News & Press
Jeremy Gyori of Gyori Development Corporation featured in Comstock’s Magazine
Comstock’s magazine, Sacramento’s respected business and finance publication featured Jeremy Gyori in its December 2009 diversions segment.
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The Sacramento Business Journal – Business is … Good?
‘The Sacramento Business Journal’ – June 19, 2009
Brian Holloway — 59 years old and a self-acknowledged computer illiterate — launched his first Web site and Facebook page in the past few months to promote Holloway Land Co. The aid of younger, computer-savvy employees.
“We’re not on Twitter yet, but I’m sure that’s coming,” said Holloway, a land-use and planning consultant in the business for three decades.
Holloway couldn’t imagine the leap to the Internet and social networking even a few short years ago, but has decided to incorporate it as part of an overall strategy to build business during an extremely tough time. Holloway Land is one of several real estate and construction companies that are quietly expecting better returns this year despite the deep challenges facing the industry.
According to the state’s Employment Development Department, by April of this year Sacramento had lost 11,000 construction jobs over the previous 12 months, or about 20 percent of the work force. Companies defying that trend aren’t just whistling past the graveyard. They’re diversifying, working longer and harder, and starting new ventures.
Those in the industry say there are very few companies who are reporting they were expecting improved performance.
“It would be incredibly rare,” said Josh Wood, executive director of the Sacramento. “There are twice as many competitors going after less work.”
“You’ve got to hustle,” said Jeremy Gyori, owner of Gyori Development Corp. of Loomis, which expects revenue to increase by at least 25 percent this year. “There’s a lot of negative news and in a lot of cases it’s a fact. (But) there’s work to be done. You’ve got to find it and work harder.”
The 13-year-old company started exclusively in the landscape contracting business and focused on residential projects. But after deciding that some subcontractors’ masonry and concrete work didn’t meet his standards, Gyori diversified to include those services and all types of outdoor design and construction work. The 25-employee company also has expanded to commercial projects during the housing bust. Now, it’s building outdoor pools, decks and kids’ entertainment areas for California Family Fitness.
So far, its revenue projections have held up through the first half of the year, and future anticipated work suggests the targeted 25 percent increase will be met, Gyori said.
He and his employees are putting in longer hours, highlighting efficiency and emphasizing client relationships as key to thriving during a recession.
“You don’t just finish a job and walk,” Gyori said. “A year after a project’s complete, you’re checking in, taking care of any issues.”
Others are making a leap despite the recession.
After a long career in land-use planning and engineering, most recently with homebuilder JTS Communities, Rob Aragon just launched his own company with the intent of serving diverse land development roles from infrastructure planning to policy guidance.
It might seem like an inopportune time to start a new business, but Aragon, of Lincoln, was able to work a deal where he will still manage real estate assets for JTS through his new company, Aragon Solutions.
“I’m excited for the future,” he said, noting that he’s still in the process of printing business cards and leasing office space.
He’s going in directions that others haven’t tried. Most prominently, he has teamed up with PERC Water Corp., a water recycling company that designs, builds and finances water recycling facilities using private equity. That’s unheard of in Northern California, Aragon said, where municipal utilities reign and new projects can come with a large up-front cost. The PERC model shifts financial and performance risk from the public sector to private entities.
Diversification was also a key to Holloway’s strategy, as residential development projects that once teemed around Sacramento became scarce. He’s still working on a few of those, but has branched out to handling code enforcement issues and liquor licenses. Notifying former clients about his new Web site and Facebook page has drummed up business, he said.
Despite the economy, there hasn’t been too much trouble with clients.
He said he’s had to renegotiate a few contracts, but for the most part getting paid hasn’t been an issue.
Asked if it makes him uncomfortable talking about success in today’s market, Holloway said, “Yes, it does. When I hear someone tell me they’re staying busy, I’m thrilled to hear it.”
Sacramento Business Journal – by Michael Shaw Staff writer
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