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Business honored for dedication to veterans

Pueblo Chieftain - 11/16/2020

What began as two best friends starting a business from within a garage, has since become an expanding business that received a Gold Medallion from the federal government.

Scott Hinkle and Joshua Sparks were two young men who attended Colorado State University Pueblo and were a part of a fraternity that encouraged service to the community. That dedication to serving the community ultimately carried over when the two opened Property Craft, a mitigation company in 2014.

"We do water damage, fire damage, asbestos, mold," Hinkle said. "It is within the construction realm, but it's a bit of a specialized industry. You have to have pulmonary tests for your chest, then you have to do at least a weeklong training through the state, and OSHA and the state of Colorado tests you to become certified in asbestos. Similar with mold -- it's not quite a state sanction but there are classes."

Pueblo only has a limited number of people who are in the industry, so Hinkle and Sparks knew they wanted to take a different approach when it came to their business and had a specific kind of employee in mind.

"What we were trying to do is find people who didn't really know the industry," Hinkle said. "We can teach the industry to anybody. We've always tried to hire from -- if we have a good experience at a restaurant. Maybe that waiter or waitress is interested in coming on board or at least seeing what we are about. The polite go-getters -- there's something to be said about somebody who can anticipate what a customer needs."

Hinkle added it takes a special type of person to step into the scenarios Property Craft services and be able to feel the necessary empathy while still working.

"When we walk into a property, nine times out of 10 it is probably the worst disaster a person can feel," Hinkle said. "It's their house, family heirlooms, children's beds, teddy bears -- it could be covered in sewer water, fire, asbestos -- they aren't even allowed back into the property. So, it's pretty much the biggest investment you've made in your life and now you're standing there looking at it and it's complete devastation."

Then, as the business was growing Antonio Serna came aboard just as Hinkle and Sparks were questioning where they could find the type of employees they were still searching for.

Serna, a veteran who served for 20 years and started his own business after retiring from the military ultimately found a home at Property Craft, 1920 Jones Ave., because of the culture that Hinkle and Sparks were creating.

"When (Serna) came on board, it was, 'Where can we find quality people who have a good moral code, good time management, teamwork?'" Hinkle said. "It really started to make sense that maybe speaking with more folks like (Serna) who have really spent years in an industry where it's expecting nothing but the best every time and if not, 'How do I train and get that much better tomorrow?'"

Veterans are a great resource in Colorado, as Fort Carson and Schriever Air Force Base are fairly close to Property Craft's home base in Pueblo, Hinkle said.

"There are 180,000 veterans that are transitioning from the military," Serna added. "So, to tap into that type of industry and support our heroes -- our gentlemen and ladies that serve our country -- are a big piece of Property Craft."

Because of the business' dedication to hiring veterans, Property Craft received The HIRE Vets Gold Medallion award. This is the only federal-level veterans' employment award that recognizes a company or organization's commitment to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development.

To receive the Gold Medallion, a business must hold a percentage of new hires that is 7%, retain 75% of the veterans, have a veteran employee percentage of 7%, and have two veteran integration-assistance programs.

Businesses must first apply, and Serna said the process takes about a year to be vetted for the award.

While being acknowledged by the federal government for the business' dedication to helping veterans is an incredible feeling, Serna said, what matters more is the supportive atmosphere that is provided once a veteran is a part of Property Craft.

"Right now, we have a phenomenal team," Serna said. "I think it's because of the values, it's really given us what we have now. Let's face it, when you hire a veteran, you're not just hiring them -- you're hiring a veteran with what they had in the past and that is coming with them to the employer: VA appointments, troubles, things that they need to sit down and talk about.

"(Sparks and Hinkle) and some of the managers here create that environment for the veterans to say, 'Hey I've got a problem.' They will support you and tackle it head on. I think that's what being recognized is. It's not the medallion, or that we hire vets and support vets -- it's the atmosphere and culture that (Sparks and Hinkle) and all of the ladies and gentlemen have created."

Property Craft received the Gold Medallion Tuesday in a virtual ceremony, where the secretary of labor, the HIRE Vets assistant secretary, and the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman, joint chiefs of staff, spoke.

Going forward, Property Craft is expanding and keeping the focus on service to the community, Hinkle said. The business is opening offices in Pueblo West and Colorado Springs to create opportunity while keeping its headquarters in Pueblo.

"A lot of small businesses have been struggling the last six to eight months," Hinkle said. "We are an essential business, so we've continued to go forward and for us -- we're still trying to hire. There is probably some pride there, being able to provide jobs in an economy that is doing the opposite. We're here still, we're still trying to provide opportunities to keep Pueblo and veterans employed."

Chieftain reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.

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(c)2020 The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colo.)

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