June 3, 2026 • 47 mins
What does it take to turn a passion for sports and construction into a 30+ year business and build more than 10,000 courts along the way?
In this episode of CEOs You Should Know Dallas, iHeartMedia Dallas Market President Chris Long sits down with Mark Kundysek, Founder and President of NexCourt, to share how a passion for sports and construction turned into a 30+ year business.
From launching with a $250 dealer kit to building more than 10,000 custom sports courts, Mark reflects on the grit, consistency, and hands-on work it takes to grow something from the ground up. He also shares how NexCourt has evolved, from early backyard basketball courts to the rise of pickleball and what’s next with the growing demand for multi-use recreational spaces.
The conversation also highlights the importance of teamwork, long-standing relationships, and giving back through partnerships with organizations like the Dallas Mavericks and Nancy Lieberman Charities.
Mark’s story is a testament to steady growth, adaptability, and delivering more than expected, one project at a time.
Guest: Mark Kundysek, Founder & President, NexCourt
CEOs You Should Know DFW features candid conversations with leaders shaping business in North Texas and beyond, hosted by Chris Long, Region President of iHeartMedia Dallas/Fort Worth. Follow, Rate, and Subscribe on the podcast platform you are listening on!
In this episode of CEOs You Should Know Dallas, iHeartMedia Dallas Market President Chris Long sits down with Mark Kundysek, Founder and President of NexCourt, to share how a passion for sports and construction turned into a 30+ year business.
From launching with a $250 dealer kit to building more than 10,000 custom sports courts, Mark reflects on the grit, consistency, and hands-on work it takes to grow something from the ground up. He also shares how NexCourt has evolved, from early backyard basketball courts to the rise of pickleball and what’s next with the growing demand for multi-use recreational spaces.
The conversation also highlights the importance of teamwork, long-standing relationships, and giving back through partnerships with organizations like the Dallas Mavericks and Nancy Lieberman Charities.
Mark’s story is a testament to steady growth, adaptability, and delivering more than expected, one project at a time.
Guest: Mark Kundysek, Founder & President, NexCourt
CEOs You Should Know DFW features candid conversations with leaders shaping business in North Texas and beyond, hosted by Chris Long, Region President of iHeartMedia Dallas/Fort Worth. Follow, Rate, and Subscribe on the podcast platform you are listening on!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is CEOs you should Know, with the Dallas market
president of iHeartMedia, Chris Long.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I want to welcome everyone to another episode of CEOs
you should know. My name is Chris Long. I'm Dallas
market president for iHeartMedia. I'm here with my new friend
Mark Condyseck correct founder president of Next.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Court Mark Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you, Chris.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It's good to have you here. All right, So we're
going to get started.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I gave Mark a little bit of a head start,
you know, in past episodes we've done first concert.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Mark is going to be a little bit of a guinea.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Pig here for us because you know, with iHeartMedia being
the massive audio platform that it is, radio stations across
one hundred and sixty markets, podcasting, streaming, everything you can
think of audio, I feel like I need to ask
you some very audiocentric questions and because I like to
know a little bit about people from their past, to
(01:00):
do a rapid fire on some questions. So I hope
you're ready. This is the first time we've done this.
We're changing up the format a little bit, so I'm
gonna shoot three or four questions at you, and I
just need quick answers don't think about it, all right?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Teenage music Crush the Cars, The Cars artist poster on
your bedroom.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Wall, Kiss Kiss excellent. I really wouldn't expected anything. I
would have been disappointed. Band T shirt you owned.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Ted Nugent the Nude excellent? All right.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Song that makes you roll down your windows? Van Halen anything,
Van Halen Anything, Van van Halen, Van Hagar original original,
I'm a Sammy Hagar guy.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
You're okay, fine. I don't want to go to.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
The concept of rolling your windows down and saying, you know,
I can't drive fifty five so fair enough, and you're.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Saying Panama, Yeah, okay, can we can? We can stop there?
And then last thing because of what next court does. Well,
it's not baseball, it could be and we'll get into that.
What would be your walkout song if you were playing baseball?
I don't not have to go with something country. They
don't pick a lot of country. I'd probably have to
(02:21):
go with a George Strait song something like that. Okay, Now,
is this as a hitter or would you be coming
in as a reliever a hitter?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I saw something on Instagram the day Mason Miller, the
reliever for the padres.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
My god, I can't remember what the song was, but
they should like the light show and the whole dale.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And I was like, man, could you imagine what that'd
be like some six' sixth dude walking in who can
throw you, know.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
One hundred and five or whatever he's throwing with that? Plan? Right, so,
anyway so we've completely gotten off.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Track SO i guess it's my, Job, amanda to bring
us back, together right, yeah kind of, Okay So mark
was kind enough to join, us And, MARK i love
your story and it's. Funny amna was telling us to
shut up earlier when we were talking because it wasn't,
recording but we were talking about how you grew up
here In dallas and you were a soccer player in
(03:11):
high school and that took you To Texas.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Tech correct talk a little bit about.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That, WELL i mean it's just as a, kid probably
in nineteen sixty, nine you, know you were introduced to a. Sport,
yeah you, know you had, baseball, football, track and it's
just one of those things that ONCE i started playing,
SOCCER i didn't really look at any other. SPORT i
was just having so much. Fun some, people for some,
(03:36):
people including, me thinking, Well it wasn't a lot of thought.
Process you just run and kick the ball and you,
know so, forth and just enjoyed that all the way
through high. School of, course back then there were no.
CONTRACTS i think in high school we had six games
a year and that was. It six six and that's.
It there were only three.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
High school four tractors like four. Months. Yeah, yeah it's
not like today where it's three sixty.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Five never had a soccer. Coach there was always a
football coach that Said i've been told to teach you,
guys you, know and they would, saying we don't know
a lot about, soccer but we can definitely get you in. Shape,
yeah and they. Did and THEN i AFTER i got
out of high, SCHOOL i really wanted to try to
play soccer in college AND i was looking At North
Texas State university and my brother was already At Texas.
(04:21):
Tech so my parents encouraged me to go out there
and try, out AND i did and made the team
and a lot of fun totally kept me in. Shape
and uh so they're.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Exciting SO i love to talk about that BECAUSE i
want to ask your, opinions and we'll talk about this throughout.
Conversation but the team aspect and the commitment aspect and
all of.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
That you learn in.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
SPORTS i, feel especially for you as a founder building a,
company it. Applies don't you think of me in terms
of especially as you get older?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Obviously and, YEAH i think.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So. Obviously we grew up as my dad worked At General,
motors so we had a group of kids in my
neighborhood with all of our dads worked at, gyms so
we're considered the gym, dads and those are the group
of KIDS i ran around with that we started playing
soccer with early. On we literally played soccer together from you,
know nineteen seventy all the way through nineteen eighty five
(05:18):
through nineteen eighty through high, school and so there was
a lot be said about. Teamwork and once you play
with a person or individuals for so, long you learn
their body, movements their habits and you start to thrive
together and how to, communicate how to communicate and so.
Forth correct, Interesting so you went to, tech, yes, sir
(05:40):
plaid soccer, graduated would you agree in general business?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Management, okay you said something about taking a botany class
when we were talking.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
EARLIER i want to make sure there's not something really.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Deep, See now that's just one of those force fields
WHERE i was kind of late in the game getting
readistered for college and they told me to go, register
and back then thing was in, pencil you, know and
there wasn't a lot of classes left open BECAUSE i
registered so, late and botany was one of the ONES
i took for some odd, REASON i don't know. Why
but and then it stayed with. It you, KNOW gpa
(06:15):
wasn't too good the first.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Semester but, YEAH i, mean look the bad minton and
geology THAT i Took Universe sussary really had nothing to
do with it WHAT i ended up.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Doing, Right, well we all have, those.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Right so you graduated and thinking about towards the end of,
college you, know and we talked a little bit earlier
about you, know you're trying to figure, out especially at that,
time what you're going to.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Do it was a different time and how you went
about getting a.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Job and you, know everybody didn't have internships back. Then
like if you had an, internship it was this kind
of oh you're doing what and.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
So what were you thinking about?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Doing you, know you had a general, degree you, know
which is kind of the way it was that did
you know you wanted to get into, construction which lad
you down this.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Path Or i've always enjoyed the outdoors in. Construction my
very first, JOB i THINK i was fifteen years. Old
it was a friend of my dad who used to
do carpentry. Work AND i was, says hey, boy hey,
boy go do, this hey.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Boy go do, that and everybody needs one of.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
That, yeah, yeah and just watched, him you, know do
the carpentry work that would. Work was at a. Church
and so ONCE i got to, college the first THING
i did WAS i go out and start knocking on
doors with construction, companies you, know building apartments or. Whatever
and ended up working in construction and love. It you,
(07:32):
know try to get in twenty hours a, week, sure
AND i was making five dollars an, hour so one
hundred dollars a week back then went a long. Ways,
Yeah and So i've always been outside working, construction and
it just it's spilled over it every summer AND i
ALWAYS i don't know if this is the generation back
then now and maybe, now but my boys laugh at
(07:55):
me every day because we literally wrote down every JOB
i had from age fifteen UNTIL i started building courts
full time and it's almost thirty. Jobs really. Everything they
give me a hard, time but it was the way
it was. THOUGH i think it.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Was.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
YEAH i MEAN i worked at A jeene store in
the mall and painted. Houses. Yeah also was a lifeguard
at the water. Slide greatest job. Ever he was a
sixteen year.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Old BUT i.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Digress so you had a lot of.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Experience you obviously had an affinity towards construction and that whole.
Field so you Founded Next court in nineteen ninety. One
you're a few years.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Out of, college, Right take us through? Lake did you?
Know was it an aha?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Moment?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Thing was it am to see what?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
HAPPENS i Think i've always been intrigued to look for
something to attach. TO i, know in college there was
a company In North dallas Called North American, sound AND
i was living college AND i literally had business cards
made BECAUSE i talked to the. Guy he built these
speakers out of his, home AND i had bought a
pair of for In, arlington AND i had made some
(09:02):
business cards and tried to sell speakers in love it
WHILE i was going to. College. Uh and then you,
know just different things like. That and my first job
out of college was working for a Company Grand prairie
Called Read, plastics And Read plastics was a. Colorhouse they
made color. Concentrate anything plastic in this room right, now
if it's got color to, it you need a color
(09:23):
concentrate when you mold or manufacture the. Product AND i
had worked there about a year AND i noticed some
interlocking these modular tiles in my sales manager's. Office and
SO i got the chemist that they had an in house,
chemist plastic, chemist AND i had him help me write
a letter BECAUSE i mailed a letter to the corporate.
