Our Story

Francisco F. Gómez was born in El Grullo, Jalisco Mexico in 1952 and is the son of Wenceslao and Dolores Gómez. He is the fourth oldest of thirteen children who worked to provide for his younger siblings; as a result, he only attended school until sixth grade. At the age of 10, Francisco taught himself how to weld. He developed this talent in order to avoid working in the fields.

By the age of 16, Francisco left his family and migrated to Baja, California. After a few years he saved enough money to purchase a home in Tijuana, Mexico, and the family relocated from Jalisco. It was not long after this accomplishment that Francisco once again packed his bags. He headed north across the border to the United States of America. His goal was to help his family get ahead.

Francisco arrived in Los Angeles, California in 1972. He landed a job with "Maxon Industries" earning $2.50 per hour doing the talent he had developed early on "welding". It was here where Francisco discovered the knack for Hydraulic engineering and manufacturing of trash trucks. No blue prints, no instructions simply "listen and feel." During his two decades with Maxon, Francisco became a lead foreman and as "we see it the man behind the company." After two decades, Francisco was laid off with just a hand shake at the door "nothing more." The company was moving to Mexico and offered him a position which he denied.

When Maxon moved there were still a few trucks that were incomplete; and as a result, they gave one of their employees, Jim Hilbert, the opportunity to complete the remaining trucks. Jim was aware of the talented and dedicated employee Francisco had proven himself to be and offered him a position. He was to work side by side with him. The day after Maxon shut its doors and laid everyone off Francisco began to work with Jim at "Jims Truck Repair."

For the next six years, Jim and Francisco continued to work side by side until Jim Hilbert passed away from cancer. Before his passing, Jim began taking Francisco around to customers and introduced him giving Francisco an opportunity to build a relationship with them. Francisco was not aware that Jim was preparing him for the day that he would not be there to work side by side with him. Customers began to show up and ask for Francisco instead of Jim. Francisco had established a name in the waste industry without realizing it. Everyone in the industry knew his work, but no one had ever met him personally until Jim became ill. It was at this time that Francisco received a gift of opportunity when Jim offered him the business for an undisclosed amount.

With the encouragement of his wife, Francisco went forward with the business opportunity presented to him and in 1998, F.F.GOMEZ, INC. was born. Francisco Gomez, the man who at ten taught himself to weld, at sixteen purchased his family a home was now a business owner. He achieved all of this despite the fact that he was an immigrant with a sixth-grade education who did not speak English and only knew how to work with his hands. During the interview Mr. Gomez stated, "After almost 14 years of owning my own business there are times when I feel that I'm dreaming, especially having my two boys working with me side by side!"