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Hugo Pérez Ovalles “You’re born with a drive for business”

Ever since he was 9, Hugo Pérez Ovalles understood the value of hard decent work. He began at a woodwork shop, where he was paid RD$1.00 a week, and when Saturday came, which was payday, he felt the happiest kid in the world. He remembers his childhood days in his beloved hometown of Moca, with love and affection, just as he remembers the camaraderie of his then-fellow townspeople.

Thanks to his drive to become better, he excelled in his studies, and was able to apply for a student loan at the Educational Credit for Academic Excellence, hence becoming the first member in his family to go to college. In 1995, at just barely 21, he graduated with honors in Civil Engineering from the PUCMM University in Santiago. His thirst for knowledge, his effective performance and notable passion for construction and business led him to assume several positions, from resident on-site engineer, all the way to Project Manager.

After working in several hotel developments and studying the current business models, he developed a new niche in the development and management of tourist projects, which led him in 2004, to go freelance, and assume the execution of small hotel developments, which the large construction companies set aside. Upon seeing the potential of the tourist cluster business model, he went all out, and that same year, he founded Therrestra, a company specialized in the design, construction and oversight of projects of this nature.

What business models served as grounds for you to put yourself out there and launch your business?

“The opportunity to work for myself came on its own, I didn’t set out for it, I just seized it.

But of course, with 10years of know-how I knew what to do and what not to do. I think I merged a little from every experience I had, took the best lessons and best practices learned from each experience, to set up a solid business platform”. Hugo is one of those entrepreneurs that came from a low-income family, and whom set out to better himself by striving to make their dreams come true.

 

What were the greatest challenges you faced, when you decided to establish your own company?

My case isn’t the exception to the rule, for there are thousands of stories like mine that I can relate to. My biggest challenge was of course, money. The only asset I had back then was a truck. I went to the bank, got a loan for RD$350,000.00 and put my truck as collateral. With that money and my car, I went to work in Bávaro. That was my entire capital and financial assets.

 

Why Therrestra? Did you envision foresee a promise that this was a niche you could develop and grow?

Therrestra comes from terrestrial, because we all are terrestrial. I didn’t know if it would work, I had no certainty thereof, but there was something I was sure of: There was a lot of work out there, I wanted to work and was willing to try.

 

What sets Therrestra apart from the rest? What’s your forte?

There are so many construction companies… We all do the same, but since the beginning, we’ve done the same thing, just faster. Our turnover times are very short. That’s our strong suit right there. In 2016, the companu achieved a significant milestone, by being commissioned with 50% of the hotel developments taking place in Jamaica, some 11 years after making out debut in the neighbor island.

 

How is the expansion across the Caribbean going on?

We are registered in Jamaica, Aruba and Saint Maarten. We are developing proposals in Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda. We firmly believe there is a lot of hotel development potential to explore in the Caribbean.

Where do you believe the in-country constructions in the hospitality industry are headed?  Do you believe the Government’s goal is to reach 10million tourists per year by 2022, using that goal as incentive to boost the sector and develop more keys?

I believe that the construction industry is well on its way, the country is well positioned in the hotel development field, and this continues to grow. We are all swimming downstream and this way, we can achieve the government’s goal of 10 million tourists per year and make it possible. I have no doubt we can achieve this; that’s what we are working for. Several initiatives tend to disappear shortly after or need to reinvent themselves to survive.

What would you do so that “fail rate” decreases?

There’s a song that goes: “What once was, will never be”. That’s the ugly truth; what works today, won’t work tomorrow, and being reluctant to change is in our nature. But it’s been proven, that without change, we cease to exist. We must allow the market to dictate the trends and products to develop. We must listen and stop thinking that we are the center of everything.

 

You are still quite young, and at 44, you’ve still got a long way to go in life. Do you have other business ventures you’d like to push forward?

“Of course, I’ve got other business venture ideas, and they’re already being developed, slowly……; but we’re well on the right track”. Despite his youth, his extraordinary background positions him at such a level, where he can serve as guide and mentor to those whom wish to set out and as entrepreneurs and develop their initiatives.

 

What would you say to them?

“There’s no hocus-pocus, nor a specific action that leads to success. There are too many variables involved for success to happen. But, if I had to use one word, it would be “attitude”. Knowledge can be gained, experience is gained ……, but attitude is something you’re born with.