(09:46):
Headquarters what mailed a?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Letter, yes you mean you went and got a stamp
and you put it on the, Amox, yes, sir, yeah
so much working ye and lo and behold back then
the company fortunately was family owned and they were an
up and coming.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Company and they sent me a letter back said, yes
for two hundred fifty, dollars we'll send you a dealer.
Kit SO i mailed them to, fifty got a dealer,
kit and just started now two fifty back, then just starting.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Right that was a big. Swing.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yep that would have been in nineteen eighty, eight, nineteen
around nineteen eighty. Eight, Yeah so, okay so go, ahead well,
YEAH i got a dealer kit and my first sell
was a hotel In arlington because they had different types
of tiles for different, applications and ONE i was kind
of drawn to was the anti fatigue matting the pool,
decks the bathrooms and, showers locker. Rooms so my first
(10:39):
job was at a hotel In. ARRINGTON i did this
matting behind the kitchen where all the cooks were and.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Stuff oh so it wasn't a.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Court it wasn't not a.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Court, Okay, yeah And.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I've got the check stable to my walle in office right.
NOW i want to. Say it was three hundred and
sixty bucks my first, sell and you know.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It took a year, year one hundred and.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Ten.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Good there you, go.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Exactly so it wasn't until nineteen eighty nine THAT i
learned about the backyard game court, business which was a
byproduct of the modular, tile and went and interviewed with
a guy In, Austin texas played basketball AT ut and
his partner also played basketball AT. Ut they had answered
(11:23):
an ad And Sports illustrated or somewhere that this company
was running about hiring people to build backyard. Courts, okay
SO i got a call from Him Greg dettman and
his partner Was Vic, sanchez and they, said, hey we
just got the five state. Area we understand you're involved
with the. Tiles and they called me down and interviewed,
me and he, said, hey you, know we love what
(11:45):
you're doing and we want to bring you on. Board
SO i became a dealer.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Underneath so you Left Read.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Plastic, yeah so you did the first job you did
while you were at Read plastic, correct, correct so and that,
okay got?
Speaker 1 (11:59):
It, yeah so you're now yem a.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Dealer and start doing home and garden, shows which was
a lot of fun and working in a lot of.
HOURS i ended up taking a job In dallas WHILE
i was trying to get this off the, ground selling
sports equipment For. Gymnasiums porter is a big brand volleyball poll.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Attacks.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, YEAH i learned a lot too that. Way and
then EVENTUALLY i JUST i WOULD i would work till you,
know twelve or one in the morning doing the backyard court,
stuff and then have to get up and be at
work at eight the next. Day and EVENTUALLY i caught
myself dozing off at the draft table or whatever the
case may, be and finally put in my two week,
(12:39):
notice AND i think around nineteen ninety or ninety ONE
i started doing backyard game courts full.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Time so in all of, this, like did you know you're,
like at some POINT i want to start my own
company and be my own, boss build my own. Thing
or was it you just kind of figuring out me
and not me, entering but like moving, along you're doing.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
A lot of. Stuff you're trying to make living all
those things you do in your. Twenties was there a?
VISION i don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
As IF i had a full vision THAT i would
be self employed and on own, company BUT i think
that inside that brain somewhere it aldiately led to. That,
Yeah AND i don't know IF i were ever stopped
until that would have happened with a product of some.
Sort And i'm very fortunate and blessed that it, was.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
You, know take.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Time it was in, Sports, yeah and it was a,
sure we'll take it, break BUT i love. It that's great.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Good so you can probably name a thousand. Products AND
i was just so blessed to read.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Plastics wasn't the Life no read.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Plastics i'm. BLESSED i, Mean i'm GLAD i got that. Job,
OBVIOUSLY i wouldn't be doing What i'm doing today without that.
Job BUT i really did not like that.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Job but that's so much what it's you, know YOU i.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Took you, KNOW i have my children on my own
in their twenties and people here that are younger in
their careers in your twenties for figuring that out. RIGHT i,
mean like what my first radio, JOB i was going
to strip, centers going door to door to the great
clips in seven to eleven and trying to get each
of them to give one hundred dollars so we would
do a van hit from the station. There not, glamorous,
(14:28):
right super fue walking door to, door walking in and
getting yelled at by somebody's cutting somebody's, hair, Right but
you do it, thinking, okay this is going to help
me figure it. Out and you, know you know by
the way you know you, responded you know you're one
of those people extremely blessed doing exactly what you wanted
to do and be involved. In it took you some
time to figure it, out, Right AND i think that
(14:49):
what's Interesting i've, learned AND i Think amanda can contest as,
founders the energy is.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Different you don't work.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Any harder or anything like that than those of us
who worked in big companies and go to the highest.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Levels but you, know there's a different. Sacrifice you, know
you said you're falling asleep at the drafting.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Table AND i would imagine you might have been married
at the, time and you're trying to start a, family
all of those.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Things you.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Know by the, Way i'm working two jobs and trying
to figure it out this modular court business While i'm
doing another.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Job which is. Fascinating one of the. Things i'm gonna
go sidebar for a second.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
HERE i was given a heads up that you were
on pickle ball before anybody was on pickle, ball back
in the, nineties early, nineties maybe the late.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Eighties, yeah every, court from the very first COURT i ever,
built we always would give the family a starter kit of.
EQUIPMENT i had a basketball and, volleyball paddle tennis was
huge back, then and inside that fun pack was six
pickleballs and in our rule. Book in that bag would
(15:55):
be the rules in scoring for, pickleball like same as,
today same as, today and uh no one ever played,
it and would we would show the family all the
sports you can play on a backyard, court which can
can lead up to fifteen different, sports and we would
take the paddle and hit the pickleball and show, them
(16:15):
but no. One it just did not just did not take.
Off and every court we built up to five years,
ago which is in the, thousands every court we built
we painted what's called paddle tennis, lines not pickleball, lines
but paddle. Tennis they're somewhat, similar but they're slightly, different
and we promoted paddle. TENNIS i love to play paddle.
(16:36):
Tennis and then DURING covid twenty twenty one twenty twenty,
TWO i don't with the Baby boomers OR, covid but
pickleball just blew. Up now to this, point every court
we built in a backyard has pickleball lines on. It
we don't, pay we don't.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Paint you had to when that started becoming a. Thing
you had to be sitting there. GOING i was on
this in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Nine, yeah and it still amazes me how much it's
blown up and how many people are signing. Up AND
i see stuff on social media every day about a
city or a group or whomever are building these pickaball,
complexes AND i right NOW i don't see an end to.
(17:19):
IT i just can't believe how how much it's blown.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Up what do you what do you see in its? Future,
like so everything you're building right now includes? It, yes, yes?
Sir and is it when you look at your overall.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
BUSINESS i, mean obviously it's a bigger, percentage but like
is it over is it overcoming basketball or is it
is your marketplace? Growing because maybe where you know somebody
who's an empty nester who wouldn't need a basketball court
or care all of a, sudden like, HEY i wouldn't
mind having a pickleball court in my backyard to play
(17:56):
with friends and all that is like that a thing does?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
That every lead we, get, well LIKE i just got
to lead In oklahoma, yesterday and it specifically says we
would like to build we're building a new, home we're
closing in two, months and we would like to entertain
build in a backyard court for. Basketball and it's always
and pick. Pickleball, yeah, Fascinating but basketball and pickleball are
(18:19):
the two things that when people, call that's what they'd
like to take a look.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
At so, yeah it's it's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Fascinating WHEN i saw, THAT i just kind of chuckled
and like what that must have been, like, thinking you,
KNOW i was talking about this.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Years, ago, right no one, cared and now all of
a sudden it's a.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Thing so talk about growing your, company you know you
you we've talked about your start when it.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Started so how many how many people do you have?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Today we have about twelve, employees?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Okay and then do they do everything from design to?
Construction do you do you bring in outside construction folks
for the build out or is it those twelve do?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Everything the twelve members that we. Have we typically sub
out the concrete on these. Jobs for thirty five, Years
i've looked at maybe buying My bobcats and equipment and
then you, know employers and employees for doing the actual,
construction but it's just never evolved that. Way so we
(19:26):
just sub concrete. Out were our sales reps oversee all.
That they're the supervisors on the, jobs.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Make sure they, okay so they sell it and they supervise, It.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Yes, sir, yeah they sell, it supervise. It and then
we have a gentleman who handles all the the scheduling
of our. Installers so we just start at one, home
build it out and move to the next next.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Home so as, so as a founder of thirty five plus,
years you have twelve teammates with. You because right back
to our soccer, conversation how do you think about that
as a? LEADER i, MEANT i have to imagine bringing
in someone. New you have a very established culture of
how the. EXPECTATION i find it interesting AND i like
(20:14):
it that you, know you sell, it but then you're
also managing it to make sure it's what you sold
to a. Customer but how do you think about culture
and all of that and a company that you founded
from the very beginning and has had long standing.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
SUCCESS I.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I know that every person in our office has always
had a long. Tenure like one of the first persons
that helped me out was my cousin and he was
with me for thirty three years and he just retired last.
(20:53):
Year and he took us huge load off of me
WHEN i would sell, it BECAUSE i used to sell,
him build, him install them and.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Everything so like you were out there like, yeah, sweating
diging move.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
In yeah, yeah because after obviously after you pour concrete
and get everything, installed you have this mess around the
outside of the slab, yep like clumps of clay or
old concrete so. Forth so we were literally going around.
IT i would lily go around each one and use
a pick axe and, rake and you get all that
stuff and give it a, finished finished. Look you. Know
my dad would help as, well which you, know have
(21:30):
a lot to thank, him for. Sure he'd work at
Ger motors second shift and get off at twelve or,
one but sometimes he'd be out help me install as.
