SPEAKER_01: 0:30

My name is Kathy Valez and I own Capital Metro Contracting, which is a construction company, and we service DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

SPEAKER_00: 0:40

Wonderful. I can't wait to learn about just all the things you do. Take me back to how you got started in all of this. Tell me how you got to where you are today.

SPEAKER_01: 0:48

All right. So I guess it would start with my childhood because my dad actually immigrated from El Salvador back in the 70s. And he always worked in construction for the big construction companies. And he, when I was in high school, he decided that he wanted to start his own company in residential. And so being the oldest and the most responsible one, I was voluntoled to participate in helping him with contracts, proposals, and just navigating, starting the business with him. Years went by. He continued his business. I went to college and I ended up majoring in business and I got into human resources. The last position I held was at the British Embassy. So I was doing human resources for North America and Latin America. And there came a time around pandemic where things, a lot of things changed for a lot of people. And I was like, you know what? I think I might want to join my dad's company. And he was like, I am planning about retirement in a couple of years from now. That would be awesome. And I took the time out to get my license in Virginia and Maryland and DC. And I decided that, okay, I'm going to take this on. And so here I am five years later in the business, completely submerged. And I left my corporate life of definitely more comfort for this new challenge. But yes, this is how I ended up here.

SPEAKER_00: 2:18

And the rest is history, right? Yep.

SPEAKER_01: 2:20

The rest is history.

SPEAKER_00: 2:21

What a journey. I love it. Taking over a family business comes with both opportunity and responsibility. What did it mean to you personally to continue your father's legacy while also shaping the company in a way that reflects your vision and leadership?

SPEAKER_01: 2:38

So I would say that he built an amazing company. And I have to talk about him because he's the reason, the biggest reason why I even got into this. Seeing his hard work ethic and just his integrity in this business and the way that he treats people. I would say that's probably the thing that I learned the most is the way that he treats people. And that was important to me, especially with my background and human resources. I guess somehow that's how I ended up in it. And when it was I had the opportunity to continue this legacy, I was like, I definitely want to continue those things. They're very important to me. And I what I want to use is all my experience that I've gained throughout the years and just improve the business wherever I can. And especially in communication, because you can be amazing at a trade. However, the communication piece is sometimes not the best. So I wanted to bring that part to it is to make sure that everybody is communicating, that everything is in alignment, that the projects are going smoothly, and that we're licensed, we're insured. We have everything we need so that the business is operating to the best of its ability. And so that's what I really wanted to bring to the company.

SPEAKER_00: 3:52

Wow. It's really fascinating how many just moving parts go behind behind the scenes. And like you said, great communication is key, especially in a field like this. Oh, absolutely. Where you're dealing with people that it's a big milestone for them to come to you guys and get work done.

SPEAKER_01: 4:07

Oh, yes. No, absolutely. And that's one of the things that really separates us is those high levels of communication and transparency. Because that's something that I really wanted to make sure we did. I don't even care what trends are going on around at the time or like what most contractors are doing. I wanted to stick to what feels right for us and that's taking care of our clients.

SPEAKER_00: 4:30

Absolutely. And you are a class A builder licensed in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. How does that level of licensing and qualification shape the way you approach projects and client relationships?

SPEAKER_01: 4:44

Yes, no. So every state and city has their own set of rules with county codes and city codes and rules and regulations. So it's definitely our team makes sure that we stay on top of all the new changes that happen. And we have someone specifically that makes sure that we're on top of that, which is my brother, because it is a family business and he works with me. His name is John. He's he hates the camera, he hates pictures. I can't get him to take a picture of his life dependent on it, but he is amazing, analytical. He loves it. Like he enjoys it. He likes sharing, like what new rule is out and uh figuring things out, problem solving. And that's a with me, it's I think the people are what makes your business great. And I would say definitely that's one of his highlights is making sure that we're on top of any changes and making sure we're building to code. So with that, I would say that's one of the things that really stands out about us is we really make sure that with every project we're taking on, the client can have confidence that we know exactly what we're doing in their city or in their county, in their state.

SPEAKER_00: 5:52

For sure. You guys sound like the perfect duo. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_01: 5:57

Yeah, no, just great people.

SPEAKER_00: 5:59

And clients often mention the peace of mind they feel when working with you. What does peace of mind look like in practice when someone hires Capital Metro contracting?

SPEAKER_01: 6:09

That's a great question. So I would say just with all the projects, I can only speak for the past five years. But for the past five years, we have received all types of clients. Sometimes it has been people that have been burned out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and just almost like with an anxiety or just terrified to try a new contractor. And I'd like to say sometimes we get it the hardest because they're terrified. They've lost so much money, they've lost time. They're a lot of people don't understand that construction, especially in residential, is very emotional for the client and their investment is going into this. And I would say that when we finish a project and I we hold their hand throughout the whole entire process and remind them like, hey, we just finished this phase, it's gonna be okay. We're now on to the next one. And they're like, okay. And I can tell that they're like nervous but excited. But I would say, out of that whole process, like when we get to the end, the relief that they feel and they're like eager to refer us immediately. And that's where we get 90% of our clients is referrals. And they just share their story about how they were terrified and the horrible experience they had. And to be honest, I think it's just having that transparency and explaining and detail before you get into a project. And I'm just so glad that's something that we can provide to our clients. And we're just so honored that they just feel at peace. And every referral they send us, we're like, oh my God, we did something right.

