RockBlog

J.P. Holcomb - Graniterock is a Family Tradition

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

J.P. Holcomb has a job many would envy. “When people ask me what I do,” he says with a smile, “I tell them I break rocks for a living.” J.P. is the engineer in charge of controlled blasting at Graniterock’s A.R. Wilson Quarry and oversees weeklycharges which loosen rock from the quarry face.These carefully designed and controlled blasts are the first step in preparing granite aggregatefor construction use. The quarry is located where the San Andreas ... Read More

Up Close with Chris Anderson

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

It was probably no great surprise to Chris Anderson’s family when he chose a career in construction. Construction is in the DNA of his family, which has deep roots in our region. Chris’s Norwegian great grandfather, Olaf Anderson, worked in the construction industry, and after World War II, his grandfather, Carl Ernie Anderson, started Anderson Ready Mix Concrete in Mountain View and in Sunnyvale. In the 1950s, Carl joined two partners to form CAP Concrete, which ... Read More

Donita Granado - Making It Better at Graniterock

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

At Graniterock, one of our core values is tocontinuously work tomake ourselves better. During seven years with the Company, Donita Granado has embraced that value, challenging herself to learn, grow and develop as a member of the Graniterock Team. First with Building Materials Sales in Cupertino and Redwood City, then as Inside Sales support for Road Materials Account Managers in San Jose, Redwood City and South San Francisco, and now as a part of Graniterock’s Sales ... Read More

Romualdo Pacheco and Graniterock

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

Romualdo Pacheco was a colorful and influential Californio, an early Californian of Mexican ancestry, who also happened to be the uncle of Graniterock founder Arthur R. Wilson. He is the only Hispanic to ever serve as governor of California, the first governor who was born in California, and was also an attorney, military officer, diplomat and mining investor.An accomplished sailor and horseman, he is the only California governor ever known to have lassoed a grizzly bear! ... Read More

Paul Lessard, PhD - Graniterock Scientist

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

Few who know Graniterock’s Dr. Paul Lessard would imagine that he faced learning challenges in childhood. “I had to repeat third grade because I was unable to read,” recalls Paul, and “I never really felt ‘smart’ during grammar or high school.” It wasn’t until after he graduated from Palma High School in Salinas and entered UC Davis that Paul realized, “Getting good grades was mostly a matter of working very hard.” He suddenly found himself getting ... Read More

Terri Brazil and the "Family Business"

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

People like Terri Brazil are what makesGraniterock truly a “family business.” Terri brings the feeling of family to the Construction Division’s Custom Work department, based in Watsonville, where she works as Contract Administrator, and since joining Graniterock in 1999, she has brought three nephews on board with the Company. Greg Brazil and John Taylor both work with the Construction Division, and Jake Brazil ran Graniterock Builders before starting his own business, Brazil Construction, with the goal ... Read More

Up Close: Chris Beatie - Finding a Path to Giving

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

Life’s journey sometimes leads us to unexpected destinations. For Chris Beatie, who works at Graniterock’s A.R. Wilson Road Materials in Aromas, recent challenges have led to new opportunities to improve his personal well-being and at the same time help others in need.A few years ago, when Chris discovered his cholesterol was high, he decided to make some changes to improve his health. He began with diet, and then decided to take up cycling. “My first goal ... Read More

100 Years Ago at Graniterock

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

100 years ago, in 1913, Pearl Totten O’Donnell was born at the quarry village. Pearl’s father, Harry Totten, worked as engineer on the steam locomotives used to move rock from the quarry face to be crushed and loaded onto railcars at the main railroad line. In those days, single men lived in the Bunkhouse and ate at the Cookhouse, and families lived in Quarry housing. In the late 1940s, when the heavy traffic of big rig ... Read More

Up Close: Ryan Fontes

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

For Ryan Fontes, concrete dispatcher for Graniterock in Monterey County, every day on the job brings new and interesting challenges. “There are so many variables with concrete,” explains Ryan. “As we say around here, every delivery has a story. It can be something unexpected that happens in traffic on the way to the job, or something on the job site. Contractors, inspectors, concrete pumpers, finishers – with everyone involved it can be pretty intense at times. ... Read More

Mary Machado - "Just Ask for Mary!"

Author: Rose Ann Woolpert Posted by Rose Ann Woolpert on Wed, March 18th, 2015, 8:16 am

Mary Machado spends every day at work visiting with longtime friends, but it’s all a part of her job on the Building Materials Team at Graniterock’s Watsonville Branch. “We all know each other - I grew up here and know a lot of contractors”, explains Mary. “The kids I went to school with are in business now and I know them all. When they come in, it’s ‘Hi Mary, how’s the family’ – and that’s why ... Read More

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