Discover how Action Gypsum Supply takes on construction giants through customer service and expansion
While many construction material suppliers are being overshadowed by larger corporate organizations, independent provider of high-quality building materials Action Gypsum Supply (Gypsum) continues to grow. Its longevity can be attributed to its independent status and business ethos, which empower it to prioritize relationships with customers and effectively support their businesses. What makes Action Gypsum a particularly strong contender in the face of large corporations is its exceptional footprint, with 32 different locations, allowing for tremendous flexibility to ensure customers always receive the solutions and level of service they deserve. The building materials dealer notably offers wallboard, doors, frames, tools, fasteners, lumber, metal, acoustical ceilings, trims, stucco lath, plastering, masonry, and insulation products, as well as credit, delivery, sales, and stocking services.
In 2003, Lenin Juarez and Terri King, who had both been working in the building materials industry since 1980, decided to combine their resources to form Action Gypsum. Originally operating from a small, leased warehouse in Houston, Texas, the duo grew the business at an impressive rate. In fact, after three years of operations, they purchased seven acres of land and began constructing a 70,000 square foot warehouse, which now serves as the organization’s corporate headquarters. Over the course of the following years, Lenin and Terri realized their vision to expand to each major market throughout Texas. They opened new locations in South Houston, Bryan-College Station, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, and Fort Worth, thereby strengthening their position as a major player throughout the state.
After the success of this significant expansion throughout Texas, Terri and Lenin set their sights on establishing a presence in the West. Thus, in 2017, they completed an acquisition of majority interest in Argos Material Distribution. As a result, Gypsum currently boasts four additional locations in the Western part of the US: Chino and Long Beach, Southern California, Hayward, in Northern California’s Bay Area, and Phoenix, Arizona. Today, with over 20 years in business and 32 locations across six states, Action Gypsum enjoys an enviable position as one of the strongest independent building materials distributors in the Southwest. Terri and Lenin’s passion for what they do and dedication to serving customers have fueled the company’s success and reputation for unrivaled solutions-based personalized customer service and collaborative long-term partnerships with customers, vendors, and employees.
“Prior to establishing Action Gypsum, Terri and Lenin worked for a company that began growing in a direction they did not particularly resonate with. This, in combination with their desire to focus on customer service, is what led them to leave that company and build their own. Consequently, at Action Gypsum, we distinguish ourselves through the strong emphasis we place on outstanding customer service across all of our locations. Additionally, we take pride in being an independently owned company, in contrast to most of our competitors, which are much larger or publicly traded organizations,” opens Vice President of Strategy, Taylor Pittman.
People first
The woman who started it all and Managing Partner at Action Gypsum, Terri herself, joins the interview to tell us more about the company’s core offerings. As the company’s name indicates, “gypsum wallboard is our principal area of expertise. On top of that, we distribute metal studs for structural and interior metal framing, as well as acoustical ceiling tiles, ceiling grid, insulation, screws, stucco lath, and plastering. In other words, our product portfolio covers virtually all building materials. We mostly cater to the commercial sector, including office buildings, hospitals, and retail centers. Furthermore, our offerings are very useful in the multifamily and residential sectors, as we distribute and stock drywall for numerous multi-home projects for some of the larger builders,” she enlightens.
Beyond its comprehensive product lineup, Action Gypsum stands out from the competition through its work ethic. “As Taylor mentioned earlier, our position as one of the largest independent distributors in the US allows Lenin and I to be very hands-on as owners. This sets us apart from our competitors, who often have countless tiers of management, including chairmen and other executives in charge of large, publicly traded corporations. As a result, not only do we prioritize customer service, but we also strongly support and take care of our employees. I believe that by treating our employees this way, they will, in turn, provide excellent service to our customers in the marketplace,” Terri explains.
Following up on this topic, Taylor sheds light on Action Gypsum’s strategy to attract and retain talent. “I believe that we do a great job of promoting employees from within our company. When I started working at Gypsum 12 years ago, we only had four locations. Obviously, we have experienced significant growth since then in order to reach 32 locations. This growth has resulted in numerous opportunities for employees to take on new roles. For example, several employees who started out at the company driving delivery trucks now occupy higher positions where they manage multiple branches. The opportunities for growth within Gypsum are not common amongst our competitors. We understand that what truly makes the strength of our company is our people, who embrace the culture fostered by our founders. Both Terri and Lenin are frequently the first people to arrive and the last to leave the workplace, even working during holidays, and their dedication filters down to all employees,” he goes on.
Impressive project portfolio
Terri and Taylor move on to discuss some of Action Gypsum’s most exciting projects. “Recently, we have completed several high-profile projects, such as a project for Tesla in Austin and another at the Fontainebleau hotel in Las Vegas. In addition, we have been awarded the initial contracts for work with SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas, and are currently working on the Tesla and Samsung campuses in North Austin. Interestingly, we worked on multiple schemes in Disneyland, California, including a significant expansion of the theme park’s Star Wars attraction,” notes Terri.
Taylor adds: “We are presently stocking several of the tallest projects in Texas and have been integral in the reshaping of several cities’ skylines. With so many contractors trusting us to work on their largest projects, it is evident that we have made a name for ourselves in the industry.”
By fostering long-term customer relationships, innovation and advancement opportunities for its talented team, Action Gypsum is well-positioned for continued growth in the construction industry, while remaining independent.