GTG Energy Profile - April 2014

A DECADE STRONG

By Mary Savage

W

hen it comes to Canada’s entrepreneurs, it’s no secret that Alberta is home to many successful business leaders ... and if one idea fails, they simply try another – Albertans are a resilient and resourceful group.

However there is also a group of business people who subscribe to a slightly different mantra. They’ve done their due diligence and they are determined to succeed the first time around – failure is not an option.

One such example is found inside the Foothills Industrial Park, at the office of GTG Energy Systems. When Glenn and Terry Graversen decided to start a family-run business 10 years ago, they only had one option.

“We are not disposable thinkers,” says Glenn Graversen, president, GTG Energy Systems. “When we started the company, giving up was never an option. We have taken our skills, expertise and experience and used them to build a company that continues to serve our customers and the marketplace.”

Since 2004, GTG Energy Systems has been designing, fabricating and assembling customized production equipment for the upstream oil and gas sector, although Glenn has been working in the industry for almost 40 years.

Today, GTG Energy Systems specializes in building packages that meter and measure oil and gas in an ‘on-site’ capacity for real-time data acquisition. They provide 3D custom-designed drawings and build pressure equipment packages along with a host of other related products.

And after 10 years in business, they are recognized as an industry leader. Their ability to diversify the business while helping pinpoint their customers’ needs has contributed to their track record. GTG Energy Systems brings a wealth of knowledge, proficient processes and personalized service to every customer and every project.

Starting Small and Staying Focused…

When Glenn and Terry started the business a decade ago, it was with one B-pressure welder in a 4,000-square-foot bay – which happened to be located across the street from their current facility.

GTG ENERGY SYSTEMS | 10 YEARS | 1

The team at GTG Energy Systems. Photo by Bookstrucker Photography.

By then, Glenn had nearly 30 years of experience as a welder and fabrication inspector, along with earning his certification as a welding engineering technologist at SAIT. But Glenn’s exposure in the industry started from a young age. His father, Ole Graversen, was a welder and an oilfield equipment inspector. And when the plans for GTG Energy Systems were underway, it came as no surprise that Ole helped design the quality control system that is still used today.

While Glenn was busy developing his career, Terry was doing the same in management and accounting.

By the time GTG Energy Systems was established, Terry brought a strong background in administration, management and finance to the business. She was instrumental in setting up many of the data systems, processes and policies that help to streamline the internal operations.

Two years after starting the business, they expanded and took over another 4,000-square-foot bay and then expanded again after another two years. By 2008, they were operating from 12,000 square feet with approximately 25 employees, but eventually they needed more space and land.

About four years ago, GTG Energy Systems crossed the road and moved into a larger facility – offering a 20,000-square-foot shop and a five-acre yard. They continue to employ an average of 25 people depending on the number of projects underway and they continue to provide the same detailed attention and expertise to each customer.

As Terry has observed, one of the key components to their longevity and growth looks to diversification. “Successful companies are diverse – this allows them to ride out the peaks and valleys in Alberta’s economy,” says Terry. “Much of the work we did originally has changed and now we are finding niche markets – like in metering and measuring.” GTG Energy Systems has become more diverse by listening to their customers and by watching the industry.

Although it’s inevitable that certain things are going to change over the course of a decade, it’s safe to say that other things have remained the same. The ‘big picture’ goals that Glenn and Terry set forth when establishing the family-run business haven’t really changed that much in 10 years, nor have the data systems and processes that Terry implemented in 2004.

METAL BUILDINGS

PH: 403-279-2840

CALGARY

FAX: 403-279-6180

Congratulations GTG Energy on Your 10 Years of Success.

Wishing Many More to Come.

www.airpacenterprises.com (403) 279 8171

Congratulations GTG Energy Systems on your 10th Anniversary!

We are proud to be part of your history and success.

