NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
View our past newsletters in PDF format.
Gus starts his day as a welder by reviewing plans and measurements to make sure he has all the required rebar and materials to start his tasks. After everything is organized, he collaborates with the cutter to set the workflow for the day.
For our May 2023 newsletter. Western Precast is proud to recognize Stephen Estrada, Welder, who began his journey with this company three years ago. Stephen started as a rebar cutter and quickly moved to his new position as a welder. Stephen used to work at a metal stamping company for 6 years before coming to Western Precast. He says he was given the opportunity to learn a different skill than what he was used to and really enjoys the culture and wants to continue learning.
For our Fall 2021 issue, Western Precast is proud to recognize Chris Fulk, Crane Operator & Driver. Chris joined the Western Precast family three and a half years ago when he brought several years of previous driving experience to the table. Chris, a man of few words was modest in describing his experiences but did illustrate how he loves to operate his crane at the break of dawn and driving out of town on delivery assignments. Chris describes taking in a change of scenery during his treks to Silver City and Carlsbad …
For our Summer 2021 issue, Western Precast is happy to present Rick Avena, Shipping Manager, who began his career with Western Precast 4 years ago. Rick moved to El Paso from Fort Worth 4 years ago. He sayas one day he got lost and he ended up in front of Aria’s & Associates staffing services. He applied for a job and got his job with Western Precast that same day.
This issue features Alex Leyva, Project Manager, who began his journey with Western Precast over four years ago. With an Associate’s degree in Architecture from El Paso Community College, along with some bachelor’s courses from Texas Tech University under his belt, Alex says Western provided him with his first professional experience in the fields of engineering and architecture. Prior to coming on board, Alex worked as a diesel mechanic for several years and actually juggled three jobs while attending college.
This issue features Alex Leyva, Project Manager, who began his journey with Western Precast over four years ago. With an Associate’s degree in Architecture from El Paso Community College, along with some bachelor’s courses from Texas Tech University under his belt, Alex says Western provided him with his first professional experience in the fields of engineering and architecture. Prior to coming on board, Alex worked as a diesel mechanic for several years and actually juggled three jobs while attending college.
This issue features Western Precast’s Product Manager/Estimator, Ana Karina Flores. A near four-year member of our team, Ana came to us through Arias staffing in June 2016 to fulfill the accounts payable and receptionist duties. Soon after, she added our accounts receivable to her job description, as well tending to the entire front desk operations as needed. Proving to be fully capable of taking on greater responsibility, Ana began working on quoting for bidding projects and would “jump in” when help was needed.
A near four-year employee come August of 2019, Alfredo Dominguez currently works in the reinforcement department at Western Precast, and provides the production departments with wire reinforcement and rebar for pullboxes and cone sections for manholes. With an entire decade of reinforcement experience under his belt, Alfredo has been an asset to the company for the industry expertise that he brings to the table.
A near three-year employee, Luis R. Castro provides assistance in production at Western Precast. Initially employed as an Arias Staffer, within a few short months Luis was invited to join us full-time and has been a valued employee ever since. With diverse work experience ranging from a pants factory in Fabens, Texas, to grounds work for a recreational park in Pecos, Texas, Luis brings many talents to the table. That coupled with his strong work ethic make him an asset to our company.
With just a few years of industry experience under his belt, Antonio Salas is fairly new to the world of precast concrete, yet his professional growth has come at an accelerated pace. In the last three years he’s worked at Western Precast, his focus has been in steel reinforcement, specifically wire mesh, all while being cross-trained in virtually every area of production. From manholes, custom items and the inlet/vault department, Antonio has learned more about our industry in his relatively short period of time with us that one might expect.
Well, next up we will see everyone participating in the annual Western Precast Halloween con- test, lots of laughs and always some good food. Around the corner will be turkeys for everyone and a few days off to give thanks for all our blessings. Geez, time flies … the cold weather will be upon us and Santa will be nosing around as usual—he is one goofy character!
As I write this note from the office it is 101 degrees outside, and most of us have seen those annual grad- uations come and go. Yes, it is mid-June and Western is winding down our 2017 -2018 fiscal year. I don’t think that over 72 years ago when Robert Feuerstein started Western Concrete he could have imagined approaching the year 2020. Time really does fly when you are having fun!
Well, here we go … 2018 is well underway; I imagine it will be Christmas before we know it. Recently, before breaking for the holidays, management took time to meet with every employee at West- ern for an end of the year review. It was a time to let each staff member know how valued they are to the mission at Western, and here and there were some tips on how we can all improve.
The heart and soul of any great company in my opin- ion is its staff. The human element can never and will never be replaced by a machine. We hear stories about fast food restaurants that have automated windows where you place your order and pick up your food without ever encountering a human being. We all to some degree use automated banking, self-checkout, order products over the web and never have any human in- teraction.
