Power Couple
Donavon and Andrea Minnis are making serious headway with Salt Lake-based Engage Contracting, a general contracting firm poised for a bright future. By Brad Fullmer
So far during their 19-year marriage, Donavon and Andrea Minnis—CEO and Treasurer, respectively, of Salt Lake-based Engage Contracting—have built/remodeled six houses to date, becoming so adept at the process that friends just refer to them as the famous TV couple of the hit show “Fixer Upper.”
“Our friends call us ‘Chip and Joanna’ (Gaines),” laughed Donavon. “We’ve done a lot of homes together. They were our homes. Honestly, we were able to build up enough equity [flipping homes], which helped us start Engage.”
Their first house project was a complete gut and remodel in Salt Lake’s Rose Park neighborhood, which they bought for $89,000 and sold two years later for $169,000. They’ve also remodeled/sold homes in Woods Cross, Bluffdale, and Murray, where they live with their two children (13 and 12 years old).
Andrea recalled a memory from a Mother’s Day several years ago when they were hanging insulation during a driving rainstorm while their children happily played on a dirt hill.
“We both are really determined to get it done—we are not afraid to work,” said Andrea. “We just do crazy things.”
They started to work full-time building Engage Contracting in January 2019, based largely on Donavon’s 20-plus years of professional experience in construction and the contacts he made. A dozen of those years were spent working for a prominent Salt Lake-based general contractor, where he quickly proved himself and moved up the ranks from assistant superintendent to director.
When he left in 2017 for another opportunity, he said it was a difficult decision, but highly values and appreciates the mentorship he received. It didn’t take long for the Minnises to realize Donavon’s career trajectory wasn’t meeting their aspirations, and together decided that going out on their own was worth the risk.
Quickly Inseparable
Donavon grew up in Murray, the son of a painting contractor, Scott Minnis, who owned Master’s Touch Painting. He remembers doing homework in the bed of his dad’s truck and then joining crews on job sites from the age of 11. By 17, he was working full-time.
Andrea’s father was in the military and her family moved a lot growing up, coming to Utah in 1999. She graduated from Dugway High in 2000.
They met at a Christian ministry at the University of Utah at the beginning of 2002, and prior to their first official date on February 1. Donavon took Andrea to check out a job he was going to paint, a feature wall for Pier 1 Imports in Park City.
“I didn’t know it was a date, I thought we were hanging out with other people,” said Andrea. “We went to the Mayan (restaurant) and saw ‘A Walk to Remember’. A year to the day later, we got married.”
“We quickly became inseparable,” said Donavon.
Andrea, who earned a Master of Therapy from the U of U, worked seven years at Primary Children’s Acute and Inpatient Rehab, and now serves as Treasurer of Engage, which encompasses a slew of administrative-related duties.
Donavon earned a Bachelor of Construction Management from Weber State University from 2006-10, a grueling period for the couple as they both worked full-time, raised their kids, and remodeled a couple of houses.
“You learn the value of a power nap,” said Donavon, citing 16- to 18-hour days.
“It was a long five years,” Andrea agreed.
Poised for Growth
When the couple began working full-time at Engage three years ago, they immediately contacted people Donavon had worked for at USPS, which proved fortuitous.
“They were issuing an emergency JOC contract when we called. We were able to bond the contract and that has propelled us,” he said, citing $20 million in USPS contracts in Washington and California alone. During the firm’s first three years in business, revenues have risen meteorically year over year. Donavon said his CFO asks him daily, “How big do you want to be?” Could Engage become a $100 million per year company?
“I don’t think it would be hard,” said Donavon, coolly. “I am shocked at how much we’ve been able to grow. We’ve doubled in size every year, if not tripled. It sets the stage to make us comparable to other general contractors in the valley. We don’t want to be seen as just a smaller [tenant improvement] company.”
