Manny Montanez
Rank: I was medically retired after I was wounded in combat
Service: Army
Years: 1967-1970
Current Company: EG Montanez Construction Inc
Role: Founder, President & CEO
Industry: Commercial & Industrial B Licensed General Contractor
Why did you enter the military? I was inspired by my uncle Santos, who fought and was wounded at The Battle of The Bulge, by General Patton, and President Kennedy, when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Enlistment age: 18
Where did you serve? Republic of Vietnam
What did you learn? Art of War, Succeed, Survive and Triumph in War
What could you do in the military that you couldn’t do in civilian life? Be a Tank Commander and survive in war
What was the biggest lesson you learned about discipline? I always return to my grandfather’s wisdom. “Don’t forget in America baseball is America’s favorite pastime. And before you can get home, you’ve got to go to first, second, and third. There are steps to satisfaction, to success, to love. Life’s not perfect. Our faith isn’t a straight line. But you keep going.”
Did you deploy overseas and what was your takeaway? Coming to grips with the reality and that I was going off to war in a distant country and may never return and see my family and friends again. There is this realization that there are many steps to survival and success in life and you don’t get to skip any of them.
How did the military help your business career? Not here to be recognized; I’m here to stay invested. To keep the fire burning. To be a light. Leadership isn’t about visibility—it’s about integrity.
After a successful 22 years in a corporate career—culminating in running a division at MetLife—I retired in 2000. But rather than slowing down, family and friends would say I was crazy when I volunteered and joined the Army to go fight in a distant country, and fast forward, friends would say in 2008 when the market was in the toilet are you crazy for starting a construction business? I would tell them that as I was driving to the Long Beach VA Hospital and praying on the way, asking God to show me a way to do something more in life.
As I pull up to the VA, I see many projects in various phases of construction and low and behold I see a facilities manager in the Orthopedic area where there is a lab renovation also under way, I say to the facilities person, “You sure have a lot of projects going on here, and he replies ‘yes we do, and we don’t have enough Veterans, especially Disabled Veteran Contractors as the VA prefers working with Veterans.’”
Growing up in a family business heavily involved in construction, the light switch was turned on as I realized that God had answered my prayers. Starting a construction business was challenging and not easy, but it allowed me to focus on mentoring, volunteering, and connecting with others.
In life, whether in business or service, my posture has always been one of presence: noticing people, learning their stories and helping them flourish.
