AIC Construction Company Profile

lonso Castillo's father was a general contractor in Mexico so Alonso grew up around the construction trade. In 1996, at age 19, Alonso came to the United States to pursue his fortune.

He first found work in a cabinet shop, where he learned to be patient and pay attention to details. He then went to work as a laborer for a company doing home remodeling and found an immediate affinity for the construction trade. "In six months I was working as the lead carpenter," he said. "I started thinking, I can do this. I can start my own company."

Alonso worked hard, studied hard and learned everything there was to know about the contracting business. In 2004 he applied for and received his contractor's license and started A & C Brothers Company. He chose the name because Alonso, along with his new partner at the time, and both of their wives, shared the initials A & C in their names. Recently he changed the name to AIC Construction to honor his new son's middle name, Israel.

From the outset, Alonso's vision was clear: To support his family by doing quality work for his clients. Now that Alonso was the owner of the company, he realized that in order to build and maintain his reputation his work would need to be second-to-none. His innate attention to detail and training has paid off.

Attention to Detail
"Since I spent time working for a top-rated, custom cabinet maker, I was trained from the outset to pay attention to the fine details in every job. I've carried that over to my work in carpentry." He laughed and said, "I drive my crews crazy sometimes because I'm so detail oriented. But that is so important in doing the job right. I teach my crews to be patient and attentive to the little things as well as the big picture."

Skilled in All Phases of Construction
AIC Construction can skillfully handle all phases of construction, from laying the foundation to framing, drywall, molding and even paint. They have become specialists in remodeling and new additions.

One other area in which AIC Construction excels is water and fire damage restoration. Alonso and his crew have extensive experience in this area, and can take a home damaged by these things and return it to its original, livable state.

Company Philosophy
Because of his high standards and habit of overseeing the smallest details of every job he does, Alonso's company is thriving. According to Alonso, it's all about doing things as if he were working on his own home.

"I take every job personally," he said. "I ask myself each time, if this were my home, how would I do this job? If my kids were living here, how would I want it done? When you approach a job and keep that question in your mind always, you will never cut corners and you'll make sure it's done in the best possible way."

Diamond Certified
AIC Construction has earned the prestigious Diamond Certified designation for quality work and customer satisfaction, a remarkable feat for a company so young, and one for which many companies can't qualify. This speaks to Alonso's commitment and passion to service and quality.

"The thing that brings me the most satisfaction," said Alonso, "is being able to do what I love and then seeing the happy looks on my customers' faces when they see that they got their dream too."

Keeping the Company Small, and the Quality High
With a crew of 3-all handpicked by Alonso, and Alonso's wife running the office, AIC Construction is small, and Alonso plans to keep it that way. That way he can continue give the attention to the details of every job, the attribute that has helped cement his reputation.

"I want to keep small so I can ensure the quality of my work. I'm not planning to grow large. I enjoy my family and love to spend time with them. I think it's healthy to find a balance," he said.

---Jim Brumm
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report