A Note from our CEO
As we launch the very first Rival Quarterly Newsletter, we do so as one unified company. Having transitioned from Ambassador Supply and Defy, we now stand together as Rival Residential, Rival Commercial, and Rival Rural—same exceptional team, same dedication to service, now stronger and better together under one powerful emerging brand.
We are hopeful about the opportunities ahead in 2026. While the realignment has brought some short-term frustrations and complexities, it sets us up for far greater simplicity and focus in the years ahead. This is our moment to raise the bar and fully embrace our mission: Delivering innovative solutions that make building more attainable and affordable for future generations by tackling the high costs, inefficiencies, and unnecessary complexity that make the process often difficult today.
At the end of the day, whether it’s a family’s first home, garage, barn, or a business’s new space, we are helping people build their dreams. Guided by our bold vision of a radically different built world, we are positioned to challenge ourselves and the industry like never before as we advance toward our ambitious 2030 goals.
There will be obstacles along the way, but I ask each of you to persevere with resilience and pride. Approach every customer interaction, project, and deliverable as something that will stand the test of time—work worthy of putting your name on, reflecting the highest standards of quality, integrity, and excellence, and honoring God through everything we do.
Together, we are building something enduring. I’m excited and proud to be on this journey with each of you as we write the next chapter of Rival and our family of companies.
Onward.
featured story
new hires
Ronald Guzman
General Manager at Hitek
Ronald is originally from Medellin, Colombia and comes to us with a fascinating educational and work background. He studied Industrial Engineering and Industrial Technology and holds certifications in Six Sigma, Agile, and Project Management (PMP). Ronald spent the first several years of his career working for Bancolombia, a large multinational bank headquartered in Colombia. There he served in Process Engineer and Project Implementation Lead roles. In 2019, he and his family made their way to the United States where Ronald found his way to the truss industry. He worked for Kodiak’s American Builders Supply over the past six years or so, most recently green fielding a new truss plant in the Tampa area and serving as its General Manager.
Company spotlight
Every project starts with a goal, and in this case, it was clear: the customer needed a 14′ overhead door to accommodate a camper. The challenge was finding a way to achieve that clearance without increasing the entire building height to 16′, which would have added unnecessary cost and long-term heating and cooling demands.
Instead of taking the typical approach, the QSI team engineered a more efficient solution. By utilizing 4′ on-center scissor trusses, we were able to create the required interior clearance while maintaining 14′ sidewalls. This allowed the customer to get exactly what they needed—no more, no less—without sacrificing performance or budget.
Beyond solving the immediate need, this design also strengthens the overall structure. The tighter truss spacing provides increased support across the building, contributing to long-term durability and reliability. While wider spacing can reduce upfront material costs, this approach reflects a commitment to building structures that are made to carry the load and stand the test of time.
Finished with Clay siding, a Burnished Slate roof, and coordinated windows and doors, the building presents a clean, cohesive exterior. But the true value of this project is found in the structural decisions behind the scenes—where thoughtful design made all the difference.
Story provided by Kendra Harnden, QSI & Astro Marketing Coordinator
In the news
Ideal Steel
Rival Lab Interviews
As of January 1, 2026, we have united our portfolio of companies under the one “Rival” brand: Rival Residential, Rival Commercial, and Rival Rural. Same team, same service—now just better together.