One of the firm’s current major projects is a remodel of a former Dick’s Sporting Goods in The Gateway in Salt Lake into an expanded office space for Recursion Pharmaceuticals. Other recent projects include a $550,000 remodel of the Columbia Care Pharmacy in Springville, a $2.2-million remodel of Edwards Lifesciences Cleanroom 5 in Draper, and a $5.2-million HVAC upgrade for USPS in Fresno, California.
“We’ve picked up some massive projects recently,” he added.
These include: the North Gate project at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, a building that will conduct in-depth searches of trucks coming into the base; a sizable biotech industry project in downtown Salt Lake; the firm’s first two ground-up projects which are slated to break ground in Draper later this year.
“It’s a little daunting and scary, right?” posed Andrea.
“It’s absolutely scary,” replied Donavon, smiling.
Engage Contracting opened its new 15,000 SF office within the International Center in Salt Lake City in March, giving the firm a more professional presence and plenty of space for its 23 employees (project photos by Dana Sohm, Sohm Photografx).
Moving to New Digs
In March, the Minnises and their 21 other employees moved into the firm’s new headquarters at the International Center in Salt Lake City, going from a cramped 3,500-SF office to one with a robust 15,000 SF, with ample space for conference rooms and collaboration areas.
The couple worked with Atlas Architects of Salt Lake on the design of the building, which was originally built in 1979; Donavon laid out office spaces while Andrea focused on interior design elements.
Engage hired Salt Lake-based Red Rock Demolition to demolish and remove virtually everything down to structural members. Skylights were cut into the rooftop for maximum natural daylighting. All offices and conference rooms feature storefront glazing components, offering an open, transparent feel for all employees.
Materials include raw laser-cut steel, open joists, stone, glass, polished concrete, walnut, and industrial office furniture. Moody, dark colors and raw, natural materials give a warm but industrial feel.
As a tribute to the International Center and historic aviators, conference rooms are named for the likes of Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Doolittle, and Neil Armstrong.
The office is decked out with hard-wired fiber optics in addition to Wi-Fi 6, the latest and greatest in wireless technology. Zoom/video conference calls go through with nary a glitch, which Donavon said helps the firm’s overall level of professionalism.
"It‘s nice to have a [Zoom] meeting and not have glitchy issues, especially when you’re trying to impress clients,” he said. The new office is also a boon to potential new hires.
“The labor market is tough right now,” he continued. “From a recruitment perspective, people see our building and see that we have our act together. We want to be seen as one of the best.”
Looking Forward
Despite the success as a business, last year was challenging for the Minnis family as Donavon’s mother, Linda Hamby, died of lung cancer at age 56.
“It was a hard year, but a beautiful year,” said Andrea, tearing up a bit. “We have amazing employees who were so supportive of us.”
“Our big focus is to do this right,” she added, “and take the knowledge and experience of the people who have gone before you. Whether you win or lose, you’re doing it the right way. We recognize each other strengths and where we can butt heads. I tend to be very detailed-oriented—it’s got to be this way. I’m good about taking care of back-end stuff. I like to be behind the scenes.”
She continued, “Donavon is innovative and willing to take chances. He’s grown up doing this his entire life and he’s physically done almost everything, just from his own experiences, so that makes him valuable when he’s communicating with clients. He can see the problem, identify it, and propose solutions.”
“I didn’t think we’d be as big as we are today,” said Donavon about the firm’s current size and revenue growth projections. “I just want it to be a good place to work for employees, where they don’t have to be run into the ground. I want it to be a place for a good career, a good family life.”
In January, Donavon was named to the Board of Directors for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah for 2022-2023. He is among the youngest to ever serve in that position.
“We joined the AGC because it seemed like a good thing to do,” he said. “I didn’t think it would bring huge value, but I can’t tell you, through Covid, how valuable it was to be a part of that association. When [AGC President/CEO] Rich (Thorn) called me and asked if I would consider this, he said ‘Everybody knows who you are’.”
