in the press
MBE AND BLUEPRINT DIVISION FY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
In 2003, Anderson Hill was serving as part of the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools’ African American advisory committee. Through this, Mr. Hill saw opportunities in construction of schools. Along with his wife of 42 years, Sandra Hill, they formed HZ Construction and have been in business for over 15 years. HZ Construction specializes in construction management services including waste water services, sand blasting, specialty coatings, concrete rehabilitation, epoxy flooring, concrete and stucco. Along with Mr. and Mrs. Hill both being state certified building contractors, their son Anderson Hill III, is now also a certified general contractor-making them a true family business. “We’re able to work together as a family due to our devout faith that we’ll love and stick together through success and hard times. I don’t take a day for granted,” says Hill III. HZ Construction has grown to over 30 full-time employees. They’ve had the privilege of working on over 30 schools in Orange County. Mr. Hill credits his success to knowing how to produce the work and forming lasting relationships within his business community. “When this started, I immediately formed relationships with companies such as Wharton Smith. I learned all of the rules and guidelines critical to start up. Years later we still work with Wharton Smith. First impressions can become lasting impressions,” says Mr. Hill. HZ Construction obtained a Minority Business Enterprise owner (MBE) certification from the City of Orlando. The certification has helped tremendously says Mrs. Hill. “Certification gives you credibility and shows you have the credentials to perform the work you specialize in. We’ve had so many job opportunities and we’ve been able to better network and obtain partners for jobs.” One project that stands out was the reconstruction of the Amway Center. HZ Construction was a part of the senior construction management team. Through the management of HZ Construction the Amway Center set a national record with $90 million in participation of MWBEs for a municipal project. The company is now in a place where they can pay it forward and help local residents better their lives. In 2005, the Hill’s established the “Education is cool, get one” foundation. They offer free basic construction training classes at Orange Technical College. The course is 82.5 hours and after graduation they assist with job placement or further career development. Mr. Hill states, “I started this company with the goal to be one of the most successful building contractors in the country. I also want to pay it forward so others who never thought they could have this opportunity are able to share in the dream of faith, family and continued success in every way.”
Mark Schlueb | Sentinel Staff Writer
October 26, 2007
The construction company that built the NBA's newest basketball arena will likely be the same one to build the Orlando Magic's new home court.
A selection committee made up of representatives from the Magic and from the city ranked Hunt Construction Group ahead of three other companies and joint ventures. The ranking almost guarantees that the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company will be the prime contractor on the city's $480 million arena, the most costly and controversial of three downtown venues approved in July.
"Their experience clearly was a determining factor," Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins said. "Over the last decade in particular, they've been one of the leaders in the number of sports facilities they've worked on."
Hunt built the newest of the National Basketball Association's facilities, Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in 2005. Among the company's other credits are: the Orange County Convention Center expansion; Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers; the San Antonio Spurs' AT&T Center; and Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Buccaneers in Tampa.
The company has repeatedly been ranked first in sports-facility construction by the industry publication Engineering News-Record.
The city required bidders to partner with minority- and female-owned firms, and Hunt's team includes four local companies that by themselves would likely not have the resources to take on such a big project. They include two black-owned firms, RL Burns Inc. and HZ Construction, and two Hispanic-owned firms, Rey Group and Albu & Associates.
RL Burns Inc. has its headquarters in Parramore, the impoverished community where the arena will be built. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer persuaded politicians to support the arena in part with a promise that Parramore would benefit from the project's construction.
Hunt, which has an office in Orlando, hosted a meet-and-greet gathering geared toward small contractors at Jones High School in September, and about 200 people attended. A seminar to teach small businesses to market themselves also drew large crowds to the school earlier this month.
Belinda Burke, Hunt's director of marketing and communications, said the company will require each of its partners to mentor smaller subcontractors, providing guidance that will benefit them on later projects. The city also has pushed to "unbundle" subcontracts so that multiple companies can share each of the building-trade jobs, such as electrical, plumbing, drywall and painting.
Three of the top Hunt employees who would work on the arena are now working on Lucas Oil Stadium, which will be home to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts when it opens next year. The three also worked on the Charlotte arena, a facility with the type of amenities Magic executives have said they want in Orlando.
"The timing of that project is perfect for these gentlemen to move right to the events center," Burke said.
Three other teams were ranked below Hunt: A joint venture of PCL Construction Services, Barton Malow Co. and the local firm JCB Construction; a Skanska USA Building Inc. and JCB Construction joint venture; and an Austin Commercial and Hardin Construction Co. joint venture.
The ranking means the Magic will now enter contract negotiations with Hunt. If they can't come to terms -- which insiders say is unlikely -- the Magic will negotiate with the second-ranked firm.
Martins said he hopes to complete negotiations within 30 days.
Mark Schlueb can be reached at mschlueb@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417.
Major business for minority firms
Area's government contract creates opportunities
Friday, March 7, 2008
Orlando Business Journal - by Richard Bilbao Contributing Writer The government contract for the new downtown sports and entertainment arena requires that at least 24 percent of the subcontractors involved in the project be minority- and women-owned firms. So private and government-run programs are working to help those firms capture some of that business. Turner Construction Co., which is overseeing construction of the $480 million events center, and the city of Orlando both operate construction management programs intended to give local firms an edge in competing for those contracts. The Turner course is a free six- to 12-week instruction on everything from how to bid for contracts to completing and closing the project. The city's Minority and Women Business Enterprise works with companies such as JCB Construction, a 25-year-old, minority-owned building contracting company, to give firms practical experiencing in securing contracts. From left: Vernice Atkins-Bradley of the Turner School of Construction Management meets with Jason Albu of Albu & Associates and Sandra Hill of HZ Construction Inc. as part of the teaching and consultation Turner offers to minority- and women-owned construction businesses.
source: orlando.bizjournals.com