Pouring Success: How a Bored Banker Became the Concrete Man

Meet The Host: Ed Rivas, Founder and CEO of Concrete & Epoxy by CSI

What happens when a finance professional with construction experience gets bored during a pandemic? In Ed Rivas' case, it leads to building a thriving concrete and epoxy flooring business that transforms North Dallas one surface at a time.

The founder and CEO of Concrete and Epoxy by CSI takes us through his fascinating journey from financial industry professional to concrete craftsman. When COVID hit and remote work became the norm, Ed found himself efficiently completing tasks with time to spare. Rather than settling into pandemic malaise, he channeled his energy into researching business opportunities that could provide both financial stability and community benefit.

Drawing on previous experience with concrete and running track installations, Ed launched a weekend epoxy flooring service that quickly expanded into comprehensive concrete solutions. His motivation stems from seeing hazardous and unattractive concrete throughout the area - uneven sidewalks people trip over, deteriorating driveways, and crumbling steps. "When you do things the right way," Ed explains, "it doesn't sound like a community service, but it is." This commitment to quality extends to using environmentally responsible products and waste-minimizing processes.

Need safer, more beautiful concrete surfaces at your home or business? Call Ed at 972-292-8057 for a free consultation and discover why boring concrete is definitely last season. From driveways to patios and everything in between, Ed and his team deliver quality craftsmanship with customer service that's as solid as their surfaces.

To learn more about Concrete & Epoxy by CSI visit:
https://www.CSIUS.net
Concrete & Epoxy by CSI
972-292-8057

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
you're listening to ed the concrete man, the only
podcast where cracks get fixed,floors get fancy and concrete
becomes cool.
Hosted by ed revis, founder andceo of concrete and epoxy by
csi, serving up solid advice andeven more solid surfaces across
north dallas, whether it's yourdriveway, patio, garage or

(00:24):
mystery slab, we build andbeautify concrete and we've got
the trowel marks to prove it.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Welcome everyone.
I'm Sofia Yvette, co-host andproducer here in the studio with
Ed Rivas, founder and CEO ofConcrete and Epoxy by CSI Ed,
how's it going?

Speaker 3 (00:52):
Good morning Sofia.
How are you doing today?

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I am doing well, Ed.
How's it going for you?

Speaker 3 (01:00):
You know, thankfully busy trying to deal with the
weather because we are in theDFW area and it's been raining a
lot.
So, as you probably believe,concrete and raining is not a
great idea.
So trying to take time toorganize projects, work on
permits for clients and doingsome commercial job that is not

(01:22):
exposed to the rain, butthankfully, very busy.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
So, ed, over the years you've been dedicated to
growing concrete and epoxy byCSI.
However, some listeners mightnot be familiar with your whole
journey.
Let's take it from the top.
Could you share a littlebackground about your company
and what you do?

Speaker 3 (01:45):
You know, a few years back I work in construction.
I work for a company that wasdoing concrete and we also were
doing the running tracks on theschools, like the whole thing on
the running tracks for schools,like the stadiums.
But it got to the point that Igot into a different industry.
I was in the financial industryfor a while but when COVID hit

(02:07):
I started working from home.
Thankfully, I was able to keepmy job, but I was very efficient
in having everything done right.
I was bored, so I was like whatelse do I?
do?
What else do I do?
So I started researching aboutwhat could be something that I
can be doing that is a goodbusiness and, at the same time,

(02:27):
doing something that is not justas a business but also like
community.
And first we started doingepoxy floors.
That's the name of the company,is Concrete and Epoxy.
So we started doing epoxyfloors.
But then we started to doconcrete.
You know, you walk on thestreets and you see many times
you see concrete that isn't verybudget either, concrete that is

(02:49):
on level and it can be a hazard, like on the wall on the
sidewalks.
It's a hazard for you can tripon it.
And then some concrete that islike all like the appealing and
things like that.
So I thought about, I thinkthis is something that I would
like to do.
It's something that, if we doit with quality and you do

(03:09):
things the right way, you maynot see all these issues.
That's where we get going.
I mean, we started doing epoxyfloors on the weekends.
Every company starts little bylittle, the point that we got a
lot of concrete right now and alot of epoxy floors, but that's
the background on it, like beingCOVID, get me bored.
Thankfully I didn't get sick oranything.

(03:31):
I appreciate whoever is takingcare of me and was able to jump
into a business that isprofitable.
Concrete is everywhere and wededicated to do it the right way
and good customer service.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Amazing Ed.
And when you're not busyrunning your business, what do
you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (03:53):
Well, that's a great question, because as an
entrepreneur, you work a lot ofhours.
I am very involved ineverything in the business.
Still, we're growing, so it'salways busy.
But you know what I like to do?
Barbecue in my house with myfamily.
I'm an avid cyclist.
I used to cycle a lot by,actually like racing and

(04:16):
everything.
I don't do as much right nowbecause of my my business is not
giving me a lot of time, butplanning to go back to it and I
like to go on the motorcycle too.
I like I like two wheels,motorcycles and and bicycles.
I will say I like to spend alot of time with my kids, but
they're teenagers and so theydon't spend a lot of time with

(04:36):
us.
It's more with their friendsand girlfriends.
That's what I do.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, you can still get them to spend family time.
No, On Sundays.

Speaker 3 (04:47):
Well, yeah, I try.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
No, they're good, I have good kids.
So, ed, we know marketing iskey to any business's success.
How do you market your business?

Speaker 3 (05:00):
You know we have different strategies.
We have Google and we haveGoogle reviews, which those are
being pretty good.
Those have been pretty good.
We also market on Facebook, onInstagram.
We have a couple of magazinesand word of mouth.
I do a lot of networking so I'mpart of different groups with
other trades so we refer eachother businesses and that's very

(05:23):
successful.
I refer them.
I'm not only looking for themto refer me, but I look to refer
to them and that always turnsaround.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Give to receive.
So, ed, we know you are a verybusy person.

Speaker 3 (05:41):
In your own words, tell our listeners why are you
doing this?
I'm doing this because I'mpassionate about doing something
good, like when you seeconcrete around that is in very
bad shape and it can becomedangerous, or you know, you
learn that it's people thatdon't do things the right way,
like cut corners and things likethat.
So I would like to do thingsbetter around me Better concrete

(06:04):
, better looking concrete inmany different shapes.
When you do things the rightway, it doesn't sound like a
community service, but it isbecause you're doing with
quality products that is betterfor the environment, take care
of our processes to not wastethat much and things like that.
So trying to do somethingbetter around me.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Love it, Ed.
We'll catch you in the nextepisode.
Have a fantastic rest of yourday.

Speaker 3 (06:33):
Thank you, Sophia.
Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
That's it for this episode of Ed the Concrete man,
because boring concrete is solast season.
Want your space to shine andnot crack.
Call Ed at 945-400-4362 for afree in-home consultation, or
visit csiusnet.
From driveways to patios andeverything in between, if it's

(07:02):
concrete, we've got you covered.
Until next time, keep it smoothand let Ed handle the heavy
stuff.