A Visionary Founder. A California Master. One Mission.

How Gumaro Vega and Carlos Reyes brought world-class concrete to Tennessee.

For over 20 years, Gumaro Vega built Pumas Concrete into one of Middle Tennessee's most trusted names. He didn't just pour concrete—he constantly pushed to deliver a better product. That's why the best hardscape contractors and builders kept him close. Business was good. He stayed busy.

But Gumaro was always open to improving.

Then Carlos Reyes called.

Carlos grew up in California and spent almost 30 years in the construction field. In the early 1990s, his brother Ruben founded Architectural Foamstone in Sun Valley, developing a revolutionary process for creating architectural concrete details on luxury estates. When clients complained about the glossy finish from the polymer, Ruben came up with a solution: etch the surface with muriatic acid to expose the sand aggregate. The result was stunning. The California Sand Finish was born.

Hardscape contractors saw what they were doing and immediately started copying it across Southern California. With more people using muriatic acid in the field, Ruben reached out to his friend Patrick Soller from Concrete Solutions in Chicago, asking if there was a safer alternative. That conversation led to products like TopCast—and the modern sand finish industry was born.

Carlos worked with Ruben on and off for almost 8 years, pioneering and perfecting this technique. By then, it had spread across Malibu, Bel Air, Beverly Hills. This became the standard for elite concrete in California.

In 2008, Carlos founded Suite Renovation in LA, doing high-profile work for clients like Kim Kardashian's Skims headquarters and Kanye West's Yeezy facilities. After 14 years, he sold the company and moved to Tennessee.

When Carlos reached out to Gumaro about contracting some design work, they hit it off immediately. Gumaro offered him a job on the spot.

That job turned into a meeting of the minds.

Carlos pitched an idea he'd pitched a dozen times before to other contractors: "If you change your finishing method and adopt what they do out west—California, Arizona—you'll create a new standard. You'll elevate the game from concrete contractor to concrete designer."

Most contractors said no. Too risky. Too expensive. Too much change.

Gumaro didn't just agree—he shared the same vision. And he did something bold: he completely reinvented his company. A total overhaul of everything that got him to where he was.

Together, they created the Pumas Boot Camp.

Gumaro invested in a concrete pump truck so heavy trucks would never crush bases again. He sourced premium materials and equipment that met California standards. He committed to the Puma Structural Integrity Protocol (PSIP)—rebar reinforcement, optimized mix designs, and curing processes that ensure generational longevity.

Carlos trained the crews on the California Sand Finish, proper rebar placement, mix optimization, and finishing precision. But it wasn't just about technique—it was about mindset. Seeing concrete as a craft to perfect, not a commodity to pour and move on from.

The transformation took months. Some crew members didn't make it. But those who did became masters—highly-trained professionals executing California-level concrete in Tennessee's challenging climate.

Today, Pumas Concrete is the result of two men who refused to settle. A founder willing to risk everything he'd built. A craftsman who'd spent almost 30 years perfecting his trade. Together, they're proving Nashville doesn't have to accept mediocre concrete.

Together, they're making Tennessee better, one pour at a time.

MEET THE VISIONARIES

Gumaro Vega | Founder

For over 20 years, Gumaro built Pumas Concrete into one of Tennessee's most trusted names. When Carlos pitched the idea to reinvent the company, Gumaro didn't hesitate—he went all in.

Carlos Reyes | Director of Operations & Marketing Engineer

Carlos spent almost 30 years in California construction, pioneering the California Sand Finish alongside his brother Ruben at Architectural Foamstone. He founded and sold Suite Renovation in LA, serving clients like Skims and Yeezy. When he moved to Tennessee and met Gumaro, he finally found a partner willing to do what others wouldn't.