Peer Entrepreneur Speakers: Where Are They Now? Samuel Martinez

Photo courtesy of Martinez Remodeling.

Restoration, church remodeling, million-dollar repairs, and resilience. 

Here’s what an inspiring PENTAC National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series community member was up to this year.

Samuel Martinez, age 49, is a peer entrepreneur who lives in Cleburne, Texas with over 5 years of experience running his own business, Martinez Remodeling, specializing in home restoration, remodeling, and repairs. He is described as loving, caring, and passionate.

One year ago, Mr. Martinez spoke about his journey of managing and operating the business he almost gave up on but has since made a comeback. He focuses on “Helping Other People Elevate (HOPE)” specifically working with men transitioning out of prison to regain their lives.

During the past year, Mr. Martinez and his crew have remodeled 4 full-sized houses every 2-3 months in Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas. Mr. Martinez described his upcoming projects including remodeling a church and a carpenter remodel for home repairs on a house worth one-million dollars. 

Photo courtesy of Martinez Remodeling.

It was not an easy task. During this time, Mr. Martinez had an accident on the job when a colleague let go of the ladder, sending Mr. Martinez falling 16 feet and shattering the heel bone in his right foot. While Mr. Martinez was healing from the ladder accident, he, unfortunately, got in a car accident when he hit a water pipe going 5 miles per hour, which damaged his son’s truck and left him with only a bicycle to get to work and make grocery runs while waring a full cast. Following this series of accidents, he also suffered a loss in the family. As well as the anger he felt from the recent injuries and the impact of it on his life, but Mr. Martinez did not give up hope. Even when struggling with separation from his wife and his daughter leaving home, he persevered! 

Photo courtesy of Martinez Remodeling.

Led by faith and resilience Mr. Martinez said he “turned chaos into controlled chaos” as he recalls looking at a magnet from his son’s truck, he was reminded that although a piece was missing, it was still holding on. He encourages others who have a dream of running a business and may be going through similar struggles not to give up. 

Photo courtesy of Martinez Remodeling.

Mr. Martinez has 16, yes you read that correctly, SIXTEEN children and 3 grandchildren! Mr. Martinez is proof that you don’t need a college degree to own, run, or be successful in business. He feels his most significant accomplishments in life are becoming his own boss and helping others while doing so.

The most rewarding part of Martinez Remodeling for Mr. Martinez is not the expansion of clientele or the money, instead, it is witnessing the growth of his crew's transition from being previously incarcerated to becoming self-sufficient independent contractors. For the past 8 months, Mr. Martinez has been consistently working with these contractors including one who spent a few months in jail, who Mr. Martinez allowed to stay at his place and turn his life around to become his foreman. Another one of his contractors before working with Martinez Remodeling, delivered pizzas for over 20 years and drove for Uber to make ends meet until he got involved in the business. Now knows how to tile and repair bathroom flooring. 

At first, there were challenges such as the contractors making excuses about why they weren’t getting work done efficiently. Mr. Martinez showed them why excuses were not valid. He demonstrated how to lay down and laminate flooring and encouraged them not to be afraid to hit the wood stating “it’s not going to break.” Mr. Martinez pushes his men to become one with the flooring so they can remove their fear and step into their power.

“I don’t care if you have never held a hammer if you can listen and learn you can do anything. 

Knowledge kept is knowledge wasted” says Mr. Martinez. 

Photos courtesy of Martinez Remodeling. 

He describes how the way his team operates is like a train. One crew member may be the conductor or the locomotive in front leading the team today and tomorrow it might be someone else. Regardless of who is in charge, Mr. Martinez acts as the push car committed to pushing his men to work together and sustain growth over time. Martinez Remodeling continues to expand its clientele and has gotten requests to remodel out of state, in Virginia. 

To learn more about Martinez Remodeling contact Mr. Martinez via email at sammymar1010@gmail.com or call 817-770-7598. 

To register for our National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker series, view our training and events tab here.

To be a speaker for our Peer Entrepreneur Speaker series, contact us via email at sherry@peersupportfl.org.