Minnis hopes to implement a 100-mile bicycle ride—he called it a “century ride”—as one of the AGC’s many yearly activities.
“You’d be surprised how many architects and contractors have cycling teams. It’s the new golf.”
The passion is there from Donavon and Andrea to take risks and try new things—AGC board, home renovations, starting a new company. With Engage Contracting growing exponentially and providing great opportunities for new employees, it certainly has been a risk worth taking.
Engage Contracting Headquarters
Owner: Engage Contracting
Design Team
Architect: Atlas Architects
Electrical: EDG Engineering
Mechanical: Midwest Engineering
Structural: ARW Engineers
Construction Team
General Contractor: Engage Contracting Inc.
Concrete: Kim Bailey Construction
Plumbing: Jim Miller Plumbing
HVAC: Specialized Mechanical
Electrical: Arco Electric
Drywall/Acoustics: Wallboard Specialties
Painting: America Europe Painting
Tile/Stone: Flor Styles
Carpentry: Clients Design
Roofing: Layton Roofing
Glass/Curtain Wall: Prizm Glass
Steel Fabrication: Daniels Welding
Steel Erection: Daniels Welding
Demolition: Red Rock Demolition
Landscaping: Landscape Solutions
Residents have access to a wealth of modern, high-class amenities: Check out this open-air rooftop patio with tasteful lighting, pool, and spacious hot tub—it’s party time! (all photos courtesy Kier Construction)
Steve Green is out in McCornick, Utah. Where is that? And what’s near McCornick? “Nothing,” joked Green, the Sr. Vice President for Wheeler Machinery Co. While he may be far from even the smallest of small towns, with Holden and its 492 residents 13 miles away, he’s close to the site of a major development in data center technology. Isolated on the western edge of the Sevier Desert, the Joule Data Center will also be isolated from the grid—by design. Operation Gigawatt Rolls On Green is one of many energy and power professionals hoping to double Utah’s power generation capacity by 2034 as a part of Operation Gigawatt, an initiative launched by Utah Governor Spencer Cox in October 2024. Utah has long been an economic growth leader; Operation Gigawatt aims to make Utah a power player in energy development by increasing transmission capacity, increasing energy production, strengthening policy, and investing in energy innovation. While Governor Cox’s Operation Gigawatt moves forward statewide, out in McCornick, Green said, “We’re doing operation gigawatt and a half off grid.” The Joule Data Center project team will deliver “In-situ power generation”—power not connected to any electrical distribution or transmission system. It starts with Caterpillar G3520K reciprocating generator sets that produce 1.5 gigawatts of electricity. Waste heat and exhaust from the generators then move through an absorption chiller system as part of the overall systems combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) solution, providing much of the water required to cool the data center servers. Beyond the electric power to be generated for the Joule project, there will be 1.5 gigawatts of thermal energy and 1.1 gigawatts of available battery storage to meet the data center's peak electricity needs. Added Green, “And we’re not taxing the local utility grid.” Isolated or Community Power? The massive power capabilities delivered there are impressive, but they reveal a troubling trend in how Utah will double its power generation capabilities. Will it be from well-funded companies looking to power data centers and AI technology separate from the grid? Or will Utah fulfill the mission of Operation Gigawatt by creating power solutions accessible to all? According to Troy Thompson, Chief Operations Officer for Big-D Companies, power generation is about more than supplying data centers. “In my mind, how do we build a billion-dollar hospital downtown that needs ten megawatts of power?” he said, referencing Intermountain Health’s future downtown Salt Lake campus, “let alone the data centers, and manufacturers who we are hoping that will come here?” Ten megawatts of power may pale in comparison to what data centers require, but it is one of many projects seeking regulatory approval to move forward. The Utah Inland Port Authority, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and others continue to drive projects and jobs into Utah—data centers, too. But Thompson said he has heard from many potential clients who are hesitant to bring their energy-intensive projects to the state without firm guarantees of available power. Operation Gigawatt and state leaders have embraced an "all of the above" approach to energy sources, extending the design lifespans of coal plants, embracing new technologies and power sources, and developing new power-generating capabilities. While the industry is willing, the operating environment needs rewiring to meet state goals. Changing for 21st Century Needs “With as hot as the Utah market is,” began Eric Haslem, “there are too many obstacles for us to overcome.” The market may be ready to ramp up production, said Haslem, Chief Operating Officer for Vernal-based utility and heavy civil contractors BHI, “But the current system can’t handle it. We have this massive web of transmission and distribution infrastructure that was not designed or built for the power demands of the 21st century.” “In 1970, they didn’t know what a smartphone was,” Haslem said, “let alone AI.” Transmission projects have been developed. Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway South transmission line—a 416-mile, high-voltage 500-kilovolt transmission line that runs from Mona to Medicine Bow, Wyoming—certainly helped when it went live in 2024. Still, it's just one project amidst a plethora of needs. Haslem stated that Utah's growth over the last 10 years meant a large majority of the transmission line's capacity was accounted for when it went live. .
