Gildo Massó (born c. 1925 in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico) is the founder and CEO of Masso Enterprises and also the developer of the concept of "build it yourself" low cost houses. 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... San Lorenzo (Spanish Saint Lawrence) is a town in eastern Puerto Rico. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ...

Gildo was raised and educated in his hometown, San Lorenzo. He was a hard working young man who admired the Puerto Rican political leader Luis Muñoz Marin. He helped support his family with the money he earned working in the local hardware store, after school hours. After graduating from high school, Gildo enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico where he took business courses. Luis Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898 - April 30, 1980) was a poet, journalist and politician. ... A hardware store sells hardware: for instance fasteners, keys, locks, hinges, wire, chains, plumbing supples, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. ... Japanese high school students in uniform High school, or Secondary school, is the last segment of compulsory education in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (Republic of China) (only junior high school) and the United States. ... The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) is the university system of Puerto Rico. ...

In 1951, Gildo opened his first hardware store, Ferretería Masso (Masso Hardware Store), in San Lorenzo which became a successful venture and by 1954 Gildo established his first cement block factory in the same city. He married his wife Carmen in 1953. 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A factory (previously manufactory) is a large industrial building where goods or products are manufactured. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

In 1959, Gildo ventured into the construction business and built the "Massõ Urbanization" in San Lorenzo and in 1961, Gildo opened "Caguas Lumber Yard" in Caguas. In 1967, the "Massó Cement Factory" moved to much larger facility in Gurabo. 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Urbanization is the expansion of a city or metropolitan area, namely the proportion of total population or area in urban localities or areas (cities and towns), or the increase of this proportion over time. ... 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Caguas (founded in 1775) is a municipality located in the eastern central area of Puerto Rico. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gurabo is a small town in Puerto Rico. ...

In 1974, with the need of low cost housing in Puerto Rico, Gildo developed a concept that would revolutionize the entire hardware store industry. He came up with the concept of selling low cost houses, made out of wood, known as "Modelos Massó" or "Casas Massó" (Masso Models). The idea was to supply the customer with the necessary elements to build a low cost home. These elements included the design, floor plans and all of the building materials and if necessary, financial aid. 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

In 1981, Gildo acquired two "Carlos Armstrong Hardware Stores" in Ponce and in 1983, he opened the "Cayey Home Center" in Cayey. 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ponce, the second largest city in Puerto Rico outside of the San Juan metropolitan area is named after the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico. ...

In 1984 Gildo built 550 residences in San Lorenzo which is known as "Massó City" and, in 1986, he build 67 residences in the Cerro Gordo sector of San Lorenzo. 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1992, Gildo introduced the new "Casas Massó" which are made of cement, with the same concept as the first models. In 1993, Gildo inagurated a "Super Massó Hardware Store" consisting of 55,000 square feet (5,100 m²) and offering over 60,000 products in Caguas, where it also moved its central offices. In 1996, Massó Enterprises was involved in a project which built 169 residences in "Paseo San Lorenzo" and in 1997 Gildo acquired six "Builders Square Stores" in Caguas, Bayamon, Carolina, Ponce and Mayaguez. These were renamed "Plaza Massó". 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bayam n (not to be confused with Bayamo, Cuba) is a city in northern Puerto Rico. ... Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, a short distance from San Juan. ... Ponce, the second largest city in Puerto Rico outside of the San Juan metropolitan area is named after the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. ... Mayagüez (pronounced Mah-yah-goo-ehz) is the third largest city of Puerto Rico. ...

In 1995, the Massó Hardware Store was the first to introduce the concept of "Auto-Exprees" in which the costumer could make his purchases through a window without leaving his car, as in a "Drive Through". This concept incremented their sales by 15%. Gildo Massó introduced new models of the Casas Massó in 2001 and 2003. Massó Enterprises has over $65 million in annual sales. The company also has a "Massó School" where their emloyees are trained. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gildo Massó was named "Business Man of the Year" in 2004 and the "VIP of the Week" by Crysler Corp. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans