dec-2017

176 177 and started down that path.” That first job, a residential sub-division in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, led to several others, and by 2000, Boudreau Mechanical was incorporated and became today’s Boudreau Pipeline Corporation. By 2007, the company had reached nearly $20 million in annual revenue and was firmly entrenched in the Southern California residential market.And then came the Great Recession–revenue dropped over 70 percent in 2008, but the company hung on and slowly worked its way back to profitability. Today, Boudreau Pipeline generates over $65 BOUDREAU PIPELINE million annually, and has a workforce of about 370 employees.“We do commercial,we do homebuild- ing,we do all the infrastructure–sewer,water, storm drains, electrical - for new subdivisions.We’re work- ing for the majority of the major homebuilders here in southern California–Orange County, L.A., Riv- erside, north San Diego County.And we do a lot of work for the general contractors on new commercial projects in the inland empire.” Boudreau believes that the company’s “can-do” attitude, as well as its reputation for excellent work, has helped it to grow to its current size and stature. “There’s really only one competitor around the same size we are, so our biggest competitive advantage is our size,”he states.“We’ve got 60 foremen out in the field, so when you need to get the job done,we can man a job with 20 guys when a lot of our competi- tors have 50 or 60 total guys in the field.We’ve got the capacity to get out there and meet and beat schedules.” Boudreau admits that keeping his company well- staffed is a continual challenge.“The construction industry out here is facing a major labor shortage,” he explains.“Back in the downturn, it prettymuch AT A GLANCE BOUDREAU PIPELINE WHAT: An excavation company that services wet utilities including sewer, water and storm drain WHERE: Corona, California WEBSITE: www.boudreaupipeline.com