Client Success Story: Haylii Villalobos, Pine Construction
When Haylii Villalobos looks back at the early days of Pine Construction, she is struck by how much has changed. The company began in 2018 as a small weekend side project, a way for her husband Jose to put his 25 years of concrete experience to use on occasional residential jobs. At the time, Haylii was running her own beauty business, and construction was not yet the family’s main focus.
That changed quickly during the pandemic. Haylii’s industry shut down overnight. She closed her business, welcomed a new baby in 2020, and watched as Jose traveled to Texas week after week to keep working. With two small children at home and long stretches of separation, the family was under real strain.
In 2022, Haylii made a decisive shift.
“I told him the construction industry stayed busy through COVID,” she said. “What if I help you get your business off the ground and we run it together?”
That year marked the true beginning of Pine Construction.
Although Jose knew concrete flatwork inside and out, running a business was an entirely different challenge. Haylii jumped in fully, attending workshops and learning how to manage insurance, accounting, cash flow, and the long payment timelines that come with public sector work.
“You think if you are good at your craft, the work will just come,” she said. “But construction is really a relationship business.”
One of the most important early relationships came through Adelante Community Development. Haylii enrolled in her first construction business class there, and her instructor immediately encouraged her to connect with CEDS Finance when Pine Construction needed capital. That referral proved to be a turning point.
In 2023, Pine Construction received its first loan from CEDS Finance, allowing the business to purchase its first trailer and begin establishing formal credit history.
“That first loan gave us more than equipment,” Haylii said. “It gave us credibility. We could show that we paid everything on time.”
As the business grew, so did its financial needs. In 2024, Pine Construction needed working capital to bridge delayed payments and refinance a high interest loan that was draining cash flow. CEDS approved a second loan, helping stabilize operations and relieve pressure.
“That second loan gave us breathing room,” she said. “It helped us get out of a bind and focus on growth instead of survival.”
At the same time, Haylii became intentional about surrounding the business with the right partners. Organizations like Hispanic Contractors of Colorado and companies such as McKinszie Construction, Gilmore Construction, and Swinerton provided mentorship, networking opportunities, steady work, and reliable payment practices.
“Not every company knows how to work with small businesses,” she said. “Finding partners who understand our challenges and support our growth made a huge difference.”
Those relationships helped Pine Construction scale into larger projects, including EV charging station installations for Amazon parking lots, utility improvements across the northern Front Range, and solar infrastructure projects for Denver Public Schools. 
After two years of strong repayment history and consistent growth, Pine Construction reached a major milestone. The company secured a sizeable line of credit from US Bank.
“We would not have been ready for a traditional bank line of credit without those early loans from CEDS,” Haylii said. “CEDS helped us build our credit and prove we were reliable.”
Today, Haylii is focused on the future. Pine Construction is pursuing opportunities at Denver International Airport and expanding its project pipeline across Colorado. Her goal is to continue growing the team, provide stable jobs, and create long term security for the people who rely on the business.
Her advice for other entrepreneurs is simple and hard earned.
“The technical skills matter, but relationships matter more,” she said. “Find people who will support you when things get hard. That network is everything.”
Pine Construction’s growth reflects what is possible when skill, persistence, and the right financial support come together. With early guidance from Adelante, trusted partnerships across the construction industry, and access to capital through CEDS Finance, the business has moved from a side project to a stable, growing company with a strong future.
CEDS Finance is proud to have been part of that journey.
