“When I started my business, it was with very little money and a lot of dreams,” said Aggregate Technologies President Ronnie Wills, thinking back to his company’s soggy start. “It rained for the first three months, but somehow I made it through.”

“After making it through that,” he added, “I knew that I would be successful.”

As a teenager mowing yards and working at a fast food restaurant and the local grocery store, Wills, a native Houstonian, quickly became accustomed to hard work. But working for his father’s construction company — during the summers starting at age 13 — was a glimpse into the future and a learning opportunity as well.

“Working at my father’s construction company provided me with many of the skills I needed to form my own company, such as understanding the business and being able to see the things that work and don’t work in business,” he said.

After working in the specialty contracting business for several years, Wills wanted to take advantage of new technology — such as concrete sawing and sealing, equipment, computers and software — that would enable him to work on more complex projects.  

“I decided that if I was going to do all of the hard work, I would do it for myself,” he said.

The result was Houston-based Aggregate Technologies, a specialty contractor that utilizes diamond technology to perform vertical, horizontal and circular cutting of asphalt, concrete, masonry and stone, and performs robotic breaking with state-of-the-art Brokk remote-controlled demolition machines.

In doing things on his own, Wills has found that having the right team is key.

“All companies are only as good as their employees,” he said. “And I have been very fortunate in hiring and retaining top-notch, loyal employees.”

Wills said he has also learned the art of managing multiple tasks and people at the same time and acquired an adaptability to change with technology and techniques to ensure that the company continues to perform work safely and efficiently.

Though juggling a host of tasks has become part of his skill set as a business owner, Wills acknowledges that there is a limit to how thin he can stretch himself.

“I’ve really learned that I have to delegate,” he said. “Because you just can’t do everything yourself.”

Something Wills did take on himself as a personal mission was implementing a strict safety program and drug policy.

“It cost a lot of money, and I lost a couple of longtime employees, but it has paid off in the long run,” he said. “We have one of the best safety records in the industry, which has afforded us the opportunity to expand our business into new areas.”

One new area for Aggregate Technologies is the nuclear industry. Wills has set more work in nuclear plants as a main goal, which isn’t without its challenges, he said.

“It is an environment where it’s hard for general contractors and owners to take a chance on a newcomer, due to the nature of the nuclear environment,” he said. “It can be hard to convince them that you can do a safer, more efficient job.”

As a broader goal, Wills wants Aggregate Technologies to be regarded as the best company in its field and a company known for its innovative work. But most important, he said, is continuing to operate his business with honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic, characteristics he learned from his grandfather, his mentor and hero.

“Part of that integrity is making sure you treat your employees and customers fairly across the board,” he added.

Wills is involved in several industry organizations — a great networking tool, he said — including ABC, American Subcontractors Association, Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association, Houston Area Safety Council, Houston Contractors Association, Associated General Contractors, Association of Chemical Industry of Texas and Contractors Safety Council of Texas City.

Though he said spare time is a luxury for him, he does love to fish. He and his wife, Shelly, have a 4-year-old son, Noah.

To learn more, call (281) 579-7229 or visit www.aggregatetechnologies.com.