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In specialty infrastructure and environmental contracting, growth is often measured through revenue, project volume, and market expansion. At Champion Specialty Services Corp., however, the company’s growth story begins somewhere else: with its people.
Over the past several years, the organization has expanded significantly by creating a culture where employees are valued, empowered, and encouraged to deliver exceptional results across highly demanding environments.
For Jeff Gibbons, Chief Business Development Officer at Champion Specialty Services Corp., the company’s transformation has always been connected to the strength of its workforce. When he joined nearly nine years ago, Champion was a $23 million company. Today, the organization has grown into a company generating more than half a billion dollars in revenue. According to Gibbons, that achievement is rooted not only in business strategy but also in the people who carry the company’s mission forward. “What makes that difference is the people. We believe we have the brightest and best people, and our culture is paramount to our ability to continue to grow and attract more good-quality people to be a part of our team.”
Champion’s foundation is built around the principle that exceptional performance requires more than technical expertise. The company’s tagline, “Exceptional is our standard,” reflects three core values that guide its operations: safety, quality, and accountability. These principles shape how teams collaborate, approach responsibilities, and execute complex projects.
Leadership That Supports People
Champion’s leadership model has been instrumental in sustaining its expansion. Founders Carlos Hernandez and Kyle Hough remain involved in operations, combining ownership responsibility with hands-on engagement. Hernandez focuses on financial strength, resources, insurance, and bonding requirements, while Hough drives the company’s strategic vision and development.
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We believe we have the brightest and best people, and our culture is paramount to our ability to continue to grow and attract more good-quality people to be a part of our team.
The leadership team believes that taking care of internal teams creates better experiences for clients. By investing in employees, empowering them, and holding them accountable, Champion creates a foundation where people can succeed and clients can receive consistent service.
Expanding Capabilities without Losing Focus
Over the years, Champion has expanded beyond its original expertise in coatings, linings, fireproofing, floor coatings, and lead abatement. For a company which started as a painting & coating infrastructure contractor, it has added services including asbestos abatement, demolition and decommissioning for nuclear and regulated markets, roofing, siding, structural rehabilitation, mechanical services, welding, and environmental solutions.
These complementary capabilities allow Champion to support broader client needs while maintaining the same commitment to execution. The company’s approach centers on arriving with the right people, completing work correctly, and building trust through dependable performance.
Safety and Quality as Daily Commitments
Safety is not treated as a program at Champion; it is embedded in the company’s identity. Through leadership involvement, safety activities, documentation practices, and human performance principles, employees are encouraged to view safety as a personal responsibility.
Quality follows the same disciplined approach. Champion’s quality teams establish processes, maintain certifications, and document performance to ensure that work meets demanding specifications. Reporting and detailed records provide transparency for both the company and its customers while reducing the risks associated with rework.
Building a Team for the Future
Champion’s low employee turnover reflects its focus on loyalty, development, and respect. The company works to identify professionals who align with its culture rather than simply filling positions. Employees are supported through career development opportunities and a workplace where leadership remains accessible.
“Showing our people we care about them not only when they’re in the workplace, but also being able to support them in those life issues that come up, I think that separates us,” Gibbons explains.
Looking ahead, Champion aims to continue its growth journey while preserving the culture that helped create its success. The company is strengthening its operational foundation, developing new strategies, and preparing for expansion. With a goal of approaching billion-dollar scale in the coming years, Champion remains focused on the people who make that vision possible.
For Champion Specialty Services Corp., growth is not measured only by revenue or capabilities. It is measured by collective team strength, the trust it builds, and the exceptional standards it continues to uphold.
