The leadership team of Hitt Concrete & Site Construction, Inc. (from left to right): David Strause, Striping & Signage/SWPPP/Operations Manager; Paul Hitt, President; and Robert Greene, Senior Director of Concrete Operations.

Once construction was complete, Hitt Concrete & Site Construction, Inc. crews completed the striping and wheel stops at this interior distribution center.

From striping, signage and stormwater protection to massive slab-on-grade pours, specialty contractor Hitt Concrete & Site Construction, Inc. (Hitt Concrete) seems to do it all.

Founded in 2015, this Glendale, Arizona-based company has rapidly grown from two guys and a truck to a 50-person company with a comprehensive list of projects for large and high-profile clients.

According to Founder and President Paul Hitt, that feat is a tribute to his people. He explains, “The success of the company today and our continued ability to deliver reliable, quality services is, in part, the culmination of lessons learned over the years about technical skills like striping and pouring concrete. But even more, it’s a clear demonstration of the critical importance of appreciating, inspiring and rewarding our people.”

He and his team are shaping that culture through a blend of modern solutions and some old-school best practices.

Purpose Built

Since his young adult years in Riverside, California, Paul’s construction experiences have ranged from framing, painting and steel erection to property management and land development. Along the way, he also earned a bachelor’s degree in work ethics. In his late 30s, he went to work for a striping, signage, stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) and concrete company as a business developer—and unknowingly found his professional purpose.

By 2015, Paul believed he was ready to start his own business. He talked one of his colleagues, David Strause, into joining him as the Striping & Signage/SWPPP/Operations Manager.

Paul says, “We didn’t have much when we started—just a belief that we could build a business with an emphasis on traditional values, like customer service.”

In fact, all they had was a Ford F-250 truck and one striping sprayer, but they had connections and know-how. They won some small striping and signage jobs, hired two employees and continued to establish a reputation around Maricopa County—largely because of their emphasis on service.

Turnaround Pressure

Striping and signage is all about fast turnaround, explains Paul, as these services are typically among the last tasks to be completed on a project.

David confirms, “Most new or renovated buildings are under construction right up until the owner’s specified deadline. That means we’re often given a very short time to stripe thousands of feet of curbs, lanes, loading areas and pickup zones. A critical part of our service model is to be there when the general contractor needs us, so often we work night and day. We’ll work overtime to get done.”

Since those early days, the company has done striping and signage for over 100 distribution centers in Arizona. These jobs include signage and striping for handicap stalls, truck stalls, wheel stops, fire lanes and curb. The company also does off-site signage and striping in city rights-of-way for turn lanes, bike lanes, crosswalks, etc.

The SWPPP side of the business also flourished. From its earliest days, the company provided a complete range of services from SWPPP strategies, books and inspections to implementing measures that ensure adherence to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and local and state regulations on a job site.

“Effective SWPPP services are all about training and certifications,” David explains. “Our goal is to make sure our general contractors are compliant.” To date, Hitt Concrete has completed thousands of SWPPP projects in Arizona.

Concrete services have grown as well. What started as small pours for retail buildings and associated sitework has expanded to distribution, large retail and multifamily sectors—constructing everything from curbs, sidewalks and handicap ramps to very large slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck systems with footings, drainage and catch basins.

With an eye on expanding concrete services, Paul hired longtime friend and colleague Robert Greene as the Senior Director of Concrete Operations. With two decades of experience in both front- and back-end concrete operations, Robert’s mission is to build this particular service area. The company’s current work on several multifamily projects in Maricopa County this year is testament to the fact that his guidance is working.

With hundreds of concrete pours for distribution, retail and subdivisions, thousands upon thousands of feet of striping and signage, and SWPPP services that include Best Management Practices (BMPs), Hitt Concrete has built a strong reputation for quality work since its founding.

“Every one of our employees is a professional, and likely has an idea about how to improve productivity, efficiency or new opportunities for work. We provide that open forum for communication.” Paul Hitt, Founder and President, Hitt Concrete & Site Construction, Inc.

Personal Approach

To continue to build project backlogs, Paul, David and Robert recognize the need to continuously improve and reinforce their employee-first culture.

Paul adds, “Customer service is extremely important to our company. I get that from my retail background. I believe the way to build that customer-first culture begins with putting our people first.”

The company has grown considerably in the last six years, and taking care of that many individuals requires considerable focus. “We know our talented team, especially our field leadership, can work for others. To retain them, we have to take care of them,” Paul says.

The opportunity for professional growth is one way Hitt Concrete’s leadership builds a strong team, as Christine Blake can attest. She joined the company in 2015 as the controller. She adds, “I have watched this company grow from the back of a truck to multiple offices and a long list of high-profile projects. Even in our growth and success, we do not lose sight of those humble times and the family and friends that we have all become.”

That begins, Paul believes, with benefits such as a 401(k), health care, dental and vision—but that’s just the foundation. Having the right tools and technologies is another area of emphasis. “Since our earliest days, much of our profits have gone to equipment to make sure our team has everything they need to do a quality job with efficiency,” David adds.

Another way the company stays focused on its people is through recognition and visibility. “If we have big pours, we bring breakfast burritos or Gatorades,” Robert says. “That sounds like such a little thing, but little things go a long way.”

Those supportive steps will be particularly appreciated as Hitt Concrete continues work on a $1.6 million project in the city of Glendale that requires the construction of post-tensioned slabs-on-grade for 25 buildings.

Continuing education opportunities also fall under the company’s employee-focused initiative. While Hitt Concrete has always reimbursed the staff for trade-related coursework, the leadership team also encourages employees to have endorsements such as the American Concrete Institute’s concrete flatwork finishing or concrete foundation certifications for finishers, and of course, makes sure they have all necessary certifications from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

This year, with an eye on expanding employee training and educational opportunities, Paul and his team are developing an internal education program.

Robert explains, “One of the biggest challenges in today’s environment is the lack of qualified craftspeople. I think the concrete trade, in particular, is going to go through a renaissance as experienced craft workers are aging out and the younger workers are still gaining experience. We’re going to see huge growing pains in this industry. That’s why we’re envisioning a program to help foster training of our people.”

“We also listen,” Paul adds. “Every one of our employees is a professional, and likely has an idea about how to improve productivity, efficiency or new opportunities for work. We provide that open forum for communication. Further, everyone wants to be recognized when they do well. We try to show up on the jobs and they appreciate that we have taken the initiative to see what they’re doing.”

That appreciation for the work performed by each individual translates well to quality customer service.

Maintaining Balance

In the last two years, Hitt Concrete has expanded to three offices with stockyards—two in Glendale and one in Phoenix, each location with multiple sprayers, thermoplastic machines, trucks, trailers and tools. When asked about growth, the company’s leaders are quick to say they’re not (currently) seeking work outside of the state, as there is plenty of opportunity in Maricopa County.

“Successful companies stick to what they know,” Paul says. “Our goal is to build and retain a small team that we treat like family, do quality work and still give everyone their weekends. Too many companies sacrifice their field crews for profit. We believe maintaining a work/life balance is essential to our success and the happiness of our employees. We want to be a place that provides every individual that balance.”

That balance is demonstrated in the personal activities of each member of the Hitt Concrete leadership team. Robert is a high school football coach, David is focused on spending as much time as possible with his grandson, and Paul loves to hike, bike and workout.

Paul concludes, “It’s important to have time for family, friends and personal activities. We firmly believe that maintaining balance, appreciating life in and out of work makes us very good at our jobs and a better employer, which translates to quality services for our customers.”