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John Yantis |
| FOUNDER
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Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science - Engineering Technology |
At the young age of 33, John Yantis determined it was time to go after his dream
and start his own business. After working for Zachry Construction and serving as
an equipment salesperson, John founded Yantis Company in 1965. With
the $1,000 John had to his name, he borrowed $9,000 of start up capital from Gross
Bank and took on his first partner Norman Harwell, who invested $10,000 into the
company. With this $20,000, John’s dream had become a reality.
Yantis Company’s first job was difficult by anyone’s standards. Yantis was awarded
a subcontract to construct a 36” sewer main that averaged 16 feet of depth in solid
rock from Jackson Keller Road to Dreamland Road in San Antonio. John conducted first
hand the blasting and the laying of this sewer. Despite the difficult terrain, Yantis
company managed to turn a $40,000 profit. After that, as John says, “We were off
to the races!”
John single handedly managed Yantis Company from 1965 until the mid 80’s. Under
his aggressive leadership, Yantis grew into a full service sitework contractor that
performed concrete, earthwork, paving, and utilities. Some of the more notable jobs
that John was involved with included Central Park Mall, Ingram Park Mall, Loop 410,
the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and Windsor Park Mall.
In 1988, John was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young. John has served in multiple capacities for different organizations including the AGC Area Chairman,
the Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation Executive Committee, and the Alamo Bowl Board
of Directors. John was the Chairman of the 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl.
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