Third Generation Leadership Currently, Hector Colina serves as com- pany President, assisted by his children, Nick, Jennifer and Daniella, who are poised to take Anco into the future as the third generation of family leadership. Once that leadership transition occurs, Anco will become one of, if not the, first LGBTQ-cer- tified, all-Hispanic steel contractors in the country, according to Nick Colina, partner and administrator of operations. Nick Colina grew up around the con-


struction industry but was working in the restaurant industry in 2009 when his mom asked if he would be interested in returning to the family business. At the time, Anco was struggling mightily to keep the doors open in the midst of the Great Recession. Colina said yes and embraced the challenge to turn things around. “I fell in love with the business and the


challenge of trying to figure it out, especially when it was not doing so good,” he said. “We


turned it around from about $250,000 sales to about $5 million in sales on average now. It has been a blessing.”


Advocating for Change In addition to helping shore up and rebuild the business, as a gay man in the histori- cally conservative construction sector Nick Colina has enthusiastically embraced the role of industry advocate. He helped co- found BuildOUT California, an industry fo- cused organization dedicated to promoting LGBTQ businesses and allies in architecture, engineering construction and real estate. He is a former seven-year board member of the National Association of Minority Contractors, Northern California chapter; serves on the San Francisco Latino Black Builders Association, representing Black and Hispanic contractors; and was recently named one of the top 12 most influential LGBTQ people in San Francisco by San Francisco Business Times.


Anco Iron & Construction recently joined


AGC of California, recognizing the mutual support it had been providing members of BuildOUT California (an AGC partner organization) and small/underrepresent- ed businesses like Anco through an array of programs and industry events such as SBCX 2022. “AGC was hosting a lot of events and


offering us a lot of support,” Colina said. “It seems like their advocacy is growing, and we’re excited about the diversity they have, so that is what led us to join.” Colina said the industry has definitely


changed and become more inclusive in recent years. “Both with the LGBTQ work- force and owners, I think more people are opening doors. I always say I’d like to welcome our LGBTQ community into the industry – because we are already here. We are excited for the future and even more opportunities. Any way we can push the needle forward, we will!”


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022


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