SPEAKER_00: 7:45

Yep. Absolutely. Having that smooth process from start to finish. And then also them being able to just give that word of mouth reference about you guys. It's the best.

SPEAKER_01: 7:56

Yes, no, it feels amazing. And we're not perfect, things come up, but the main thing for us is taking responsibility. If something doesn't things never go 100% right in construction, you could be waiting for a special piece that has taken six months and it arrives cracked. And then now you have to order another one or think of a plan B. So there's so many things that can happen in construction, but for us, it's like taking responsibility. Okay, this happened. Now let's find a resolution, not avoiding responsibility, or I don't know who that was, or it must have been somebody else, but not us, shifting blame or things like that. Like we're okay with taking it on. Let's just move forward with this project. That's something else that we definitely do.

SPEAKER_00: 8:39

You're there to get it done right, no matter how long it takes. Exactly. I love it. Yes. And how do you approach bringing a client's vision to life in a way that reflects their unique tastes while also elevating how they experience their home on a daily basis?

SPEAKER_01: 8:54

Oh, that's a really great question. It takes a team, a huge team. And so I would say it takes an architect, uh, it takes an interior designer, and then it takes the builder. And all those three things are super important in a project. A lot of clients sometimes they prefer not to go with a designer. I always recommend if you can, if that's something that you're willing to do, I highly recommend going with a designer because they will really make the project go smoother. They're an expert in their field, and especially the ones that we work with, the designers we work with are incredible. And I do like to give the client the ability to choose who they want to work with. We do also have an architect that we work with, but again, if they already have an architect and already have the plans and want to move forward, we're, we can definitely pick up wherever they are. But when it comes to if you're starting from scratch, we definitely have designers that we highly recommend, depending on the client's style or their needs. And then the architect that we have is amazing. He's also a structural engineer, so we can handle it all. And he has been amazing as well. And just paying attention to what's important to the client from the beginning, planning correctly, taking your time. Don't rush into a project. And then we also provide different options in regards to how the cost of a project, being completely honest from the beginning of how much the cot the cost is gonna be. Because we don't believe in just low bidding and just changing things up as we're going into the project. And that's awful. I think that's not that that's not being honest. And so we definitely like to give realistic expectations to the clients when we're working with them.

SPEAKER_00: 10:41

Yes. Transparency is so important. And just being able to offer that in a world where not everyone is, not all these companies are the same way. Yeah. It really sets you guys apart and shows that integrity and honesty as well.

SPEAKER_01: 10:54

Yes, no, definitely.

SPEAKER_00: 10:56

And I like what you mentioned about just your team and how everybody comes together and does their part and it just creates this like beautiful product in the end.

SPEAKER_01: 11:04

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00: 11:05

Teamwork really makes the dream work.

SPEAKER_01: 11:07

It really does, honestly. And I'm not just saying it to be cliche, but I love that everyone has their expertise and like we just dominate and we work well together. Um, no one's stepping on top of each other's toes. We're we respect boundaries. Every person has what they're in charge of doing, and we just rotate. This is what we do for each and every project. And I feel it works well and it just makes the projects go so much smoother. But yeah, that's what I would definitely tell a client is that just breathe, take your time, and let's plan it right before we get going. So that's something that I would always recommend.

SPEAKER_00: 11:47

Absolutely. It's so important to do your homework, especially in a field like this.

SPEAKER_01: 11:51

Absolutely, definitely.

SPEAKER_00: 11:53

Awesome. And your proposals are known for being highly detailed and transparent. How do you help clients understand the true cost of a project so there are no surprises down the road?

SPEAKER_01: 12:05

Absolutely. So a lot of times clients will be like, here are my set of plans, give me a price, or I just want to renovate my kitchen. Like, here it can you give me a price? Ballpark it. And I it happens over and over again. And I'm like, I can't ballpark something for you. It's not just looking at a design. We have to see the existing on-site location, what's behind the wall. Sometimes we'll have to like make holes in the in the drywall to see what's going on there. Sometimes there's unexpected issues that you weren't even aware of. And so, in order for us to give an accurate price, we definitely have to do an on-site appointment. And so that's something that is really important into pricing correctly. And because of the experience that my team has, especially I would like to highlight my dad on this one, because he's got amazing experience. He's been doing this running a company 25 years, but before that, just years of construction. And so he already knows like what things are gonna come up. And so that's one of the things that you get when you work with us is like that expertise has no price. And so once we do the, we go on site and we take a look at the space and we have a discussion with you, what's important to you, what's not important to you. Then we sit together and we work on these proposals. A lot of people think we just like input numbers in a computer and then it prints out a price. No, it takes like meetings. I have to sit with my dad, Hector, and I have to sit with my brother, and we have to like plan every single thing that can come into the picture. And then that's what we present. And we're stuck with that price. So that's why we make sure that we do it right because we're not gonna surprise you. And if a surprise comes, we're gonna have to take it because this is like what we did, our preparation. And so after doing this for so long, we've become really good at it. So that's like a little bit of my process.

