Generations in the Mix: Building Aguilar Concrete Services

Benny Aguilar | Hands of the Homeland

Two men, Benny and Leno Aguilar, stand side by side at a construction site in front of heavy machinery. Two men, Benny and Leno Aguilar, stand side by side at a construction site in front of heavy machinery.

On any given morning in North Texas, the hum of concrete mixers and the clang of rebar frame the start of another job site. But for Benny Aguilar, it’s not just another day at work, it’s a continuation of a legacy built with grit, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Five construction workers stand at a job site discussing plans near a foundation layout. Five construction workers stand at a job site discussing plans near a foundation layout.

Aguilar Concrete Services wasn’t always a family empire. In 2000, Benny’s father, Leno Aguilar—a seasoned foreman who had poured concrete on high-rise garages across Austin and Dallas—was simply looking for a job.

A contractor ultimately offered Leno work, but only if he registered as a business. With no roadmap and little money, Leno walked into City Hall, filed the paperwork, and unknowingly laid the foundation for what would become one of Fort Worth’s most respected minority-owned concrete contractors.

Raised in Grand Prairie, Benny Aguilar was the oldest of four. By age nine, he was on job sites beside his father, hauling wood, collecting nails, and cleaning up after the crew. But it was his ability to translate, navigating the language barrier for his father who immigrated from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, that made him indispensable. “I was the little kid next to him,” Benny says. “I was the guy.”

Two men, Benny and Leno Aguilar, review a large set of construction blueprints. Two men, Benny and Leno Aguilar, review a large set of construction blueprints.

That bond forged between father and son went beyond words. By the time Benny was in his teens, he was writing invoices, estimates, and checks, gradually becoming his father’s right-hand man.

After earning a degree in construction management, Benny returned to the business full-time, not just to work in it, but to grow it. While Leno remained in the field running crews, Benny took the reins on operations, contracts, and client relationships. “I’m the face of the company now,” he says. “It’s my job to make sure everyone has work.”

But building a business from scratch wasn’t easy. “We didn’t have banks backing us or credit lines,” Benny recalls. “It was just recycling every dollar we made and praying the next job paid on time.” Many didn’t. The family estimates they’ve lost tens of thousands of dollars over the years from unpaid contracts. Still, Leno never let bitterness take root. “Take the loss and keep going,” he’d say. And they did.

A red hard hat, neon safety vest with the Aguilar Concrete Services logo, pink string, and markers rest on top of construction blueprints laid out on a wooden surface at a job site. A red hard hat, neon safety vest with the Aguilar Concrete Services logo, pink string, and markers rest on top of construction blueprints laid out on a wooden surface at a job site.

It took nearly 15 years before Aguilar Concrete saw consistent profitability. Now, 25 years in, the company is thriving, pouring light commercial foundations, leading renovation projects, and continuing to work across Dallas-Fort Worth with integrity and pride. Benny’s sister Brenda handles accounting, while Benny steers the business forward. Their goal? To grow Aguilar Concrete into a place where young tradespeople can learn “the Aguilar way.”

“We want to teach what we didn’t know,” Benny says. “Whether it’s fieldwork or project management, we’re not gatekeeping the knowledge. We’re investing in the next generation.”

As Leno steps into retirement and Benny looks ahead, time, not money, is the most valuable resource. “My dad didn’t have time,” Benny reflects. “He sacrificed everything to build this. Now I want to build something that runs without us, something that gives time back to my kids, to my family.”

Close-up of Benny Aguilar wearing brown leather Homeland work boots and jeans standing on a dirt construction site. Close-up of Benny Aguilar wearing brown leather Homeland work boots and jeans standing on a dirt construction site.

Fittingly, Benny’s work boots are as foundational as the concrete he pours. He looks for comfort, support, and durability—the same qualities that define his work ethic. No high heels, no fluff. Just boots that can stand the test of a 12-hour shift in the Texas heat. That’s why Justin has created the Homeland Collection, built for those who carry the weight of their family, their crew, and their country on their shoulders. For men like Leno and Benny Aguilar, boots aren’t just gear. They’re gear for the grind, a daily companion in building something that lasts.

In a world that moves fast, the Aguilars remind us of something slower, stronger, and more lasting: that with your hands, your heart, and a whole lot of hustle, you can build more than a business. You can build a legacy. These are the Hands of the Homeland.

Back in Coppell, the concrete is being poured. Another foundation set. Another project taking shape. It’s not just work, it’s legacy.

Close-up of a person’s open hands showing worn, calloused palms, wearing a denim work shirt, standing outdoors at a construction site. Close-up of a person’s open hands showing worn, calloused palms, wearing a denim work shirt, standing outdoors at a construction site.