High Mark Crane & Rigging Celebrates 10 Years
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By Nerissa McNaughton
ike most entrepreneurs, Scott Dodds wanted to run his own company, so he created one that would metaphorically and physically reach for the sky. “I wanted to own my own company and I was in the crane business,” smiles the company’s president and founder. “I didn’t struggle with the thought of whether or not to start the business. It just seemed like natural progression.” That natural progression came into fruition 10 years ago as H&H Crane Edmonton Ltd. “We wanted more,” explains Dodds of how the name went from H&H Crane to High Mark two years ago. The “more” being a name that truly represented the brand, their commitment to their customers, and their niche specialty of working with powerlines. The words “high mark” could not be more apt in summing up the goals, drive and experience of the company. “It started out with just me and one other operator,” he remembers. “We went from two cranes lifting residential trusses and we progressed to three cranes. That is when I did my first powerline job. We moved on to our fourth and fifth cranes primarily working in the city doing trusses, commercial work and powerline jobs. In 2008 we started working more and more with the powerline industry and moved away from focusing on city work.” It may sound like smooth sailing from the get go, but like many companies, the economic downturn in the early 2000s affected the young company. “In 2007 I was basically going broke,” the Dodds grimaces. “Residential development was crashing and powerline was just starting to increase.” In what seemed like the perfect timing to many, Dodds had an acquisition offer on the table. “They were going to buy us out but I knew it was going to be a bad deal. I called off the deal I was about to make.” To many outsiders, backing away from a sure deal when the future of the company was at stake seemed risky at best and foolhardy at worst, but Dodds knew it wasn’t the right move for High Mark. With the utmost concern for his customers and staff in mind, he believed in himself, his company, and his product. “I listened to my gut. I took a huge risk, called off the deal and decided to proceed ahead [on our own] but I didn’t know, at that time, that I was going to do a job for ATCO four months later. His instincts were right. The ATCO job turned out to be a large venture with ATCO Energy and AAEBGL in Red Earth, Alberta. “We supplied all the cranes for that project and when we completed it, I knew then that we would be able to succeed. That was our first really big success,” he smiles. Despite making an agile – and correct – move, those moments of uncertainly left a lasting impression. “I listened to my gut. I took a huge risk and High Mark Crane & Rigging • 10 Years • Page 1 79
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th
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called off the deal and decided to proceed ahead [on our own] but I didn’t know that I was going to do a job for ATCO four months later. When we completed the job, I knew we would make it. That was our first really big success.” Dodds never looked back. Once established in the crane business, he expanded into hauling and logistics. “It goes with the crane work,” he explains. “We want to give the customers a complete service package.” Two years ago High Mark added, once again, to that package with the addition of hydrovac services. Built by Rebel and Tornado, High Mark’s tri-axle hydrovac trucks have nine cubes of water storage and a six cube water tank. The trucks are used to daylight pipes, electrical lines, water lines and other utilities. “Our hydrovac service has contracts with Dale mines in Manitoba,” says Dodds. In Manitoba, they also work with the community, airport, university and the City. Today, High Mark is proud to boast a 40-unit fleet. “We primarily have boom trucks and are expanding into mobile cranes. We have done this without acquisitions, just amazing organic growth,” says Dodds. Yet, no matter how large or fast High Mark grows, the company will always adhere to its slogan: We are big enough to do the job and small enough to care. Dodds explains, “We are big enough to do the job through rental or subletting out and our cranes are big enough to do the project; but then we are small enough to want to make that great impression on the client. You want to be the can-do person. We’ve said yes to almost every single job.” Saying yes has helped High Mark expand beyond Alberta, into Manitoba and Newfoundland. Here at home in Alberta, they have partnered with many high-profile clients such as Valard Construction and R.S. Line Contr. Co. Dodds describes High Mark as an “energized” business, an apt play on words since they have focused on the powerline industry since 2006. He explains that while most people looked to the oil industry, he knew the powerline sector would soon be busy with rebuilds. He focused on the niche market and, as always, his intuition was right on tract. “We do backflips for our clients,” he laughs. “It’s that ‘small enough to care’ attitude. We get what our clients need even if it’s on
Scott Dodds
short notice. We don’t go for the biggest cranes on the site. We go for the cranes that are going to be used the most.” Even more important to Dodds than his impressive inventory is his people. High Mark’s staff is approximately 40 in the field and office. “The equipment itself can be acquired. You need to have the expertise, the salesmanship, the personality and the likeability that keeps that piece of equipment working,” he points out. “Likeability, personality, a team player, someone that has a can-do and will-do attitude is the ideal type of High Mark employee.”