Well but and then my wife was an integral part
of making this company grow because she allowed me to
(21:50):
go out and sell and, build and she took over the,
leads the office, work, counting so.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Forth, YEAH i noticed that WHEN i was given a
few notes AND i was doing a little, search like
it seems like there's a correlation between the explosion of
the business and.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Your wife coming.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
In, yeah, yeah because it. Was she laughs today because
when when she came in and took over the, office
all my receipts were in shoe boxes and everything.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Else so do you see the Movie, Dodgeball, yes when
he gets on it the closet and all the.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Boxes, yeah, yeah it's the same with. Me that's.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Hilarious so everybody that works for, me my sales manager
has been with me for twenty eight. Years my secretary
has been twenty. YEARS i just recently had a guy
that was with me for twenty some. Years he handled
all of our indoor commercial. Flooring he just retired last.
Year we our office is laid. BACK i like to
(22:46):
think it. Is everybody in our, office especially the sales.
Reps they almost kind of run their own, company if you,
will inside our, company and they're so responsible and they
do such a great job of, professionalism, design being there
when the concrete is, poured and just overseeing the whole.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Thing, WELL i, mean, LOOK i would imagine the WAY
i think any really strong successful salesperson does run their
account list or. Whatever it's their, business, right and you're
that you or me are there to support and you,
know keep between the, rails so, right, RIGHT i would
have to imagine. THAT i, mean you're talking about some
of the, tenure some of the a lot of the
(23:32):
success and. EXPECTATION i, mean all these really positive. Words
bringing in somebody from the, outside and you have family
infused in there as.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Well it's a lot for you to think.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
About Like i'm inviting you into something we, built, right you,
know you started, it but you built it with family
members and people who were with you for a long,
time tell me about that thought process when someone new
is coming.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
In, WELL i can tell you that a lot of
the people that come in and we don't really have
a full training department or anything like. That so for
someone to come, in we do the best we can
as far as educate him and on hands training and so.
(24:16):
Forth but a lot of times it's you learn by
trial by, error, sure and so they have to learn
really quick and it it's so far as it's turned
out really. WELL I i JUST i don't think there's
anybody that's worked for our company that has gone through the.
(24:39):
Firing well you're, Fortunate, yeah well. So and that's the
reason WHY i look at everybody in our office right,
now and it's we've known each other for long a long.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
TIME i would imagine there's a lot of unspoken communication
that can go. On it's like it's like they and
back to the, team, right you know in a given,
situation how someone's going to, respond what they will do
where you don't even have to think about it and
they're already doing what it is needs to be, done
which is.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Nice but it's.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Interesting as a, founder a lot of the founders bring
in and start talking about, family and you, KNOW i know.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
That you know Doctor harrison at, dentistry he talks about his.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Father and there were there were others who talk about,
that and it's so important because you have to have that.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Support you, know no one succeeds on their own at.
All it's.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Interesting so so thinking about that foundation and that foundation of,
success how do you think about, innovation about what's? Next
because the Way i'm thinking about it is you were on.
Pickleball if you know decades ahead of. TIME i want
to know what you're thinking now is the next, thing
SO i can be way ahead of the curve and
be on top of the next pickle ball or whatever
(25:56):
the thing.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Is so how do you what do you see down the?
Speaker 3 (25:58):
ROAD i think The World cups go to bring in
a lot of. Them they're going to bring in a
lot of soccer. Explosion i'm already seeing a city Of
Flower mount is putting out forbid right now for a
synthetic turf outdoor soccer, field And i'm seeing more and
more of. That we can go ahead and make an
announcement today that we're going to be getting a very
(26:20):
large contract with, university not, university The North Texas World Cup. Committee, nice,
Congratulations and we're gonna be building five mini pitch soccer
courts THROUGHOUT. Dfw one will be In. Arlington what's going
to be one In, Garland but they just changed it
so they're gonna be three In dallas and one in Full.
(26:40):
Worth that's.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Awesome and, uh you won't be out there with the
pick axe with you, No, okay those days are. Over,
No SO i.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Wait we were so excited BECAUSE Fc dallas they referred
us to The North Texas World Cup committee and we
were so. Excited AND i, knew just like you mentioned
my background in, soccer AND i live In arlington and
is going to be in Downtown. Arlington one of the
courts we're going to be building is in. DOWNTOWN i
we got to get this contract and know when there's
other companies out, there and and so we're very fortunate
(27:09):
to work with them and we're gonna be a order
in the courts pretty. Soon so we're really excited about.
That and then about three weeks ago we met With
Southwest airlines and they want to do a mini pitch soccer.
Court we don't know all the details of that yet
it's not a done. Deal but SO i THINK i
think the answer your question already about this NEW i
think soccer has been around for years and, years BUT
(27:31):
i think you're going to see a lot of soccer
facilities opening.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Up interesting a, LOT i. Think and then In, dallas
are you hearing from other host?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Cities do you think THAT i haven't really heard anything
outside of df wh it? COULD i Think, Arlington, uh
you know it's gonna bring in a million people per,
GAME i think, sure or maybe for the whole. Thing
BUT i did last YEAR i built. IT i built
a boche ball court for a, family AND i saw, that,
(28:04):
yes dang it beat me to that that we've done
boche ball courts before for more commercial, facilities and we'll
use a synthetic turf for the composed granted or. Whatever
H this was out of crushed oyster. SHELL. Yep so
we had to call out and we found a company
In atlanta Or, alabama and we found another company on
(28:26):
The east coast and ORDERED i don't know three or
four tons of crushed oyster, shell and that bochiball. Court
after it was all now it was sloped and we
had to do some retaining walls in a city in.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Area the pictures on your, LinkedIn yeah that is, me.
Snoopy that ended up.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Being about a thirty thousand DOLLARS boci ball.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Court so, okay so had you you done one?
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Before we've done them, commercially.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Okay but so you get to one of your sales
guys or you get the phone somehow like, hey and you're, like,
okay not My bengo card, today but see what we can.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Do AND i think, maybe you, know you think about
other sports that are coming. Out you, KNOW i THINK i, go,
well maybe butch you ball might take over pick a ball. Someday,
so uh corner of the market on crushed. Oysters, yeah, yeah,
yeah WELL i.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
SAW i, mean you, know it's interesting because you have
to think about where you where you.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
STARTED i, MEAN i didn't realize, that you, know the
first job you did was the flooring in well in
the kitchen of a hotel to where you are. Now
and so you, know you understand the pivots that come
along in a. BUSINESS i don't know if you saw this,
YESTERDAY a buddy of mine sent it to.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Me shout, Out, cody all birds the. Shoes did you
see this. Announcement my son showed me that.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yesterday, okay so we're going from shoes to AI i
and there's love to have sat in that.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Meeting, yeah AND i think their stock shot up six
or eight one. Day AND i, go my son's Name's.
DAWSON i, Go. Dawson are you sure you're reading that? Right?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
OH i had to read it, twice, yeah BECAUSE i was,
LIKE i don't get, It, like what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Here? Right he, goes, YEAH i saw. THAT i didn't study.
It but then my brother got in the loop and
they were texting back and, forth and so that's. UNBELIEVABLE
i don't.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
So, okay, like let me ask.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
This as a, founder you're always looking at new. THINGS i,
mean the bochy ball thing was a little far, afield
but not too to think about, It, like what's the
craziest thing has ever been brought to?
Speaker 3 (30:19):
You?
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Oh that was, Quick, yeah it'd be.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
GOOD i got a lead In Pilot, Point. Texas and
this one had been back in the nineteen nineties AND
i had built a court for a lady and her
family and they had two ranches up, there and she
(30:44):
called about a year later and, said, HEY i want
you to come to my husband's. Ranch we you, know
we run two different horse. Ranches we want you to
build a court there. Too SO i show up in Pilot, Point,
texas and she meets me outside and showed, me you,
know where they want to build the. Court AND i
stake off the same size court THAT i build her
(31:07):
at that ranch at this new.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Ranch and.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Uh by the TIME i get it all staked, out
here comes her husband coming down from the house down
the hill and AND i introduced, myself and he, said
what do you got? Here AND i, said, well this
is a thirty thirty by seventy basketball, court you, know roller, hockey, paddle,
tennis pick a. Ball he said. Okay he, said, well
what's the biggest you can. BUILD i, said, WELL i
(31:33):
can build a full sized tennis. Court he, Goes i'll
steak that. Out SO i staked out of sixty by one.
Twenty he, goes that's WHAT i. WANT i, said, okay,
Great SO i stake it out and, uh AND i, said,
well let's go inside AND i can work up a.
NUCKER i used to work up a number right there
in their, kitchen sure up on a piece of. Paper
SO i worked up in number and he said that's.
Fine you, know when can you? START i, said, WELL
(31:55):
i can start pretty, quick but we need to design.
It what colors you? Want you, know how do you
you know he's got, KIDS i. SAID i, said, Okay
SO i draw it out on piece of paper AND i, said,
well here's your here's where your tennis lines are going to.
Be and he, goes, WELL i don't want tennis. LINES i,
go you don't want tennis? Lines he said. NO i, said,
well the basketball goes down. Here he, GOES i don't
want a basketball goal. Either i'm going where we headed.
(32:16):
Here he, said, WELL i own two minor league baseball
teams on The East, coast AND i want this court
to look like a baseball, diamond because, wow my boys.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Like to play with. Football, Okay and SO i, said
we we can do.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
That and what we have to do is when you
snap in a, tile you can't make a. Curve so
it was all cinder block. Looking so we did a home,
plate we did, baselines we did the second, base the third.
Base then all the outfield was all one, color and
lo and, behold he. Said mark, said WHEN i want
to learn to play, Tennis i'll call you back and
you can paint tennis. Lines later you can add the. Basketball.
(32:53):
Go he didn't want volleyball. Lines he he wanted to
look like a baseball fi. Fence, yes we put a
ten foot fence with lights and.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Everything oh my, god that's every kid's.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Dream, yes, Yes SO i think that was probably one
of the most unusual Courts i've ever.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Ever you had to been, Going, OKAY i don't know
where this is.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
GOING i had no, idea AND i. GO i told,
HIM i, said his last name Is kerrent k e
or current, said Mister kurran, said if you do, this
you're gonna you're The you're going to have the only
court like this in the in the in the.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Country it's still MAY i drove by.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
There this is back in the. NINETIES i drove back
there probably about five years, ago and, uh Unfortunately Miss
kerrent had passed, away AND i think they had built
a metal barn over the court to use for storage
or whatever the case may, be because the kid's you,
know sure. Grown but that was probably one of the
most you, know different courts that we've ever.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
BUILT i actually thought you were going down the road
that he was doing something that his wife would absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Hate i've got in the middle of a spousal, situation SO.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
I had than WHAT i, had, Right SO i want
to talk about the charitable work you all do with
The Dallas mavericks And Nancy lieberman.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Charities, yes, sir so talk a little bit about. That
in the community impact you guys. HAVE i think that's.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Awesome, well, obviously when you build a, court whether it's
in your backyard or, commercially if you go to any
country club or, school district or city, park all the
courts are painted and paint's been around for years and.
