THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 30, 1995 TAG: 9501280155
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, BUSINESS WEEKLY, STAFF
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Rod Rodriguez and David Sparks left Parker Sparks Mechanical to found Bay Mechanical in November 1980.
Rodriguez, a Chesapeake native, earned his position by working his way through the pipe-fitting business.
He completed a five-year apprenticeship program at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 110 in Norfolk in the 1960s, then joined Parker Sparks. He worked there 16 years, climbing from pipefitter to vice president and general manager.
Veterans in the construction and mechanical industry credit Rodriguez, who handles the finances and personnel issues, with propelling Bay Mechanical's growth.
Sparks, who manages the estimating and engineering sides of the business, is described as the behind-the-scenes guy who forms the foundation while Rodriguez acts drums up sales and acts as the company spokesman.
Sparks, a North Carolina native from Forest City, worked for an engineering firm in Roanoke before going to Parker Sparks.
His emphasis on estimating, design-build projects and procurement gives him freedom to work on one side of the business without bumping heads with Rodriguez on a daily basis.
``We complement each other, which has caused us to be able to divide the work in the company,'' Sparks said. ``We've been able to operate jointly but separately.'' MEMO: Main story on page 10 and related story on page 11. by CNB