on mostly small projects for small contractors, but I liked moving around and at times I have done large concrete projects, up to 10,000 cubic yards.

Currently I live in Arizona. I worked with a general contractor that was always struggling due to his past, but I stuck it out until I could not take it anymore.

I have had countless ups and downs with 90% due to contractors and owners not paying for the work I completed on which they accepted, and the other 10% due to my own personal faults and neglect.

I started this website to help all contractors avoid the same mistakes that I have made, letting the world know the true history and business practices with which all in the construction industry interact.

Thank you for taking the time to read my brief history, and if any of you have had similar problems, then you know what I have gone through. This website will help change the business practices of all companies and be a protective environment for all entities in the construction industry.

The number of companies I have worked for are countless. In the 80’s I never had less than 10 major projects at a time, in the 90’s they were mostly government contracts, and since 2000 I have worked under other companies either as superintendent or operations manager, but always with a percentage of the outcome.

Other Members
Sylvia Anaya - Member
No construction experience, but heavy into operations and problem solving in the helicopter industry.

The three members will be involved on a daily basis to help organize and expand this company. No phone numbers are available at this time until we set up an office, which will be in Gilbert, Arizona, before the end of 2007.