Building a Legacy Written and photographed by Mary Savage
W
hen it comes to concrete construction, Brad Rasmussen knows a thing or two about the industry. His track record brings over four decades of experience to a tough and unforgiving trade. After running a successful concrete formwork business in High River for 10 years, he moved to Calgary and established Conform Works Inc. during the spring of 1998. By 2001, Brad’s son, Jordan, joined the company to run the office while Brad supervised the fieldwork. In an effort to keep pace with an ever-changing economy, Conform has expanded, contracted and once again expanded. They have recently repositioned the company having survived the economic downturn in the late 2000s. Today Conform has gained significant market share as one of Calgary’s preferred concrete structure suppliers, but their growth has not always come easily. In the fall of 2008, business was good. The Conform crews were busy, the company had numerous large contracts underway and they employed up to 300
people. One year later, every construction company in North America was seemingly on the front lines of the economic crash. Conform was reduced to a skeletal staff of 25, they had lost 75 per cent of their annual revenues and the payables were piling up. The following two years brought more bad news: contracts were scarce, payroll was a constant struggle and fielding calls from collectors had become a full-time job. But Brad and Jordan refused to quit. “We didn’t close the doors because we were committed to our business community; we were not going to shut things down unless an external situation forced our hand,” recalls Brad Rasmussen, president and founder. “We knew we had to ride it out and honour our debts.” Conform’s commitment illustrated their business acumen and true to form, the market started to rebound. By the close of 2012, Conform had achieved 100 per cent growth. They had re-hired several key people and rolled into 2013 with a sizable list of large-scale projects underway.
Brad Rasmussen
CA PERI/12.288
Congratulations ConForm Works on your 15th anniversary!
Conform Works 15th Anniversary
Formwork Scaffolding Engineering www.peri.ca
“The economic crash made our company leaner, meaner and stronger,” remarks Jordan Rasmussen, general manager. “There is an increased level of confidence among our suppliers and customers because of our commitment.” In 15 years, few things have remained the same at Conform, however their pledge to quality and customer service has never changed. “Brad continues to drive around in his truck – checking out the job sites – and I doubt that will ever change,” adds Jordan. “Apart from that, everything else has changed.” Conform has evolved from building water reservoirs and small one-storey parkades to the pinnacle of concrete construction: highrise buildings. “Our capabilities have grown and the market has matured. Years ago we realized the true value to our customers and we have repositioned ourselves in the market,” adds Brad. As a family-run business, all of Brad’s sons have worked for the company although sons Jordan and Tahoe have been with the company for over a decade. Tahoe heads up the logistics division and it’s an integral aspect of running an efficient operation. “Concrete work is a fierce discipline and there’s very little margin for error. Planning the formwork is a bit like threedimensional chess: you’ve got to consider all the types of trades that are on-site and working around them adds to that complexity,” says Brad with a grin. Recent projects include Louise Station, Stampede Station and the Harvest Hills overpass on Stoney Trail. The Vantage Point Condominium, located on 11 Avenue SW, reaches 27 storeys high and is the tallest building Conform has constructed to date.
Safety is another area that’s key to Conform’s success. Daren Korner, safety officer, and Baljeet Kataria, site superintendent, have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to safety procedures over the past eight years. “Public safety is at the forefront of our operation. We are constantly working with contractors and the city to improve safety protocols and meet new city guidelines,” notes Jordan. “Conform’s mandate has always been a position of leadership.” Looking forward, Conform is optimistic about the future. The start of 2012 found their crews working as subcontractors for ITC Residential to build Calla; a downtown 12-storey highrise and the first of its kind for them since 2009. This year you will find their crews building the new OPUS head office and Glenmore Gardens III. Back inside the Conform office, Jordan is fielding calls for another potential project. On the wall of his office, the sign reads: ‘Be firm, fair and friendly… and in that order’ – an industry expression known as ‘Poole’s Rules’ that reflects the kind of wisdom garnered from decades of experience. As Conform continues to build a well-respected name in the industry, lessons learned from 2009 through 2011 are never far afield. As Conform celebrates their 15th anniversary, they would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the business partners, suppliers, customers and employees who have contributed to this milestone. A special note of gratitude goes out to Western Canadian Bank for standing behind Conform and believing in their commitment.
www.conformworks.com | 403.243.2250
Congratulations Conform Works Inc. on your 15th Anniversary ®
opuscorp.ca
Congratulations ConForm Works on 15 great years. We are proud of our association. Grant Structural Engineering Ltd.
Congratulations, Conform Works! Wishing you another 15 years of success.
#200, 1721-10th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0K1 Phone: 403.290.0885 Email: granteng@telus.net
Ph 403-888-7878 | Fax 403-204-9010 admin@nforcecrane.com nforcecrane.com
Conform Works 15th Anniversary