CONTRACTOR SUCCESS STORY
This approach has proven highly successful – Quality Environmental went from earnings of $ 1 million in 2005 to over $ 18 million in 2022 ; the company currently has about 100 employees , over 30 different field vehicles ( including regular and box trucks , vans and heavy equipment ), and field staff who are certified in all the trades . They offer complex demolition , asbestos and lead abatement , mold remediation , infection control and viral disinfection services , fire and water damage clean-up , bead blasting , and 24 / 7 hazmat emergency response services . Their clients include hospitals , schools , government buildings , public housing , and both commercial and private renovation projects .
Because of the company leaders ’ proactive stance toward learning about various project requirements , Quality Environmental has avoided many of the steep administrative learning curves and challenging adjustments usually experienced by small businesses when moving into public works construction . “ We ’ ve always done our research first so haven ’ t had any surprises – when we were starting out , I got trained as much as possible on things that were new to me . When I asked general contractors for guidance , they willingly directed me to the resources required for us to handle each project in terms of insurance , compliance , bookkeeping and so forth . So now , when we prepare bids , we train our estimators to do their research in detail ahead of time – looking over plans , and key notes , and if it ’ s a type of project that we haven ’ t
“ We make it a point to educate our clients and employees on the importance of adhering to safety regulations , because the only job worth doing is a job done right .”
– – Lizbeth Delval Escutia , Vice President , Quality Environmental , Inc .
done before , reaching out to the contract administrator to be sure that we understand the requirements .”
Lizbeth initially learned about the Contractor Development and Bonding Program ( CDABP ) while researching accounting practices and small business enterprise certifications . The CDABP assisted Lizbeth with funds control and securing bonding for a 2008 LAX project , then in 2016 , for a 1-year Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles ( HACLA ) contract . HACLA was so pleased with Quality Environmental ’ s work , reports Lizbeth , “ that they invited us to bid on a 5-year contract , which we completed , and then on another 5-year contract , which we are currently in the middle of . They love our work , and we love working with them . The bonding support and funds control which CDABP provided enabled us to get our first $ 2 million job . We would not have gotten our foot in the door with HACLA without what funds control taught us about keeping track of every single cost , because even putting gas in your truck has to be properly coded for these types of projects .”
FALL 2023 LA CONTRACTOR CONNECTION - 17