Hector A. Cruz Jr.
Houston TX. 77042
Cell: 228-***-****
Email: *******@*****.***
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a plant management position in the asphalt industry or any
structural application which best utilizes my knowledge of plant
operations, trouble shooting, structural expertise, and offers me
challenges and new opportunities to learn. Most importantly I desire the
opportunity to lead, mentor and inspire excellence in myself and my
subordinates.
QUALIFICATIONS
I have worked in the asphalt and structural business for 23 years,
starting as a certified welder, then plant repairs and maintenance, lead
man, and plant foreman, working my way up to plant superintendent. As a
result, I have a strong understanding of plant operations from the ground
up, including the lab process, lay down process, trucking, aggregate
materials, consumable purchasing, etc. I also have strong people skills.
This is most important when dealing with customers and employees. I feel
good communication and a strong working relationship with all employees is
important to being productive at work. It is with these skills that I have
been able to achieve high production with low plant cost. My specialties
include a strong structural background, strong understanding of waste
minimization and excellent skills in forecasting potential plant problems
so as to minimize down time.
EDUCATION
2010 completed military instructor school
2008 Was called to active duty were I received extensive leadership
training
2006 Astec School
1996-1997 Attended Johnston Community College for Operations Management
Technology
1990-1991 Attended Johnston Community College in the College Transfer
Program
1987 Obtained my High school diploma from UNC-Chapel Hill
EMPLOYMENT
April 2011- June 2013, Durwood Greene, American Materials- Plant Manager
I took this job in Texas out of necessity and have made the best out of
my move to Texas. I manage three plants all manufactured by Astec. Two of
the plants are around twenty years old and one is under six. I mainly
involve myself directly with the third generation Greene, Brad Greene. He
has been receptive to most of my suggestions and we have made many upgrades
to the oldest plant at their Stafford Texas location. My strengths are in
upgrades and fixing plant manufacturing flaws as to eliminate down time but
I am well versed in all aspects of plant operations. I found this job by
the good reputation I have established with Astec. In the first few months
I have managed to upgrade their plants spending roughly 400,000.00 and
still counting but the return's are a more reliable product in their plants
and a mindset in the individuals who do the day to day work to perform
preventative maintenance not reactive maintenance . This has been a project
I have been implementing and hopefully will become contagious and help this
company maintain their plants better in the future.
October 2007 - January 2011, Superior Asphalt - Plant Superintendent
I was recruited to be the Plant Superintendent by my former boss and
current Plant Superintendent. My main responsibility has been to head up
the movement of Superior's dual drum mix plant from Louisville to Gulfport.
The first phase of this movement solely lied in my hands as the second
Superintendent was tied up with Superior's plant in Jacksonville, Florida.
This phase involved the tearing down and transport of the plant from
Louisville to Gulfport. Phase two involved the erection of the plant at the
Gulfport plant site. This involved my coordinating with engineers and the
City of Gulfport to meet the new flood standards for the concrete permanent
structures. I was responsible for reconfiguring all major modifications to
the plant. I then submitted them to the engineer to fine tune to meet the
codes and approval by the state. Once up and running I over saw the day to
day production of all state projects in Gulfport. I spent the last year
running the plant as acting plant foreman.
2003-2012, United States Navy Reserve
Although I consider this to be my duty, not a job, I was paid for my
service as a Sea Bee in the Navy. I was affiliated with the Construction
Battalion of the Navy. I joined the Navy after 9-11-01 to help do my part
in the fight against our current enemies. I last served with NMCB 28 in
Houston Texas. There I was the head of the training department at my
Detachment. My trainings, duties and leadership roll in the Navy have
helped me in my civilian career. I was activated in December of 2008 were I
served in Operation Noble Eagle in Iraq. There I saw combat and was a vital
participant in my Convoy Security Team's many missions without casualty. I
was the lead navigator, Intel Petty Officer, brief Petty Officer and the
third in command of a highly trained Convoy Security Element. The skills
and experiences I gained in combat have helped me be a better manager in
the civilian sector.
March 2006 - October 2007, Tugalo Construction Co. - Plant Foreman
I was recruited to be Plant Foreman for this company by a previous Nello
Teer supervisor who somehow tracked me down in Mississippi. I was
informed of their plans to build a new continuous mix plant at their
Demorest plant site. I agreed to a one year contract whereby I would get
their plant up and running and insure a smooth transition.
