Construction update for our 175-room Element Hotel project in San Jose, CA.
This 115,000 square foot hotel is being built to achieve LEED Gold Certification with a sustainable and nature-inspired aesthetic that is clean, modern, and bright. The Huff Team is working on finishing the hotel from top to bottom and some rooms have finished drywall, paint, wall coverings, and are having cabinets and furniture installed. All this while the exterior architectural siding is going up and our paving crew is at work.
First and foremost, we would like to thank Mr. Leroy Kinser for his hard work, dedication, and determination over the years. 25 YEARS to be exact! That’s half of our company’s existence as we are celebrating our 50th anniversary as a company this year. It is absolutely incredible to have such a great employee like Leroy and we are so grateful to have such a top-notch Superintendent on our team. Without further ado, get to know more about Leroy by reading more below.
Name: Leroy Kinser Title: Superintendent Hire Date: September 1996
Where are you from?
I was born in the Netherlands and raised in Tulare, CA.
What do you do at work?
I am a Superintendent
What did you do before working at Huff Construction?
Before working at Huff Construction, I had just graduated from high school and was attending Modesto Junior College.
How did you get your start at Huff Construction?
I replied to a help wanted ad for warehouse work that Duane Huff posted at the JC.
What has changed at Huff Construction since you started?
The main thing that has changed since I started is the growing use of technology.
What makes you excited to go to work in the morning?
Tackling and solving the day’s unexpected issues.
What’s your favorite part about working at Huff?
One of my favorite things is knowing that you have a solid team behind you to help accomplish the project.
How does Huff support you as an employee?
Huff supports me as an employee by trusting that I have their best interests in mind and therefore they help facilitate me achieving my goals.
What has surprised you about working at Huff?
Honestly, I can’t say that anything has surprised me. I have grown up with Huff Construction, and I have evolved with them.
Do you have a favorite Huff quote or mantra?
I have heard subcontractors compare our way of running jobs to other general contractors, and they always state that they need to do their work “The Huff Way.” Although unofficial, I believe there is a “Huff Way.”
What is your favorite project that you have built?
My favorite project that I have built is the Rossmoor Event Center. This project received several awards including:
2015 NAHB Gold Award, Best 50+ Clubhouse, over 6,000 sqft
2014 Gold Nugget Merit Award, Special Use Project
2013 Gold Nugget Merit Award, Senior Housing Community, On-the-Boards
What has been your proudest moment at Huff?
I am fortunate to have had many proud moments at Huff. From completing my first tenant improvement project for Pier One in Vallejo with Brad Ardis as my PM. To my first ground-up project at the Escalon Christian Reform Church with Bob Ott as my PM. Building the Rossmoor Event Center with Bob Ott was a nice feather in my cap and The Rossmoor Event Center is still my favorite and most complex project I have built to date.
What do you find sets Huff employees apart from people working at other companies?
Huff Construction is the only company I have ever worked for full time so I can’t compare them to any other companies. But from what I hear, other companies don’t seem to have the sense of family or community that Huff Construction has. Our owners, Gary Huff and Brad Ardis, know and understand that life happens and that family always comes first. Because of Gary and Brad’s understanding and relatability, they are willing to be flexible which I believe makes their employees the most loyal around. I consider this company as my other family and would do anything for them, within the law of course.
Are there certain personality traits or skills that do well at Huff?
Being independent and trustworthy are the two most important. Huff Construction puts a lot of trust in our employees that are typically in charge of projects large and small and usually far from home.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work? I have 3 teenagers at home so we like to get out and be adventurous. We like to take our Jeep out and go rock crawling on a trail followed by camping in the forest or taking the boat out to go wakeboarding and tubing on the lake.
Who or what inspires you?
Always learning new things and my wife, Jennifer. Jennifer has been by my side since high school and as I have grown up at Huff, I have watched her grow as a person while raising our two kids while I’m usually working out of town. During our life together, she has continued to pursue and achieve her education and career goals. She recently graduated with her master’s degree in therapy and soon will be a licensed therapist. On top of all that we became foster parents to help teens find a better path to adulthood. After fostering 6 children over the course of a few years, we adopted our last one, Mr. Hunter Holt. Jennifer’s strength and commitment to family and work are what inspire me to be the best version of myself.
What is on your bucket list?
I have always wanted to fly a plane. I came close one time – Thanks, Duane!
Where is your favorite place to eat?
