Read more
SERVICES
MENU

Flexible Content Test

arches

From the moment we opened our doors, we set out to change everything. To create higher standards of safety, quality and accountability. To put our exceptional strength, passion and commitment to work. And to make sure everyday life moves along smoothly while we do it.

Over the last two decades, we’ve dramatically expanded the scope and scale of that work. We’ve developed expertise across new industries, worked on a diverse variety of high-profile projects and upheld only the highest standards of safety and quality.

But we will never become complacent—and we’ll never stop refining, evolving and advancing.

And we look forward to a bright future we can be proud of.

WHAT WE ARE

401K

401K

Matching
contributions

50 states

50 states

Capability to work in

QUALITY

QUALITY

Nothing short of
exceptional will do

test

WHO WE SERVE

Infrastructure

From complex bridge and roadway projects to large-scale public works, our team is equipped to meet the demanding requirements of the heavy construction and infrastructure sector. With a proven ability to self-perform and a strong national presence, Champion delivers high-quality, reliable solutions that support the integrity and longevity of critical infrastructure across the country.

Industrial

From manufacturing and transportation to defense, our clients rely on our proven capabilities and industry certifications to meet complex project demands. Our Military Readiness Team (MRT) specializes in Department of Defense work, with the experience, personnel, and SSPC certifications required to meet strict UFGS standards. With a variety of experience, certifications, qualifications and expert personnel, Champion delivers compliant, cost-effective solutions tailored to the unique needs of industrial facilities.

Industrial

From manufacturing and transportation to defense, our clients rely on our proven capabilities and industry certifications to meet complex project demands. Our Military Readiness Team (MRT) specializes in Department of Defense work, with the experience, personnel, and SSPC certifications required to meet strict UFGS standards. With a variety of experience, certifications, qualifications and expert personnel, Champion delivers compliant, cost-effective solutions tailored to the unique needs of industrial facilities.

Industrial

From manufacturing and transportation to defense, our clients rely on our proven capabilities and industry certifications to meet complex project demands. Our Military Readiness Team (MRT) specializes in Department of Defense work, with the experience, personnel, and SSPC certifications required to meet strict UFGS standards. With a variety of experience, certifications, qualifications and expert personnel, Champion delivers compliant, cost-effective solutions tailored to the unique needs of industrial facilities.

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.

This expansion lead to the addition of several established operating teams that built the foundation for teams that support our Northeast, Southeast and West Coast offices and expanded Champion's capabilities into several new industries including Nuclear, Power, and Environmental response.
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

Environmental Crew

Environmental Crew

Led y Manny Salgado (or we can add the location here)

Champion is pleased to announce that the Port Everglades Cranes Project, led by Manny Salgado and his dedicated team of 16 employees, has been recognized as our Crew of the Month! This incredible team has completed over 14,000 incident-free hours of hard work, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication every step of the way. 

The project, which involved the use of power tools, sandblasting, and painting of 9 cranes, has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The team worked meticulously, applying PPG Amerlock 600 primer and a finish coat of PPG Pitthane Ultra Gloss, ensuring a durable and high-quality finish on each crane. Despite the complexities of the tasks, the team executed every responsibility with precision, never compromising on safety or quality. 

The Champion Executive Team extends our deepest gratitude to Manny Salgado and his team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. Your teamwork, expertise, and dedication to safety have been nothing short of exceptional. The level of effort you’ve put into this project is truly setting a standard. We are excited to see what we will continue to achieve together as we set our sights on even greater milestones in the future. 

Contact Champion

Test

Test

Led y Manny Salgado (or we can add the location here)

Champion is pleased to announce that the Port Everglades Cranes Project, led by Manny Salgado and his dedicated team of 16 employees, has been recognized as our Crew of the Month! This incredible team has completed over 14,000 incident-free hours of hard work, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication every step of the way. 

The project, which involved the use of power tools, sandblasting, and painting of 9 cranes, has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The team worked meticulously, applying PPG Amerlock 600 primer and a finish coat of PPG Pitthane Ultra Gloss, ensuring a durable and high-quality finish on each crane. Despite the complexities of the tasks, the team executed every responsibility with precision, never compromising on safety or quality. 

