Smart Business Miami

Thoughts On Running a Business: Luis Garcia

On his way to achieving those dreams, he spent nearly four years working at a concrete company while attending school before deciding to start his own business. Twenty-three years later, the company is South Florida's largest privately owned concrete supplier, with six plants, 250 employees and $60 million in 2006 revenue. Smart Business spoke with Garcia, president and CEO of Adonel Concrete, about how following your dreams and putting the customer first can lead to success.

William Nobrega, the Conrad Group Inc.: Flying High

The U.S. domestic market is growing, like many other mature markets, at a single-digit growth rate, whereas the big emerging markets - China, India and Brazil - are growing at double-digit growth rates.

Alienware: He's Got Game

The two founders embraced the geek lifestyle when the company began to grow from building niche gaming PCs to making notebook computers, media centers and professional systems on a national level. Keeping the gamer in their hearts, it's never a surprise to see Aguila, the company's president and chief operating officer, or Gonzalez playing the futuristic military game "Battlefield 2142" with people from the office. With employees coming aboard that are interested in the mission, it's easier...