Kodiak Construction

David Figueroa: It’s a Hardscape Life

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MARTINEZ — After getting an early start in construction, David Figueroa worked in several aspects of the industry before eventually finding his niche as a concrete contractor. “I started doing construction when I was in junior high school, and I’ve been doing it ever since—more than 40 years now,” he says. “I got into concrete work in the early ’80s, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that I had the opportunity to do it exclusively. Since then, our business has continued to grow, and I now work alongside my son, Michael, who is one of our estimators.”

Today, as owner of Kodiak Construction, David explains why he likes working with concrete in particular. “As a guy who likes to move around a lot, I appreciate the fact that concrete work is fairly fast-paced. You don’t have to wait three months to see the final product; you can see it right away and then you’re on to the next job. Also, you can do beautiful things with concrete, with a lot of room for creativity. There’s no mold for it—every project is different.”

Originally from Mexico, David came to the United States at the age of 20 and today resides in Martinez with his wife, Jane. “I really like the Bay Area setting: the weather is good, we’re surrounded by water and we have many different microclimates. For example, when it’s really hot in Martinez, you can go on the other side of the channel to San Francisco and it’s much cooler.”

In his life and career, David espouses the importance of honesty in business. “You have to be honest and straightforward with your customers,” he affirms. “When there’s a problem, you don’t hide from it; you do your best to take care of it. Sometimes, even when you try your hardest, things don’t work out as planned, but at the end of the day, if you’re honest and follow through with what you say you’re going to do, your customers will be satisfied.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, David says he’d do some traveling. “In addition to seeing more of the U.S., I’d like to spend some time in Mexico, just fishing and enjoying the simple life.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Italy. I’ve always wanted to go there.

Q: What kind of food do you like?
A: Mexican—basically, anything with a tortilla.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
A: I usually don’t eat breakfast, although sometimes I’ll stop for a donut and coffee.

Q: Do you collect anything?
A: I collect gold and silver coins.