MEMBER PROFILE Andres Baquerizo – Passion, Energy and a Relentless Work Ethic Andres Baquerizo arrived in the U.S. 15 days after 9/ll. Not the best time for an immigrant, as he recalls, suggesting that many Americans were suspicious of outsiders. However, he was no “ordinary” immigrant in many ways. He had a long family tradition of technological expertise and a history of looking across borders for new opportunities. His great grandfather was twice the president of Ecuador, and his grandfather was a self-educated engineer who made many technological advances, then left his country to find better opportunities in Colombia. He not only found them, he became the head of Aluminum Reynolds and the Ecuadorian Consul in Colombia. thought it would be interesting to get a U.S. master’s degree, studying and working where “no one knows who you are.” Baquerizo has been working since he was 15, in his father’s office (while also mowing his grandfather’s lawn and doing chores). In his spare time, he was winning soccer trophies, and driving race cars that he financed with his earnings after his dad’s initial race car gift. In this endeavor, he also won championships. Currently, he is a sport/race car instructor on weekends, a mountain biker, and he runs and plays golf. American Entrepreneurship The U.S. had many attractions for young Baquer izo. Li s tening to him i s enlightening, even inspiring. He thinks the U.S. still has the entrepreneurial spirit, saying that this country offers the “liberty and the money to do crazy things and wonderful projects,” a combination that amounts to an “amazing challenge for engineers,” he says. The young immigrant couple both Baquerizo’s father is a renowned struc- tural and geotechnical engineer in Colom- bia and his mother a psychologist, and so he and his brothers grew up immersed in engineering, construction and people concerns. Middle son Andres is now the vice president and engineering director of HJ Foundation in the U.S., his older brother is an architect,, and the youngest is the vice president of the HSBC bank in Colombia. Baquerizo came to the U.S. for several reasons. Principal among them was his “super-intelligent” wife, Claudia, who had been promoted to the DHL South America regional office located in Florida. He also credits her with changing his life, in that he was inspired to match her extraordinary school grades to “impress” her. He also prospered. Each studied for a master’s degree, hers in international business, his in civil engineering, and worked. His degree was interrupted by a job offer from HJ Foundation. He finished his degree at night. They strive to coordinate work travel so that one parent is always home with their two young sons. His wife now heads up customer service for DHL in all Central and South America. Ed Hickey, founder of HJ Foundation, vividly recalls hiring Baquerizo in 2002, saying he and partner, Frank Fonseca, were looking for a decision maker, someone who “takes charge, and does not stop until the job is done.” Hickey says he recalls giving his new hire a “terrible” job to manage, and says “Andres averted a disaster,” turning the project around. Hickey believes the “take charge” quality is innate, not something you acquire with age. Fonseca describes Baquerizo as an “outside the box thinker, with high energy, and a relentless work ethic, one who sees problems though to the final solution.” Constructability Baquerizo describes his approach to a project, saying he talks to everyone, from laborers on up the chain, asking “what do you think?” In Colombia, he says, engineers have to submit one method of construction with their proposals. The owner doesn’t have to use it, but, he thinks this requirement gets engineers to think about what we in the U.S. call “constructability.” Baquerizo was thinking about construc- tability before it became a buzzword. John Mills, general superintendent, Coastal Construction, has a long list of praiseworthy attributes for Baquerizo, saying he demonstrates “tremendous creativity, resourcefulness and practical management ability.” Mills finds it rare for someone with such a strong engineering background to meld his engineering expertise with relevant observational and instructional skills at the crew level. As a result, says Mills, HJ Foundation is able to “train crews on important details that improve product quality.” Mills continues to say that Baquerizo is a “man of his word,” delivering crews and materials as promised. During the “boom and crash” of Florida’s construction industry, Andres never “sugarcoated the truth,” and “through his transparency, we were able to find the best way to get the job done.” He adds that “Baquerizo is honest in recognizing errors, and in proposing fixes and implementing them without delay. This is a rare and valuable quality.” Barry Goldstein, president of the Kaderabak Company, geotechnical engineers, echoes those who cite Baquerizo’s uncom- mon ability to provide practical solutions that both engineers and contractors can accept and make a project succeed. Michael Metcalfe, KM-Plaza executive met Baquerizo when they worked on two projects across the street from each other for about five years. He’s a go-to guy, says Metcalfe, “We always know we can work things out together. Baquerizo always tried to work with us, and avoid butting heads with the contractor.” DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2013 • 37
