Our Story

Champion Specialty Services was built on grit, discipline, and a deep respect for the trades.

What started as a partnership between two driven individuals has grown into a national contractor known for tackling some of the industry’s toughest, most technical projects. From industrial coatings and bridge painting to complex infrastructure work, our team is united by our mission to be exceptional. Because Exceptional Is Our Standard.

QUALITY

Nothing short of
exceptional will do

RANKED #209

ENR’s 2023 Top 600
Specialty Contractors

SAFETY

Safety isn’t just a priority; it is the foundation of everything we do.

19 YEARS EXPERIENCE

As a reliable specialty contractor

500 OF
THE BEST

craft workers and staff

QUALITY

Nothing short of
exceptional will do

RANKED #209

ENR’s 2023 Top 600
Specialty Contractors

SAFETY

Safety isn’t just a priority; it is the foundation of everything we do.

19 YEARS EXPERIENCE

As a reliable specialty contractor

500 OF
THE BEST

craft workers and staff

QUALITY

Nothing short of
exceptional will do

RANKED #209

ENR’s 2023 Top 600
Specialty Contractors

SAFETY

Safety isn’t just a priority; it is the foundation of everything we do.

19 YEARS EXPERIENCE

As a reliable specialty contractor

500 OF
THE BEST

craft workers and staff

Timeline

Our Founders

Champion Specialty Services was founded on the grit and resilience of two men, Carlos Hernandez (CEO) and Kyle Hough (COO), who shared a common drive: to build something that mattered.

Carlos immigrated from Cuba as a child and built a career marked by service, rising through law enforcement ranks to lead Hialeah’s SWAT team, joining the Marine Corps, and starting a successful security business. Kyle, raised near Philadelphia, entered the trades at a young age as a union steel bridge painter and quickly rose to become a superintendent before relocating to Florida. There, he transformed operations at a local painting company, applying his deep respect for skilled labor and helping lay the groundwork for what would become Champion.

When Kyle and Carlos met through a mutual connection (who happened to own the small painting company Kyle worked for) something just clicked. That painting company was in need of a financial backer, so after a few meetings and a handshake, Kyle and Carlos became partners, ready to build a company on their shared values and a strong sense of mutual respect.

Kyle and Carlos officially bought the company in 2007. From day one, their commitment was to build a business grounded in integrity, not ego. That meant making tough decisions, like skipping their own paychecks and selling personal items to make payroll, not just for their sake, but to ensure their employees had stability and dignity.

Champion’s foundation rests on three unwavering pillars: Safety, Quality, and Accountability. From executive leadership to the field, safety isn’t a slogan; it’s a culture. We look out for each other, communicate across all levels of the company, and believe in building relationships with respect, discipline, and compassion.

Champion really started to expand when Kyle and Carlos seized the opportunity to take on the "title fight" challenge of painting bridges in the largest bridge market in the country: New York City. Champion started with the Goethals Bridge and continued to grow steadily, but not without constantly considering and weighing the risks. The strong partnership and understanding between Carlos and Kyle allowed them to trust each other and take the necessary risks to establish Champion's reputation in the New York market and today Champion is the largest bridge painting contractor in New York City.

As Champion was establishing a name for themselves in New York City bridge painting, Kyle met Anthony (Tony) Maracic from L&L Painting and they bonded over their approach to business, leading to Tony and his team joining Champion in 2018 and establishing a core team in our New York City office.

After Champion's footprint was established in the Florida and New York City markets, Kyle and Carlos were looking to expand the company even further. They understood that a successful business is built on its people, so as they set their sights on expansion, they focused on recruiting top talent and building core teams aligned with Champion's vision and values.

As Champion has expanded across markets, one principle remained clear: we would never grow at the cost of our culture. Kyle knows from experience what scaling the right way looked like, and how it can go wrong. So, every move Champion makes is strategic, deliberate, and rooted in core values.

Since 2007 we have scaled from a small regional operation to a national leader, with $300 million in revenue in 2023. From our first major infrastructure job in New York to expanding offices across the country, Champion’s growth is not fueled by chance, it is powered by a team of disciplined, like-minded operators who believe in our mission. In order to execute that mission, we have brought on strong team members from respected companies, all of whom align with our values and vision.

At Champion, success isn’t just about the bottom line. It's about never losing sight of what matters: taking care of our people, protecting our culture, and always operating with integrity. And it's about making sure that everyone who walks onto a job site walks off it safely. We continue to invest in our trainings, safety procedures, certifications, and our employees because we don’t just want to complete projects, we want to complete them exceptionally. Because Exceptional Is Our Standard.

Team Stories

Dale Hollow Dam Crew

Celina, TN

When it comes to tackling tough challenges, the crew at Dale Hollow Dam is setting the standard for excellence!

We are proud to recognize their outstanding work at the USACE Dale Hollow Dam in Celina, TN, where we have been contracted through Shimmick Construction to carry out lead and asbestos abatement, sandblasting, and painting of the superstructure and spillway gates (Gates 1-6) at Dale Hollow Dam. Calvin Thompson’s crew has deployed a team of 20 skilled employees on-site during peak work hours.

The project mobilized on June 17, 2024, and is scheduled for completion in January 2025. The crew is conducting abrasive blasting using an ARS S6 Blast Recovery Unit with recyclable metallic abrasive. They then apply the Sherwin-Williams vinyl coating system applied to the superstructure and spillway gates which is approved by the USACE. The process for this project is extensive requiring one primer coat of Sherwin-Williams Zinc Clad 108 Corps of Engineers Vinyl-Type Zinc-Rich Impacted Immersion Coating at 2.5 mils DFT, followed by three coats of Formula V-766E Impacted Immersion Coating at 2.0 mils DFT  per coat.

The dedication and hard work exhibited by Calvin Thompson’s crew at Dale Hallow Dam truly exemplifies what it means to strive for excellence. Their commitment to safety, quality, and teamwork has ensured the successful progression of this vital project. It is with great pride that we awarded them the title of Crew of the Month, because they are a prime example that we can be exceptional, and Exceptional Is Our Standard.

Contact Champion

Environmental Crew