And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."—KJV Matthew 25:40 From a social and community impact standpoint, few projects match the value to disabled and special needs individuals as the new Utah State Development Center (USDC) Comprehensive Therapies Building in American Fork. The $36 million, 65,000-SF facility was designed as a "one-stop shop," said Joe Jacoby, President of Salt Lake-based Jacoby Architects, whose team led the project’s design. It consolidates and modernizes myriad services under one roof, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, speech, language, and hearing resources, and behavioral health resources. In addition, the new building offers full-service medical and dental clinics, an indoor therapy pool, an Autism treatment wing, and workshops for life skills and vocational training—all geared to helping people live independent, authentic lives, while striving to reach their full potential. "This building was very much about accessibility," Jacoby said, "and putting in many different types of resources for these residents—all in one building." Jacoby's firm has significant recent experience in projects that combine education and healthcare for people with special needs. The firm's design of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence in Utah State University's College of Education and Human Services earned UC+D's 2016 Most Outstanding K-12 Project. Two years later, the firm earned another UC+D award for the C. Mark Openshaw Education Center for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, a project similar to this one in that it contains an array of services, including education and therapy for varying levels of sensory, behavioral, physical, and cognitive abilities. "We've been working on different [design] aspects for many years, starting with a deaf preschool, which led to working with the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind," said Jacoby. "With that came many other sub-specialties, like therapy for behavioral issues, cognitive issues, development disabilities, and even speech, language and hearing clinics. It helps people with a variety of disabilities and serves an underserved population of people."
On a fall tour of Utah State University's (USU) Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building (Gardner Building), students and faculty are hard at work on a late Tuesday afternoon. Getting here, where USU's business school students could thrive, was a long time coming. The University commissioned the Gardner Building to meet a new mission for the school outside the traditional knowledge acquisition and transfer for which USU has excelled since its founding in 1888: Giving students a differentiated experience they cannot get anywhere else. Purpose Revealed Frank Caliendo, Senior Associate Dean of the Huntsman School of Business, said that the new building is the third and final piece of the business complex, "a realization of the longtime vision of Dean Douglas Anderson, the driving force behind the school's transformation, to meet the needs of students for generations to come." Caliendo, a longtime Aggie (USU BS, '98; PhD, '03), said that, even after the opening of the George S. Eccles Business Building and its faculty offices and classrooms in 1970, growth in business courses eventually outpaced the school's capacity. Jon M. Huntsman Hall's 2016 opening broke the campus bottleneck, with classrooms and other spaces dedicated to business school participants. "But we still needed space for our centers and experiential learning programs," Caliendo said, of the importance of collaborative spaces and differentiated experience for the five programs (see page XX) that would call the Gardner Building home. The design intent for this final piece wasn't a re-creation of Huntsman Hall, Caliendo said of the initial message to MHTN Architects, "But it does need to rhyme with Huntsman Hall." Working within a Busy Environment The first order of business was siting the building just east of the other two business school structures. Stan Burke, Project Manager for Jacobsen Construction, said the Gardner Building was part of a trio of projects that included Ridge Point Hall and a parking garage—three Jacobsen-led projects that utilized the same construction corridor as construction commenced from "An active campus is difficult enough," said Burke of the challenges of simultaneous construction, which required constant coordination amongst the three teams, made a tad easier as they shared a job trailer. "We had to stay cognizant of the school's activities and coordinate with them so that everyone was aware of what we were doing." Coordination went from important to critical, with the three teams meeting daily to discuss coordination and scheduling material and equipment deliveries in 15-minute intervals as the respective construction teams worked on each of the three structures.
