The story behind Harkins Ready Mix, Inc., like many companies, is the story of seeing an opportunity where others saw only frustration. Not that David Harkins didn’t see the frustration too, he just decided to do something about it besides complain.
It was CEO David Harkins’ frustration with poor service, erratic delivery and limited quantities of concrete available from existing suppliers that led to the launch of Harkins Ready Mix, Inc. in 2004. At the time, he and George Harkins, his father, were operating Harkins Concrete Construction, Inc., a concrete subcontractor started in 1992 by George; and Harkins Contracting, Inc, a full-service general contracting firm started by the pair in 1997.
Business for both existing companies was brisk, but father and son realized owning their own ready-mix plant had many advantages. One benefit was a solution to the delivery and supply problems which increased labor costs and threatened deadlines. Operated efficiently and utilizing the newest technologies, their own ready mix company held the promise of reducing product costs and creating an additional revenue stream.
Encouraged by other regional contractors, the Harkins entered the business with a commitment to state-of-the art technology and strict procedures designed to efficiently produce and deliver precision mixes at competitive prices. The heart of the operation was a state-of-the-art computer controlled mixing machine that combined sand, aggregate, cement, air and water to quickly create precision grades of concrete for any purpose under all weather conditions. To further ensure on-time delivery their fleet of modern mixer trucks was equipped with GPS guidance and radios to keep the plant, driver and customer continuously connected.