Years this is an acrylic sports. Paint AND i noticed
that The mavericks had painted a court at a nonprofit
(34:30):
group In South. Dallas and this was literally twenty five years.
Ago and SO i knocked on the door BECAUSE i
really wanted to team up with a professional sports. Team you,
know had The rangers in my, backyard we had we
didn't HAVE Fc dallas at the. TIME i don't believe
it might have been The Dallas sidekicks or The Dallas.
Tornadoes and SO i actually got an appointment with The
(34:52):
Dallas Mavericks. FOUNDATION i, said you, know let me do
your next court for. YOU i think you'll be, happy
and they. Agreed and the first court we did was
at a boys And girls club In South dallas And
Steve nash was a donor and we had his, signature you,
know on the, court and there were several other. Sponsors
(35:14):
and from then on we've done at least one quart
a year for the last twenty five, years sometimes. Two
we just completed an indoor gym for THE ymca And
Flyer mount through The Mass, foundation and we're working with
a COURT i did twenty years. Ago it's At Jubilee
park In South. Dallas we're currently working with The Mass
(35:35):
foundation to refurbish that. One we also have done six
or seven mini pitch soccer courts FOR Fc. Dallas we've
also done six ball hockey courts for The Dallas Stars.
Foundation sixteen years, AGO i Met Nancy leeerman In plano
and she wanted to do what it's called dream, court
(35:58):
AND i did the first dream court In frisco sixteen years.
Ago now she's done one hundred and fifty dream courts.
Nationwide we've done fifty of them here IN. Dfw it
just goes on and. ON i used to be a
sponsor for the first three years of an existence of
The Texas legends and THE NBA D league team In. Frisco,
(36:19):
well that's WHERE i Met nancy the first.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Time she was such a great.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Player oh, yeah, yeah amazing for our.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Generation you, know it's kind of like going back and
talking About bird or any of those.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Guys but she could. Play AND i remember even thinking
that she could.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Play yeah, Yeah and she's very Very her, foundation her
Charity workers is. Unbelievable. Yep, WELL i got a call
from production company and it Was Past summer all oh,
wow and he wanted to create A tv show called
The Past Summer All Sports angels and the production company
(36:54):
we picked up parking In uless that we're going to
renovate and we got it all, done and the production company, said,
hey can you call SOME nba players or call some
players out for the. Kids Tony dorsett's son showed, up
Rocket ismael showed, up you, know the mayor Of, ulyss
(37:14):
and they did this big video type. Deal AND i
called To Texas legends and tell them what we're. Doing
and they had a couple of players show up And
Nancy leeberman showed up as. Well so that was really
a cool cool project to be able to do do
there but good well, yeah and then it's just branched.
(37:35):
On uh in the last three. Years i've never done this,
before but three years ago we donated a court to
The Children's Cancer Fund live. Auction Roder strawbacks. Started he
was the and then he passed the baton To Troy,
aikman and Now troy's passing it To Dak.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Prescott oh that's, great and so that's.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
Awesome our, backyard we donated a backyard pick a ball,
court full blown. Construction all it was on the lieboard
and we're there with my family night of the, event
and it just kept going through the roof and finally
it sold for eighty thousand dollars stop. It, yes and
guess who was the highest, Bidder Dak. Prescott that's. Awesome
so we ended up building a court For Dak. Prescott
(38:14):
SO i got a call From Dak prescott's foundation and
they wanted to do one for their, event and we
couldn't financially do it that, year but we did it
the next, year and then we ended up doing one
For make A Wish. Foundation that, year we did one
For Nancy leeberman's charity while she does just Dream ball
(38:35):
every year to raise. Me and then we did one
for we did one for The Cattle Barons ball South.
Ford so here we are were donating all these courts
and then with just, guests was busy and that was
something that we were pretty proud of because my. Niece
my niece was actually in children's cancer. Fund do they
(38:57):
do a catwalk Where dillard's or somebody will do that
and they ask a pilot Or Troy yitman or someone
to actually walk them down the. Catwalk and my niece
when she was twelve got, Cancer so when they asked
me to do, THIS i kind of had a tie
to that because of the. History but that was a
lot of fun doing those courts and so. Forth BUT
(39:20):
i think our partnerships with The MAVs Nancy LEEVERMAN Fc
dallas did Our. Stars we have a few other partnerships
that lasted five and six. Years the conference, essay they
used to have a fan jam at The Ford center
at The star and we'd set up six or seven
basketball courts. Outside we just finished building a court For
(39:43):
Isaiah hartenstein or The Oklahoma City thunder and it's part
of his foundation and it was donated to A boys
And girls club in east Of Oklahoma. City we just
had the ribbon cutting like two months.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Ago that's. Awesome.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
Yeah and we have a court that we built up In, Bartsville,
oklahoma and it was with The boys And Girls. Club
it was a dream court Through Nancy. Lieberman well now
we're doing another one for another boys And girls club
up there as. Well so that's that's been something we've
really enjoyed doing and that's given back to the community
through a product and labor and and and n.
Speaker 1 (40:19):
Of it is, kids oh for.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Sure so.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
To recap.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Get the courage to start your own, company built it with,
family something that you, love, charity built, in sustained, success
all these things highly highly, commended an amazing.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Story when you.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Think about as A ceo, founder can you think of
a moment where you were like this is really hard
and how you came through, it because everybody has those.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
Moments, YEAH i think it would be it WOULD i
think it would be probably the construction side of, It,
yeah because you're going in to we have a commercial
side of our, company but still sixty to sixty five
percent is still residential and there's a lot of things
(41:11):
that you have to think about when you go into
somebody's backyard and basically you're just tearing it.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Up, ye it's pretty.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Personal, yes, yeah SO i THINK i think that is
probably the most challenging part is to make sure that
all your eyes or dotting your teaser. Crossed you, know
you've got to work with the, cities the hoas and
things of that. NATURE i think that is the one
that you really you, know, obviously as you build more,
confidence you you build confidence in the family knowing that
(41:39):
they know what you're, doing and so forth the. Team. Yeah,
Yeah so when you think about Next, court there's a
there's a QUESTION i like to ask all of our
founders and.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
CEOs and you, know there are moments in every company
where there's a big seismic.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Moment oh that's, amazing but we all know that it
don't happen every day and all.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
That but what would you say as you think about
Next court and what you've built and your family is,
built is THE i see you win in the, cracks
in the gray. Spaces it's the things that make you.
Different it's the things you do every, day the foundational
things about Next? Court what do you how do you
think about that as the founder AND ceo and your,
company what is it that you all do or you
(42:26):
think that you do as a company that is a differentiator.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
THERE i think.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
That when we work with an organization or group or,
family that we give them what they've asked for and.
More AND i think that that when you complete the,
project whether it's For boys And Girls club or for
the y m C a or for a family in their,
backyard it's that while factor that the kids get when
(42:57):
they walk out in their backyard see what their parents
have done for. Them AND i THINK i love making
the family proud because they're doing it for their. Kids
SO i think that's the biggest thing is we do
what we're supposed to. Do we go beyond, that but
(43:19):
we love making the parents. Proud then when when we
finish the court and they see their kids out, there
plan and so, forth it's pretty pretty.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
Amazing it's understanding that invitation into someone's life and then
delivering on the promise and then some. RIGHT i, MEAN
i can see the pride you take and just hearing
you describe. That so ten thousand plus courts in you're
someone an, entrepreneur someone in starting their company should probably
listen to you might know a thing or. Two what
(43:49):
would be one thing you would tell someone who's starting
getting ready to start a company, TODAY.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
I would, say ask a lot of, questions do your.
Homework there's a lot of things out there that you.
Know obviously we tend, to you, know we tend to
once we come to an agreement with a family on
a design and a, price if they want that little
(44:17):
extra deal or if it's something we forgot to do or.
WHATEVER i don't like going and asking for more. MONEY
i don't Like Nicholin diamond people that we usually will
foot the bill and, go you, know like say go
that extra mile to do, that because we even Though
i've gone, everywhere you, know when you go back to
(44:39):
look at different ways we used to advertise before the.
Internet always laugh with some of my buddy you, KNOW
i used to run as in The Green sheet and,
so and now it's so much harder to advertise because
you have still have those direct mail pieces the magazine.
Algy you have social media and it's, gotten BUT i
have to.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Started it's easier to advertise with iHeart, right, yes you're
on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Right, yeah thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Enhouncement mark BUT, i, YEAH.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
I can't remember that.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Question all.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
Right SO i have grilled you on all that you've
done with next, court AND i promised YOU i would
go way far a field on a question and our last,
question soccer has been woven throughout this.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Conversation how is THE us going to do in The World?
Cup and who do you think is winning the whole?
Speaker 3 (45:26):
Thing i'll be written for us a great. CALL i
think their first team is Against. PARAWAY i Think i'm
not for.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
SURE i don't know IF i.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Pronounced her, Right.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
I'll go with.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
YOU I i'd have to study a little bit. More you,
know you have your Your, germany's your Your, Mexico, Cindy,
brazil so. Forth BUT i really haven't studied. It, okay fair,
(46:05):
Enough if if if if you was to, say just
pick a, TEAM i WOULD i would just Say. Brazil.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Okay Then i'm Gonna i'm gonna do a follow, up
who's your favorite player all? Time as a soccer.
Speaker 3 (46:17):
Well as growing up as a kid in the seventies
and eighties Watching Dallas tornadoes and you, know we used
to watch the show Called Soccer locker and things of that.
Nature you, KNOW i think back then would be Pay.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Pal, yeah SO.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
I just you, know you hit on something. Earlier but
to get me on a soccer field, TODAY i would
probably look foreign because we did so much different back
then the way kids are doing it. NOW i mean
there's so much more professional and handle the balls and so.
