Providing the best construction experience is what SpawGlass strives to deliver. What else can be said of a company that builds complicated, large construction projects such as performing arts centers and convention centers (McAllen’s, for one), parking garages, academic facilities, airport renovations, and healthcare renovations for buildings such as the McAllen Medical Center. The company also has a building service group for small, fast-paced projects, as well as a civil division, with the vast majority of its work done for repeat clients.
Back in 1953, Louis Spaw and T. Frank Glass decided to start their own construction company. They built it to an international enterprise with Mr. Spaw’s trademark saying, “We don’t just build buildings, we build people.” Today the company is 100 percent employee-owned, with its ownership open to all employees.
“Nearly 400 shareholders of our 725 team members in our ten branches across Texas are shareholders,” Eric Kennedy, president, South Texas Division, said. “Many of these team members are local to the Valley. After being in Harlingen for 19 years and building all around the surrounding area since then, we feel we are an integral part of the Valley community.”
Being part of the community means giving back. One of the many ways the company contributes is through the annual SpawGlass-South Texas Bay Fishing Tournament, which celebrated its 14th year on September 29. This year, proceeds will be distributed to Friends of RGV Reef, Walk for Women, Texas Southmost College Scholarship, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Scholarship.
“We also do a lot with kids to get them excited about the construction industry,” explained Project Executive Chris Pennington. “Each summer, we hold a couple of week-long courses for seventh graders where they get to participate in hands-on construction activities like building mini brick walls.”
Belonging to the local Associated General Contractors, AGC, and chambers, the company even has SpawGlass University for in-house, ongoing continuing education on everything from craftsmanship, safety training, new processes and technologies to financial literacy, and insurance and contract writing.
From constructing higher education campuses to working in occupied healthcare environments and so much more, SpawGlass Inc. is making a lasting impression here in the Rio Grande Valley.