STAR Concrete Pumping Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Barclay Branch from Regional Sales Manager to General Manager. Mr. Branch is a native Houstonian with 22 years of experience in the concrete industry providing STAR with a wealth of practical experience as it continues its expansion into new and challenging markets. The responsibilities of the highly coveted leadership position include strategic planning, corporate team building, equipment delivery logistics, and organizational accountability, while focusing on improving company services, growth, and sustained profitability.

Since its acquisition by Abacus Financial [http://www.Abacus-Financial.net] in early 2011, STAR Concrete Pumping continues its pursuit as a national leader in the concrete delivery and placement services industry. Mr. Branch will champion the company’s rapid growth while continuing its transition into new industry technologies. STAR Concrete Pumping is the 3rd largest concrete delivery and placement service in the United States.

At STAR Concrete Pumping, Mr. Branch has served various leadership positions in sales, operations, and management, excelling in every field throughout the entire organization.

Upon acceptance of his new position, Mr. Branch stated, “I am humbled to have been selected to this leadership position of trust. It is my personal goal to further organize and develop STAR into America’s single source concrete placement provider, while pursuing the highest levels of professionalism and technology within the concrete pumping industry.” With Mr. Branch’s years of experience, leadership, and talents, STAR may now focus on capitalizing and sustaining its vertical growth success.

His passion for the industry started while working part time for his father Clair Branch at Hydro Conduit during summers throughout high school and college.  In 1989, he relocated to Delaware to assist with the construction of Middletown Concrete Products and managed production of the small bore machine.  He returned to Houston in 1993 and held various positions with increasing responsibility and developed a specialty in the concrete pumping industry.  In 1998 he started Branch Concrete Pumping, LLC with Gary Nichols and Rusty Hicks and served as managing partner and General Manager until 2005.

Mr. Branch maintains strong ties with the local community, devoting personal time and precious resources to a variety of needed charities.  He is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Vice Chairman on the Breeders Greeters Committee and Committeeman on the Speakers Committee with his wife Lauri.  He is an avid horseman and enjoys riding.

Houston, TX – STAR Concrete Pumping Company, “America’s gold standard of concrete placement”, has announced today another industry first. An electronic tool to empower concrete delivery and enhance productivity: a new Android and iPhone mobile application. This is a free and easy to use application that provides users the ability to scroll through concrete pump spec sheets, order concrete delivery services, and obtain vital industry information. Additionally the app allows Account Managers to seamlessly perform on-site “Change Orders” with the touch of a stroke, while immediately providing necessary information to flow directly into STAR’s dispatch system for expanded personalized customer support.

Available on both IOS & Android smart-phone platforms, the APP’s easy to use format and highly intuitive design provides a new connection between Account Managers and customers seeking concrete placement or delivery service, regardless of site challenges, timing constraints, or other unique engineering requirements. “This powerful application provides each end user an opportunity to conduct business quickly and efficiently without sacrifice or having to employ multiple electronic devices” says Mitchel Palmer, spokesperson for STAR Concrete. “We must continue to move beyond the traditional methods of our industry to maintain our leadership role as “America’s Gold Standard”. STAR strives to embrace daily challenges and define opportunities. The new app’s are another STAR example of what can be accomplished when technology is made available. The new app’s will enhance our customer service goal of “providing the best concrete placement service in the United States and South America”.

In today’s dynamic and ever changing business environment, organizations are constantly seeking new methods to personalize and empower their workforce to suit an increasingly mobile lifestyle. Innovative companies such as STAR see an engaged workforce as a productive workforce and the STAR Concrete Pumping application helps them ensure their employees stay connected and engaged while away from the traditional office.

You may download this FREE app via the Android Marketplace or iTunes Store.

Android - https://market.android.com/details?id=com.morpheous.starPump
iPhone/iPad – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-concrete-pumping/id453215084?ls=1&mt=8

Please give us feedback on this exciting new way to communicate your concrete pumping needs.

STAR Concrete Pumping Plans Expansion, New Hires Post Acquisition. From the Houston Business Journal, June 10, 2011 Edition. Mr. John Martin says STAR isn’t finished acquiring and will look to expand towards the East/South Coasts soon. Mr. Jason Smith says this deal gives STAR the ability to be a powerhouse in the concrete pumping industry. Click image below for full story.

April 20, 2011 – Abacus Financial (http://www.abacus-financial.net) a private equity firm based in Los Angeles CA, announces the completed acquisition of STAR Concrete Pumping Company [Houston, Texas] creating a leading force in concrete pumping delivery services throughout the United States, Canada, and the northern part of South America.

With this acquisition, Abacus Financial has one of the concrete sector’s broadest portfolios of products, services and end-to-end solutions. The combined offerings are focused on helping clients accelerate growth, mitigate risks and lower costs.

