BrentbrPennington is many things: a Southlake resident, Dragon alumni, former Dragonbrrunning back. He's also a business owner, and this year he's celebrating 30bryears with his family business, Charley's Concrete.
Here's abrquick background on the company. It was founded by Charles R. Pennington (Charley)brand his wife Patsy, along with their son, Brent, on June 17, 1985. It wasbrstarted with seven mixer trucks and a commitment to provide superior qualitybrand service.
Today,brCharley's operates eight plants in five different locations in Dallas/Ft. Worthbrand surrounding areas, and delivery coverage includes all of Denton, Tarrant,brJohnson, Collin, Hunt and Parker counties.
Thebrcompany's mission statement is clearly defined on its website: “Charley'sbrConcrete is the premier concrete producer in the ready-mix industry, providingbran unsurpassed product and honoring the true spirit of the American familybrbusiness.”
We caughtbrup with Pennington to get the story on this milestone achievement for theirbrfamily.
Southlake Style: How didbryou get your start at Charley’s Concrete?
Pennington: I graduated from Carroll in 1980brand from Texas Wesleyan University in 1984. The concrete business has been mybrlife ever since. It’s all I’ve ever done. We started in Keller with one plantbrand seven trucks. I was the dispatcher – the person who answers the phone andbrtakes the orders. Before my father [Charley] died in 2010, he said he didn’tbrwant to sell the company – he wanted to grow it.
SS: Do you feel like you’ve achievedbrhis wish?
Pennington: Yes. Charley’s Concrete has grownbrapproximately 60 percent during the last five years.
SS: How have you seen the businessbrevolve over the years?
Pennington: We are operating over 100 ready-mixbrtrucks, 25 aggregate trucks and eight cement tankers. We’re the largestbrprivately held, family-owned ready-mix producer in DFW, originating in Texas. Webrrecently moved into a new corporate office in Keller.
SS: To what do you attribute yourbrcompany’s success?
Pennington: I contribute our growth to our incredible,brloyal and faithful employees, and our customers. The Lord has blessed us withbrthe best team of people I have ever known. Our 242 employees are the strengthbrof Charley’s Concrete. Our employees helped us build this company. We would notbrhave accomplished any success apart from our team. I give all the credit tobrthem. We have many tenured employees, and we’ve been blessed to have faithful,brloyal employees who have stuck with us through good times and bad times. Also, I want to thank my wife, Harriet Pennington. I have been married to Harriet for 33 years. She has supported me and has been my cheerleader.
SS: Are you doing anything special tobrcelebrate 30 years?
Pennington: We’re dedicating June 17 asbremployee appreciation week. And for our top 30 customers, I’m bringing backbr1985 prices. They’ll have 30 days to use a gift certificate that allows them tobrpay $45 a yard instead of today’s average selling price of $95 a yard.
SS: You’re a Dragon alum. Are youbrstill active around town?
Pennington: My father, Charley, moved tobrSouthlake in 1967. It’s where I grew up. Southlake is very much my hometown.brThe spirit of Southlake carries through high school and college and then intobryour business years. I’ve lived in Timarron for 10 years, and once a month,brCharley’s Concrete hosts the Southlake Christian Businessmen breakfast meeting.br We meet the second Friday of everybrmonth. It’s a chance for men to give their testimony of how they met Jesus. RaybrWilliamson had this vision to reach men for Christ, and Charley’s Concretebrsupports this vision.
To Brent and everyone at Charley's Concrete: Congratulations! We wish you continued success. Click here to find out more about the company.