The A-Plus Industrial Installation company began when Les Simonek, the company’s founder and current vice president, saw an opportunity. The young millwright, who was following in his brother’s footsteps, started as a trusted worker at the local tire plant. As he learned his craft, he also cultivated his natural talent for business. Encouraged by his wife, Laura, he soon hung a shingle, offered his word as collateral for bank loans, and branched out on his own.  

He chose “A-Plus” as his company’s name because the term is synonymous with outstanding performance, service, and value.

“Our goal has been to build a company focused on providing exceptional value to our clients with a commitment to service that exceeds their expectations,” Les said.  

For more than three decades, the family owned business grew. With Laura as office manager, their son Dean as right-hand man, and access to an unlimited pool of millwright manpower from Millwright Local 1421, Les steered A-Plus through successful projects year after year.

In the construction industry, the name “A-Plus Industrial Installation” now has become synonymous with that of a trusted company with superior work crews.

Based in Dallas, Texas, A-Plus accepts assignments throughout the USA. Clients range from automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, baggage handling, and building products, to paper mills, aerospace, medical, bulk material handling and packaging.

A-Plus specializes in machinery and conveyor installations, structural steel fabrication and erection, precision laser alignment, machine moving and rigging, plant equipment installations and decommissioning, millwright services, general contracting and plant maintenance. The company has done everything from half-day preventative maintenance procedures to turnkey assembly and production-line installations.

“That’s what I like about millwright work, even to this day: Almost every job is different from the other,” Les said. “We understand that downtime for our clients is expensive. In order to complete our projects efficiently and minimize downtime, we equip our team with cutting-edge equipment and technology.”

Les is a 29-year member of Local 1421. His company has played a vital role in providing scores of jobs throughout the years for the local workforce. His son, Dean Simonek, is a 19-year member and has been working with his dad for several years now to run the family business.

One of the company’s most recent projects may also be one of their most unique. A-Plus was selected to work on the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas. The $200 million renovation project included technology that makes this venue the first of its kind in the USA. The ultra-modern equipment allows the facility to completely change the seating configurations in minutes, or completely eliminate all seating and make it a level floor for trade shows, art shows, special events and more.

A-Plus, using millwrights from Locals 1421 and 2232 of the Southerns States Millwright Regional Council, installed the mechanical floor and seating over the span of four months. For more on this project, click here.

Les says having the right mix of millwrights for any particular project is one key component for success. Working with the Southern States Millwrights Regional Council, he has access to the 5,000-plus millwrights across the Council’s 11-state footprint.

“What I want, more than anything, is for a young millwright to want to learn and get better,” he said. “That’s what creates opportunities.”

Learn more about A-Plus Industrial Installations, a division of Surpass, Inc., at www.aplus-ii.com.