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.

LEADING CLARK COUNTY WITH THE FOLLOWING AWARDS

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

1972 - 1990

1991 - 2004

2004 - 2010

2017

Early Years

MIKE IS BORN

1972

Mike 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

1977-1981

Mike 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

1981

Mike'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

1982-1990

Mike'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

1991

Although 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

1992-2004

After 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

2004-2005

Mike'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

2005

In 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

2010-2014

Mike'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

2013

Mike'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

2017

One 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

2017-2020

Mike 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).