At home, I like to BBQ!
Where is your favorite place to travel to?
I don’t travel much but going camping and renting a cabin during Christmas time in the snow with the family is always fun.
The #HuffTeam is completing the final touches on the Monte Vista Farming Warehouse building. This project consists of ground-up construction of a Huff Metal Building for our repeat client, Monte Vista Farming Co. The building encompasses 35,750 square feet and the dimensions are 130ft wide clear span x 275ft long x 24ft high.
Project update for the Archway Commons II Affordable Housing Project in Modesto, CA. The project is starting to take shape as several buildings are being framed and other foundations are being poured.
Archway Commons II is the second phase for the Archway Commons affordable housing community which we built back in 2014. Phase two will bring 74 new 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom rental apartments.
Construction update for the Childs Ave. & B St. Affordable Housing project in Merced, CA. The #HuffTeam has made great progress on this project which features 5 wood-framed apartment buildings that will encompass 117,224 square feet. This project will bring 119 units comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments to the Merced region.
The Huff Team is hard at work at the Archway Commons II project in Modesto, CA. Concrete forms for the foundation of two apartments are being built as heavy equipment operators continue to perform earthwork.
Archway Commons II is the second phase for the Archway Commons affordable housing community which we built in 2014. Phase two will bring 74 new 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom rental apartments.
At an event hosted recently by Huff Construction and our business partners for the Village at Gray’s Crossing including Verakin Capital, Alia Corp, and Compass-Oldham Group, the Tahoe Fund was awarded a $10,000 donation to aid in its efforts to support environmental projects in the Tahoe Basin.
“On behalf of the Tahoe Fund, we are so thankful to the Abbate family, Huff Construction, and Verakin Capital for their donation,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “As they celebrate the start of construction of this new community, it is heartwarming to see them also focus their efforts on supporting the Tahoe environment.”
The developers of The Village at Gray’s Crossing are committed to improving the region and contributing to environmental projects that benefit the community at large. Through this new partnership with the Tahoe Fund, they anticipate additional fundraising efforts as the development continues to contribute to projects that benefit the Basin and the surrounding region for generations to come.
“Being a successful company goes beyond our daily operations. For Huff Construction, it’s also about giving back and supporting each other, our planet, and the communities where we live and work,” said Gary Huff, CEO of Huff Construction. “The Tahoe Fund has been actively working on projects that enhance the sustainability of the Tahoe Basin and they’re the perfect organization to support as we look for meaningful ways to give back to our community.”
Since it launched in 2010, the Tahoe Fund has been a leader and convener in the completion of key environmental projects in the Tahoe Basin, focusing on projects designed to restore the forest, improve lake clarity, support more sustainable outdoor recreation, provide transportation solutions and create more stewards of the Tahoe environment. Flagship projects have included the acquisition of Johnson Meadow and the completion of the Tahoe East Shore Trail.
Original story: https://www.tahoefund.org/uncategorized/village-at-grays-crossing-partners-donate-10000-to-the-tahoe-fund/
The #HuffTeam had a great time celebrating the groundbreaking of the RedRose Montessori Pre-School in Mountain House, CA. We are excited to bring this project to life and can’t wait to see our team’s work! The RedRose Montessori Preschool is on the corner of Mustang Way and Central Parkway in Mountain House, CA. The preschool will be 12,560 square feet and construction will be lead by our Project Manager, Tracy Alicea, and Superintendent, Jay Clegg.
We are proud to have had Mason Anson as our summer intern this year. Mason jumped into our internship program in stride as he worked alongside our construction management team while also getting familiar with our marketing and accounting teams.
Mason stated, “As an intern at Huff, you receive the highest level of education on how to be a hard-working individual while learning what it takes to maintain a collaborative team environment. Each employee has an important role within the company, and it was an absolute pleasure to see this kind of work in today’s day and age. It was truly a unique experience that I am sure you will not find with most companies. The conversations and relationships I have made during my internship at Huff Construction have helped me take one more step into becoming the best version of myself to date.”
Mason is currently a senior at Arizona State University and is majoring in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. We are proud of Mason’s work during his time here at Huff Construction and we wish him all the best!
The Grafton Plaza Preschool and Retail Center in Dublin, CA is taking shape as construction is going vertical! This project consists of the ground-up construction for two retail shells totaling 22,060 square feet and a 9,980 square foot preschool.
