In the last few months, the company began manufacturing the latest safety equipment – face masks, face shields, sneeze protectors, and social distancing stickers – in their sign shop.
“We wanted to lend a helping hand to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic,” McKinley said.
Born in Houston, McKinley graduated from high school in Humble, Texas, just north of Houston, and then attended various universities in pursuit of a business finance degree.
He began working for his father’s company, Jerry McKinley Concrete Pipe Co., Inc., in Houston, in 1977 before he graduated high school, starting as a general laborer and advancing into inventory, production, and sales. In 1988, he became Sales Manager.
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
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| Kirby Smith Machinery |
From there, he transitioned into running his own company. “My father’s company started manufacturing car stops in the early 1980s and I installed them by the truckload,” McKinley said. “Several people asked me if I striped, so I decided to get a striping machine. I founded my parking lot striping company in 1988. In the early days, I did the striping on nights and weekends while working a full-time job at my father’s business.”
In 1996, McKinley started working on federally funded jobs and devoted himself full-time to his own company, evolving over the years to provide a variety of safety equipment designed to improve work zones. Now the company’s services include roadway and airport striping; large parking lots; line and rubber removal, including water blasting and retrieval; barricade and sign manufacturing and installation; and rentals of traffic control equipment and Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) crash trucks. Their recent projects include work as a subcontractor at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston Airport Systems, Houston Bikeways, and Port Houston.
McKinley participates in the Associated General Contractors and Houston Contractors Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association.
In his interview with Texas Contractor, McKinley shares the lessons he learned throughout his career and the changes he sees affecting industry safety over the short- and long-term.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My father. He mentored me and taught me so much about business and how to effectively communicate with people. You can’t put a price on the gift he gave me.
| Your local Bobcat dealer |
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| Bobcat of North Texas |
| Compact Construction Equipment, Inc |
What lessons have you learned in your professional life?
It takes all types of people – our biggest assets – to run a business.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Don’t give up. Be professional. And make sure all requests are handled in a timely manner.
What changes have you seen in safety equipment over the years?
For the roadway industry, the communication methods from the work zones and traffic jams to the vehicles, and the rerouting because of traffic delays.
What trends do you see ahead for construction industry safety?
Social distancing, constantly checking temperatures, virtual meetings, and the use of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment like face masks, gloves, face shields, and sneeze protectors.
