As someone whose job is to bring technology into the construction world for your business, how do you know that you are accomplishing your goals?
Preston Companies, a contractor known for its expertise in underground engineering and construction services in California, has an unwritten secret to success embedded deep within its culture. It's easy to spot once you've had a real conversation with anyone who works there—it's in how they treat each other.
"We are in a people business, and so much of what we do is relationship-driven," says Kyle Preston, Vice President of Fleet Management at Preston Companies. "Not only with customers but internally. People don't quit jobs - they quit managers. And we don't have many bad managers. I don’t think they would be successful here if they were bad."
A Culture of Caring
Kyle is the third generation of Preston executives, starting with his grandfather, who founded Preston Pipelines over five decades ago. The tradition of caring for each other has been passed down not only through the family but also through each of the employees. From family-style company picnics to weekly operations and equipment meetings or daily safety stand-ups, the understanding is that you should "bring everybody who should hear this."
Kyle says that by opening communication and inviting teams together, awareness increases, end goals become clearer, and people become more engaged. Construction is often characterized as slow to adopt technology, but Preston has found that when the people using the technology can weigh in and understand clearly what each thing can do for them, they help move technology forward.
With four business units operating across California, HCSS software has helped Preston bridge the gap and keep communication open for all departments. Kyle says that because of HeavyBid estimating software, they have been able to standardize how they bid on jobs. For example, an estimator from Milpitas, CA, could go into their Sacramento office and produce similar results.
"Connections get lost as you grow and as you get bigger," says Kyle about the problem construction companies face as they expand and take on more work. "The best thing technology and HCSS have allowed us to do is manage from afar. With HCSS, we can understand our costs, check on production, and have everyone speak the same language."
Using Software to Connect All Departments
With the help of the HCSS platform, every department at Preston has a tool that can support the estimating department. The equipment managers use Equipment360 to understand the operating cost and estimate downtime so that estimators can work on equipment rates that are current and accurate. Operations can use HeavyJob and HCSS Plans to show the actual cost of operating a crew for a specific phase of the job, update how long it takes a crew to finish the job, and use HCSS Plans to share the most up-to-date information quickly.
Safety managers rely on HCSS Safety to identify and communicate risks and leading indicators, helping teams plan for potential hazards. By integrating software and using APIs to connect third-party applications, HCSS has helped Preston work more efficiently, reduce redundancy, and improve decision-making speed.
"Having that one-stop-shop makes the business more scalable," says Kyle. "I've found that it's been really positive as HCSS grows with us, that we continue to grow using HCSS."
Communication is Key
Julia Salgueiro, Director of Operations Technology at Preston Companies, manages operations and implements technology across multiple business units, including Preston Pipelines, Infrastructure, Preston Electric, and the Dirt Market. She aims to help Preston's people use technology to scale operations efficiently while maintaining quality, integrity, and service. She is also the HCSS Champion at her company, which means that she educates and implements HCSS solutions and provides feedback to HCSS so we can improve it.
Kyle calls it crowdsourcing construction software development that is custom-built for construction companies, describing a symbiotic relationship where feedback and innovation are mutual.
"I'm so delighted anytime a project manager or an engineer calls me with a problem of any kind or a foreman or a safety manager. When my team needs help - I'm so there for that," says Julia. "It's always that they want to learn. They want to improve, especially when they call me with ideas. It's so rewarding to have that kind of environment and culture where people know they can approach me, and I deeply consider their suggestions."
This theme of clarity and communication has helped Preston not only survive in any market condition but thrive and grow. Julia says that once you've set the stage for what you want to accomplish, the measurement and feedback loop comes next. She was referring specifically to safety, but this mentality applies to everything at Preston. To keep Preston’s future growing, you need champions, and if you onboard everyone at the company with a culture that cares for each other, you can find champions everywhere to help change when technology changes.
2025 HCSS Construction Award Finalist
We proudly congratulate Preston Companies for being one of the finalists for the HCSS Construction Award - for their excellence in building efficient processes, implementing cutting-edge technology, and working towards providing a work environment that puts the people in the field first.
Please visit our HCSS Construction Award page to learn more about this annual spotlight on the construction trailblazers who redefine efficiency, safety, and technological advancement.
