In 2010, Matt Diffendal sat alone at an 8-foot plastic table in a modest 8-by-10-foot office he rented for $300 a month, with lights and air conditioning on timers that shut off every few minutes.
Around him were the bare essentials: pencils, scales, a few construction tools and a laptop balanced on a pile of shopping bags. Outside sat his only equipment — a pickup truck and trailer.
Diffendal, now president and CEO of DIFFCO, was at the time building a company that existed only in his mind. He chased night work and took on jobs few others wanted. He wore every hat — project manager, estimator, truck driver, superintendent and excavator operator. Often sleeping in that same truck, he relied on the unwavering support of his wife Tina, who held everything together while working full-time and caring for their two young children.
It was that future image that stayed with Diffendal and fueled his determination. With grit and resolve, he started with concrete jobs, eventually expanding to include earthwork and utilities. Recognizing he couldn’t build a legacy alone, Diffendal began assembling a team that shared his vision and grit. That strategic growth laid a solid foundation, and soon, DIFFCO was doubling in size year after year. The company earned multiple Texas A&M University Aggie 100 awards, an annual recognition program that honors the 100 fastest-growing Aggie-led companies worldwide. Diffendal credits the DIFFCO team as a key contribution to their growth and continued success.
At the company’s annual Christmas party, DIFFCO honors employees reaching milestones of three, five, seven and 10 years with recognition for years of service — a gesture that reflects the heart of the company’s culture.
"Thank you to our customers who have trusted DIFFCO with over 1,000 completed self-performed contracts," Diffendal said. "These projects include schools, hospitals, airports, industrial facilities and green energy. It’s been our honor to serve as your partner — and with your continued support, the DIFFCO story is just getting started."
A simple mission guides that story: to build a legacy through a commitment to core values — creating win-win outcomes, stepping up when it counts, grabbing the shovel when others won’t and always choosing the hard right over the easy wrong.
Today, DIFFCO stands as a leading self-performing civil contractor, specializing in concrete, earthwork, utilities and site work. Serving education, healthcare, aviation, industrial and renewable energy sectors, DIFFCO delivers safety-driven, high-quality solutions that power some of the region’s most ambitious projects.
With a foundation built on grit, trust and teamwork, DIFFCO invites partners and clients alike to join in building more than structures — to build a future together. Ready to break ground on your next project? Build some legacy with DIFFCO.
For more information, visit diffcollc.com or email Brian Petzold at brian.petzold@diffcollc.com.
