NEWS
CONTRACTOR NEWS & VIEWS ARTICLE, FEBRUARY 2004
(Reprinted with permission)
Candace Friedman – President of Acme Safety & Supply Corp. was introduced to construction in 1981 while she was working for a real estate appraiser. Noticing how construction in certain areas affected housing costs, she became fascinated with various aspects of the construction industry. In 1981, she went to work for Callahan Brothers as an expeditor and estimator. In 1984, she left the company and over the next several years worked for various companies where she perfected her skills in estimating, office management and human resources.
Candace realized early on that being a woman, in basically a male oriented industry would be a challenge. Candace answered the challenge by being organized, thorough, and dependable. She became the ‘go to person’ for the companies she worked for. But she would soon find out that sometimes that wasn’t enough, if you were a woman. One of the companies she worked for went through an ownership change. Candace was told in a round-about-way that the new owners didn’t want any women on the management team. She had always given 110% on the job and she took it as a slap in the face that she wouldn’t be considered as management anymore because of her gender. But Candace turned the negative experience into a positive one.
After much thought and encouragement from others in the industry, she decided to strike out on her own and start her own business. She went to a bank to get a business loan. At first even the banks wanted to speak to her husband because they couldn’t believe that a woman was embarking on a construction related business. Eventually, she got the financing together and opened up her business. She started Acme Safety & Supply Company in April 1999. Despite repeated efforts to discourage her in business, she held her head high and rose above the adversity.
CONTRACTOR NEWS & VIEWS ARTICLE, JANUARY 2004
(Reprinted with permission)
Thomas F. Becker, with Logistics, Ridgeway International, Super Bowl XXXVII, said of Acme Safety & Supply Co., “Candace, you should be proud of your company and employees. I am pleased to have worked with them all and greatly appreciate the effort put forth. The personal interest shown by ACME was exceptional and I would whole-heartedly recommend ACME to all. Thank you very much for a job well-done.” The NFL, named Acme Safety & Supply Company “Most Valuable Vendor” of 2003 Super Bowl XXXVII held at Qualcomm Stadium.
Whether its coordinating traffic and signs for the Super Bowl or delivering cones and barricades to your project site, the friendly staff at Acme will be happy to assist you with all your traffic and signage needs. In 1999, Candace Friedman started the business, determined to succeed in what many said was a ‘man’s industry’. But her friends and other women in the construction industry encouraged her not to let anything stand in her way. She made a business plan and applied for a small business loan from her bank. She rented a small but suitable location in the Sports Arena area, hired a few people and before long, her client list began to grow. She focused on providing exceptional service to her clients and instilled in her staff a willingness to go the extra mile. Candace focused on hiring people she could trust and the family atmosphere amongst her staff made the long working hours go by faster. The entire staff enjoys spending time together and having fun. (Of course, anyone that knows Candace knows that this means attending a few tailgate parties when the Chargers are in town.)
