Pete Vrettakos, founder and original chairman of the board for BRACE Industrial Group, has more than 30 years of industry experience. Headquartered in Houston and led by a team of seasoned industry executives, BRACE offers a compelling value proposition that combines proprietary equipment and best-in-class service.
BIC Magazine recently visited with Vrettakos to learn more about how BRACE continues to build tomorrow’s industrial contracting services company through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.
Q: What led you to start BRACE Industrial Group?
A: After we sold Atlantic Industrial, I retired. After two years on the sidelines, I realized how much I missed building a business and wanted to do it again. I also felt like it was a good time in the economy because of some things that were happening. This new business could take advantage of the growing industrial market due to the plentiful supply of inexpensive natural gas and oil discoveries at the time. The future of the industry was very bright, so I felt the timing and market were right to start BRACE.
I started putting together a plan for BRACE in late 2010, and I began talking to potential acquisitions and financial partners. We didn’t officially incorporate the company until 2011. Like an architect, I wanted to pre-design how this company would look and its strategy. BRACE performed its first acquisition in April 2013.
Q: When did you know BRACE Industrial Group would make it?
A: Honestly, I knew BRACE would make it before it even started. BRACE is built on a lot of experience, and it has a lot of good talent and relationships around it. I was extremely confident the company was going to make it even before BRACE made its first acquisition. At BRACE, we are seasoned veterans, and we all share a passion for growing and building businesses within this industry.
Q: Why is BRACE Industrial Group successful?
A: BRACE is a people company that is zeroing in on quality, service and safety. Our goal is to continue to grow organically as well as through acquisitions of great companies with outstanding safety records, customer service and customer relationships.
BRACE is successful because of all the talented people who work at the company. Many of these individuals have worked together as a team for many years, and they’re successful at it. They’re the reason why BRACE is successful now and why it will continue to have growing success.
Q: Do you have any plans to grow/expand your business through acquisitions and mergers?
A: Yes, BRACE is continuing to acquire companies and integrate them into what is currently BRACE’s platform. These acquisitions are strategic; they are filling in certain needs geographically and provide additional services for our customers.
Q: What was your biggest start-up hardship?
A: The biggest start-up hardship for BRACE was finding enough businesses to acquire to gain the critical mass for its platform. BRACE had difficulty finding one large business to acquire that gave BRACE the size it needed to be considered a platform for growth. Therefore, BRACE acquired four smaller companies to get the critical mass it needed. These companies give BRACE the complete geographical coverage for factors such as seasonality and cyclicality.
For more information, visit www.brace.com or call (281) 749-1020.
