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NOVEMBER 2016
GRAYHAWK INDUSTRIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
easily the fibers can become airborne. If any asbestos is found, we are called in.” “We’re also seeing more infection control issues, especially in hospitals and around new construction where dust and airborne fibres can also carry the threat of contamination from viruses and bacteria.” In addition, the company is a certified contractor for a variety of spray applied insulation and spray fire proofing solutions that include spray foam insulation, thermal and acoustic insulation, mineral fibre, cementitious and intumescent fireproofing and select firestopping applications. “Polyurethane foam has a high insulation value. Architects like it because it acts as an air seal and vapour barrier, plus it is versatile and fits any design, especially in tricky corners or roof and deck assemblies. We’ve definitely found a niche with the spray fireproofing, typically in new construction using open steel beams or multi floor buildings.” Carlin said that having the two divisions, hazardous materials
Greg and Rocky are happy they are able to implement a succession plan that involves their sons CREDIT:GRAYHAWK INDUSTRIES
The VecLoader on site discharging clean air during the vacuuming operation CREDIT:GRAYHAWK INDUSTRIES
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handling and insulation systems, has been a key to the company’s success. “Diversifying got us through the down turn of 2008,” he said. “New construction projects dropped so there was less need for the spray insulation. However, it prompted people to do more renovations, and that was good for the HazMat division.” Cross training his employees in both HazMat and spray insulation has also been a good strategy. It keeps his employees working year round. A lthough seeing their sons take over the business wasn’t part of the designed succession plan, neither of them is complaining. “It was a natural evolution,” said Carlin and one he’s very pleased about. “Brent got his Civil Engineer Technologist Certificate through the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. When he was finished the program, he stayed in Alberta and worked there for a few years. When he realized that Kelowna would be a good place to live again, he asked us if there were opportunities for work, we said yes, and he moved home.” He said Craig joined the company a year later after he too started looking for a change from his career as an installation manager of cable installation with Shaw Cable. Today, both men work as estimators and project managers along with their dads and the latest addition to the team, Jamie Sutherland. All three bid on projects and manage the ones they win, running them from start to finish.
“We brought Sutherland in to allow us to start setting the stage for rolling back our roles in the company, so I could start taking more time off for winters in Arizona.” Emphasizing that he and Becker will act as mentors and guides for their sons, they just feel the timing is right to slow down a bit. “We’ll still be dabbling for a few more years,” he said. “We just won’t be working those 50 plus hour weeks.” Some of Grayhawk’s clients have known Greg and Rocky a long time, but Carlin stressed that Craig, Brent and Jamie have also gotten to know them and have even created their own client base. The irony, though, isn’t just that both sons will be taking over for their fathers. It’s also in how Carlin got the name for the company from a golfing magazine while f lying home from Arizona. An article showcased a golf course in the States that was named Grayhawk with a logo of a bird of prey. When he told Becker, they both agreed that it sounded good and they designed their own hawk for the logo. “I just wasn’t sure about the spelling. Apparently, it’s the American way of spelling grey. We decided it didn’t really matter, we liked it.” That easy agreement set the stage for the business and the work i ng relationsh ip of the partners. The legacy now carries on in the next generation. Grayhawk Industries i s a t S u i t e 1 0 1 -3 5 7 3 E d wards Road in Kelowna www.grayhawkindustries.com