Tommy Twardowski
Chief Executive Officer
Tommy began his career in the office furniture installation business in 1978 and started his full-time career in 1981 with Houston Installation Services. Starting as a furniture installer, he developed a passion for the process of installation and learned to install all major manufacturers’ lines.
Tommy continued to develop his knowledge and skills, eventually becoming the Project Manager for HIS for many years, until Tommy and his two business partners, Joanne St. Martin Cerda and Debbie Harbison, purchased HIS, at which time Tommy assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. Through his experience, Tommy has developed great working relationships with customers, helping to make their office relocations, installations, service work, etc. a seamless experience. Tommy continues to visit job sites daily to interact with the HIS crew and customers, using his many years of experience to ensure the successful completion of each job.
Tommy is the father of two beautiful daughters. Both daughters received Masters Degrees in Liberal Arts and are currently professors. In addition, Tommy recently welcomed his first granddaughter. Tommy has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy. In his spare time, Tommy enjoys fishing and hunting with his brothers and friends.
Debbie Harbison
Chief Operating Officer
Debbie started her career in 2002 with Houston Installation Services as the Office Manager. She has progressed through a variety of responsibilities including safety, insurance, payroll, and personnel. She successfully manages some of the top customers of HIS and is the go-to person to get a task done.
Debbie is responsible for implementing and upgrading any administrative software products, helping with the internal flow of the business. Upon purchasing the company, along with her two partners Joanne St Martin Cerda, and Tommy Twardowski, she will continue to run and maintain the operations of the company, as well as continuing to grow the personnel side of the business.
In her personal life, she is married to Scott and has three busy daughters. Debbie spends her spare time volunteering in her community and also making fabulous memories with family and friends.
Joanne St. Martin Cerda
Chief Financial Officer
Joanne has worked for Houston Installation Services since 2006 serving all company financial positions. Since 1995 Joanne has worked in accounting, and finance positions in New Orleans, LA and in Houston, Texas since 2006. She has a knowledge of finance experience in the fields of construction, hospitality, and tax law.
Throughout her career at Houston Installation Services, she has maintained her financial position, as well as Customer Service Manager. Joanne has been successful in dealing with some of the more high-end customers and projects, helping to create the great customer relationships HIS is known for.
Upon purchasing the company, along with her two partners Debbie Harbison, and Tommy Twardowski, she will continue to run and maintain the financial operations of the company, as well as continuing to educate and grow our Customer Service department and customer relationships.
Joanne is married to Juan Cerda, who is also part of the HIS team since 2001 and has three children.
Juan Cerda
Training and Development Manager
Juan has been in the furniture industry since 1998 with a vast knowledge of all systems furniture, project management, and furniture installation.
In 2001, Juan started at HIS as a furniture installation supervisor and quickly became a lead project supervisor. In 2014, he was promoted to Project Manager. Throughout his career at HIS, he has interacted with the crew and has instilled a great work ethic and process as well as interacting with customers providing them with the utmost customer service satisfaction.
Along with his wife Joanne Cerda, colleagues Debbie Harbison and Tommy Twardowski, Juan has created a new department of HIS as Training and Development Manager. Juan will oversee keeping the crew up to date on the installation process for new product lines, as well as continued practices of safety, and work processes.
Art Alba
Warehouse Manager
Art began his career in furniture installation at the age of 18. He was trained as a furniture installer, then was promoted to crew leader. For the next 14 years, Art was employed at a furniture dealership where he became a supervisor and ultimately, was promoted to warehouse and operations manager.
In 2016, Art joined the HIS team as a supervisor but was promoted to warehouse manager when the opportunity arose. Art manages inventory, shipping and receiving, and our warehousemen. He is working daily to improve and upgrade process and procedures, and communication with our field crews.
In his personal life, Art enjoys the outdoors, and spending time with his children. He is also a talented graphic mural artist.
Victor De Leon
Project Quoter and Scheduler
Victor began his career in the office furniture business in 1998 here at HIS.
With hard work, Victor quickly achieved his goal of becoming a Field Supervisor. He began working on small jobs and moving, performing custom work where needed, and then he promoted to supervising multi-floor projects.
After a short leave, Victor has returned and is part of our office staff using his many years of experience in the field to quote and assist, as needed, in the field.
In his spare time, Victor likes to work on cars and go fishing with his wife of 22 years.
Joseph De Leon
Project Manager
Joseph began his career in office furniture installation with Houston Installation Services in 1997 as an assistant mover. Joseph excelled as an assistant, quickly became a furniture installer, and shortly after became a field supervisor running some of the smaller routes. Joseph was then able to start supervising larger, full projects such as multi-floor projects. In 2004, Joseph explored different opportunities and went to work for a commercial furniture dealer as an installation supervisor. While employed with that company for 16 years, he went through several positions including service tech project manager and warehouse manager. In 2019, he decided to bring his 22 years' of office furniture installation experience back to HIS where he has taken on the role of a project manager.
Outside of work, Joseph loves spending time with his family. He has been married for 15 years, has three daughters, and one grandson that he enjoys watching movies with or taking to the park and zoo.
Ruben De La Fuente
Supervisor
Ruben began his career in 1995 as a field crew member and was quickly promoted to
Supervisor. In his role as Supervisor, Ruben fostered an environment of teamwork and provided day-to-day communication with the project team to ensure jobs remain on schedule and within budget. From supervising a 20-man crew installing 600 stations to being at the VA for 8 years daily working reconfiguration, installation, and inventory for their entire facility. A team player, Ruben was promoted to Project Manager and holds an excellent track record for ensuring all jobs are managed with a professional attitude and the customer is always left with a great feeling that HIS delivered on time.
Ruben has been married to Lisa since 2014 and loves spending his spare time with his
grandchildren and working on his old school truck.
Margaret Tollefson
Administrative Assistant
Margaret joined HIS in 2014 after a career as a Sales Assistant for various steel companies. She handles Invoicing and Accounts Payable for the team.
She enjoys spending time at the beach or with her granddaughter when not at work.
Kathy Fitzgerald Martin
Project Coordinator
After a 26 year career as an administrative assistant and sales manager, Kathy joined the HIS team in 2015. She brings a wealth of knowledge and knows how to keep a customer’s job running smoothly from beginning to end.
Outside of work, she can be found baking treats for the office, taking trips, and enjoying her family.
Chelese Jessie
Project Coordinator
Away from work, Chelese enjoys traveling, cruising, and spending quality time with her family.
Barbara Gutierrez
Project Coordinator
Barbara Gutierrez joined HIS in February 2019. She has over 20 years of customer service experience and an abundance of knowledge, which is key to assisting our customers.
She is married to one of our supervisors Jose Chavez, and they have children that keep them very busy (and entertained)! During their free time, they love spending time outdoors, traveling, a good road trip, and spending time with their family and friends.