Ordonez Construction: End of Year Reflection

We recently had our annual company Christmas party, which brought together our team and investors. It was a great time to spend together, taking a step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday operations. My father and I usually deliver a speech to the people attending, and I decided it would be nice to share my remarks with everyone in the community.

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Speech

Reflecting on this year's journey, we've navigated some formidable challenges, and this year tested our inner strength with market declines, material scarcity, and labor shortages. But here we stand, having weathered the storm—a testament to our resilience. I believe that this year has been one that will define us as a company: this year, we were a company that adapted, a company that fought, and a company that outworked.

In the face of adversity, we didn't merely survive; we thrived. We didn't let obstacles define us; instead, we expanded. We took on the challenging task of redefining 'affordable housing' in Florida to make it accessible for the middle class, those for whom every penny counts. 

Here are some numbers:

Construction

• Number of COs: 71 in 2023 vs. 35 in 2022

• Number of projects started: 344 Single Family, 210 Multifamily 

• Number of counties we're working in 9 in 2023 vs. 6 in 2022

Real Estate

• 502 Wholesale transactions

• Overall portfolio rental increase of 30%

Education

• 580 alums have learned our construction process through our courses this year.

Our commitment to this vision wasn't just a statement; it was a mission we undertook and are in the process of implementing. It's not just about building structures; it's about constructing dreams, stability, and futures for families and investors.

One of our main focuses as a company is to help our investors grow their wealth and better provide for their families.

We have raised close to $5M of investor capital and are proud to say that we have paid it all back, plus an average interest of 9.2% annually. Their initial trust in us and their continued support through their reinvestment fuel this company’s mission and are one of the main reasons we can undertake projects on a large scale.

Amidst our challenges, we embraced change. We welcomed a remote team that has become an essential asset to our company. Their dedication and willingness to work the "Freedom" way have strengthened our foundation. The bond they have formed overseas has also enriched our company culture, which is challenging with people in different workplaces. Lastly, their skills and creativity have allowed us to innovate, making our employees' and clients' lives easier.

This year, we have expanded our workforce from 15 to 53 employees that are a combination of remote, in-office, and onsite. To the people who have stuck it out, your loyalty is of the utmost importance to us, and we promise that as long as we're alive as a company, we will do everything we can to help you grow as employees and people. 

Another change that we have embraced is systems. We have implemented new ways of working throughout the company, and even with all of the pivots and changes we have made, the team has adapted with little resistance, making it much easier for us to implement processes that will allow us to scale beyond our wildest dreams.

As this year ends, I wish for the next year not to be a new chapter but a continuation of our story. We are writing our story, and we decide what goes into it. I wish to keep writing the story of a resilient, adaptable, and unified team hungry to take on the real estate industry. Let's use our experiences from the past year to help us write this tale in a way that the world will remember.

Cheers to each of you and the limitless future we're building together.