GTG ENERGY SYSTEMS | 10 YEARS | 2

A Snapshot of Services: • Blending Packages

• Truck Loading / Unloading Skids • Metering Stations • Separator Packages • Production Testing Equipment – skid mounted and mobile trucks • Steam Injection Manifolds • Pipe Rack Modules • Sweet and Sour Service • Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel

L-R: Britta, Glenn and Terry Graversen. Photo by Bookstrucker Photography.

Likewise, they have a core group of employees who have been with the company almost from the upstart and regardless of the economy, Glenn and Terry always find work to keep them busy.

“We won’t let our core group of employees walk out the door,” says Terry. “You can’t suddenly restart the company when times are good again.”

The owners have remained committed to nearly every aspect of the business – from quality control, safety and shop cleanliness to the people who make their business successful. One of those people is Terry and Glenn’s daughter, Britta.

When you enter the reception area, Britta greets you. Much like her father, Britta has been involved with the business from a young age. She began helping with administration at GTG Energy Systems at age 14 and then accounting at age 16.

After graduating high school, Britta decided to pursue a bachelor of commerce at the Haskayne School of Business and is currently in her fourth year. She works part time at GTG during the school year allowing her to still keep a hand in the business.

Congratulations, GTG Energy Systems!

Wishing you many more decades of success.

Ph 403-888-7878 | Fax 403-204-9010 dispatch@nforcecrane.com nforcecrane.com

• Custom Equipment, Design and Fabrication

Metal Processing Services

Congratulations GTG Energy Systems on your decade of success in the industry!

We wish you many more.

8525 52 Street S.E Calgary, AB Ph: 403.279.7751 • Toll Free: 1.877.726.6493 • Fax: 403.279.6647 www.ensteelequip.com • sales@ensteelequip.com

GTG ENERGY SYSTEMS | 10 YEARS | 3

Photo by Bookstrucker Photography.

“Britta is essentially the office manager and performs most of the day-to-day tasks that keep the office running smoothly,” adds Terry.

“We are very proud of both our family and our business, and now our daughter represents the second generation.

Our history is not unique from other family-run companies, but we have worked hard to keep ‘business time’ separate from ‘family time’ and I think we have succeeded in both aspects – and that makes us a little unique,” adds Glenn with a smile.

Field Information at your Fingertips

The next time you’re travelling through the countryside, keep an eye out for small house-like structures that seem to pop up in the middle of nowhere. And once you notice them, they may seem a bit ubiquitous – dotting the rural blanket of Alberta.

The metering and measuring buildings that GTG Energy Systems fabricates are commonly called a ‘cut shack,’ a ‘Q-A building’ or a ‘lab building.’ In the oil and gas industry they may have different names, but they all perform similar functions: to extract and test samples collected from upstream pipelines.

From ‘data to desktop’ the mini-rural labs provide invaluable field information to oil and gas companies. GTG Energy Systems, in collaboration with engineering firms, has played an important role in helping to design and fabricate these structures.

Today the company provides several customized products. “We build some packages that resemble a laboratory to measure oil density and viscosity. Everything is tested on-site and in real time, so it eliminates the need to send samples to a lab,” adds Glenn.

“In addition to the processing side of the oil business, we are expanding into other areas that include fabrication of truck offloading, blending and measurement system packages,” asserts Glenn.

Two Words: Thank You

As GTG Energy Systems celebrates their 10th anniversary, they pause for a moment to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to all of the customers, business partners, suppliers and employees who have contributed to their success. “Thank you for helping us survive the roller-coaster that this industry has endured in recent years,” says Glenn. “We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without your support.”

Looking forward, the family believes the future is bright and all the signs indicate it’s going to be a great year.

“Because I’m an Albertan, I always hesitate slightly when talking about the future,” notes Glenn. “Alberta is cyclical and diversification is necessary to survive. In our case, it’s taking our knowledge and expertise, and then transferring it to other areas of the industry … it’s the same knowledge, but the customer’s needs are changing and we are paying attention.” •

(403) 279-5527 | www.gtgenergy.ca GTG ENERGY SYSTEMS | 10 YEARS | 4