The Champion Executive Team extends our deepest gratitude to Manny Salgado and his team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. Your teamwork, expertise, and dedication to safety have been nothing short of exceptional. The level of effort you’ve put into this project is truly setting a standard. We are excited to see what we will continue to achieve together as we set our sights on even greater milestones in the future. 

Contact Champion

Test

Test

Led y Manny Salgado (or we can add the location here)

Champion is pleased to announce that the Port Everglades Cranes Project, led by Manny Salgado and his dedicated team of 16 employees, has been recognized as our Crew of the Month! This incredible team has completed over 14,000 incident-free hours of hard work, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication every step of the way. 

The project, which involved the use of power tools, sandblasting, and painting of 9 cranes, has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The team worked meticulously, applying PPG Amerlock 600 primer and a finish coat of PPG Pitthane Ultra Gloss, ensuring a durable and high-quality finish on each crane. Despite the complexities of the tasks, the team executed every responsibility with precision, never compromising on safety or quality. 

The Champion Executive Team extends our deepest gratitude to Manny Salgado and his team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. Your teamwork, expertise, and dedication to safety have been nothing short of exceptional. The level of effort you’ve put into this project is truly setting a standard. We are excited to see what we will continue to achieve together as we set our sights on even greater milestones in the future. 

Contact

Test

Test

Led y Manny Salgado (or we can add the location here)

Champion is pleased to announce that the Port Everglades Cranes Project, led by Manny Salgado and his dedicated team of 16 employees, has been recognized as our Crew of the Month! This incredible team has completed over 14,000 incident-free hours of hard work, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication every step of the way. 

The project, which involved the use of power tools, sandblasting, and painting of 9 cranes, has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The team worked meticulously, applying PPG Amerlock 600 primer and a finish coat of PPG Pitthane Ultra Gloss, ensuring a durable and high-quality finish on each crane. Despite the complexities of the tasks, the team executed every responsibility with precision, never compromising on safety or quality. 

The Champion Executive Team extends our deepest gratitude to Manny Salgado and his team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. Your teamwork, expertise, and dedication to safety have been nothing short of exceptional. The level of effort you’ve put into this project is truly setting a standard. We are excited to see what we will continue to achieve together as we set our sights on even greater milestones in the future. 

Contact
our story photo

Our Values

Our values are the foundation of everything we do. Built on safety, quality, and accountability, our culture reflects the grit, discipline, and respect for the trades that shaped our beginning.

From the field to the front office, we believe in doing things the right way even when it’s hard. We show up with integrity, take ownership of our work, and treat people with the respect they’ve earned. As we’ve grown, we’ve held tightly to the values that brought us here: protect your team, take pride in your craft, and lead with purpose. That’s what it means to be part of Champion.

Test

Our Culture

From day one, we’ve built this company like a family: looking out for each other, showing up with purpose, and celebrating wins together.

That spirit shows up on the job site, in the office, and at every gathering we host across our offices each year. Whether it’s a holiday party, safety milestone, or just a Friday cookout, we believe in creating space where people feel valued, connected, and proud to be part of the team. Our culture is built on respect, discipline, and trust and strengthened by the people who choose to make Champion their home.

NEED TO HAVE PHOTOS FROM THE COMPANY AND THEIR TEAM IN ACTIVITIES TO ADD TO THIS GALLERY. KATIE MAYBE WE ADD THE CONFERENCE THAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY?
Read our story

Join us at champion

Simple Promo Image
EXPLORE OUR 
OPEN POSITIONS
simple promo arche simple promo arche

40+
years

of experience

50 states

Capability to work in

(NIAC) Member

Nuclear Industry Assessment Corporation Membership

40+
years

of experience

50 states

Capability to work in

(NIAC) Member

Nuclear Industry Assessment Corporation Membership

40+
years

of experience

50 states

Capability to work in

(NIAC) Member

Nuclear Industry Assessment Corporation Membership

Company news

Test CTA