HAPPY
1 0 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y ! We at Heavy Hauler and DRM Recovery Ltd. are proud to be a part of High Mark Crane & Rigging’s Success!
Page 2 • High Mark Crane & Rigging • 10 Years
7320 67 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB T6B 3E7 780.463.9228 www.heavyhauler.ca
7320 67 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB T6B 3E7 780.719.8875 www.drmrecoveryltd.com
Dodds describes High Mark as an “energized” business, an apt play on words since they have focused on the powerline industry since 2006.
HSBC congratulates Highmark Crane and Rigging on their 10th Anniversary. Contact your local team now: Mike McIvor,
Sr. International Relationship Manager Tel: 780.409.7229 Email: Mike.x.Mcivor@hsbc.ca
High Mark Crane & Rigging • 10 Years • Page 3
Despite coming into ownership of the business with experience and skills, Dodds finds he never stops learning and growing, on and off the job site. “The one thing is to never give up and to make decisions quickly,” he counsels. “Not making a decision is worse than making a poor decision. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding. It’s taught me that integrity and honesty are the key ingredients. It pays to follow those guidelines even if it bears a cost.” How is High Mark celebrating 10 years of business? By continuing to grow. The future plan of the company is to emerge into the American market. In fact, Dodds has already been to Houston to start setting things up. Not all of those 10 years have been easy ones, but they have been ones of consistent growth, and all the decisions Dodds has made so far have been the right ones for his clients, his company and his staff.
“My wife has given me good support and sound advice,” he says gratefully. “My father-in-law gave me my first opportunity in helping me get started. I also want to thank every employee for their skills and their efforts. To the clients, I say thank you for every opportunity and for your support. Without the clients, we would have nothing.
1320 77 Ave NW, Edmonton AB Ph. 780-450-2188 Fax: 866-805-8155 www.highmarkcrane.com
Red Associates Engineering would like to congratulate High Mark Crane for 10 years of service. We would like to also thank Scott, Earl and all the staff for their great working relationship between our two companies and looking forward to a long lasting relationship in the years to come. (Cheers!)
780-466-9494 • www.redengineering.com
Congratulations! MNP proudly congratulates our client, High Mark Crane & Rigging on 10 years of success. Contact Brian Farrell, CA at 780.453.5385 or brian.farrell@mnp.ca
NEW MILLENIUM TIRE CENTRE Congratulations to High Mark Crane & Rigging for their 10 year anniversary and also for all their hard work and perseverance. 7320 18 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6P 1N8 Phone: (780) 485-0026 • Fax: (780) 485-0018 www.newmilleniumtire.com
Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers is proud to work with High Mark Crane & Rigging!
10 Congrats on
Years of Success!
808 Wildwood Crest. Edmonton, AB • Ph: (780) 440-4988
Congratulations to Highmark Crane and Rigging on your 10th Anniversary. Page 4 • High Mark Crane & Rigging • 10 Years
www.lloydsadd.com
Team Ford is a light duty Fleet and Commercial maintenance center featuring: • Dedicated commercial building • Dedicated service representatives, direct phone and email contact to your representative • State of the art facility meeting the latest environmental standards • Environmentally friendly chassis wash and demudding facility • No charge pickup and delivery • Maintenance programs designed for each individual client • Accept all major fleet cards • Two year unlimited mileage warranty on all FORD installed parts • CVIP and Out of province inspection facility
Congratulations to Scott and High Mark Crane! Thanks for many years of loyal support.
3304 91 Street, Edmonton AB 780.462.8300 • 1.866.326.6105
teamford.ca
High Mark Crane & Rigging • 10 Years • Page 5