In 2016, Juan Carlos and his wife Cristina were on the search for their first family home. With a growing family, they were eager to find the perfect starter home. They toured over 25 houses, and during this process, they found themselves captivated by the art of rehabilitating and remodeling—transforming the old into something new.
Juan Carlos, with a background in marketing and operations management, was no stranger to hard work. Yet, the idea of becoming a business owner had never crossed his mind. However, when the opportunity arose, he was ready to take on the challenge.
Guided by his faith and Cristina’s encouragement, he made the leap into entrepreneurship just two years later, in 2018.
Juan Carlos secured his first client through Craigslist—a determined realtor launching his own brokerage firm. This connection provided a steady stream of work, and with the help of his brothers, Ricardo and Julio, Juan Carlos and Cristina officially founded Gaytan Contracting.
In the early days, the company focused on smaller renovations and quickly transitioned to full-home projects. Their growing network of skilled subcontractors ensured that every project was completed with quality and efficiency.
For Juan Carlos, the key focus was always the people living in the spaces they transformed. “It’s always been a blessing to find people who will help facilitate the work and dedicate their skills in order to produce something special for each client,” he said.
Growing up, Juan Carlos never imagined owning a business. His family didn’t have entrepreneurs to look up to, and survival was often the priority in their community on the southside of Oklahoma City. “We always had several mouths to feed, so things were a little scarce,” Juan Carlos reflected.
“Being a business owner has its challenges, but it’s also allowed me to provide for my kids in ways I didn’t have growing up. It’s been a blessing to experience what it means to be an entrepreneur in the city that has given me so much.”
Recently turning 40, Juan Carlos feels especially grateful for the second chapter of his life. “Let me explain,” he says. “In 2021, I was invited to participate in my first business accelerator where a large network of business owners come together and share ideas and knowledge on redemptive entrepreneurship and fostering growth for the entire city.”
The momentum continued when Gaytan Contracting was selected for StitchCrew’s OKC Latino Accelerator’s spring cohort. This led to an introduction to the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who helped him get government contract bidding certified. Once he was ready to submit bids, they directed him to REI Oklahoma’s Business Resource Center.
“We love Oklahoma City and how the city continues to grow. We are excited to be a small part of the ecosystem that contributes to its development and family-friendly environment for all,” Juan Carlos shared.
The team at REI Oklahoma stepped in to guide Juan Carlos through the bidding process for his first government contract. “Every time I had questions, REI Oklahoma was there to answer them right away,” he said.
In just three months, Gaytan Contracting secured their first government job: a renovation project for the Army National Guard in Tulsa, which began in October 2024. Juan Carlos was amazed by how quickly things came together.
Reflecting on his experience, Juan Carlos shared, “The process was efficient and very helpful. I don’t think I would’ve won that bid without REI Oklahoma’s help and I wouldn’t be in the bidding phase without the Hispanic Chamber.”
Government contracting has opened new doors for Gaytan Contracting, paving the way for significant growth and opportunity.
When asked what he’d say to donors who support REI Oklahoma, Juan Carlos expressed his gratitude: “Thank you. It’s a blessing to get REI Oklahoma’s help, without them I wouldn’t have had this chance to grow my business through contracting.”
He believes that supporting nonprofits like REI Oklahoma create more opportunities in the economic development ecosystem, generating opportunities for entrepreneurs like himself.
REI Oklahoma is honored to have been a part of Juan Carlos’s journey and can’t wait to see where he takes Gaytan Contracting next.
Juan Carlos Gaytan
Gaytan Contracting
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