CONTRACTOR SUCCESS STORY II : ESCOBAR CONSTRUCTION
and remodel foreclosed , bank-owned homes – although when the contract ended , he returned to doing smaller residential projects .
In 2019 , Ron volunteered for the USC Alumni Association , where he met a fellow veteran named Lucas Lenhert , who helped him get certified as a Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise ( DVBE ). Ron also enrolled in many of the free courses and training workshops offered by the Contractor Development and Bonding Program ( CDABP ), whose staff helped him understand the new business landscape with a different perspective , and connect with a lender willing to give his business , Escobar Construction , a line of credit .
“ Because of my humble background , as an entrepreneur I suffered from lack of experienced mentorship and lack of access to capital my whole career . I ’ ve had to learn the hard way how to be a business executive and leader . I had to self-fund my business starting from zero and reinvesting every single dollar I made . I made a lot of costly mistakes which taught me lessons , but also kept me from accomplishing my full potential , so getting this kind of support has enabled me to learn important skills , build business confidence and see more clearly what I am capable of achieving ,” he says .
Ron ’ s motivation to take Escobar Construction to greater levels of success is also rooted in wanting to be a role model and mentor for other veterans , as his own life experiences have illustrated how under-served and underrepresented this community remains . Increasingly , Ron has chosen to speak up for himself , his fellow veterans and other disadvantaged contractors , such as at a recent Caltrans outreach event , when an older white male contractor speaker at a panel announced that he was bothered by “ being forced to reach out to unqualified minorities ,” and that he would like it better if the certified firms were more qualified . While it was offensive enough to be called a “ minority ,” Ron was taken aback by how the man seemed to not understand or care that only by being inclusive with support , training , mentorship and opportunities could they begin to level a playing field that otherwise only benefits the traditionally well-established businesses , many of whom are blind to the historical privilege which they ’ ve enjoyed . “ I got up and reminded him that I volunteered to give my life for this country and went to places that others did not and that ’ s why I was there to be certified as a DVBE ,” shares Ron , “ If they go strictly by qualifications alone , then only the biggest companies will get all the business , and no one else will ever get a chance to learn , grow and succeed . Diversity should be valued . If you give me a chance , I promise I can do the job better than anyone .”
Besides challenging the assumptions of those who are still reluctant to be inclusive , Ron wants to lead by example to encourage other veterans to seek out and take advantage of any and all available resources , support and opportunities . As he explains , “ A common problem with veterans of the Armed Forces is that we try to avoid the stigma associated with being labeled as a ‘ Service-Disabled Veteran ’ even as we bear the burden of post-service trauma ; partly because of this , we are unaware of the benefits to which we are entitled . I did
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