 

When Hugo Pérez Ovalles isn’t thinking about Therrestra- or when the Billions season ends-, how do you spend your leisure time?

Woof! I love adventures, assisted skydiving, and kitesurfing, rafting, trekking, I love skiing and traveling…. I got tired of seeing the world through books, movies, magazines….. I want to see it and experience it with my own eyes.

 

What is a place in Dominican Republic you always like to return to, and would advise any foreign visitor to discover when they visit?

A place in the D.R. I always like to revisit and would certainly recommend…..

The Manabao marshes; that’s my getaway, my retreat, my peaceful spot. Phones don’t work there, the rivers are clean and cool; there’s mountain cabins, or you can sleep on a “sleeping bag”, in a tent; there’s a little mom-and-pop shop that sells cool beer, and a lot, well, a whole bunch of good people there.

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Grupo Therrestra joins in on the 20th edition of “Time to flip the switch: reinvent yourself”

The XX edition of the Professional-Human Growth Seminar “Time to Switch: reinvent yourself” will take place, an event created to provide a space for knowledge and drive, by promoting positive attitude against the changes that emerge in the social and professional environment.

During the event, part of the Therrestra team attended the activities developed which fostered the training and development of the upcoming young professionals of Santiago. The Human-Professional Growth Seminar: “Time to flip the switch: reinvent yourself”, took place in the auditorium of the PUCMM Santiago campus, and was organized by the Pastoral Juvenil Universitaria (*in English: The University Youth Ministry), which hosts this event annually, featuring the presence of over 500 students, teachers, professionals and entrepreneurs.

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Grupo Therrestra underwrites agreement with the Centro de Desarrollo Integral Educare in Moca

Therrestra CEO, Hugo Pérez Ovalles, signed a framework agreement with the headmistress of the Centro de Desarrollo Integral Educare, Olga Espaillat, where all cooperation methods to benefit and drive learning in students were presented.

Mr. Pérez Ovalles stressed the importance of learning, and the efforts required during your schooling years -elementary, high school and college- to face forward a competitive labor market. “It is important that students know early on the challenges that await them as they grow. I want them to know they have an ally in Therrestra for their professional development”, Pérez Ovalles stated.

All high-school students in the center, have been favored in the past, thanks to several contributions made by Therrestra, confirming the agreement is just a legal framework to confirm all the long-lasting work done by the construction company.

 

About Grupo Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean. Therrestra generates 4,000 employment opportunities in the region. @grupotherrestra

 

 

 

 

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PUCMM ENGINEERING MAJORS IN SANTIAGO WILL HAVE A NEW LAB, THANKS TO GRUPO THERRESTRA

Civil Engineering majors from the PUCMM Santiago campus, will soon have a new lab space, of 166m2, to carry out their practices at school.

Grupo Therrestra made the groundbreaking to formally kick-off the construction of the new Materials Lab, which will serve as venue for Soil compaction, asphalt and concrete studies. Also, the lab will feature storage facilities for aggregates, sun-dried and cured materials.

Therrestra CEO, Hugo Pérez Ovalles, is a PUCMM alumnus (BsC- Magna Cum Laude), and he stressed that his vision is to help students access employment opportunities the moment they graduate. “To return to my alma mater and be able to contribute with this expansion project for the Engineering majors, by letting them know we support them, is my main goal”

The Deputy Academic Chancellor, Daniel Suriel, stressed that the lab project is just one of the many partnership agreements underwritten between Therrestra and the university. “This agreement covers for all Civil Engineering and Architecture majors to participate in all tourist developments under execution by Therrestra. Also, the establishment of the Premio Therrestra a la Excelencia (*The Therrestra Excellence Award”) which will distinguish the academic performance of these students, by covering the tuition costs of their educational credits”.

About Grupo Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean. Therrestra generates 4,000 employment opportunities in the region. @grupotherrestra

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Grupo Therrestra contributes with renovations for the Moca rehabilitation and correctional facility.

Aiming to renovate and improve the facilities hosting the La Isleta Correctional Facility and Rehabilitation Center in Moca (CCR), Therrestra contributed with the renovations of several of its structures.

The correctional facility, thanks to its reinsertion model, is the #1 penitentiary facility nationwide, featuring 680 inmates, and approximate headcount of 180 employees.

