Interview With Curtis Florence President, MBE Construction Supply

For Curtis Florence, entrepreneurship runs in the family. So it was inevitable that the Tuskegee University alum would find a way to use his engineering and construction management experience to build a business of his own. As President of MBE Construction Supply, he supplies construction materials to contractors across the city. 

We spoke with Florence about how he is trying to open doors for himself and other minority-owned firms in the industry and the creative hobby he enjoys with his six-year-old son. 

How did you decide to go into business for yourself? 

My father had his own pharmacy when I was growing up. I used to go there after school and watch him do his thing. He wasn’t making a ton of money, but he had flexibility with his time. I think that’s how I became interested in entrepreneurship. 

There aren’t many African-American construction supply companies, particularly ones run by men. And in a city that does $6 billion in construction, we should have more representation. I already knew the industry, and I was familiar with the procurement rules and the processes. It just made sense for me. 

Who were your biggest supporters in the beginning? 

I used to work for Cook County in Capital Planning and Policy, which is the department that oversees construction. I put some feelers out while I was there, and some of the companies doing projects there said they would buy materials from me if I started a company. The decision was easy once I knew I had people who would buy from me.  

Suppliers need to be able to offer their customers the best price. How have you been able to stay competitive? 

My margins are skinny right now until I figure out how to get better relationships for my materials. That takes time, so I’ve been operating without a lot of overhead in the meantime. But I also have an engineering background and 15 years of construction management experience, which means I can consult and offer different perspectives on your project. 

In a recent article, you wrote that general contractors can help smaller minority and women-owned supply companies by paying on time. Why is this such an important issue for you? 

This is one of the most important ways larger firms can support disadvantaged businesses. Suppliers need to be paid upfront or within 30 days so they are free to buy more supplies for other customers. The faster we can get our money back, the more business we can do. 

What are your long-term goals for your business? 

I think supply is the best place for people to start in this industry, even if you’re interested in general contracting. Before you take on things like union dues and payroll, you need to understand the industry. This way, you can build relationships with a lean business. 

Starting in supply, you get to know what areas are profitable because your customers will tell you what they make on different types of jobs. Over time, I want to be more dominant in the category I serve. But I also see myself and doing a small bit of general contracting as well. 

What do you like to do when you’re not working? 

During the pandemic, I started making furniture. I posted a bunch of pictures on Facebook of stuff I made with my son over the summer. It was fun because we like building. My uncles did carpentry, and it fascinated me when I was younger. But I didn’t have time to get into it until now. 

What advice would you give someone starting a business? 

You can come across three types of people, people who don’t care if you fail, people who want to see you fail, and people who will go out of their way to help you succeed. Surrounding yourself with successful, supportive people is the key to having a thriving business.