While his concrete construction business is based in Taunton, Joe DeVlaeminck said they travel to job sites around the area. Last year, DeVlaemink bought the Tom Bofferding Construction company, and established his own business, Concrete Joe Construction.
TAUNTON — Joe DeVlaeminck built up his skills over 18 years of work with an area construction business. Now, he’s moving forward as a business owner.
Last year, DeVlaeminck bought the former Tom Bofferding Construction company and has established his own company, Concrete Joe Construction. The business specializes in residential concrete work, he said.
“We had a pretty successful first year,” DeVlaeminck said. Now, the company is getting ready for new projects in the spring. “It’s actually very busy already,” he said.
Going into business on his own was stressful, but rewarding at the same time.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” DeVlaeminck said.
DeVlaeminck is a Taunton resident, and graduated from Minneota High School in 2005.
“I went to college in Pipestone for carpentry,” he said. After graduating from college he worked on some carpentry jobs, but it turned out not to be a good fit. “I just didn’t like the carpentry part of it,” he said.
DeVlaeminck went on to work for Tom Bofferding. He found he really enjoyed working with concrete instead. “With concrete, there’s always different ways of having to use your mind,” DeVlaeminck said. There was variety in the work, and different ways to solve problems, he said.
“I worked with (Tom) for about 18 years,” and eventually became a foreman, DeVlaeminck said. At the same time, he also started working some side jobs on his own. When Bofferding decided to retire, he offered to sell his construction business to DeVlaeminck.
“I always really wanted to start my own business,” DeVlaeminck said. It was a big undertaking. DeVlaeminck had help from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program to complete the purchase of the company and launch Concrete Joe Construction.
In a lot of ways, Concrete Joe Construction is built on the foundation of Tom Bofferding Construction. DeVlaeminck kept on the same crew – the new business was never going to work without them, he said. DeVlaeminck has four employees, and he said his sister also helps with office work.
Concrete Joe Construction also serves the same customers as before, like area hardware and lumber stores, and construction firms that need concrete work completed. DeVlaeminck said the business focuses on residential concrete work, from building footings and foundations, to floors and sidewalks. DeVlaeminck said he’s also worked with stamped concrete, and even made fireplace hearths.
While the company is based in Taunton, DeVlaeminck said he and the crew travel to work sites around the Marshall area.
“It was stressful in the first year, just trying to have everything lined up and keep a schedule,” DeVlaeminck said. Getting equipment was also a big hurdle for starting his own company. However, the business was growing.
DeVlaeminck said the hard thing about being a business owner was knowing all the decisions rested on his shoulders now. It also put an extra level of importance on doing quality work. “You want your customers to be happy,” he said.
Although starting a business came with challenges, DeVlaeminck said he’s enjoyed the experience.
“I enjoy the feeling of knowing that I’m working for me,” he said.
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