Exploring Life & Business with Horacio Medina of Medinas Building

Today we’d like to introduce you to Horacio Medina.

Horacio, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in LA at USC women’s hospital in 1985. My parents are from Mazatlan, Mexico. We lived in El Monte until I was 8, then we moved to Azusa. My dad was and still is a carpenter specializing in wood framing. My mom was and still is an apartment manager. I have a younger sister who has been a property manager for a few years now. I started working with my dad during the summers in high school. Most of his jobs were framing custom homes in Altadena, Pasadena and throughout the SGV. Some of the homes we built may have been damaged or possibly no longer there due to the Eaton fire. I’m working on participating with the rebuild.

In my early 20’s I got myself into trouble. I ended up serving about 15 months in prison for possession of Marijuana with intent to sell. (I think thats a misdemeanor now… lol) due to the non violent “felony” I went to fire camp, got a few fire forestry certifications and fought fires alongside Cal Fire.
I paroled in 2008 and joined the Carpenters union. I learned metal stud framing, Drywall, lath, welding, print reading and more. I spent 16 years in the Carpenters Union with 10 of those years as a General Foreman. We mostly built high rises. I worked on the 33 story 888 Grand Hope Lofts in DTLA, two 10 story buidlings for The 1 Hotel in WeHo on Sunset and LA Cienega, the 10 story Tipuana UCLA student apartments in Westwood and more. I also worked on a lot of schools, courthouses, hospitals, theme parks, retail stores and more. I was a Superintendent for one of the largest General Contractors in the state by 38. I recently received my Class B- General Building license under Medinas Building LLC. I’m the founder and CEO. My wife Aracely is our CFO. She’s an accountant. She currently serves as the Director of Fiscal Services for the Glendora School District. My older son Isaac is one our Project Engineer/Superintendent. My younger son Ryder is in middle school. My wife and I will be celebrating our 20 year wedding anniversary in February. We have just the 2 boys.

I surf a few times a month, I love it. Been surfing since I was 11. I play basketball a couple times a month. I try to workout 2-3 times a week and walk 10k steps everyday.

We’re a Christian family. We go to One & All church in San Dimas. I pray a few times throughout the day. I try to read the bible every night.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV): “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Biggest challenge for me was taking the law and trade exams for my Class B- General Building license. I spent all day and night reading and taking practice exams for about 4 months. I was very nervous about the exams. I did pass on my first attempt so the hard work paid off. My career as a carpenter was very physically challenging. It’s one of the biggest reasons I became focused on being strong and fit. Biggest challenge for me now that I’m a small business owner is how to get exposure for Medinas Building? How to find clients that will take a chance on the new guy? How to build trust with architects and developers when we haven’t actually started our first project?

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Medinas Building?
Medinas Building will perform as a General Contractor, managing the entire construction project from start to finish, encompassing planning, budgeting, scheduling, hiring subcontractors, overseeing daily site activities, ensuring quality and safety compliance with building codes, managing materials, and serving as the main contact with the client to deliver the project on time and within budget. We specialize in Residential: New home construction, custom builds, remodels, additions, kitchen/bath renovations. ADU. Commercial: Office buildings, retail spaces, restaurants, healthcare facilities, industrial sites.
Remodeling/Renovation: Focusing on upgrading existing structures (e.g., historic restoration, large remodels).
What will set us apart is our hustle. We are very competitive and ambitious. We are not aiming to be average. We are looking to become one of the most respected and highly regarded General Contractors in Southern California. We know the importance and value great communication with our clients, subcontractors, vendors, city officials and agencies. We know the importance of building relationships with trust and integrity. We want your experience with Medinas Building to be a great one, whether you’re a client or team member.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Medinas Building will perform as a General Contractor so we are currently looking for subcontractors in all the trades. Also, we are looking for architects, realtors, and developers to collaborate with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.medinasbuilding.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medinasbuilding
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@medinasbuilding
• Other: Horacio@medinasbuilding.com