What began as a primarily aggregate-based operation in 1950 has evolved in to a full-blown demolition and recycling enterprise located in Upland. Ron Willemsen, the company owner, keeps a tight reign on the operations today, but his uncle, Ignazio Intravaia, laid the groundwork. After running the company for forty years, Intravaia decided it was time to retire in 1997 and handed the controls over to his nephew, who had come from the Midwest to help in 1989. Willemsen added a contractor’s license in 1990 to the company’s existing operations, which resulted in additional contracting work being secured. Willemsen’s background was in residential construction with his father in Sioux City, Iowa, where the two of them built houses. With homebuilding under his belt, Willemsen decided to try out the demolition business and moved west.

(Above) The Vermeer TG525 Tub Grinder makes short work out of stumps and other green waste brought into this Upland based facility. (Right L to R) Ron Willemsen, Owner with Ignaziio (Izzy) Intravaia, Founder.

Today, Intravaia clears, grades, demolishes and even creates topsoil, sand and gravel for contractors, landscapers and federal contractors.The company’s green waste recycle yard is where everything from the final demolition of a house to the mulching of trees and shrubberies takes place. One of the most interesting aspects about Intravaia is the fact that much of the demolition involving wood and metal in structures is removed by hand. This physical removal includes all of the material that would go to the county dumpsites. The wood and metal are taken to the recycle scrap yards and has allowed the company to decrease dump fee expenditures by a third. According to Willemsen, they are one of the only demolition companies to actually remove materials by hand.

Much of the green waste is turned into a mulch product, as well as supplying the extra material needed to sell to co-gen facilities for fuel. They also make mulch for erosion control on area freeways. Very little material is wasted and such is the case when tons of firewood for sale can be seen from the main roadway.

The site in Upland also accepts rock and dirt dump-ins for screening, in order to glean the gravel, sand and topsoil out of it. They also have another location in Rancho Cucamonga, which functions in much the same way, screening topsoil out of waste products. Currently, Intravaia has a contract with the Chino Water Basin to screen material from one of their pits.

The main office and green waste recycle yard is located in a rock quarry area, across the street from Holiday Rock and Vulcan Materials, in Upland. They will be just off the 210 Freeway when it is completed. This is where most of the calls come in for the use of their Vermeer TG525 self loading tub grinder, CAT 977 and 963 track loaders, Dresser 175 track loader, CAT 966E, CAT 980C Rubber tire loader, various trucks and a backhoe. Four trucks with low-sides haul concrete, rock, dirt and waste products off, while and additional four high-side trucks carry construction debris away. Willemsen employs a variety of pullers, which go out on rentals. Intravaia not only has all of their own equipment, but they also own and operate all of their own trucks to haul it. This is necessary in order to minimize dump fees and out-sourcing of any kind. What results is an effective method of controlling their costs.

(Directly above L to R) Office Staff: Erika Thoreson, Christy Vance, Ron Willemsen, Jeanette Sanchez and Amy Black. (Above right L to R) David Epple (Master Mechanic), Ron Willemsen (Owner) with Ted Cartwright, Gerry Glanville and Mike Intravaia (Service & Repair - Lube & Technician Crew).

Recently, the city of Upland called Willemsen for an in-house rush job. Investigators needed assistance in searching for clues in a house fire, which resulted in a fatality. Intravaia Inc. was on the scene within the hour and ready to work. The equipment operators had to carefully remove the debris while the investigators studied the surroundings. This type of performance is why Willemsen smiles when he speaks of his employees.

A total of 37 individuals work for Intravaia Inc., with responsibilities in the areas of sales, mechanics, supervision and equipment operations. Intravaia Inc. also functions as a truck brokerage firm and they employ two full-time salesmen who sell aggregate as well as the eighteen-wheeled haulers. The sales department has had the opportunity to sell trucks to a variety of contractors throughout southern California, competitors as well as associates.

Two foremen make sure that the trucks are dispatched correctly and that material, including sand, gravel, topsoil and mulches are sold to a variety of contractors and landscapers. An additional foreman supervises contract work and the equipment operators. Willemsen said that their operators have been with the company for more than 25 years. Two of them are, in Ron’s opinion, the finest track loader operators in southern California, "it has been their expertise that has allowed us to get our jobs done efficiently and effectively and quicker than our competition can do it." Some of the notable individuals include, dispatcher Christy Vance, Operators, Jesse Caldwell, Bob Burge and Roman Ortiz. Dave Epple functions as the "master" mechanic and makes sure all equipment is maintained and repaired, according to Willemsen.

(L to R) Ron Willemsen working with his neighbor Eddie and with his son, Mike on one of their classic car projects. (Above right) Part of RonÕs collection consisting of a 55Õ Nomad, a 68Õ Camaro, a 66Õ Corvette and a 58Õ Chevy Cameo.

With such stiff competition in Southern California, Willemsen’s philosophy is to, "Take the time to do the job right the first time. So often I see other contractors doing a job that could have been better if they had taken the time to do it right." Apparently, this method of approaching projects has paid off. When contracting was added in the early 90’s, Intravaia was making about $1 million in material sales and contract work, but today they have grown to an expected $8 million for this year.

Willemsen attributes the success to his company’s greatest strengths, which are two-fold.

The first strength is the fact that all company equipment is available to start and complete a project regardless of the difficulty level. The second being that the experienced operators, laborers and truck drivers, most in excess of ten years, know their jobs, do it quickly and efficiently and with a minimum of needed direction.

Intravaia tries to remain active in the community through charitable donations to the YMCA, the Boys Home and various other programs in the local area. Willemsen and his son started to work on a ‘68 Camaro, citing that most of their off time consists of restoring vintage vehicles. However they spend their time, it is well invested as the success of Intravaia Inc. continues.

Intravaia Rock and Sand Inc.Õs Caterpillar 966E Wheel Loader transporting wood chips on location in Upland, California.