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Stanko & Sons in 5 Useful Answers
Back in the mid-60s, my grandfather, um, began this business with, I guess, a relative is what I was told of his, and they would do small, tiny residential, uh, asphalt repairs, patching potholes and things of that nature. And then, uh, my dad come of age and he got married in 1974 and moved out to Southern California. And, uh, really from there, uh, the industry was really at the, I guess, at the beginnings, and, uh, he was at the threshold when it turned from, uh, small residential to, uh, more of a public thing where he could advertise and really get his name out there. So my dad really got a contractor's license and started, uh, contracting in 1980. Uh, from there on in, uh, I was born in '77. So by the time I was 12 years old, I really took a liking to, uh, machinery and trucks and tractors and just the smell of asphalt. Uh, I guess it's just something that's inside of me and something that'll probably be there forever. So how I got started in the industry was just, uh, a natural evolution, something I was raised around and, uh, something I never see myself not doing. Um, I still enjoy my work very much so. I take a lot of pride in, uh, what I do. Uh, we take the extra mile and we go to extra steps in order to achieve, uh, what the customer's goal would be. So that's how I got started. It was just, uh, it's a family business and it's something I just always like since day one. Uh, first and foremost, I love meeting people. Uh, meeting new people, different personalities, and also I kind of like the challenge because this is a very demanding business and it's very, very competitive. Just here to Silicon Valley, there's over 30 contractors and most likely you're bidding against a good majority of them. So I really like the challenge and I also like meeting new people, uh, is one of the things that I really enjoy. And also when a customer doesn't know what to do, uh, they're not sure, they've collected five estimates with five different opinions. And when I'm able to sit down one-on-one with a customer or customers, um, like a project I did recently was a large commercial project. And we were dealing with five different imaginations and five different thought patterns and also they were looking for five different goals. And, uh, I was able to, uh, over a series of meetings and appointments, I was able to really narrow down and see what their overall goal was and I think we hit it out the park. Uh, everyone was happy including the tenants. So one of the things I really like is, is really seeing people satisfied with the things that I do. You know, we take nothing, you know, basically a dirt field or a demolished parking lot, and it's beautiful and functional and it's going to be used for years upon years upon years. That's, that's really what I, what I really enjoy about it. I recently had a client, uh, last, uh, fall, uh, out in Morgan Hill and it was a shared private roadway and I believe there were nine neighbors that shared this roadway and, uh, the road was just a mess. And I was one of the original bidders early in the summer and, uh, they opted to go with another company which, uh, promised to do a bunch of things that they didn't do. Uh, but contractually they were binded, they were legally agreed to pay them for the scope of work they did which turned out not to be, uh, the best thing. Uh, so when she was in disarray because everyone was unhappy with the decision she made, um, I was able to go there and really find a happy medium. We kind of really died down to neighbors and I sat down and explained and I actually drove them around some local projects that I did, what they were before, what they are now, and what they can expect 10 years down the road. And I couldn't get, uh, enough praise from her and their neighbors for really just taking the time and focusing on what they really needed as opposed to what they really wanted or even what they can afford is what it always boils down to is dollars and cents. Everyone has a budget and a goal. And at this point in time, I was able to meet both. And, uh, after I left this project, I got multiple thank you emails and letters and phone calls and one of the highest references and ratings I got, uh, to date from this particular customer and her neighbors. Uh, I just thought it was really, really interesting. They felt like they was taken advantage of. And, um, naturally when I bid the job because it was a different scope of work, my number was 50% higher. And then once they seen the machinery I brought out there and what was actually going on, uh, they were just like over the moon. So that was a very recent, um, customer experience that went from they had a bad experience with a paving company which they label us all as contractors and con artists, uh, as opposed to when I got done they couldn't thank me enough. And still to this day I got a thank you through the winter months because they weren't driving in mud, mud puddles and water puddles and all the water hit the drains and I put new speed bumps in for them. So to say they were ecstatic would be an understatement. So that is a very recent, uh, testimonial from a, a client last fall. What customers should know about me and my team? Uh, first and foremost, we only complete one project at a time. We never start a job and do a phase of it and move on to the next one and constantly play catchup. We are on this job and dedicated to your project 110%. As far as time, availability, um, my crew are kind and courteous. Um, and they're very professional. My newest, uh, employee is 12 years. My oldest employee has been with the company for about 20 years now. So, uh, to say we have a good relationship and we are like a family is an understatement. We are very close-knit, tight-knit group, and we are like family. So, when a company does hire us, the things that they should know about Stan Sons is we do take a lot of pride in ourselves and it shows to our workmanship and our service is second to none. I'm always available for a phone call, the email, it doesn't matter. I have clients call me 10, 11:00 p.m. at night. Sometimes I'm in bed and I'll pick up the phone. Uh, a lot of times throughout the country, uh, because they own multiple properties and they just don't live in state, so I'm always available and, um, I never avoid anyone. I'm just I'm on the spot and my crew is, uh, dedicated as well. You know, whatever it takes, whatever it takes to get a job complete, an adequate amount of time. You know, we're a stickler for schedule. We really try hard to keep a schedule. What makes our company different from any others in the industry? Um, I really approach every project as if it's my own property, whether it be a driveway, a commercial parking lot, or a street or a roadway. And there's no nonsense. I'm a yes and no person. Um, there's black and white. There's no gray area. I'm not a salesman by any stretch of the imagination. Uh, I meet the customer and they tell me what they're looking for and I tell them what they need, needs to be done or what should be done. I always give them my highest recommendation. Uh, I think that's really super important to know what you need, uh, prior to, uh, calling any contractor instead of being sold on something that the contractor wants to do. Um, almost 10 out of 10 times the customer isn't happy. Neither does the contractor. So about Stanko and Sons, first and foremost, customer satisfaction is our goal. Service is our goal. Uh, and the product and the finished product whether it be a driveway, a parking lot or a road always speaks for itself. But our service and, uh, the quality of our service is second to none.