Having excelled in the field of construction for more than 25 years, Susana Rios was first inspired to her career during her studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She achieved her first position through a work study program with the university’s planning and construction department, which was in charge of all the construction projects on campus. As a student worker, Ms. Rios was part of the university engineering staff and eventually achieved the role of design manager before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology, with minor in business, in 1999.
From there, Ms. Rios joined Kiewit Offshore Services Ltd, where she spent two years working in the fabrication yard. Going on to serve as a maintenance manager for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, she was introduced to the Zachry Construction Corporation while they were providing construction services to the Corpus Christi campus during this time. She applied for a job and was subsequently hired and remained with Zachry Construction until they were forced to downsize in 2009 as a result of the Great Recession. Ms. Rios then returned to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as the assistant director for planning and construction, a position that saw her in charge of all the construction projects on campus under $4 million.
In 2012, Ms. Rios established CSC Construction & Consulting Services, where she continues to excel as the owner and chief executive officer. In these positions, she takes on all the primary responsibilities of project management: estimating, invoicing, managing crew and subcontractors, arranging materials, and general oversight. On the consulting side of her work, she provides aid in planning, rezoning and construction bids. Having recently finished a project for the Corpus Christi Medical Center, she is now working with a client on Mustang Island in the development of 30 hectares of land, where there are plans for a hotel, condominiums, a retail center, a gas station and a luxury RV park.
Following Hurricane Harvey, Ms. Rios experienced a stall in work as people were waiting for insurance claims to come in, so she decided to branch out and spent two years as a project manager for the city of Corpus Christi in addition to her work with CSC Construction & Consulting Services. Now back to dedicating 100% of her time to CSC, she attributes much of her success to her dedication, ambition and pride in what she does. She stands out in her field for her specific focus on construction and her willingness to pursue a variety of areas of specialty within that field in order to best help her clients. To that end, Ms. Rios has returned to Texas A&M University-Kingsville and is studying toward a master’s degree in industrial management.
Having accomplished much throughout the years, Ms. Rios considers the highlight of her career to be having excelled as a woman in a very male dominated field. For her excellence, CSC Construction & Consulting Services was recognized as a Woman Owned Small Business Company by Del Mar College in 2015 and Gov. Greg Abbott presented her with the Small Business Governor’s Award in 2016. Looking toward the future, she has plans to grow her company and to bring on additional full-time employees. Her ultimate goal is bringing CSC to the point where they have the funds to donate a building to a college, hospital or clinic. Ms. Rios feels that having the ability to make such a considerable donation would be the pinnacle of success.
Feeling strongly about giving back to her community, Ms. Rios has been very involved in her local church, the Christ the King Catholic church in Corpus Christi. She has helped with a variety of classes and provides donations when they have mission trips. Other programs Ms. Rios has supported include the collection of Christmas presents for children in need and various church festivals.