Flawless Steel Welding forges reliable people and a sense of community
Flawless Steel Welding started out essentially as a one-man show in 2011, now it’s a multimillion-dollar business with about 25 employees and more hiring on the horizon.
The business was started by CEO Victor Garcia in his hometown neighborhood, Lincoln Park, and the company says it’s looking at moving into a new 35,000-square-foot building by year’s end.
Flawless Steel holds monthly barbecues for its employees, and Garcia advocates for other minority-owned businesses through his work as a board member at the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado. Employees enjoy full benefits and access to National Center for Construction Education & Research’s three-year apprenticeship program.
This Q&A has been edited for clarity, brevity and style.
What need or niche did you see in the market that inspired you to start your business? We recognized early on that the need for a highly qualified, minority-owned erector and fabricator was not being met and set out to fill that need with a strong, motivated team capable of providing exceptional quality. Our company is certified through the Office of Economic Development in Denver and is recognized as a minority-owned business enterprise, a small business enterprise and a disadvantaged business enterprise, so we are able to take on federally funded as well as city and state projects.
What’s the key to your success? We have set a high bar for quality. In our company name, we are reminded continually of the standard we’ve set, both for our company and our team ― flawless. Our employees are committed to individual and professional success, not just collecting Friday’s paycheck.
What big moves did you have to make to get here? I had to give up everything and have faith that my vision was going to become a reality. With the support of my wife and countless hours of dedication, blood, sweat and tears, we are where we are today. I know the importance of reputation and am committed to earning a reputation for quality and pride in workmanship with every project. I had to overcome a lot in my life. I believe our customers know that they can count on me to work through anything — overcome any obstacle — because that’s what I’ve always done. The success of Flawless Steel proves that it’s not about where you come from, it’s about who you are now.
What would you say is the foundation of your business? Without question, our people are the backbone of our success. That’s why we choose to invest in them through training, work continuously to give them a sense of value and show our appreciation for their skills and talents in meaningful ways. At the end of the day, we believe our employees perform better because they are happy at work.
What can Colorado do to better support its small business infrastructure? With all the work here in our state, more and more out-of-town companies are drawn to the expansive opportunities to work in Colorado. I believe Colorado businesses should commit to developing mutually successful working relationships with other Colorado businesses and prioritize the success of our local companies. Any efforts to support that goal would be beneficial to the small businesses of Colorado.
What kind of business “home” is Colorado building? A sprawling estate
Where do you see your company, entering 2020? We currently have overhead cranes for erection both in our shop and out in the field and we have the equipment we need to take on projects of larger scale. We are scaling up to take on a larger workload, including upcoming I-70 corridor projects. We intend to establish our position as leaders in the field and prove our ability to meet the challenges of an influx of new projects.
Company: Flawless Steel Welding
Email address: [email protected]
Top local executive: Victor Garcia, owner and CEO
Location: Denver
Employees: 25
Industry: Structural steel fabrication and erection
Song that best describes company culture: Imagine Dragons — “Whatever It Takes”
By Jonathan Rose – Associate Editor, Denver Business Journal