Congratulations to the entire staff at Western Precast for a job well done once again! Western recently went through our unannounced annual inspection for NPCA, ANSI certified plant inspection. The independent en- gineering firm HPS representative, Ruben Peralez, arrived at our facility on July 13, of this year. Ruben spent the day with our staff and was hosted by our quality control director Daniel Quezada.
Welcome back 2017 is here! Hard to believe, if you are a child of the 1960’s, you could never of imagined the year 2000 let alone 2017. I bet this one will fly by even faster than last year and we will be celebrating Christmas again soon.
Welcome back 2017 is here! Hard to believe, if you are a child of the 1960’s, you could never of imagined the year 2000 let alone 2017. I bet this one will fly by even faster than last year and we will be celebrating Christmas again soon.
Daniel Quezada has been the Quality Control Manager for Western Precast Concrete for the last 3 years, bringing his experience in aggregate from asphalt to everything that has to do with soil testing to the table.
Western Precast and Jaime Quezada have been together for a combined 14 years. After becom- ing ill, Jaime took one year off to recov- er and then was right back at it. When he first came to El Paso for work, he did auto body and drywall work before discover- ing his future.
Daniel Torres has been an employee of Western Precast for the past 4 years. He started off as a laborer shovel- ing concrete and now performs numerous jobs that include operating the crane, driving yard trucks and even pouring concrete.
Jesus Rogelio Rivas has been an employee of Western Precast for the past 6 years and currently is a Welder. Rivas says, “Welding is my favorite part of the job!” He does fabrication of forms, welding and even works in production or as a fork lift operator when needed. Rivas, appears to be a quiet and reserved man however, when he talks about his family his eyes light up.
Jesus Rogelio Rivas has been an employee of Western Precast for the past 6 years and currently is a Welder. Rivas says, “Welding is my favorite part of the job!” He does fabrication of forms, welding and even works in production or as a fork lift operator when needed. Rivas, appears to be a quiet and reserved man however, when he talks about his family his eyes light up.
Manuel Garcia started working at Western Precast in January of 2008 after working for Rio Grande Stucco for seven years, where he resigned from his position due to lack of work. His cousin, Antonio Carrillo, told him about Western Precast. Now, Garcia works in Production and says, “I like the people I work with in my depart- ment, and feel grateful for all the perks and benefits that the owners provide.”
Javier Francisco Lerma has been employed at Western Pre- cast for almost six years. He works in the manhole base de- partment. Sergio Arvizu, Direc- tor of Safety and Personnel, calls him “a jack of all trades” saying, “we trust him to take care of all of the bases.” Before coming to Western Precast, Lerma was a Supervisor at a laundry shop.
Before coming to work at Western Pre- cast Concrete six years ago, Artemio Estrada worked in the field of Agriculture at farms and at a dairy. When the dairy closed, he learned to weld in New Mexico on a farm and then started to repair equip- ment on that same farm. Now, he says he has grown to really like welding at West- ern Precast, and he especially appreciates the job security it has held for him.
Hector Payan has been working for Western Precast Concrete (WPC) for the last five and a half years. He is part of the production staff, and his major responsi- bility is forming special boxes varying in size and style as requested by customers. He produces three to four boxes a day. When asked what his favorite part of the job at Western Precast is, he replies that “the whole job is my favorite part.”
Jose Mejia, a well seasoned Concrete Fin- isher, is very happy with his position at Western Precast Concrete. He will be celebrating eight years on the job in May of 2008. This dedicated Western Precast em- ployee says that a whole lot has changed in the time period he has been with the company… mainly, the working envi- ronment.
Thirteen years ago, Ruben Rodriguez, Special Box Foreman, started his job at Western Precast Concrete. Ruben has never regretted his decision. “My life has changed and the job has given me personal security,” Ruben adds; the parts of my job that would seem more difficult are actually easier for me to accomplish today due to the great experience I have gained over the years.”
Angel Najera, Manhole Foreman at Western Precast Concrete, recently sat down to talk about how he has become a thirteen year veteran em- ployee of the company. Angel says, “Prior to com- ing to work for Western Precast, I worked in the field of Agriculture in California for about twelve years of my life. I have two brothers who worked with me in doing everything from irrigation and weighing harvests like cotton and alfalfa. When Angel met his wife, they moved to El Paso, and that’s when Angels’ history began as an employee of Western Precast Concrete.
Almost 23 years ago 1984, Jorge was just getting ready to graduate from Riverside High School and was in a vocational program. He has just began to work for Western Precast Concrete (WPC). What was his job? “Well, I did whatever they needed me to do. I would clean the yard and pull weeds along the roadside,” says Jorge.