Small Business Today Magazine MAR 2015 IMPACT STONE DESIGN | Page 11

ing to Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Memphis,
Colorado, and Mississippi to work. The
family also worked on the Polynesian Resort in Orlando, Florida. This was life-changing for them. As more and more jobs and
contracts began pouring in including work
for ZZ Top Band member Frank Beard and
retired NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon, the
small home-based family business was able
to lease two larger facilities to run their
operations and hire more people. At this
point, many in the community considered
Impact Stone as a company that was making an impact on people’s lives! That was
the reason that the name Impact Stone
was chosen for the company name.
In 1998, feeling it would be in the best
interest of the company, Joel and Irma hired
a man who was native to Texas and spoke
English much more proficiently than either
of them. Although he was not the owner,
this man would be the voice and face of
their company, communicating directly with
contractors and collecting payment for the
bills. Once he was in the picture, people
were misled by him that he was the owner.
It was easy for him to do and he readily
took advantage of the situation. Soon Joel
and Irma began noticing less money coming in, files missing, as well as complaints of
projects not being completed. Their hearts
sunk as they saw their dream dying in front
of their eyes. The business was failing after all the years of hard work and sweat.
This man who they had trusted had begun
embezzling from them and destroying their
reputation. He even stole all the business
they had from the Landry’s corporation!
Impact Stone Design Chief Estimator
and Project Manager, Veronica Reyna reflected, “You are going to have bad times.
However, you must keep trying.” Veronica
is truly an inspiration to anyone aspiring to
succeed in business. She, along with her
mother, sisters, and brothers are proud at
how far the family business has come since
her father’s dream first began. By 2001,
the Reyna family started over again as a
home-based business but never did their
hopes and dreams waiver. As their children
reached adulthood, they joined the company and became the core of the business.
Joel never wanted to push any of his
children into working with him; he want-

ed them to come to him and ask. Middle
daughter, Veronica explains that at about
this time she was working very long hours
for little money as a telemarketer. She was
about 20 years old and admits she never
had an interest in the family business. She
complained a lot about her parents’ long
and frequent absences.
Veronica was tired and unhappy at her
job. Although she knew almost nothing
about the stone business and had little formal education, she soon approached her
father and asked if she could work for him.
Joel was thrilled and agreed.Veronica asked,
“For money?” “Yes,” exclaimed her parents!
Telemarketing, although not Veronica’s
dream career, did come in handy as a family
salesperson. In addition, she received one
hour training sessions from a family friend
in estimating and reading blueprints,
Meanwhile, married daughter, Victoria
was a stay-at-home-mom when her parents asked her to contribute to the business anyway that she could. They needed
someone to go out in the field and make
connections and the personable Victoria fit
the bill. She was a natural and quite comfortable socializing and meeting new people. In addition, Victoria honed her people
skills by taking college classes in communications. Her passion to attract more business extended to making every attempt
to attend any and all networking events
around the city. Keeping in line with the
other women of the Reyna family, all of her
work was done while simultaneously caring
for her own children.
After meeting Cynthia Booker with UT
Systems, Veronica and Victoria received
many introductions through her. As a result, networking invitations came pouring
in! While attending one of these events
in Galveston, Texas in 2012, both Veronica
and her sister Victoria were introduced to
Michael Dwight with Hensel Phelps Construction Company. They made a great impression on him and he suggested they bid
on the new Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston. This was an incredible contact!
The new hospital was going to be huge
with seventeen floors and many restaurants. Victoria was beyond excited. Veron-

ica cautiously began looking into the offer
and recognized that Impact Stone Design
was too small for such an overwhelming
undertaking. The Reynas have always believed that their reputation for integrity and
honesty must be upheld in all circumstances. They know how important it is for them
to be realistic when committing to do quality work. Disappointed but integrity in tact,
the Reynas chose not to bid on the project.
This connection however led to future
opportunities including work through Hensel Phelps Construction on the Southwest
Airlines International Expansion in Houston
Hobby Airport. The sisters were encouraged to get bonded, certified, and take continuing education classes which they advise
all business owners to do. They are HUB
and WBE certified. Some وH