(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For Dante Lozano, a Building Construction student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, entering the construction industry is not just a career choice — it is a family tradition three generations in the making.
While Lozano’s grandfather relied on independent training to learn the trade, the path of a technical education began with his father, Carlos Lozano Jr. His father is an alumnus of TSTC’s Building Construction program and now serves as president and CEO of Lozcon Construction in McAllen.
The younger Lozano’s journey began on the ground floor, performing general labor for the family business.
“It taught me to be humble and know the value of a dollar,” he said. “Now I am studying for an associate degree at TSTC. My career goal is to someday step into the role of CEO in the family business.”
Carlos Lozano Jr. suggested that his son consider attending TSTC to gain a competitive edge.
“Dante can learn the foundation and the science of construction,” he said.
To accommodate students who, like Dante Lozano, balance family obligations and work, TSTC’s Building Construction program in Harlingen will begin offering night classes in the fall, running Monday through Thursday from 5:45-8:30 p.m.
Now in his third semester, Lozano said the program’s problem-solving has helped him develop sharper instincts.
“The instructors let you figure it out on your own to help you build that discipline,” he said.
Carlos Rodriguez is Dante Lozano’s instructor.
“Dante has shown strong leadership and those qualities will help him with better decision-making, strong workmanship and doing the job right and safely,” he said.
As Lozano works toward mastering various areas of construction, he carries the spirit of his grandfather and the business knowledge of his father.
“I want to make my dad proud and keep the business running,” he said.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Building Construction and a certificate of completion in Building Construction – Craftsman at its Harlingen, Marshall, New Braunfels, Sweetwater and Waco campuses.
Registration for the fall semester is now underway at TSTC. For more information, visit TSTC.edu.