Forth but uh.
Speaker 1 (46:49):
Oh, YEAH i MEAN i it WHEN i saw that
in your in your.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Notes you, know thinking about playing soccer In texas in
the seventies and eighties was very very much a unicorn type.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
Thing when you really think about it and see where
it is, now it is. AMAZING i knew.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Playing as a. Kid we did not play on. Grass
it was usually a dirt field or something like, that.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
And then you ran to a garden hose for your.
Speaker 3 (47:16):
Dream, YES i can remember snow being on the ground
and all the parents were lined up around the field
in their. Cars they would not get out and. Watch
they were in their. Cars and if we scored a,
goal everybody home the, cards flash their lights or whatever
the case.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Make that's.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Awesome Well, mark thanks for joining us. Today this is
a great. Story congratulations on your. SUCCESS i have a
million more, questions But amanda has given me a dirty
look that we've got to wrap it up So, mark
thanks for joining us and we hope to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (47:47):
Soon, well thank you very, Much.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
CHRIS i appreciate, it absolutely
This is CEOs you should Know, with the Dallas market
president of iHeartMedia, Chris Long.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I want to welcome everyone to another episode of CEOs
you should know. My name is Chris Long. I'm Dallas
market president for iHeartMedia. I'm here with my new friend
Mark Condyseck correct founder president of Next.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Court Mark Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you, Chris.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It's good to have you here. All right, So we're
going to get started.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I gave Mark a little bit of a head start,
you know, in past episodes we've done first concert.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Mark is going to be a little bit of a guinea.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Pig here for us because you know, with iHeartMedia being
the massive audio platform that it is, radio stations across
one hundred and sixty markets, podcasting, streaming, everything you can
think of audio, I feel like I need to ask
you some very audiocentric questions and because I like to
know a little bit about people from their past, to
(01:00):
do a rapid fire on some questions. So I hope
you're ready. This is the first time we've done this.
We're changing up the format a little bit, so I'm
gonna shoot three or four questions at you, and I
just need quick answers don't think about it, all right?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Teenage music Crush the Cars, The Cars artist poster on
your bedroom.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Wall, Kiss Kiss excellent. I really wouldn't expected anything. I
would have been disappointed. Band T shirt you owned.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Ted Nugent the Nude excellent? All right.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Song that makes you roll down your windows? Van Halen anything,
Van Halen Anything, Van van Halen, Van Hagar original original,
I'm a Sammy Hagar guy.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
You're okay, fine. I don't want to go to.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
The concept of rolling your windows down and saying, you know,
I can't drive fifty five so fair enough, and you're.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Saying Panama, Yeah, okay, can we can? We can stop there?
And then last thing because of what next court does. Well,
it's not baseball, it could be and we'll get into that.
What would be your walkout song if you were playing baseball?
I don't not have to go with something country. They
don't pick a lot of country. I'd probably have to
(02:21):
go with a George Strait song something like that. Okay, Now,
is this as a hitter or would you be coming
in as a reliever a hitter?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I saw something on Instagram the day Mason Miller, the
reliever for the padres.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
My god, I can't remember what the song was, but
they should like the light show and the whole dale.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And I was like, man, could you imagine what that'd
be like some six' sixth dude walking in who can
throw you, know.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
One hundred and five or whatever he's throwing with that? Plan? Right, so,
anyway so we've completely gotten off.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Track SO i guess it's my, Job, amanda to bring
us back, together right, yeah kind of, Okay So mark
was kind enough to join, us And, MARK i love
your story and it's. Funny amna was telling us to
shut up earlier when we were talking because it wasn't,
recording but we were talking about how you grew up
here In dallas and you were a soccer player in
(03:11):
high school and that took you To Texas.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Tech correct talk a little bit about.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
That, WELL i mean it's just as a, kid probably
in nineteen sixty, nine you, know you were introduced to a. Sport,
yeah you, know you had, baseball, football, track and it's
just one of those things that ONCE i started playing,
SOCCER i didn't really look at any other. SPORT i
was just having so much. Fun some, people for some,
(03:36):
people including, me thinking, Well it wasn't a lot of thought.
Process you just run and kick the ball and you,
know so, forth and just enjoyed that all the way
through high. School of, course back then there were no.
CONTRACTS i think in high school we had six games
a year and that was. It six six and that's.
It there were only three.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
High school four tractors like four. Months. Yeah, yeah it's
not like today where it's three sixty.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Five never had a soccer. Coach there was always a
football coach that Said i've been told to teach you,
guys you, know and they would, saying we don't know
a lot about, soccer but we can definitely get you in. Shape,
yeah and they. Did and THEN i AFTER i got
out of high, SCHOOL i really wanted to try to
play soccer in college AND i was looking At North
Texas State university and my brother was already At Texas.
(04:21):
Tech so my parents encouraged me to go out there
and try, out AND i did and made the team
and a lot of fun totally kept me in. Shape
and uh so they're.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Exciting SO i love to talk about that BECAUSE i
want to ask your, opinions and we'll talk about this throughout.
Conversation but the team aspect and the commitment aspect and
all of.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
That you learn in.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
SPORTS i, feel especially for you as a founder building a,
company it. Applies don't you think of me in terms
of especially as you get older?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Obviously and, YEAH i think.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So. Obviously we grew up as my dad worked At General,
motors so we had a group of kids in my
neighborhood with all of our dads worked at, gyms so
we're considered the gym, dads and those are the group
of KIDS i ran around with that we started playing
soccer with early. On we literally played soccer together from you,
know nineteen seventy all the way through nineteen eighty five
(05:18):
through nineteen eighty through high, school and so there was
a lot be said about. Teamwork and once you play
with a person or individuals for so, long you learn
their body, movements their habits and you start to thrive
together and how to, communicate how to communicate and so.
Forth correct, Interesting so you went to, tech, yes, sir
(05:40):
plaid soccer, graduated would you agree in general business?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Management, okay you said something about taking a botany class
when we were talking.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
EARLIER i want to make sure there's not something really.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Deep, See now that's just one of those force fields
WHERE i was kind of late in the game getting
readistered for college and they told me to go, register
and back then thing was in, pencil you, know and
there wasn't a lot of classes left open BECAUSE i
registered so, late and botany was one of the ONES
i took for some odd, REASON i don't know. Why
but and then it stayed with. It you, KNOW gpa
(06:15):
wasn't too good the first.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Semester but, YEAH i, mean look the bad minton and
geology THAT i Took Universe sussary really had nothing to
do with it WHAT i ended up.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Doing, Right, well we all have, those.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Right so you graduated and thinking about towards the end of,
college you, know and we talked a little bit earlier
about you, know you're trying to figure, out especially at that,
time what you're going to.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Do it was a different time and how you went
about getting a.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Job and you, know everybody didn't have internships back. Then
like if you had an, internship it was this kind
of oh you're doing what and.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
So what were you thinking about?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Doing you, know you had a general, degree you, know
which is kind of the way it was that did
you know you wanted to get into, construction which lad
you down this.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Path Or i've always enjoyed the outdoors in. Construction my
very first, JOB i THINK i was fifteen years. Old
it was a friend of my dad who used to
do carpentry. Work AND i was, says hey, boy hey,
boy go do, this hey.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Boy go do, that and everybody needs one of.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
That, yeah, yeah and just watched, him you, know do
the carpentry work that would. Work was at a. Church
and so ONCE i got to, college the first THING
i did WAS i go out and start knocking on
doors with construction, companies you, know building apartments or. Whatever
and ended up working in construction and love. It you,
(07:32):
know try to get in twenty hours a, week, sure
AND i was making five dollars an, hour so one
hundred dollars a week back then went a long. Ways,
Yeah and So i've always been outside working, construction and
it just it's spilled over it every summer AND i
ALWAYS i don't know if this is the generation back
then now and maybe, now but my boys laugh at
(07:55):
me every day because we literally wrote down every JOB
i had from age fifteen UNTIL i started building courts
full time and it's almost thirty. Jobs really. Everything they
give me a hard, time but it was the way
it was. THOUGH i think it.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Was.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
YEAH i MEAN i worked at A jeene store in
the mall and painted. Houses. Yeah also was a lifeguard
at the water. Slide greatest job. Ever he was a
sixteen year.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Old BUT i.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Digress so you had a lot of.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Experience you obviously had an affinity towards construction and that whole.
Field so you Founded Next court in nineteen ninety. One
you're a few years.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Out of, college, Right take us through? Lake did you?
Know was it an aha?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Moment?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Thing was it am to see what?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
HAPPENS i Think i've always been intrigued to look for
something to attach. TO i, know in college there was
a company In North dallas Called North American, sound AND
i was living college AND i literally had business cards
made BECAUSE i talked to the. Guy he built these
speakers out of his, home AND i had bought a
pair of for In, arlington AND i had made some
(09:02):
business cards and tried to sell speakers in love it
WHILE i was going to. College. Uh and then you,
know just different things like. That and my first job
out of college was working for a Company Grand prairie
Called Read, plastics And Read plastics was a. Colorhouse they
made color. Concentrate anything plastic in this room right, now
if it's got color to, it you need a color
(09:23):
concentrate when you mold or manufacture the. Product AND i
had worked there about a year AND i noticed some
interlocking these modular tiles in my sales manager's. Office and
SO i got the chemist that they had an in house,
chemist plastic, chemist AND i had him help me write
a letter BECAUSE i mailed a letter to the corporate.
(09:46):
Headquarters what mailed a?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Letter, yes you mean you went and got a stamp
and you put it on the, Amox, yes, sir, yeah
so much working ye and lo and behold back then
the company fortunately was family owned and they were an
up and coming.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Company and they sent me a letter back said, yes
for two hundred fifty, dollars we'll send you a dealer.
Kit SO i mailed them to, fifty got a dealer,
kit and just started now two fifty back, then just starting.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Right that was a big. Swing.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yep that would have been in nineteen eighty, eight, nineteen
around nineteen eighty. Eight, Yeah so, okay so go, ahead well,
YEAH i got a dealer kit and my first sell
was a hotel In arlington because they had different types
of tiles for different, applications and ONE i was kind
of drawn to was the anti fatigue matting the pool,
decks the bathrooms and, showers locker. Rooms so my first
(10:39):
job was at a hotel In. ARRINGTON i did this
matting behind the kitchen where all the cooks were and.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Stuff oh so it wasn't a.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Court it wasn't not a.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Court, Okay, yeah And.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I've got the check stable to my walle in office right.