The acquisition is the largest in the concrete sector for 2011. “This is a historic day for Abacus Financial & STAR Concrete Pumping Company, and for the clients we serve,” said the Chairman of Abacus Financial. “Independently, each company is a respected industry leader. Together, we are a continental leader, with the capability to serve our clients – whatever their size, location or industry – with one of the most comprehensive and competitive portfolios.”

STAR Concrete Pumping Company serves a wide variety of concrete professionals ranging from local concrete finishers, to regional and national ready-mix companies, to the largest national and international general contractors and construction managers. STAR Concrete Pumping Company will extend their national leadership role with the ability to provide complete lifecycle capabilities in the completion of refineries, chemical plants, bridges, highways, airports, smelters, power plants, high-rise structures, residential developments and a wide array of other projects throughout the United States, Canada, and the northern parts of South America.

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” said Jason Smith, Vice President and General Manager of STAR Pumping. “Our clients will benefit from the breadth and depth of our solutions, our newly installed technologies, and our commitment to unsurpassed quality and our ability to provide truly national concrete service delivery. With the resources of Abacus Financial, we have an opportunity to truly redefine the North American concrete services market.”

The Chairman of STAR Concrete Pumping Company stated “Each of these changes collectively will result in a leaner, more responsive and cost effective end product coupled with greater management oversight resulting in a superior state of the art concrete placement and delivery service with exacting predictability and a better end product for our customers and clients”.

Immediate facility, equipment and personnel improvements were announced including:

• Re-Designed STARPumping.com (http://www.STARPumping.com) to include blogs, educational videos and equipment photos. The new website will act as a first strike marketing tool bringing in new business while showcasing its vast job portfolio. A new logo has also been unveiled as part of this acquisition.
• Immediate hiring of Jason D. Smith, Vice President and General Manager, responsibilities include all aspects of the day to day operations of the company. The high profile coveted leadership responsibilities include strategic planning, corporate team building, logistics, and organizational accountability, while focusing on company product and service pricing, growth, and profitability.

Mr. Smith’s distinguished background includes 22 years of dedicated operational expertise culminating to District Managing Director for his former employer FedEx Ground, Memphis Tennessee. Mr. Smith is a 1993 graduate of the University of Tennessee, majoring in Business Administration, logistics and transportation. Mr. Smith’s graduate studies include Executive Leadership Training in 2008 from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA.

• Immediate hiring of William A. Avelar, Business Development & Customer Services Director, responsibilities include employee accountability and productivity, operating efficiency, budgeting, logistics, equipment utilization, and teamwork, while focusing on core values of excellence and superior customer service.

Mr. Avelar’s distinguished background includes 25 years of dedicated construction operational and concrete pumping expertise which includes branch management, sales management, construction supervision, and concrete pumping. As a Rapor Institute graduate, he obtained two years of construction management training at Northern Arizona University. Mr. Avelar is also an operating engineer with a heavy equipment operator’s license.

• Facilities upgrade includes a new “cloud”  state of the art GPS tracking, billing, accounting, and payroll system that provides immediate accountability in real time. This allows dispatch managers to oversee the actual delivery and job site activity. The system provides a visual backup to be viewed later at any time in resolving potential disputes and  disagreements.
• Employee operator payroll is governed by the improved GPS system, eliminating the dated “time clock” presently used by much of the industry.
• STAR Concrete Pumping Company has teamed with Verizon to allow their employee communications to utilize the latest cell phone, laptop and tablet technology.
• STAR Concrete Pumping Company has teamed with Salesforce.com for each Business Development Representative.  This software, in real time, shall provide sales accountability.
• Equipment improvements include fuel saving reporting software for all trucks &  pumps.

STAR Concrete Pumping Company will be the best concrete pumping company in the United States, Canada, and northern South America by providing quality, customer oriented services to our customers.  By using teamwork, ACPA certified operators and modern technology; STAR will revolutionize the industry by providing a safe work environment and superior reliability.

STAR is highly regarded and experienced in all facets of our business, but there are areas in which we excel. Some of these areas include parking garages, waste and water treatment plants, high-rises, superstructures and industrial facilities. The specialty skills that STAR is especially recognized for include structural rehabilitation, facade restoration, surface coating and waterproofing, brick and block repairs and formed and poured applications.

What makes STAR Concrete Pumping different? We staff highly experienced and knowledgeable management, supervisory and skilled production personnel. We have the ability to complete work on time and within budget. STAR has the expertise to complete poured-in-place concrete utilizing our own skilled labor force. We have continued to demonstrate an exceptional safety experience record above the industry standards. All of these qualities contribute to the excellent reputation that we have earned.

STAR Concrete Pumping is going to expand and become one of the largest concrete establishments in the country. Through our STAR Alliance, we shall invest in and create a wide scope of business for our partners while infusing STAR Industries with the latest equipment and manpower ideas.  We would look forward to an opportunity of demonstrating our capabilities to you on your next project.