Business View Magazine | July 2020

98 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2020 BVM: What was the evolution of JZE after that? Bear: “Next, I became a home builder with a group of developers (AC Homes). They hired me to do their roofs but then I became the builder for 43 homes in 12 months. I was a contractor and a superintendent. Then I started getting big contracts and I called my lawyer and said, “My last name is Bear and I’m no longer in hibernation, I can’t let my children think I gave up. Do whatever it takes.” He did – it was a fight but, thankfully, I got my kids back. Best thing ever. “Then someone from Samaritan’s Purse, Billy Graham’s National Relief for Disasters, came to me and hired me as a woman contractor. I was with them for two years. And now I’m sharing my story because you can’t tell me it doesn’t matter what you’ve been through – what color, what race, what gender. I’m a Native American Indian woman and I was scared that no one would give me an opportunity. But it all worked out. Now, four years later, my oldest son is going to be a dentist, my middle one is in construction, and my youngest just got a scholarship to play baseball. And here I am running my own construction company. The name JZE Building & Restoration represents my three boys, Joshua, Zeke, and Elijah… I had to build and restore my life for them.” BVM: What are some of your current projects? Bear: “The business is based in Cypress, Texas and I build up to four hours away. Most recently, in Beaumont and Port Arthur, where I was the contractor for Samaritan’s Purse. I was always building for someone else but I just built a home myself for the first time, where they said, “Here are the plans, you’re on your own.” From that, a developer just came to me with 100 acres in Bridge City, Texas and we’re ready to start this summer – I’ll be their major homebuilder. I’m building a beach house and there are other plans for the rest of the acreage. Many of the 20 or so contractors on my jobs work for me,