Therrestra representatives, Angel Paulino and Beatriz García, alongside media personality and deputy mayor of Moca, Judith Valdez, partook in the formal event, alongside Albin Lantigua, representative of Pinturas Tropical, whom also contributed with the renovations.

The CCR warden, Bernardo Henríquez, thanked all for the donations and showed their support towards the center’s new phase.

About Grupo Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean.

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Grupo Therrestra participates at the preferred forum in Spain

Grupo Therrestra participated on the XXV edition of the Preferred Forum, hosted in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on May 18th.

 

The Forum, a space which gathers the tourist leaders of Spain and vacation services industry worldwide, aims to contribute with ideas on the key topics in the industry.

 

Therrestra CEO, Hugo Pérez Ovalles, graded the Preferred Forum as THE ideal networking venue to create synergies within the hotel industry worldwide. “It is an incredible feeling to be surrounded by people that share the same with to grow and solidify the industry, and to know that we are all working together for this common goal”.

 

The event, titled “Challenges in Tourism”, featured an initial dialogue between the Iberia chairman, and the CEO for Ávoris, ending with a recognition to Pilar Guell, widow of Luis Riu Bertrán.

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Grupo Therrestra showcases at the Build Expo & Conference, Jamaica 2018

Grupo Therrestra attended the Build & Expo Conference 2018, a regional event hosted in Jamaica, aiming to support the construction and development industry, as well as the real estate development industry, and new clean energy developments as well as responsible environmental best practices.

Throughout the course of the event, the Therrestra team showcased in a clear and concise manner, their experience and value-adding contributions through careful, thoughtful, timely work, without sacrificing their quality and attention to detail, therefore distinguished as one of the most talented construction companies in the entire Caribbean.

The Build & Expo Conference 2018, took effect in Montego Bay, Jamaica, featuring attendance of Jamaican government officials and representatives, renowned businesspersons, as well as regional and international participants.

 

About Grupo Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean.

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Grupo Therrestra, present at the 2018 Construction Summit

Construction Summit 2018, an event celebrated for the second time, hosted by Mercado Media Network, clustering the most prestigious companies within the field of engineering and architecture, hence showcasing all their contributions to the construction and development sector.

Amid the activity, the impact of construction in society served as the main topic in several discussions that took place in the panel “Tourist Hubs: Development epicenters” (*in Spanish:

Polos turísticos: epicentros de la construcción”), featuring words by Therrestra CEO Hugo Pérez Ovalles; some of the topics discussed included the importance of recreational and cultural facilities in new urban developments. The 2018 Construction Summit, which was hosted in the Garden Tent of the Hotel El Embajador, featured the presence of two renowned international guests: Architects Jorge Mario Jáuregui and Erick Van Egeraat.

About Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean. Therrestra creates 4,000 employment opportunities region-wide.

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THERRESTRA continues to support the Moca branch of the Rehabilitation Center

Aiming to continue building towards a sustainable future and development for Moca, Therrestra CEO, Hugo Pérez Ovalles, issued a significant donation to the Moca Rehabilitation Center, hence ensuring the continuity of its services to all the population of the Espaillat province.

Amid delivering to the Chairman of the Patronato de Moca, Mr. José Collado expressed his sincere thanks on his behalf and on behalf of his staff, for the donations made by Therrestra, which benefit so many people within the institution.

Likewise, among the attendees was the Deputy Mayor of Moca, Judith Valdez, whom underwrote a social impact partnership agreement alongside Grupo Therrestra.

About Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean, PRODUCING 4,000 employment opportunities region-wide.

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Grupo Therrestra participates in the Jamaica Investment Forum 2018

Grupo Therrestra attended and actively partook in the Jamaica Investment Forum, which took place June 12th-14th.

The event featured a series of opportunities for new business development in emerging sectors to investors and attending executives, by providing a network of over 400 international investors, all of them highly influential, as well as high-level government officials and decision-makers.

Amid the event, the Therrestra team participated in the panels and presentations, to seize all business opportunities within the construction and tourism sector framework. The Jamaica Investment Forum 2018, which was hosted in Montego Bay, featured the attendance of Jamaican government officials, and of high-level investors, whom showed the key investment sectors for new business ventures, such as tourism, energy, agriculture and logistics, and SEZs

About Grupo Therrestra

Construction company founded in 2004, with the sole objective to provide civil work construction services. Specialized in design, development and oversight of tourist, residential and commercial projects in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean. @grupotherrestra

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