An Applebee’s restaurant located in Forked River, NJ, completed by Tekcon Construction, Inc.

President and Owner of Tekcon Construction, Inc., Eric Dziadyk.

Tekcon Construction, Inc. has its roots firmly planted in the American dream. President and Owner Eric Dziadyk immigrated alone to the United States from Poland over 30 years ago. Having no family or friends around to help him, all he had was the American Dream.

Determined to succeed, Eric faced many challenges. His first job in construction came with difficulties, such as language barriers. He quickly found mentors and made connections that expanded his knowledge in all aspects of commercial construction, with a focus on structural engineering. Soon after learning the industry, he realized he enjoyed working in it. “My father just fell in love with the construction industry,” says Eric’s daughter, Veronica Dziadyk.

Small projects turned into big projects; eventually he built hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and catering facilities. Eric proved himself to his clients. “He was successful, fascinating clients with what he was creating,” says Veronica, Office Manager for Tekcon Construction, which Eric opened in 2006 as a family company, with the goal of “building excellence.”

Expansion Plans

Fourteen years later, Tekcon Construction, located in Somerset, New Jersey, earns approximately $10 million in annual revenue in both the public and private sector. Among its services are demolition, general construction, design-build and construction management. Some of its projects include schools, high-rise buildings, municipal buildings and strip malls. Most clients are in New Jersey, but the company has branched out to New York and Pennsylvania.

Over the next year, the company seeks to bring in $20 million, doubling its current annual revenue. The company plans to accomplish this goal by focusing on private high-rise residential builds, hiring more staff and going above and beyond current construction trends. “This year, we have seen a significant shift in the industry due to the world health crisis. People are moving out of major cities, and we are seeing a spike in the amount of suburban builds, whether that be multiresidential to major office renovations,” Veronica says.

Tekcon Construction plans on being at the forefront of these trends by building on its current relationships with major developers and property management firms. Many professionals in the industry have noticed the company’s expansion and have indicated an interest in working there, too.

Demolition Yields Progress

Tekcon Construction has expertise in demolition, and its biggest job so far has been taking down a former housing community for nuns and nursing home in North Plainfield, New Jersey. The Villa Maria property was originally built in 1889 as a sanitorium for tuberculosis patients. The buildings were closed in 2002. In 2017, a fire burned several structures on the property, leaving a big mess in its wake. The property was full of asbestos, which made the buildings and remains dangerous to the community. With demolition finished, Veronica says, “The community is a lot safer.”

Tekcon Construction is in the next phase of the project: building a community park in its place. “We are extremely proud of that. We are almost done and are excited for the community to enjoy their new park,” she says.

The Tekcon team loves to help others in the community. “We offer a helping hand and are available as soon as anyone calls and needs us,” Veronica says.

Last year, for example, when an arsonist started a nearby structure fire, Tekcon employees could see the fire and smoke from their office. “We were one of the first contractors to call the city and offer services to make the building safer and more stable,” Veronica says. “We are always looking for ways to build up the community.”

Foundation of Trust

The family-run company includes five full-time employees. Veronica’s mother, Ida, is the Accountant. Veronica’s fiancé, Peter Gorzelnik, is Vice President of Construction, Sales and Marketing. And her brother, Dennis, isn’t a team member yet but will join the group after he earns his degree in structural engineering.

The only core office employee not related to the Dziadyk family is Al Halabi, the company’s Chief Estimator. He estimates the cost of each project, explains each job’s budget from the ground up and works closely with project managers in the first construction phase.

Depending on the job, Tekcon Construction could have up to 16 different divisions of subcontractors on-site. “Everyone on the project is considered family,” Veronica says. That family includes superintendents, project managers and mechanical, electrical and plumbing tradespeople, as well as HVAC, concrete and masonry workers.

Many of the subcontractors are loyal to Eric and Tekcon Construction. “All these years, we have the same people working for us because they appreciate and respect how we conduct business. That really defines a company when people are excited to come to work for a better tomorrow. Clients notice that,” she says.

When it comes to private projects, many clients of Tekcon Construction continue to come back to Eric and ask him for advice on potential jobs. “They reach out to my father and ask him about properties because they tell us they love working with us.” Returning clients account for 75% to 80% of contracts each year. “People know we are a family-run company,” Veronica says. “They place a lot of trust in us. I feel like that resonates with our clients when they see how well we work together.”

Meeting a client’s expectations starts at the beginning of the project by asking questions, Veronica says. “What do they need or don’t need? What can we do better for them?” Once that information is gathered, the team sits and analyzes how to achieve what’s best for the client. “The client wants this, but how can we go the extra mile to make their life easier?” Veronica says.

The team offers guidance on how changes in the design or build might benefit a project’s timeline and budget. Veronica says, “If we add value engineering and meet expectations ahead of the deadline, then every client will be happy.”

A top priority throughout each project is to deliver the best quality product and best customer service. “We want to complete the project as smoothly as possible.” Completing approximately 8 to 10 projects each year, the team follows up with customers once a job is finished. “We want a great relationship with everyone, so we call them and ask, ‘How are you enjoying the building?’ ”

Veronica speaks of her father and his achievements with pride. “As an immigrant in the United States, not having family or anybody the way he did and to build a successful company, it makes me so proud,” she says. And now he is realizing another dream—his children taking interest in the business and working to help it expand. One day he plans to leave Tekcon Construction to this second generation. Veronica, who is working diligently today, looks forward to that future. “We are here to help, we’re here to teach, we’re here to manage and we’re here to succeed.”