"It's what I love to do."

[Paper Boy]

Emilio Perez likes to say the construction industry is in his blood.

Creating, designing and building -- "It's all part of my nature," said Perez, owner of Omphali Natural Stone Services, an Orlando company that designs, installs and finishes specialty tile floors.

"It's what I love to do."

That's surprising because Perez, 40, earned an economics degree and seemed destined for a white-collar job.

Instead, he works on three or four custom homes a year and also restores old terrazzo and marble floors in historic buildings. His company recently completed the floor for the renovated Volusia County Historic Courthouse in DeLand.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Perez often was sent to work in his uncle's construction business when he misbehaved. Instead of punishment, he saw it as a giant playground.

He sometimes stirred the wet cement with a large paddle because there weren't any mixers available.

Years later, Perez learned his trade while attending Rollins College in Winter Park, pursuing a degree in economics. At the time, an Argentine friend asked him to work for him installing tile floors.

Perez caught on quickly. About 12 years ago, he started his own business.

"Sometimes people will come in with an idea, and I explain how I can make it work or how I can enhance it," he said. "My field of work is so specific and so detailed, especially in a new home, that everything has to be perfect."

Perez says the booming construction industry means more customers. But he also faces more competition every year from less-experienced tradesmen.

"Many times they'll charge a lot less, or sometimes even a lot more, but they won't know what they are doing," he said. "This is a very specialized profession, and you have to develop a very keen eye for it."

Perez said he applies his economics background to his business.

"I love economics," Perez said. "But I guess you could say construction has always been in my blood. So with my business, I'm doing both."