Warren and Jennie Lloyd (above) have built Salt Lake-based Lloyd Architects into a well-rounded, versatile firm capable of excelling in both the commercial and custom residential markets, as evidenced by projects such as Snuck Farm in Pleasant Grove (main photo) and this cozy private Powder Mountain based cabin in Eden (below ).
The last five years have been a whirlwind for the Larry H. Miller Company (LHM), with the organization selling the majority of its beloved Utah Jazz franchise in October 2020 for a reported $1.66 billion, followed by the sale of its auto dealership empire of more than 70 properties for a reported $3.2 billion a year later. The influx of nearly $5 billion was parlayed into several jaw-dropping real estate and other corporate purchases, including: —1,300 undeveloped acres within the massive 4,100-acre Daybreak development in South Jordan in April 2021. —Advanced Health Care Corp. in January 2021, a transitional health care provider with operations in eight states (primarily in the west) and 3,500 employees. —The purchase of the majority stake in Swig, a leader in the flavored soda craze, in May 2023. — Partnering with Utah Trust Lands Administration to develop 1,200 acres in Saratoga Springs. — The acquisition of over 1,000 acres near Park City and Hideout will include multi-family units, housing, restaurants, and retail. —100+ acre mixed-use development in an area along North Temple being dubbed “The Power District”; the future home of not only Rocky Mountain Power’s new corporate campus but potentially a ballpark for a future Major League Baseball expansion team. —A reported $600 million acquisition of controlling interest in MLS team Real Salt Lake and NWSL team Utah Royals, along with associated infrastructure, including America First Field and Zions Bank Training Center. —The development of Downtown Daybreak, a 200-acre parcel that this year saw its 30-acre Phase I debut with the completion of the Salt Lake Bees' new 8,000 capacity stadium—dubbed The Ballpark at America First Square—in April, followed by a new Megaplex cinema entertainment center in July with luxury theatres, bowling, games and a scratch-made kitchen in addition to an open air plaza. A seven-story, 190-unit multi-family development is currently under construction and rising along the right field bleachers, with views that will look down into the ballpark upon completion next year. And LHM is just getting started, said Brad Holmes, President of Larry H. Miller Real Estate since 2018, calling Downtown Daybreak a "new urban center that is central to where the majority of growth is occurring" and combines a "full spectrum of business and year-round entertainment, culture and connectivity, as well as a wide range of housing options." When LHM executives first conceived of a new home for the Salt Lake Bees, Holmes said they went on a "ballpark tour" of MLB and minor league stadiums, and "really fell in love with a ballpark" in Durham, North Carolina—home of the Durham Bulls—which had buildings that framed in the stadium. So, The Ballpark at America First Square has the multi-family project underway in right field, with a proposed hotel slated to begin next year in left field. "In another two seasons, you'll have this urban setting for the ballpark that frames the mountain views. [The design is] really intentional, and I think it will bring a finished edge to Downtown Daybreak," said Holmes. "It was a process trying to figure out the best location, site plan, traffic, but it's in a great spot. The goal for us was to make it feel like it fit in with the community, almost like having a baseball stadium inside of a park, with an open corridor that connects to a plaza." Holmes said the seemingly small 8,000-capacity stadium (about half the capacity of the Bees former home at Smith’s Ballpark) aligns with national trends. "It's better to play in front of a sold-out crowd than in a half-empty stadium. Some new MLB stadiums are at 30,000 [capacity]. The trend is smaller, more intimate venues with closer views of the field."