NOW i want to. Say it was three hundred and
sixty bucks my first, sell and you know.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It took a year, year one hundred and.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Ten.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Good there you, go.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Exactly so it wasn't until nineteen eighty nine THAT i
learned about the backyard game court, business which was a
byproduct of the modular, tile and went and interviewed with
a guy In, Austin texas played basketball AT ut and
his partner also played basketball AT. Ut they had answered
(11:23):
an ad And Sports illustrated or somewhere that this company
was running about hiring people to build backyard. Courts, okay
SO i got a call from Him Greg dettman and
his partner Was Vic, sanchez and they, said, hey we
just got the five state. Area we understand you're involved
with the. Tiles and they called me down and interviewed,
me and he, said, hey you, know we love what
(11:45):
you're doing and we want to bring you on. Board
SO i became a dealer.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Underneath so you Left Read.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Plastic, yeah so you did the first job you did
while you were at Read plastic, correct, correct so and that,
okay got?
Speaker 1 (11:59):
It, yeah so you're now yem a.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Dealer and start doing home and garden, shows which was
a lot of fun and working in a lot of.
HOURS i ended up taking a job In dallas WHILE
i was trying to get this off the, ground selling
sports equipment For. Gymnasiums porter is a big brand volleyball poll.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Attacks.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, YEAH i learned a lot too that. Way and
then EVENTUALLY i JUST i WOULD i would work till you,
know twelve or one in the morning doing the backyard court,
stuff and then have to get up and be at
work at eight the next. Day and EVENTUALLY i caught
myself dozing off at the draft table or whatever the
case may, be and finally put in my two week,
(12:39):
notice AND i think around nineteen ninety or ninety ONE
i started doing backyard game courts full.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Time so in all of, this, like did you know you're,
like at some POINT i want to start my own
company and be my own, boss build my own. Thing
or was it you just kind of figuring out me
and not me, entering but like moving, along you're doing.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
A lot of. Stuff you're trying to make living all
those things you do in your. Twenties was there a?
VISION i don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
As IF i had a full vision THAT i would
be self employed and on own, company BUT i think
that inside that brain somewhere it aldiately led to. That,
Yeah AND i don't know IF i were ever stopped
until that would have happened with a product of some.
Sort And i'm very fortunate and blessed that it, was.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
You, know take.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Time it was in, Sports, yeah and it was a,
sure we'll take it, break BUT i love. It that's great.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Good so you can probably name a thousand. Products AND
i was just so blessed to read.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Plastics wasn't the Life no read.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Plastics i'm. BLESSED i, Mean i'm GLAD i got that. Job,
OBVIOUSLY i wouldn't be doing What i'm doing today without that.
Job BUT i really did not like that.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Job but that's so much what it's you, know YOU i.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Took you, KNOW i have my children on my own
in their twenties and people here that are younger in
their careers in your twenties for figuring that out. RIGHT i,
mean like what my first radio, JOB i was going
to strip, centers going door to door to the great
clips in seven to eleven and trying to get each
of them to give one hundred dollars so we would
do a van hit from the station. There not, glamorous,
(14:28):
right super fue walking door to, door walking in and
getting yelled at by somebody's cutting somebody's, hair, Right but
you do it, thinking, okay this is going to help
me figure it. Out and you, know you know by
the way you know you, responded you know you're one
of those people extremely blessed doing exactly what you wanted
to do and be involved. In it took you some
time to figure it, out, Right AND i think that
(14:49):
what's Interesting i've, learned AND i Think amanda can contest as,
founders the energy is.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Different you don't work.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Any harder or anything like that than those of us
who worked in big companies and go to the highest.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Levels but you, know there's a different. Sacrifice you, know
you said you're falling asleep at the drafting.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Table AND i would imagine you might have been married
at the, time and you're trying to start a, family
all of those.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Things you.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Know by the, Way i'm working two jobs and trying
to figure it out this modular court business While i'm
doing another.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Job which is. Fascinating one of the. Things i'm gonna
go sidebar for a second.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
HERE i was given a heads up that you were
on pickle ball before anybody was on pickle, ball back
in the, nineties early, nineties maybe the late.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Eighties, yeah every, court from the very first COURT i ever,
built we always would give the family a starter kit of.
EQUIPMENT i had a basketball and, volleyball paddle tennis was
huge back, then and inside that fun pack was six
pickleballs and in our rule. Book in that bag would
(15:55):
be the rules in scoring for, pickleball like same as,
today same as, today and uh no one ever played,
it and would we would show the family all the
sports you can play on a backyard, court which can
can lead up to fifteen different, sports and we would
take the paddle and hit the pickleball and show, them
(16:15):
but no. One it just did not just did not take.
Off and every court we built up to five years,
ago which is in the, thousands every court we built
we painted what's called paddle tennis, lines not pickleball, lines
but paddle. Tennis they're somewhat, similar but they're slightly, different
and we promoted paddle. TENNIS i love to play paddle.
(16:36):
Tennis and then DURING covid twenty twenty one twenty twenty,
TWO i don't with the Baby boomers OR, covid but
pickleball just blew. Up now to this, point every court
we built in a backyard has pickleball lines on. It
we don't, pay we don't.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Paint you had to when that started becoming a. Thing
you had to be sitting there. GOING i was on
this in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Nine, yeah and it still amazes me how much it's
blown up and how many people are signing. Up AND
i see stuff on social media every day about a
city or a group or whomever are building these pickaball,
complexes AND i right NOW i don't see an end to.
(17:19):
IT i just can't believe how how much it's blown.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Up what do you what do you see in its? Future,
like so everything you're building right now includes? It, yes, yes?
Sir and is it when you look at your overall.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
BUSINESS i, mean obviously it's a bigger, percentage but like
is it over is it overcoming basketball or is it
is your marketplace? Growing because maybe where you know somebody
who's an empty nester who wouldn't need a basketball court
or care all of a, sudden like, HEY i wouldn't
mind having a pickleball court in my backyard to play
(17:56):
with friends and all that is like that a thing does?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
That every lead we, get, well LIKE i just got
to lead In oklahoma, yesterday and it specifically says we
would like to build we're building a new, home we're
closing in two, months and we would like to entertain
build in a backyard court for. Basketball and it's always
and pick. Pickleball, yeah, Fascinating but basketball and pickleball are
(18:19):
the two things that when people, call that's what they'd
like to take a look.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
At so, yeah it's it's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Fascinating WHEN i saw, THAT i just kind of chuckled
and like what that must have been, like, thinking you,
KNOW i was talking about this.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Years, ago, right no one, cared and now all of
a sudden it's a.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Thing so talk about growing your, company you know you
you we've talked about your start when it.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Started so how many how many people do you have?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Today we have about twelve, employees?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Okay and then do they do everything from design to?
Construction do you do you bring in outside construction folks
for the build out or is it those twelve do?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Everything the twelve members that we. Have we typically sub
out the concrete on these. Jobs for thirty five, Years
i've looked at maybe buying My bobcats and equipment and
then you, know employers and employees for doing the actual,
construction but it's just never evolved that. Way so we
(19:26):
just sub concrete. Out were our sales reps oversee all.
That they're the supervisors on the, jobs.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Make sure they, okay so they sell it and they supervise, It.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Yes, sir, yeah they sell, it supervise. It and then
we have a gentleman who handles all the the scheduling
of our. Installers so we just start at one, home
build it out and move to the next next.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Home so as, so as a founder of thirty five plus,
years you have twelve teammates with. You because right back
to our soccer, conversation how do you think about that
as a? LEADER i, MEANT i have to imagine bringing
in someone. New you have a very established culture of
how the. EXPECTATION i find it interesting AND i like
(20:14):
it that you, know you sell, it but then you're
also managing it to make sure it's what you sold
to a. Customer but how do you think about culture
and all of that and a company that you founded
from the very beginning and has had long standing.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
SUCCESS I.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I know that every person in our office has always
had a long. Tenure like one of the first persons
that helped me out was my cousin and he was
with me for thirty three years and he just retired last.
(20:53):
Year and he took us huge load off of me
WHEN i would sell, it BECAUSE i used to sell,
him build, him install them and.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Everything so like you were out there like, yeah, sweating
diging move.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
In yeah, yeah because after obviously after you pour concrete
and get everything, installed you have this mess around the
outside of the slab, yep like clumps of clay or
old concrete so. Forth so we were literally going around.
IT i would lily go around each one and use
a pick axe and, rake and you get all that
stuff and give it a, finished finished. Look you. Know
my dad would help as, well which you, know have
(21:30):
a lot to thank, him for. Sure he'd work at
Ger motors second shift and get off at twelve or,
one but sometimes he'd be out help me install as.
Well but and then my wife was an integral part
of making this company grow because she allowed me to
(21:50):
go out and sell and, build and she took over the,
leads the office, work, counting so.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Forth, YEAH i noticed that WHEN i was given a
few notes AND i was doing a little, search like
it seems like there's a correlation between the explosion of
the business and.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Your wife coming.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
In, yeah, yeah because it. Was she laughs today because
when when she came in and took over the, office
all my receipts were in shoe boxes and everything.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Else so do you see the Movie, Dodgeball, yes when
he gets on it the closet and all the.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Boxes, yeah, yeah it's the same with. Me that's.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Hilarious so everybody that works for, me my sales manager
has been with me for twenty eight. Years my secretary
has been twenty. YEARS i just recently had a guy
that was with me for twenty some. Years he handled
all of our indoor commercial. Flooring he just retired last.
Year we our office is laid. BACK i like to
(22:46):
think it. Is everybody in our, office especially the sales.
