Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Stone. Them and their team share their story with us below:
The three of us formed Tejas Destructors after meeting and working at Kelsey’s late father’s Abatement and Demolition company here in the Austin area. After working there for some time, we were eager to form our own company and drive a new era of construction. We opened shop in May 2021 and we have been grinding in this energetic and competitive market since! We have achieved our WBE and HUB certifications, which is a huge accomplishment for our business in this short period of time. We take pride in being one of the few woman- and minority-owned construction companies in Texas. We’re the new generation of Abatement and Demolition contractors and we’re excited to be here!
Kelsey Stone, our co-founder and CEO, grew up in Whitney, TX and later made it to Austin where family migrated over time, primarily for opportunity. She graduated from Tarleton State University with a BBA in Finance in 2013, moved to Atlanta, GA and started her career in Commercial Real Estate. Upon moving back to Austin in 2018, she and Alex pivoted to land development and successfully developed a subdivision in Leander, TX, and sold finished lots to KB Home. Moreover, her late dad, Jud Stringer, passed in early 2020 due to complications during heart surgery and he requested that she fill his position by running his 13-year-old Abatement and Demolition company. She stepped in at the start of the pandemic, unwelcome by some, but grew the company over 30% in under a year. The rest is history!
Alex Boogren, our co-founder and CFO, grew up in Whitney, TX. He graduated from Tarleton State University with a BBA in Finance in 2013, moved to Atlanta, GA and started his career as an Associate for JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group. Once Jud passed, it was a life-changing experience for the family. Alex and Kelsey took a pause on starting new developments to run Jud’s company. Alex stepped in as an integral part in day-to-day operations, more specifically the financial side. During that time, Alex quickly learned as much as he could to understand the ins and outs of the business. His marvelous problem solving, financial savviness, keen decision making, and always even keel attitude has served us tremendously with our new venture!
Pedro Meza, our co-founder and COO, grew up in Georgetown, TX. Pedro focuses on procurement and directs all field operations for the company. Prior to forming Tejas Destructors, Pedro had been a project manager for several prominent abatement and demolition companies, and he joined Kelsey’s dad’s company shortly after she took over. Once Pedro joined, we suddenly had someone that was willing to learn, adopt new processes, work day and night, say “yes” to any challenge, and most importantly, uphold the values of Kelsey’s dad, Jud; someone we all loved, adored, and respected. Pedro’s primary responsibilities include estimating, managing the schedule and directing crews, ensuring that all job sites are performing in accordance with the schedule and regulations and pretty much helping the team put out all fires that come our way! Prior to joining the company, Pedro worked for Robles1 and AAR, Inc., and has earned a stellar reputation in the industry amongst contractors and field employees.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are your typical start-up obstacles and challenges like forming the company, getting your team in place (i.e., our field crews, CPA, accounting, project management, and bidding software, securing office space, etc.), start-up capital purchases, you name it. One that has been new to us is recruiting our field crews and getting them excited to readjust to our brand and how we operate. Most of our field employees come experienced. For abatement, we cannot send an employee into containment without current licenses, training and certifications required by the State; therefore, our field comes with experience and with that experience comes lesser, outdated, and/or different standards and processes.
We truly want to be the best Abatement and Demolition company, not only in the State but in the Nation. If we want to achieve this, we must implement, follow, and track that high level of processes now; not when the fire is under our feet. Achieving a company standard as a new firm takes time, but by staying unwaveringly consistent and dedicated to our goals and our employees, we know that we will see our vision take shape sooner rather than later. It starts with us as leadership and the most effective way to lead is by example. You add the labor shortage we are all experiencing, and it’s a recipe for challenge! But life would be painfully boring without challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Tejas Destructors is a Leander, TX based abatement and demolition company specializing in asbestos abatement, mold remediation, lead-based paint stabilization and removal, and demolition services. We serve a multitude of clients in Texas, including multiple state and federally owned facilities, major universities and colleges, independent school districts, as well as privately-owned commercial and residential developments. We are licensed, bonded, insured, and both HUB and WBE certified. We pride ourselves on being one of the few woman and minority-owned construction companies in the state.
Tejas Destructors was formed by three steadfast partners, collectively bringing over 15 years of complimentary experience, and are well-positioned to provide an unparalleled approach to our unique class of construction. Our expertise in estimating, construction, project management, and preconstruction services sets us apart from the competition and ensures our customers receive high-quality services at a competitive price and in a reasonable time frame. Whether you are an owner, contractor, consultant, tenant, or supplier, you are considered a member of our team and will be treated as such. As the great Phil Jackson said, “the strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
There’s no such thing as luck; we call it fate and karma instead. Merriam-Webster defines fate as a power that is believed to control what happens in the future. With that said, it is fate that brought us together to start our own abatement and demolition company, and it is also fate that laid the path for each of us, as individuals, to be the hardworking, eager, and hungry entrepreneurs that we are. Also, what you give into the world, you get back. If you do good and be good, karma will drop treasures for you; you just have to be looking and turn it into an opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Email: kelsey@tejasdestructors.com; alex@tejasdestructors.com; pedro@tejasdestructors.com
- Website: www.tejasdestructors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tejas_destructors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tejas-Destructors-LLC
Image Credits
All photos or images are taken or designed by Monica Mott, with the exception of the two construction site pictures. Those two (2) were taken by Kelsey Stone, co-owner and CEO of Tejas Destructors.
