Mary Beth Riley, owner of D&R Sales Co., which sells metal buildings, started out as a hired hand 37 years ago. The company has grown with the times, she said, constructing dependable, affordable pre-engineered buildings that last. Photo by Mike Thomas
Once the secretary/receptionist at D&R Sales Co. in Corpus Christi, Mary Beth Riley now owns the business, which specializes in pre-engineered buildings for all purposes: office, warehouse, industrial, school, farming and more. It also works with local oil and gas businesses.
The company was founded in 1968 by Dick and Reba Whitehead. Riley came on board two years later, typing up quotes and purchase orders.
“I have always been greatly interested in the business,” Riley said. “I always asked questions. I would visit the job sites and learn as much as I could. The original owners encouraged me to learn.”
Riley’s rise to president is an inspiring story. She worked at D&R while she put herself through school. She had just passed her certified public accountant exam when the Whiteheads decided to sell. The one-time secretary has been running operations on her own for the past 20 years.
“It’s a good message to young people to show initiative in your jobs and always try to learn more about your company and the products you’re handling,” she said. “D&R stands for Dick and Reba. I have always continued on with their ethics and policies.”
Just as technology and culture have changed since 1970, so have the company’s operations.
“There’s been quite an evolution both in metal buildings and how work is done,” she explained, citing safety awareness, government oversight and electronic communication.
The biggest and most effecting change, however, has been the decline of qualified workers, a very pressing issue for Riley.
“It’s hard to find young people to replace all of our retiring craftsmen,” Riley said. “College education has been emphasized so much, but it’s not for everyone. We need to get some of the crafts and trades back into our education system because the construction industry is not alone in needing skilled craftsmen.”
Riley appreciates her current employees, which include right-hand man Rory Escobar. He handles the sales and scheduling and provides all the supervision on projects. D&R Sales Co. usually has six to eight projects going at one time.
“I couldn’t continue without him,” she said. “My skill set has always been in the office. I keep everything running smoothly inside, and he keeps everything running on the outside.”
To learn more about D&R Sales Co., visit drsales.net or call (361) 853-1771. It’s located at 2038 Saratoga Blvd.
