CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 35 By Michael Jaenicke F iy years ago, a local Fayetteville fam- ily opened a ready-made concrete busi- ness. Two years later, in March 1966, Marvis Howell Sr. purchased the com- pany and a legacy began. Marvis Jr., better known as Gene, began working for his father at age 16. He graduated from high school and at- tended NC State, played competitive golf and had hopes of going pro. But plans changed; during his sophomore year of college, Marvis Sr. suffered from heart trouble and Gene le school, returned home and took over the business. "It was sink or swim," recalled Pat, Gene's wife, "Gene is 61 and is still working on a daily basis." He chimed in, "Be- ing the second generation, we have been successful which is so unusual because second generation businesses generally don't make it." en, 14 years ago, Pat joined Gene at Quality Concrete so that if necessary, she would be qualified to take over. She le an 18-year career in the banking industry and today the couple manages the business together. Pat spends her days at construction sites and coordinates with the contrac- tors and superintendents, while Gene works in the office directly supervising truck routes and employees. Together the Howells' management style is hands-on and Gene per- sonally locks up at the end of each day. To those thinking Family-owned business celebrates 50 years By sara COOkE of running their own business, he offers sage advice: "Plan on long hours and hard work. You don't get time off when you're trying to become successful." Pat said of working together, "We make a great team and it's probably because we work in different physical spaces," she laughed, "Otherwise, I'd lose my mind." As a ready-made concrete business, workers combine sand, water, rocks and cement in conveyor belts on the backs of trucks, which rotate and mix the concoction as the trucks drive to sites where the concrete is poured. is requires a team of dedicated drivers, and just as ownership hasn't changed over the years, the majority of the compa- ny's 19 employees are either long-time or second-genera- tion members of the staff. By "long-time," Pat clarified that most of their truck drivers have been with Quality Con- crete for over 15 years and she attributed this high number to employees' treatment. "Our employees are like our family," said Pat, "We know their spouses, their kids. We care about them." Gene added, "ey're so loyal. ey have stayed with us a long time." In a business where wet weather dictates whether or not work can be done, rain, snow and sleet ruin the concrete and mean it can't be poured. Quality pays their drivers for 40 hours of work per week, as long as they show up ready to work. "ey have to pay their bills, even if the weather is Quality Concrete Company

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