Research and Learn about Decorative Concrete
Interior Floors: Concrete Floors; Stained Concrete; Concrete Overlays; Basement Floors; Concrete Polishing; Concrete Dyes; Stenciling Interior Floors; Radiant Floor Heating; Garage Floor Coatings
Interior Concrete: Concrete Countertops; Concrete Fireplace Surrounds; Concrete Furniture; Sinks and Vessels
Outdoor Concrete: Concrete Patios; Stamped Concrete; Concrete Driveways; Concrete Pool Decks; Countertops & Kitchens; Outdoor Living; Concrete Walkways; Concrete Resurfacing; Stained Concrete; Colored Concrete; Pavers
Foundation Repair/Waterproofing: Foundation Repair; Concrete Crack Repair; Foundation Waterproofing; Basement Wall Repair
Building with Concrete: Concrete Homes; Finished Basements; Decorative Concrete; Concrete Basements; Pervious Concrete; Green Building
Maintaining Concrete: Clean and Seal; Make Existing Concrete Better
Local Concrete Sites: California; Florida; Illinois; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas; View Other States

September 2008 Industry Leader

Fred Gregory: Five Decades in Concrete, Still Going Strong

by Juliet Farmer

Back in the 50s, Fred Gregory got his start in concrete and never looked back. Today he is a Regional Manager and Consultant, Special Accounts and Special Projects, for Solomon Colors.

Recently, we caught up with Gregory to talk about where he came from, where he is now, and where he and the decorative concrete industry are headed. Here's what he had to say:

Q: Walk us through your background in the concrete industry.

A: I got involved back in the 50s as a concrete laborer and apprentice finisher, mainly working on curb and gutter, before my brother talked me into driving a ready-mix truck, which I did for the next five years.

I then went to work for Kennedy Ready Mix as plant manager and sales for the Garden Grove, Calif., plant. The next year, I got my first true taste of how great the ready mix concrete business is. Mr. Kennedy asked me to help supervise and construct a new ready mix plant with one of the first railroad rock and sand unloading facilities. It's located on Wilmington Avenue in Wilmington, Calif. After completion, I continued as plant manager and sales. It was a great experience.

In 1966, I accepted an offer to go to Prudoe Bay, Alaska, to work as a gravel explorer and build gravel roads. When my contract was up, I was offered a sales position with the largest ready mix, block and aggregate producer in Alaska, Anchorage Sand and Gravel.

After a few years, one of my best customers offered me a partnership to start Concrete Placement Services. We soon became the major concrete contractor in the state of Alaska. We offered a service of which we developed the raw lots in a developer's subdivision and furnished excavation, underground services, street hook-ups, complete foundations in block or concrete, plumbing stub outs, slabs, waterproofing and the final grading.

Because of our company's high demand for concrete service, my partner and I decided to start our own ready mix concrete company, which we called Alaska General. Because of the needs of Alaska General, we partnered with the largest developer in Alaska, which led to the founding of a major gravel pit on the railroad in Palmer, Alaska, and the construction of a high volume railroad aggregate unloading terminal in Anchorage. We sold the ready mix and block portion of the business in 1980.

I came back to California to semi-retire and founded a company named CalTram Rebuilders. We started out building and rebuilding ready mix concrete trucks. CalTram grew rapidly; we expanded into the ready mix concrete business and immediately began having union opposition. It took five years to finally discharge the union claims and the end result was that CalTram became an instrument in helping with the union dissolution in much of the ready mix concrete industry in Central and Southern California, which is predominately non union today

After CalTram, I continued to work on personal interests and as a consultant in the industry for other producers between Alaska and California. In 1990, I met the Brouwer family, owners of Superior Ready Mix. This became a great relationship, and I worked as Northern Regional Sales Manager until I turned 65 and was planning retirement.

At that time, the Solomon family offered me a new career and position in a concrete related business at Solomon Colors as Southwest Regional Manager. I am proud to say Solomon Liquid Colors, along with its decorative concrete products marketed under the name of Brickform and Legacy, are known as leaders in the industry.

Q: What kept you in the industry?

A: People. The greatest satisfaction I have is when I am among some of the hundreds of people I have worked with, trained or advised, and they are dedicated successful professionals in the concrete industry or a related field.

Q: What does your work at Solomon entail?

A: I focus on 360 degree sales. I call on and make myself available for presentation or consultation with architects, engineers, governmental agencies, public works, ready mix or concrete products suppliers and contractors. We provide CEU credits with the Solomon architectural presentation. We stay in contact with our customers daily to provide any support needed.

Q: Tell us about how Solomon plays a part in the green movement.

A: We are striving to ensure many of the Solomon Color products will be available to meet LEEDS credit credentials. Solomon Colors has available several higher reflective colors that can contribute toward points for green building projects.

Q: How has Solomon fared the economy downturn?

A: The economy in Utah is doing a little better than most areas. When the ready mix or concrete products industry slows down, it naturally impacts the color markets.

Strategically, the Solomon family and employees are aggressive in advertising and marketing. We are dedicated to industry and customer support, and our superior quality products and equipment has given us an advantage overall, which has also created an international market demand for the Solomon Products.

Q: What kinds of advertising does Solomon do?

A: Solomon participates in the World of Concrete every year, as well as CON- EXPO and many industry association conventions. We advertise in many concrete products and association magazines. We also offer training and seminars, including an architectural presentation program and continuing education units to architects. We hold big tent seminars that offer hands on instruction for contractors and suppliers across the nation. Solomon is also very active in ACI.

Q: Where do you see the industry headed?

A: Baby Boomers are our controlling generation. They demand the finest in design and quality. With that said, the decorative concrete industry is projected to see tremendous growth beyond our imagination.

Decorative concrete is in its infancy now, and I'd like to see it receive industry standards and accreditation with ACI, where journeyman finishers already get certified. I hope ACI will extend this certification through to a Decorative Concrete Extended Education Program. We at Solomon are supportive of any education program promoting improvement in the industry.

Q: What advice do you have for contractors just getting started in the industry?