Aaron Gutierrez, owner and president of Albuquerque Construction & Concrete, can do it all. That’s because he spent years building and supervising multimillion-dollar construction projects across New Mexico, although always for other people. “I’ve been with some great employers who were pretty well established and had a good system set up,” he said. “I was able to learn a lot from them and pick up what I needed.” 

When he decided to strike out on his own, Gutierrez got his general contracting license and went to school for an associate degree in Construction Management. He had the technical skills, management experience, and rock-solid relationships with tradespeople and suppliers — not to mention clients who were eager to work with him. Now he just needed working capital to get started.  

“Nobody would provide a loan,” Gutierrez said, describing a frustrating experience that’s all too common for start-up entrepreneurs. “Everybody else wanted me to take two weeks to write a business plan and do all this other stuff when I needed to spend that time — that precious, precious time — building my business.”

That’s when Gutierrez turned to the nonprofit lender DreamSpring.

Gutierrez secured a $31,200 Power Line of Credit Loan. In addition to buying materials and equipment, he used the funds to pay his team of qualified tradespeople during the occasional slow week. “It carried the business and helped substantially,” he said.

“It was liberating because they were able to see me for what I am,” Gutierrez said about DreamSpring. “They were able to provide a customized approach and think outside the box.” 

Gutierrez said getting funded was a quick process, but he also values the interactions and encouragement he received along the way. “DreamSpring actually took the time to demonstrate a bit of integrity,” he said. “It was a great experience.”

The Line of Credit has also been a source of peace of mind. With flexible funds available at any time, Gutierrez has the breathing room to do things his way. “It gave me the freedom to focus on establishing and building the business, versus having to penny pinch or worry,” he said. “It gave me the freedom to actually grow and move, and to remain afloat. Because if not, I probably wouldn’t have made it.” 

Gutierrez’s entrepreneurial vision is to provide the best quality possible, placing his company in the top 10% of construction businesses in the state. Albuquerque Construction & Concrete is a licensed general contracting business specializing in concrete construction. With the ability to manage residential, commercial, and industrial projects, Albuquerque Construction & Concrete handles everything from structural and foundational site work to flat work, interior and exterior concrete work, remodeling, home additions, hardscaping, earthwork, fencing, block walls, and masonry. 

“We give you an experience, the service, and a product that nobody else will,” he says. “You can check us out online and see how they’re all five-star reviews; it’s because we go above and beyond, and we give you more than you paid for every time.” 

Now that he’s laid a durable foundation for his business, Guitierrez says being an entrepreneur has opened doors to financial independence that just aren’t possible otherwise. But most of all, he loves being able to solve problems and take care of people. “It’s a vehicle to provide for friends and family and to serve others and to help. That’s a benefit in itself.” 

Learn more about the loans offered by DreamSpring and start your loan application here.

Find information about the work performed by Albuquerque Construction & Concrete.

Article courtesy of DreamSpring.