Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Torres Betancourt.
Antonio, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been fascinated by construction, by buildings in particular, whether is modern architecture or an ancient building in Rome. I’m attracted by the details and the craftsmanship that takes to make something unique and perfect. I studied Civil Engineering in Caracas, Venezuela and when I graduated, I had the opportunity to work with large international construction firms in various countries that though me construction logistics, operations and risk management.
I moved to Miami in 2006, Miami’s construction landscape was booming, and I happened to be involved with a construction company doing high-rises. Prior to 2006, Miami for me had always been a city to vacation, but this time was different, I got to know a new aspect of Miami which showed me the power of our City, it was transforming and growing right in front of my eyes. I felt in love with Miami and I’m proud to call it “home.”
In 2012 I took my career into my own hands and jumped from the corporate world into the entrepreneurial field by founding a construction consulting company, but it was in 2016 that I took a bigger step, me and my dear childhood friend Miguel founded Navicon Construction.
Navicon is the result of our passion for construction and for architecture, we operate in a niche of high-end construction serving amazing architects and interior designers. Nowadays, I dedicate most of my time to business development, bring our company’s visions and goals into reality, be a motivational leader to our team and building strong ties with our Clients.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Things have aligned and played positively, so I am very fortunate and grateful to look back and understand that things happened for a good reason; I’m very analytical and I like to think very well my steps; I’m also a firm believer that you need to envision your goals so they can become a reality, and most of the things I’m living today they were a strong thought in my mind at some point.
But not everything has been smooth, I’ve taken risk to be where I’m today. In 2010 I completed an MBA in U.M with the purpose of learning how to manage my own firm, which didn’t exist at the time, so in 2011 I decided to quit my employer, right in at the time of the financial crisis! It was probably the scariest moment of my professional carrier, but my I was totally convinced that it was worth the risk. Entrepreneurship was in my veins and I felt ready! I remember my parents being very concerned over my decision, but they believed in me and offered to back me up and provide a hand if I ever needed it and to me that action meant the world.
Managing risks, planning, listening and understanding your company’s needs and Clients’ need is a good way to ensure a smooth ride; I don’t like ambiguities, I like things black or white and I consider myself a good communicator. I also believe in the power of information and the power of education. These are tools that I keep very close to me to be able to act timely when needed.
Please tell us about Navicon Construction.
I am a co-founder and Director of Navicon Construction. We are a family-owned construction management firm focusing on high-end luxury projects. Miguel and I are building a brand to last with a strong culture with very defined values. We love long-term relationships and we value the importance of delivering an outstanding product.
Navicon Construction was born with a purpose. We call it “Building Excellence,” which means we love things done extraordinarily well and we put our knowledge, craftsmanship and best practices to achieve elegant and high-end results; the purpose also expands beyond the building, it is also about empowering our team and making them proud of the company they work for. Construction with a design purpose is in our DNA. We are sensitive to design and passionate for architecture; perhaps this attribute is our number one differentiator when it comes defining our strength.
I’m extremely proud of creating a company from scratch with my dear friend, it’s a dream come true; it also makes me very proud when I see our team applying our company values and getting calls from Clients thanking our support and professionalism.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My first trip to summer camp! The first time I traveled alone in a plane, accompanied by my cousins who were just a couple of years older than I, was for a summer camp in New Hampshire; I was only ten years old and I was traveling from Venezuela to Boston and then a road trip to NH. The experience of traveling at that age without my parents was simply incredible; my sense of responsibility grew in a matter of seconds.
Contact Info:
- Address: 175 SW 7th ST, Ste. 1618, Miami, FL 33130
- Website: www.naviconus.com
- Phone: 7862020237
- Email: NewProject@NaviconUS.com
- Instagram: @naviconconstruction
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naviconconstruction
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