Reps they almost kind of run their own, company if you,
will inside our, company and they're so responsible and they
do such a great job of, professionalism, design being there
when the concrete is, poured and just overseeing the whole.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Thing, WELL i, mean, LOOK i would imagine the WAY
i think any really strong successful salesperson does run their
account list or. Whatever it's their, business, right and you're
that you or me are there to support and you,
know keep between the, rails so, right, RIGHT i would
have to imagine. THAT i, mean you're talking about some
of the, tenure some of the a lot of the
(23:32):
success and. EXPECTATION i, mean all these really positive. Words
bringing in somebody from the, outside and you have family
infused in there as.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Well it's a lot for you to think.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
About Like i'm inviting you into something we, built, right you,
know you started, it but you built it with family
members and people who were with you for a long,
time tell me about that thought process when someone new
is coming.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
In, WELL i can tell you that a lot of
the people that come in and we don't really have
a full training department or anything like. That so for
someone to come, in we do the best we can
as far as educate him and on hands training and so.
(24:16):
Forth but a lot of times it's you learn by
trial by, error, sure and so they have to learn
really quick and it it's so far as it's turned
out really. WELL I i JUST i don't think there's
anybody that's worked for our company that has gone through the.
(24:39):
Firing well you're, Fortunate, yeah well. So and that's the
reason WHY i look at everybody in our office right,
now and it's we've known each other for long a long.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
TIME i would imagine there's a lot of unspoken communication
that can go. On it's like it's like they and
back to the, team, right you know in a given,
situation how someone's going to, respond what they will do
where you don't even have to think about it and
they're already doing what it is needs to be, done
which is.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Nice but it's.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Interesting as a, founder a lot of the founders bring
in and start talking about, family and you, KNOW i know.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
That you know Doctor harrison at, dentistry he talks about his.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Father and there were there were others who talk about,
that and it's so important because you have to have that.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Support you, know no one succeeds on their own at.
All it's.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Interesting so so thinking about that foundation and that foundation of,
success how do you think about, innovation about what's? Next
because the Way i'm thinking about it is you were on.
Pickleball if you know decades ahead of. TIME i want
to know what you're thinking now is the next, thing
SO i can be way ahead of the curve and
be on top of the next pickle ball or whatever
(25:56):
the thing.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Is so how do you what do you see down the?
Speaker 3 (25:58):
ROAD i think The World cups go to bring in
a lot of. Them they're going to bring in a
lot of soccer. Explosion i'm already seeing a city Of
Flower mount is putting out forbid right now for a
synthetic turf outdoor soccer, field And i'm seeing more and
more of. That we can go ahead and make an
announcement today that we're going to be getting a very
(26:20):
large contract with, university not, university The North Texas World Cup. Committee, nice,
Congratulations and we're gonna be building five mini pitch soccer
courts THROUGHOUT. Dfw one will be In. Arlington what's going
to be one In, Garland but they just changed it
so they're gonna be three In dallas and one in Full.
(26:40):
Worth that's.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Awesome and, uh you won't be out there with the
pick axe with you, No, okay those days are. Over,
No SO i.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Wait we were so excited BECAUSE Fc dallas they referred
us to The North Texas World Cup committee and we
were so. Excited AND i, knew just like you mentioned
my background in, soccer AND i live In arlington and
is going to be in Downtown. Arlington one of the
courts we're going to be building is in. DOWNTOWN i
we got to get this contract and know when there's
other companies out, there and and so we're very fortunate
(27:09):
to work with them and we're gonna be a order
in the courts pretty. Soon so we're really excited about.
That and then about three weeks ago we met With
Southwest airlines and they want to do a mini pitch soccer.
Court we don't know all the details of that yet
it's not a done. Deal but SO i THINK i
think the answer your question already about this NEW i
think soccer has been around for years and, years BUT
(27:31):
i think you're going to see a lot of soccer
facilities opening.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Up interesting a, LOT i. Think and then In, dallas
are you hearing from other host?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Cities do you think THAT i haven't really heard anything
outside of df wh it? COULD i Think, Arlington, uh
you know it's gonna bring in a million people per,
GAME i think, sure or maybe for the whole. Thing
BUT i did last YEAR i built. IT i built
a boche ball court for a, family AND i saw, that,
(28:04):
yes dang it beat me to that that we've done
boche ball courts before for more commercial, facilities and we'll
use a synthetic turf for the composed granted or. Whatever
H this was out of crushed oyster. SHELL. Yep so
we had to call out and we found a company
In atlanta Or, alabama and we found another company on
(28:26):
The east coast and ORDERED i don't know three or
four tons of crushed oyster, shell and that bochiball. Court
after it was all now it was sloped and we
had to do some retaining walls in a city in.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Area the pictures on your, LinkedIn yeah that is, me.
Snoopy that ended up.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Being about a thirty thousand DOLLARS boci ball.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Court so, okay so had you you done one?
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Before we've done them, commercially.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Okay but so you get to one of your sales
guys or you get the phone somehow like, hey and you're, like,
okay not My bengo card, today but see what we can.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Do AND i think, maybe you, know you think about
other sports that are coming. Out you, KNOW i THINK i, go,
well maybe butch you ball might take over pick a ball. Someday,
so uh corner of the market on crushed. Oysters, yeah, yeah,
yeah WELL i.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
SAW i, mean you, know it's interesting because you have
to think about where you where you.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
STARTED i, MEAN i didn't realize, that you, know the
first job you did was the flooring in well in
the kitchen of a hotel to where you are. Now
and so you, know you understand the pivots that come
along in a. BUSINESS i don't know if you saw this,
YESTERDAY a buddy of mine sent it to.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Me shout, Out, cody all birds the. Shoes did you
see this. Announcement my son showed me that.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yesterday, okay so we're going from shoes to AI i
and there's love to have sat in that.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Meeting, yeah AND i think their stock shot up six
or eight one. Day AND i, go my son's Name's.
DAWSON i, Go. Dawson are you sure you're reading that? Right?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
OH i had to read it, twice, yeah BECAUSE i was,
LIKE i don't get, It, like what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Here? Right he, goes, YEAH i saw. THAT i didn't study.
It but then my brother got in the loop and
they were texting back and, forth and so that's. UNBELIEVABLE
i don't.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
So, okay, like let me ask.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
This as a, founder you're always looking at new. THINGS i,
mean the bochy ball thing was a little far, afield
but not too to think about, It, like what's the
craziest thing has ever been brought to?
Speaker 3 (30:19):
You?
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Oh that was, Quick, yeah it'd be.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
GOOD i got a lead In Pilot, Point. Texas and
this one had been back in the nineteen nineties AND
i had built a court for a lady and her
family and they had two ranches up, there and she
(30:44):
called about a year later and, said, HEY i want
you to come to my husband's. Ranch we you, know
we run two different horse. Ranches we want you to
build a court there. Too SO i show up in Pilot, Point,
texas and she meets me outside and showed, me you,
know where they want to build the. Court AND i
stake off the same size court THAT i build her
(31:07):
at that ranch at this new.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Ranch and.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Uh by the TIME i get it all staked, out
here comes her husband coming down from the house down
the hill and AND i introduced, myself and he, said
what do you got? Here AND i, said, well this
is a thirty thirty by seventy basketball, court you, know roller, hockey, paddle,
tennis pick a. Ball he said. Okay he, said, well
what's the biggest you can. BUILD i, said, WELL i
(31:33):
can build a full sized tennis. Court he, Goes i'll
steak that. Out SO i staked out of sixty by one.
Twenty he, goes that's WHAT i. WANT i, said, okay,
Great SO i stake it out and, uh AND i, said,
well let's go inside AND i can work up a.
NUCKER i used to work up a number right there
in their, kitchen sure up on a piece of. Paper
SO i worked up in number and he said that's.
Fine you, know when can you? START i, said, WELL
(31:55):
i can start pretty, quick but we need to design.
It what colors you? Want you, know how do you
you know he's got, KIDS i. SAID i, said, Okay
SO i draw it out on piece of paper AND i, said,
well here's your here's where your tennis lines are going to.
Be and he, goes, WELL i don't want tennis. LINES i,
go you don't want tennis? Lines he said. NO i, said,
well the basketball goes down. Here he, GOES i don't
want a basketball goal. Either i'm going where we headed.
(32:16):
Here he, said, WELL i own two minor league baseball
teams on The East, coast AND i want this court
to look like a baseball, diamond because, wow my boys.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Like to play with. Football, Okay and SO i, said
we we can do.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
That and what we have to do is when you
snap in a, tile you can't make a. Curve so
it was all cinder block. Looking so we did a home,
plate we did, baselines we did the second, base the third.
Base then all the outfield was all one, color and
lo and, behold he. Said mark, said WHEN i want
to learn to play, Tennis i'll call you back and
you can paint tennis. Lines later you can add the. Basketball.
(32:53):
Go he didn't want volleyball. Lines he he wanted to
look like a baseball fi. Fence, yes we put a
ten foot fence with lights and.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Everything oh my, god that's every kid's.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Dream, yes, Yes SO i think that was probably one
of the most unusual Courts i've ever.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Ever you had to been, Going, OKAY i don't know
where this is.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
GOING i had no, idea AND i. GO i told,
HIM i, said his last name Is kerrent k e
or current, said Mister kurran, said if you do, this
you're gonna you're The you're going to have the only
court like this in the in the in the.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Country it's still MAY i drove by.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
There this is back in the. NINETIES i drove back
there probably about five years, ago and, uh Unfortunately Miss
kerrent had passed, away AND i think they had built
a metal barn over the court to use for storage
or whatever the case may, be because the kid's you,
know sure. Grown but that was probably one of the
most you, know different courts that we've ever.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
BUILT i actually thought you were going down the road
that he was doing something that his wife would absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Hate i've got in the middle of a spousal, situation SO.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
I had than WHAT i, had, Right SO i want
to talk about the charitable work you all do with
The Dallas mavericks And Nancy lieberman.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Charities, yes, sir so talk a little bit about. That
in the community impact you guys. HAVE i think that's.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Awesome, well, obviously when you build a, court whether it's
in your backyard or, commercially if you go to any
country club or, school district or city, park all the
courts are painted and paint's been around for years and.
Years this is an acrylic sports. Paint AND i noticed
that The mavericks had painted a court at a nonprofit
(34:30):
group In South. Dallas and this was literally twenty five years.
Ago and SO i knocked on the door BECAUSE i
really wanted to team up with a professional sports. Team you,
know had The rangers in my, backyard we had we
didn't HAVE Fc dallas at the. TIME i don't believe
it might have been The Dallas sidekicks or The Dallas.
