Cover Story _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
“ Following a recession in the late 1980s, the commercial real estate market took a hit, forcing our company to finish projects at our own expense and prompting us to change our business model. We had always managed our own site work and realized we could focus solely on that, as it presented less risk and was easier to manage. Thus, we retained our team and rebranded from Hudgins Construction to Hudgins Contracting. This transition was a startup with a boost, as my husband was well-regarded in the industry, and the Hudgins name was already well-known, so we quickly got established. In 2010, my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which changed everything. Having worked closely with him during the startup phase, I understood the business model and what needed to be done to keep things running. I continued to help support our family during this difficult time, knowing I would need to focus entirely on the business when he ultimately lost his battle. Yet, his primary concern was for his employees, who had been with him through two different companies and were looking forward to retirement. My husband insisted that I keep the company going after his passing, a request I could not refuse. In 2012, I became CEO and Owner, committed to upholding his legacy and
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