Much has changed about Hogan & Associates Construction since the company's inception 80 years ago. The name may be the most obvious example, the size of the company may be another giveaway, and the difference in markets served might require a double take if the founders could see the company today. But what hasn't changed is the firm's desire to build communities. It has regularly built important, community-focused projects with a similar purpose since the company came to life in 1945.
Imagine this: A company has just begun a meeting with the intent of moving forward with a major investment. One party knows something that will help minimize the investment's risk. Should that party tell everyone, it will save money, time, and everyone involved from future headaches. So when should that party spill the beans? At the beginning of the meeting At the end of the meeting At the right time during the meeting Never Bradley Crocker, Director of Preconstruction for Mollerup Glass, has seen how answering this question correctly—and choosing “A”—brings about successful and profitable investment in commercial construction. “I think that [project teams] need to bring in subcontractors early to help guide budgets in general,” said Crocker, detailing how every trade can bring a similar level of expertise to architects and owners by being involved from the beginning of the “meeting”, while the project is in design. Why? “We can vet cost versus performance and find the best value for the performance, which is essential as meeting or beating the budgets gets the project to construction on time,” said Ben Hiatt, Chief Estimator for Steel Encounters. After all, he said, “Nothing moves if budgets are not met.” Design-assist is a positive step forward, where subcontractors assist in matching design intent with a deep understanding of building envelopes to ensure glazing, roofing, walls, and fenestrations perform at their highest level. Glenn Rainey, Salt Lake City Branch Manager, and Larry Luque, Senior Estimator and Business Developer for Flynn Companies, each said efforts in design-assist fulfill what owners and architects want: buildings that meet the design intent and perform at their highest level for as long as possible. It’s not just architects who benefit from that early involvement. “More GCs realize they need us right up front,” said Luque. With teams whose combined experience totals thousands of hours, building envelope contractors stay up to date on changing codes, materials, and specifications, which is highly beneficial to the project. Their close involvement with vendors can help ensure a variety of solutions that meet each job’s needs and help optimize building envelope performance. Consultant Involvement Other parties are lending their expertise. Brandt Strong said building envelope quality has increased with the arrival of more building envelope consultants in Utah and a greater dedication to the building envelope in general. “We had a time where we could say ‘This is a Vegas project, and we have to have the belt and suspenders,’” said Strong, Director of Operations for Mollerup Glass. On Utah projects, the building envelope used to be an afterthought. But it’s changed for the better over the years. “The Utah teams are as sophisticated as anywhere else.” While the markups on shop drawings can draw some ire, both mentioned how working with consultants has led to better, more efficient projects, potentially reducing the need for future repairs by inspecting every material and transition on the building envelope. Said Crocker, “We cannot discredit the envelope consultants’ role in making us, and the industry as a whole, perform at a higher level.” Hiatt credited each party overseeing the building envelope scope for learning and adapting to create a better building environment, specifically in understanding seismic drift and its relationship to glazing, as well as thermal performance and continuity. Improvements to air-barrier coordination and tie-ins to stop water and air leaks are helping buildings operate at peak efficiency. “The architects, general contractors, consultants, and trades have improved their knowledge over the years,” said Hiatt. “Design and execution of façades are better coordinated and executed.”