SPEAKER_00: 14:01

Wow, it's it seems like a very fine-tuned process, you know, testing the situation, seeing what you're working with, and then really just working it out with the team, and especially your dad, he has so many years under the belt and just sounds like a great role model.

SPEAKER_01: 14:15

Oh, definitely.

SPEAKER_00: 14:17

Absolutely. And Capital Metro Contracting has a distinctly elegant and refined brand presence which stands out in this industry. Why was it important for you to intentionally build that kind of brand identity?

SPEAKER_01: 14:34

That's a good question. It was because of the experience that we bring and the location. We are in the DMV area. Everything is pretty much luxury. And not only that, but also being able to provide some level of luxury for any home, regardless of your economic background or anything like that. So when you call us, we're gonna make sure we give you that luxury experience. No matter how small your house is or how big your house is, you're gonna get the same quality. So that's one of the things that, you know, we really care is that when we're done with the project, that like we just wow people. And if they're not wowed, like how can I get to the point where I'm wowing you? So that's like really important to us is just taking care of them and then bringing that luxury part to construction because it's so important. I think using the best material materials, not cutting corners on that because it'll fall apart. That's the truth. Like, you want to use the best materials, best quality. We just won't do it. If if we ever run into a situation, they're like, no, we want to use like very standard materials, we just can't. It's just not because we're putting our name on it. We put a warranty on our work. We just cannot do it. So for us, like it that's the most important thing is to use really quality materials so that at the end it will be luxury because it's going to last you a lifetime. I never get any calls like, hey, like our bathroom fell apart, or the shelving that you put is like dangling. And the reason why is because we really care about quality. And if you put quality in your home, it's gonna last forever. It really will.

SPEAKER_00: 16:16

Absolutely. Being able to have that luxury aspect, but also knowing that it will last. Yes, that's amazing. And looking ahead, what are your goals for continuing to attract clients who truly value quality, transparency, and professionalism in their products, projects? Sorry.

SPEAKER_01: 16:40

Referrals are like the most important to us. And we take care of those referrals, and that's what's going to continue speaking volumes about us. And I love referrals because they already have heard about us and they've already spoken to someone who's experienced the journey with us. So to us, like that's something that we definitely want to continue.

SPEAKER_00: 17:03

Awesome. And when clients choose to work with Capital Metro contracting, what do you hope they walk away feeling? Not just about the finished product, but also about the experience of working with your team from start to finish.

SPEAKER_01: 17:18

I would say that they feel comfortable enough to reach out to us in the future for anything. And our clients have our cell phone numbers. They text us like, I know what's going on in their lives, new jobs, new babies, new marriages, just so many things that are going on in their life. And we stay in touch. And I love that sometimes they'll just text me and be like, hey, by the way, my sink isn't working. I know this is not a big job, but can you help me? And I'm like, don't worry about it. We'll send out a plumber. Like they feel so comfortable with us that they can call us for anything. And so that is like super special, is and that's what I want the client to leave knowing is that we're a family business and you're gonna become part of our family too. So if something, if you need anything, like we're here for you and you can always just text us with anything that you need. So that's what I want them to leave off is just feeling like they can like they have a family in Capital Metro.

SPEAKER_00: 18:18

That's beautiful. And also just having that sense of reliability. They know that you got their back and even in the future, well after their project is finished. And having those client relationships, I think that there's nothing better than that.

SPEAKER_01: 18:30

Absolutely. I agree.

SPEAKER_00: 18:32

As we wrap up, is there anything you'd like to add that I haven't touched on today?

SPEAKER_01: 18:37

I would say it's the to me, it's the importance of people. At the end of the day, is having a serving heart. And I'm a woman of faith, and to me, it's super important. Just not just doing it because it's the golden rule, but doing it because it's something that's instilled in us is taking care of people. And if I could say anything, is like in whatever industry you're in, is think of it like it could be your mom, it could be your dad, a sibling. And at the end of the day, that's what we're what that's why we're doing it.

SPEAKER_00: 19:10

But yeah, other than that's it. Wonderful said, Thank you so much, Kathy, for joining me on the podcast and sharing an inspiring story. Of course. I appreciate it. I wish you the best of luck in all that comes your way in the future.

SPEAKER_01: 19:24

Thank you. Appreciate it, Katie.