Tornadoes and SO i actually got an appointment with The
(34:52):
Dallas Mavericks. FOUNDATION i, said you, know let me do
your next court for. YOU i think you'll be, happy
and they. Agreed and the first court we did was
at a boys And girls club In South dallas And
Steve nash was a donor and we had his, signature you,
know on the, court and there were several other. Sponsors
(35:14):
and from then on we've done at least one quart
a year for the last twenty five, years sometimes. Two
we just completed an indoor gym for THE ymca And
Flyer mount through The Mass, foundation and we're working with
a COURT i did twenty years. Ago it's At Jubilee
park In South. Dallas we're currently working with The Mass
(35:35):
foundation to refurbish that. One we also have done six
or seven mini pitch soccer courts FOR Fc. Dallas we've
also done six ball hockey courts for The Dallas Stars.
Foundation sixteen years, AGO i Met Nancy leeerman In plano
and she wanted to do what it's called dream, court
(35:58):
AND i did the first dream court In frisco sixteen years.
Ago now she's done one hundred and fifty dream courts.
Nationwide we've done fifty of them here IN. Dfw it
just goes on and. ON i used to be a
sponsor for the first three years of an existence of
The Texas legends and THE NBA D league team In. Frisco,
(36:19):
well that's WHERE i Met nancy the first.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Time she was such a great.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Player oh, yeah, yeah amazing for our.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Generation you, know it's kind of like going back and
talking About bird or any of those.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Guys but she could. Play AND i remember even thinking
that she could.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Play yeah, Yeah and she's very Very her, foundation her
Charity workers is. Unbelievable. Yep, WELL i got a call
from production company and it Was Past summer all oh,
wow and he wanted to create A tv show called
The Past Summer All Sports angels and the production company
(36:54):
we picked up parking In uless that we're going to
renovate and we got it all, done and the production company, said,
hey can you call SOME nba players or call some
players out for the. Kids Tony dorsett's son showed, up
Rocket ismael showed, up you, know the mayor Of, ulyss
(37:14):
and they did this big video type. Deal AND i
called To Texas legends and tell them what we're. Doing
and they had a couple of players show up And
Nancy leeberman showed up as. Well so that was really
a cool cool project to be able to do do
there but good well, yeah and then it's just branched.
(37:35):
On uh in the last three. Years i've never done this,
before but three years ago we donated a court to
The Children's Cancer Fund live. Auction Roder strawbacks. Started he
was the and then he passed the baton To Troy,
aikman and Now troy's passing it To Dak.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Prescott oh that's, great and so that's.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
Awesome our, backyard we donated a backyard pick a ball,
court full blown. Construction all it was on the lieboard
and we're there with my family night of the, event
and it just kept going through the roof and finally
it sold for eighty thousand dollars stop. It, yes and
guess who was the highest, Bidder Dak. Prescott that's. Awesome
so we ended up building a court For Dak. Prescott
(38:14):
SO i got a call From Dak prescott's foundation and
they wanted to do one for their, event and we
couldn't financially do it that, year but we did it
the next, year and then we ended up doing one
For make A Wish. Foundation that, year we did one
For Nancy leeberman's charity while she does just Dream ball
(38:35):
every year to raise. Me and then we did one
for we did one for The Cattle Barons ball South.
Ford so here we are were donating all these courts
and then with just, guests was busy and that was
something that we were pretty proud of because my. Niece
my niece was actually in children's cancer. Fund do they
(38:57):
do a catwalk Where dillard's or somebody will do that
and they ask a pilot Or Troy yitman or someone
to actually walk them down the. Catwalk and my niece
when she was twelve got, Cancer so when they asked
me to do, THIS i kind of had a tie
to that because of the. History but that was a
lot of fun doing those courts and so. Forth BUT
(39:20):
i think our partnerships with The MAVs Nancy LEEVERMAN Fc
dallas did Our. Stars we have a few other partnerships
that lasted five and six. Years the conference, essay they
used to have a fan jam at The Ford center
at The star and we'd set up six or seven
basketball courts. Outside we just finished building a court For
(39:43):
Isaiah hartenstein or The Oklahoma City thunder and it's part
of his foundation and it was donated to A boys
And girls club in east Of Oklahoma. City we just
had the ribbon cutting like two months.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Ago that's. Awesome.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
Yeah and we have a court that we built up In, Bartsville,
oklahoma and it was with The boys And Girls. Club
it was a dream court Through Nancy. Lieberman well now
we're doing another one for another boys And girls club
up there as. Well so that's that's been something we've
really enjoyed doing and that's given back to the community
through a product and labor and and and n.
Speaker 1 (40:19):
Of it is, kids oh for.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Sure so.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
To recap.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Get the courage to start your own, company built it with,
family something that you, love, charity built, in sustained, success
all these things highly highly, commended an amazing.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Story when you.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Think about as A ceo, founder can you think of
a moment where you were like this is really hard
and how you came through, it because everybody has those.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
Moments, YEAH i think it would be it WOULD i
think it would be probably the construction side of, It,
yeah because you're going in to we have a commercial
side of our, company but still sixty to sixty five
percent is still residential and there's a lot of things
(41:11):
that you have to think about when you go into
somebody's backyard and basically you're just tearing it.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Up, ye it's pretty.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Personal, yes, yeah SO i THINK i think that is
probably the most challenging part is to make sure that
all your eyes or dotting your teaser. Crossed you, know
you've got to work with the, cities the hoas and
things of that. NATURE i think that is the one
that you really you, know, obviously as you build more,
confidence you you build confidence in the family knowing that
(41:39):
they know what you're, doing and so forth the. Team. Yeah,
Yeah so when you think about Next, court there's a
there's a QUESTION i like to ask all of our
founders and.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
CEOs and you, know there are moments in every company
where there's a big seismic.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Moment oh that's, amazing but we all know that it
don't happen every day and all.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
That but what would you say as you think about
Next court and what you've built and your family is,
built is THE i see you win in the, cracks
in the gray. Spaces it's the things that make you.
Different it's the things you do every, day the foundational
things about Next? Court what do you how do you
think about that as the founder AND ceo and your,
company what is it that you all do or you
(42:26):
think that you do as a company that is a differentiator.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
THERE i think.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
That when we work with an organization or group or,
family that we give them what they've asked for and.
More AND i think that that when you complete the,
project whether it's For boys And Girls club or for
the y m C a or for a family in their,
backyard it's that while factor that the kids get when
(42:57):
they walk out in their backyard see what their parents
have done for. Them AND i THINK i love making
the family proud because they're doing it for their. Kids
SO i think that's the biggest thing is we do
what we're supposed to. Do we go beyond, that but
(43:19):
we love making the parents. Proud then when when we
finish the court and they see their kids out, there
plan and so, forth it's pretty pretty.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
Amazing it's understanding that invitation into someone's life and then
delivering on the promise and then some. RIGHT i, MEAN
i can see the pride you take and just hearing
you describe. That so ten thousand plus courts in you're
someone an, entrepreneur someone in starting their company should probably
listen to you might know a thing or. Two what
(43:49):
would be one thing you would tell someone who's starting
getting ready to start a company, TODAY.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
I would, say ask a lot of, questions do your.
Homework there's a lot of things out there that you.
Know obviously we tend, to you, know we tend to
once we come to an agreement with a family on
a design and a, price if they want that little
(44:17):
extra deal or if it's something we forgot to do or.
WHATEVER i don't like going and asking for more. MONEY
i don't Like Nicholin diamond people that we usually will
foot the bill and, go you, know like say go
that extra mile to do, that because we even Though
i've gone, everywhere you, know when you go back to
(44:39):
look at different ways we used to advertise before the.
Internet always laugh with some of my buddy you, KNOW
i used to run as in The Green sheet and,
so and now it's so much harder to advertise because
you have still have those direct mail pieces the magazine.
Algy you have social media and it's, gotten BUT i
have to.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Started it's easier to advertise with iHeart, right, yes you're
on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
Right, yeah thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Enhouncement mark BUT, i, YEAH.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
I can't remember that.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Question all.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
Right SO i have grilled you on all that you've
done with next, court AND i promised YOU i would
go way far a field on a question and our last,
question soccer has been woven throughout this.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Conversation how is THE us going to do in The World?
Cup and who do you think is winning the whole?
Speaker 3 (45:26):
Thing i'll be written for us a great. CALL i
think their first team is Against. PARAWAY i Think i'm
not for.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
SURE i don't know IF i.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Pronounced her, Right.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
I'll go with.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
YOU I i'd have to study a little bit. More you,
know you have your Your, germany's your Your, Mexico, Cindy,
brazil so. Forth BUT i really haven't studied. It, okay fair,
(46:05):
Enough if if if if you was to, say just
pick a, TEAM i WOULD i would just Say. Brazil.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Okay Then i'm Gonna i'm gonna do a follow, up
who's your favorite player all? Time as a soccer.
Speaker 3 (46:17):
Well as growing up as a kid in the seventies
and eighties Watching Dallas tornadoes and you, know we used
to watch the show Called Soccer locker and things of that.
Nature you, KNOW i think back then would be Pay.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Pal, yeah SO.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
I just you, know you hit on something. Earlier but
to get me on a soccer field, TODAY i would
probably look foreign because we did so much different back
then the way kids are doing it. NOW i mean
there's so much more professional and handle the balls and so.
Forth but uh.
Speaker 1 (46:49):
Oh, YEAH i MEAN i it WHEN i saw that
in your in your.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
Notes you, know thinking about playing soccer In texas in
the seventies and eighties was very very much a unicorn type.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
Thing when you really think about it and see where
it is, now it is. AMAZING i knew.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Playing as a. Kid we did not play on. Grass
it was usually a dirt field or something like, that.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
And then you ran to a garden hose for your.
Speaker 3 (47:16):
Dream, YES i can remember snow being on the ground
and all the parents were lined up around the field
in their. Cars they would not get out and. Watch
they were in their. Cars and if we scored a,
goal everybody home the, cards flash their lights or whatever
the case.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Make that's.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Awesome Well, mark thanks for joining us. Today this is
a great. Story congratulations on your. SUCCESS i have a
million more, questions But amanda has given me a dirty
look that we've got to wrap it up So, mark
thanks for joining us and we hope to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (47:47):
Soon, well thank you very, Much.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
CHRIS i appreciate, it absolutely
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