Taylor Electric proved its mettle on the challenging Salt Lake International Airport, Southeast Concourse project, with their portion of work concluding in October 2023. (all photos courtesy Taylor Electric)
By Bradley Fullmer It's been a whirlwind 18 months for Adam Del Toro and Nick Pexton, who co-founded Fountain Green-based Reliance Engineering Services in May 2024, a company specializing in full-service telecommunications engineering, including design, project management, permitting, and funding and grant applications. Two years ago, Del Toro was more than a decade into his career as a Research & Development Supervisor for natural gas giant Dominion Energy, while Pexton was working for Nephi-based Rocky Mountain West Telcom (RMWT) as a Sr. Director of Business Development, with just over four years at the company. The two had met a couple of years earlier while collaborating on a potential fiber optic network project in Mona that never happened. Neither was particularly content with their respective positions, so when Del Toro got a random call from Pexton in March 2024, the timing could not have been better. "I was planning on leaving the natural gas industry and start my own firm [...] Nick happened to call the day I was putting in my two weeks [at Dominion],” said Del Toro, 39. "It definitely felt like Providence was helping us." "Somebody was looking after us, because the timing was unbelievable," added Pexton, 35. "It's crazy how things lined up." Del Toro is a native of St. George and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Utah State University in 2011. After 2.5 years as a USU Graduate Research Assistant, he joined Dominion Energy in January 2013, where he designed major natural gas systems and structures. Del Toro also earned a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Kentucky) in 2023, and moonlights as a counselor at The Center for Hope in Springville, where he helps clients address life challenges both personally and professionally. Pexton is a native of Nephi and studied at Utah Valley University from 2008 to 2010, and earned the Certified Telecommunications Network Specialist designation from Teracom Training Institute (2013-2014). Pexton joined Nephi-based Mid-State Consultants, a telecommunications engineering firm, in March 2011 and spent more than nine years there. He joined RMWT in June 2020, gaining experience in project management and operations. After that fortuitous phone call from Pexton to Del Toro, the pair met four times from March to May to "make sure we were aligned on what the company would look like," Pexton said. "It was a pretty quick process," added Del Toro. "We got talking about goals, how to build a general company vision. I trusted Nick's background and experience, and his character, as well. It was a big risk, but I'm a sink-or-swim guy. If those are my options, I'm going to swim!" Since teaming up, the pair have been aggressive regarding company growth, having exploded from just the two of them to 30 employees, with revenues expected to more than quintuple from $560,000 in 2024 to nearly $3 million by the end of this year. Both expect the telecommunication market to be a fruitful, busy market given the need for fiber optics to rural America, in addition to the "Internet for All" initiative in May 2022 that was part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) implementation of the infrastructure law that allocated $65 billion to improve high-speed Internet access. Utah, specifically, received $330 million, with the goal of reaching some 40,000 unserved homes and businesses. The firm's location in Sanpete County puts them in the center of the state geographically, and they're committed to working with communities of all sizes to improve their internet capacity. In addition to Utah, Reliance is working in Michigan and Oklahoma, and Del Toro and Pexton expect to land significant future work throughout the Midwest. They want to grow intentionally while ensuring a diversity of revenue streams. "We set some early goals, and we've been able to do really well—we're on track to beat our goals," said Del Toro, crediting the many employees who have joined the firm. "Those individuals took great risks coming on board. We anticipate we'll be even larger next year with the work coming down the pipeline." "Our outlook has been wise," said Pexton. "We've taken into consideration diversification into other sectors—that's a key element. Adam has experience in the natural gas industry, and we want to further our diversification and get into the power side of the industry." Major clients include the federal government (USDA), utility companies, and municipalities, with a focus on rural communities. "We love Sanpete County," said Del Toro. "We value helping the communities we live and work in and providing services that help build up the community and hopefully help the residents." "We depend on repeat work from 18 major clients, and continuously getting work from them," said Pexton. "The minute we stop doing a good job, they can go someplace else. As long as we do a good job, we'll keep getting work." The pair expect Reliance to maintain its explosive growth, perhaps even doubling its employee total in another 12 months. "Next year's [revenue] goal is $4.8 million," said Pexton. "We have confidence in what our workload will be like. We are scaling quite dramatically and want to grow at a healthy pace, where we're not stringing ourselves out too thin. We're in a good position right now."