I had hands on involvement in the construction of the new plant from a
mound of dirt until the first fire up of production in September. Tugalo
has always had batch plants and this was to be their first drum plant. I
also replaced the WEM operating system with the PM96 and as of February 07
the JWS load out also. I have implemented many new systems for Tugalo, all
of which have contributed to Tugalo's receiving of the Diamond Achievement
Award. I fulfilled my contract and move toward a management position with
more operational control.
May 2005-March 2006, Superior Asphalt - Plant Foreman
My primary duty with Superior was Plant Foreman at the Louisville plant
in Mississippi. They sought me out for my extensive knowledge in the PM96
operating system and my strong trouble solving abilities. Superior saw the
need to go outside the state of Mississippi to accomplish the task of
bringing the Louisville plant up to a national standard of excellence. I
was certainly up to the challenge.
My primary responsibilities range from the ordering of the necessary raw
goods used to produce asphalt to the ordering of parts used for repair.
Since my arrival, the waste produced at this plant was reduced by eighty
Percent. The quality and consistency of the mix was greatly improved and
some manpower changes had been made. In just a few short months, I was able
to start the process of restoring leadership control and reestablishing
discipline at this site. I gained a better control on labor costs and was
able to better control maintenance at the plant. All these things allowed
for a more standardized format that could be recreated at all three of
Superior's plants. This standardization helped to cut cost and increased
the bottom line.
June 2001 - May 2005, C.C. Mangum Company - Plant Foreman
I was the Plant Foreman at the Westgate Road facility for C.C. Mangum.
My primary job was to keep this plant
producing with the guidance of upper management and the help of my crew. I
was active in filling in any gaps that might have impeded the plant's
ability to maintain the levels of production required on a daily basis. I
was responsible for the scheduling of manpower, trucking, parts, and an
infinite series of events that were required of me on a daily basis. In
addition to plant foreman I served as plant operator, structural welder and
loader operator. I also was responsible for reporting cost analysis on
parts and all daily reports associated with plant production and
maintenance.
April 1998 - June 2001, Nello L. Teer Company - Plant Foreman
My primary responsibility as a Plant Forman here was to run the asphalt
plant in Durham. I also did maintenance with a three man crew all at night.
I learned how to run this plant while operating the loader at night. The
plants Foreman gave me the opportunity to advance my knowledge of the
asphalt business and I will forever be indebted to him for this
opportunity. I was hired by Nello Teer to repair and maintain the plant in
Holly Springs. When this plant didn't come to realization they transferred
me to the Durham plant to fill in at night. Within one years time I
learned to run the Asphalt plant and became a Foreman.
March 1995 - April 1998, Mid-Atlantic Crane Company - Lead
Welder/Installation Leader
My primary responsibility was building box girders. I was in charge of a
three man crew in the shop. I was responsible for all aspects of building
the girders from lying out, to prepping the steel, to fit-up of steel, to
welding with flux core or submerged arc welding. I was also responsible
for any fit up and welding of runway beams, columns and configuration. My
secondary responsibility was installation leader. I was in charge of the
crew that goes out and installs the various cranes that are built in the
shop. I supervised all aspects of crane installation from the layout of the
crane, to lifting to welding and finally seeing to it that the job was
completed accurately and on time.
April 1991- March 1995, Structural Steel - Journeyman Welder
My primary responsibility was building girders used in bridge construction.
I used the submerged arc method in these welds. I also welded the web to
the flanges by using a tandem welding machine. My secondary responsibility
included welding using stick and flux core welds. These welds required me
to weld, from start to finish, all aspects of bridge production materials.
These types of welds also required me to weld from various positions and at
various angles.
August 1988 - April 1991, Caterpillar, Inc. - Technician
It was here, at the new products division that I first learned to weld. My
duties included fabricating newly engineered brackets and various metal
components for new releases. We used the prints provided by the
Engineering department to make the necessary components and tested their
practical application.
LICENSES & CERTIFICATES
I was certified unlimited in SMAW, SAW, FCAW, SAW (tandem), and SAW (DW).
All certifications were achieved in 1994 and 1995. All tests were
witnessed by either a North Carolina or Virginia state inspector. Both of
which are A.W.S certified.
I have my plant certificate of state sanctioned on the job training. I also
have my weigh master license.
I have several leadership courses taken through the Navy
I also attend work related leadership training courses yearly.