Heritage United Builders
HUB’s Mission
More than a business, Heritage United Builders, also known as HUB, is inspired by expanding the influence of its residents in the city of Charlottesville, particularly for underserved communities. After founder Quinton Harrell learned from a 2017 city report that only .04% of the $35 million capital budget was spent on vendors who identified as African Americans, whereas the majority went towards construction, he set out to expand what might be considered the heritage or legacy of people of color/minorities. Given his awareness of resources spent on construction, Harrell wanted to help bolster opportunities for minority subcontractors while also providing subcontractors with administrative support, streamlined communication, and overall assistance with managing their business.
Applicable History
The .04% of the 2017 $35 million capital budget spent on vendors who identified as African American consisted of food and cleaning services. In Virginia and other southern states cooking and cleaning has been a significant part of the heritage of black people in the South.
Smithsonian Magazine’s July 20, 2018 article entitled How Enslaved Chefs Helped Shape American Cuisine, written by historical archaeologist and historian Kelley Fanto Deetz, highlighted the influence of black chefs on the South and American culture. Deetz noted it was the “mixture of European, African, and Native American cuisines that became the staples of Southern food” and “...enslaved cooks were central players in the birth of our nation’s cultural heritage…by the late 17th century, plantation homes throughout Virginia had turned to enslaved laborers, captured from central and western Africa…Before long these enslaved cooks took the roles that had once been occupied by white indentured servants…it was the enslaved cooks who created the meals that made Virginia, and eventually the South, known for its culinary fare and hospitable nature.” Chefs Hercules Posey, an enslaved cook for George Washington at Mt. Vernon and the president’s home in Philadelphia, and James Hemings, an enslaved cook for Thomas Jefferson, are named as some of the first prominent chefs in America. Yet, even after the end of slavery, blacks largely relied on positions “as housekeepers, butlers, cooks, drivers, Pullman porters, and waiters”.
In recognizing this rich history, Harrell shared, “Those industries have provided us with great opportunity…however, that is not our only heritage, that’s not our only legacy”.
Government Contracts
The federal government spends $500 billion annually on contracts, 23-25% of which goes to small businesses. The U.S. Department of Commerce operates the Minority Business Development Agency, which is dedicated to the growth, global competitiveness, and utilization of business enterprises owned and operated by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hasidic Jews, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders in public and private sector contracting. In support of their efforts, a June 2022 report of the MBDA found that across all industries, and all things being equal, small minority-owned businesses won less government contracts than other small businesses.
Regarding the construction industry, Harrell shared, “I knew guys that had been working in the industry…for many years” and companies “...still had a need for subcontractors”.
The Business
Harell wanted to create a HUB, as its name implies: a network of subcontractors. The name also describes its mission and vision:
Heritage - acknowledging wealth-building and building as part of black and brown people’s heritage (inheritance)
United - seeking partnerships to take on larger jobs and to achieve more success
Building - building in construction and building relationships
Subcontractors can expect HUB to be a partner on projects, either serving as a broker to introduce available projects, assisting with labor, and/or offering support in administration/bookkeeping and project management.
For subcontractors who have counted HUB as a trusted partner, the value available to them is clear: increasing profit margins, executing on a higher level, and gaining more client referrals.
When clients reach out to HUB for help through the company’s website, Harrell:
Conducts a site visit to learn about the clients and the project.
Identifies material and time needs required for completion.
Puts together an estimate and shares this with the client.
Signs the contract and receives a deposit, if applicable.
Schedules the work.
Tracks milestones.
Upon completion, does a walk through with the client and receives the final payment.
Meets with clients to provide additional support, if there is a warranty period.
Building Partnerships and Relationships
For new businesses it can take time to build trust with clients and partners. So for Harrell building partnerships with clients who he has developed great rapport with and subcontractors who have come alongside him have been one of his most impactful experiences.
Naturally, HUB also gravitates towards building partnerships with other organizations in the community. HUB partnered with Cville Builds Project of the Building Goodness Foundation, which supports construction repair and restoration efforts in the Charlottesville area, specifically for low-income homeowners, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses. Through this partnership,HUB was able to help an African American homeowner and returning citizen, whose home has been in his family for over 100 years.
Harrell is looking forward to working with Piedmont Housing Alliance to assist with renovating houses to provide affordable housing.
Harrell shared proudly, “HUB has become a trusted name in the community in a short amount of time”.
Current and Future Growth
Although starting out in commercial work, Harrell has been working more on residential projects and is more hands-on himself. Recently he and his wife have also been investing in and working on residential properties.
Harrell’s future goals include:
Growing the network of minority subcontractors the industry knows and trusts while creating a platform for the network to grow.
Taking on more partnerships, including multi-million dollar contracts.
Exposing more young people to the construction industry.
Mitigating barriers by building capacity for subcontractors, i.e. investing in their own bonding and worker’s compensation insurance, which will open up more opportunities.
HUB becoming a general class-A contractor.
Message in Life and Work
The contributions of those who helped shape our nation can still be felt today. The same can be said of the influences that Harrell and others are making in other industries in our present day, including construction.
There’s no question that Harrell’s life and work message line up consistently - creating value that can be felt for generations to come.
Harrell concluded, “HUB concentrates on providing value for their clients and hopefully providing value to the construction industry as a whole”.
Learn more about Heritage United Builders at their website: https://www.hubuilders.com/.
