Mike Nieto
HIS VISION IS FOR A WORKFORCE THAT VALUES AND EMBRACES THE UNIQUENESS OF EMPLOYEES ON A HUMAN-LEVEL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SATISFYING AND SUCCESSFUL CAREERS.
Has dedicated his life to building people and projects. His vision is for a workforce that values and embraces the uniqueness of employees on a human-level in order to provide satisfying and successful careers. In 2017 he founded Dig Deep to transform the workplace and the people in it by prioritizing emotional wellness for all employees.
2012 SBA Portland District Small Business of the Year
DJC DMWESB Top Projects First Place for Public Works
2013 DJC Best DMWESB Contractor
2013 DJC DMWESB Top Projects for Public Buildings
2018 8(a) Graduate of the Year by U.S. Small Business Administration, Pacific Northwest Region
Early Years
MIKE IS BORN
1972Mike was born on March 23, 1972 with his twin sister in a Women's Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, to struggling young parents. His mother stayed at home while his dad delivered for Sparkletts to support the household.
CLASS CLOWN
1977-1981Mike attended 3 different elementary schools because his parents moved frequently for jobs. He was an energetic kid, with a curiosity for school subjects but a passion for play and making his classmates laugh. He was sent home with report cards and notes that encouraged him to focus more.
FAMILY CHANGE
1981Mike's parents divorced, and his mom remarried. Mike and his sister moved into their new step-dad's house. Around this time Mike, his sister and mom were visiting their maternal granddad frequently.
PATERNAL FIGURES
1982-1990Mike's granddad and uncles had their own contracting business, and would provide young Mike with paid labor like carrying blocks, mixing grout, and picking up garbage - all of the things that need to be done but no one wants to do. Mike's uncles and step-dad also owned their own businesses, which allowed them to make their own schedules. These influences led Mike to view construction and entrepreneurship as normal.
Industry Time
GETTING TO WORK
1991Although Mike had a thirst for knowledge, he was never interested in school, and that didn't change when he attended college. After flunking his first semester at a California school, he moved back to Las Vegas and took up his first civil engineering job, first as a runner and then as a surveyor.
MOVING UP THE LADDER
1992-2004After several years of working as a surveyor, Mike was promoted to party chief. It was his curiosity and constant drive to know more that led him to progress while working for general contractors. He began working as a grade checker, then foreman and later to superintendent positions in the civil and construction industry.
Entrepreneur Years
CULTIVATING MOTIVATION
2004-2005Mike's marriage had been struggling for years and was leading to a divorce. At the same time, his step-dad, who had been a strong male figure in his life, was dying. When he tried to talk to his then-boss about his personal circumstances and the need to take time off to handle his personal affairs, he was met with a lack of understanding and support. He knew that this lack of support was a common issue in the construction industry and became determined to start a business that would handle things differently.
TAKING A BRAVE LEAP
2005In order to start his own business, Mike needed some capital. So he sold a plot of land that he owned, paid off his debt, and filed the paperwork to establish Catworks Construction. He then prayed for the right people to enter his life to help him turn his dream into a reality.
BUILDING HIMSELF
2010-2014Mike's marriage ended in a long and extremely painful divorce that stretched over three years. He found himself turing his lifelong curiosity onto himself, asking "Why is this happening to me?" To help find answers, he connected with a therapist and began working on himself.
INSPIRING TO SHARE
2013Mike's transformative experience with therapy inspired him to look for ways to help other people with their internal struggles. He recognized that he had the privilege of being able to afford private therapy and started to search for ways to bring that quality of mental health care to his own employees.
Dig Deep is Born
ASKING OTHERS TO JOIN
2017One of Mike's best employees was a hard worker, but was difficult for others to work with. Mike understood that that man might be having trouble at home that was affecting his work relationships. He asked the man if he would consider trying therapy, if Mike paid for the costs. The man took Mike up on his offer, and since then Mike has stopped hearing complaints from the man's coworkers. In fact, he's even heard people mention how that man has changed for the better.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
2017-2020Mike has covered the cost of private therapy for multiple Catworks Construction employees that have reached out in interest. He created an informal program for his employees that covers private therapy sessions, with employees only contributing the amount of a typical co-pay ($30).
Our Vision
A REVITALIZED WORKFORCE THAT HOLDS EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AS THE FOUNDATION FOR HARD WORK.
Our Goals
RAISE AWARENESS
DECREASE STIGMA
CREATE ACCESS
CONFRONT IGNORANCE
How It Works
EMPLOYERS ACTIVATE
Employers pay a monthly fee per each employee to join the program.
GET IN TOUCH
Employees can use the anonymous contact form to enroll in the program.
GET CONNECTED
Dig Deep will connect employees with a mental health care professional.
UTILIZE THE PROGRAM
Employees can use the program once a week, for a 12 month period.
PAY PER VISIT
Employees only pay the equivalent of a co-pay per each visit.
Interested?
If you’re interested in learning more about the Dig Deep program, schedule a free consultation—