Celebrating 35 Years of Customer-Focused Service and Success
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By Nerissa McNaughton
t’s easy to go about your day without thinking of the many underground services that lay hidden while making our lives easier. Yet, the minute there is a problem with an underground water pipe or utility line, our lives feel like they are on hold until the problem is located, fixed and the lines are tucked out of sight once again. Have you paused to think about what it takes to service these underground utilities? It takes more than a backhoe and a good sense of direction. It takes training, vision and planning – but thankfully Raywalt Construction Company Ltd. has all this and more. Raywalt Construction Company Ltd. is on its second generation of ownership and while you may not be familiar with their work the way you could point out a homebuilder’s project or an
interior designer’s art, a large majority of Albertans, particularly Edmontonians, have benefited from their expertise. In fact, if you reside in one of Edmonton’s recently developed communities, chances are the work of Raywalt lies beneath your feet. But we are getting ahead of ourselves a little bit. This is a company 35 years in the making, so let’s go back to where it all began. The year is 1979. Ray Necula and Walter Volsky had a vision for a company that could service underground utilities while providing strong, client-focused service. Volsky took the company forward after becoming the sole owner in the 1980s and continued in that role until retirement in 2004. Raywalt has placed an ever-increasing emphasis on client satisfaction and has maintained lasting relationships for many
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years. In a time where, thanks to social media, services can be easily chosen based on reputation alone, Raywalt’s customerfocused attitude has stood the test of time. Ten years ago, Volsky was able to retire in the best way possible – seeing his dream company come true and seeing it pass into the hands of the two men that would confidently take Raywalt forward for the next several years. Those two men are partners Ron Johnson and Mark Zutz. Johnson started his career in the field of engineering consulting, but soon found the opportunities in contracting to be better suited to his personality. He made the career jump to contracting and quickly gained the interest of Raywalt’s Walter Volsky. Johnson joined Raywalt at Volsky’s invitation in 1980 as a project manager. Zutz also started his career in engineering but when he discovered a passion for physical organization, problem solving and innovative ways to control projects he, like Johnson, chose an alternate career path. This path led his employment at Raywalt in 1983. Zutz was hired as a project manager. Johnson and Zutz worked hard, learning every aspect of the business and were eager to take Raywalt to the next level. “We made sure he [Volsky] sold it to us,” smiles Johnson as he describes buying into the partnership with Zutz. Raywalt’s trajectory has always moved in a positive direction. Notable projects include a history-making open-cut excavation Raywalt | 35 Years | Page 2
President Ron Johnson and Operations Manager Mark Zutz.
in 1981 that went down 15 metres. It was the deepest excavation in Edmonton at that time. Tunnelling equipment, excavators and many more heavy machines took a year to complete the job under far from ideal circumstances. “The ground was not good,” Johnson points out. “A good ground condition is ground that stands up, such as clay.” The (at the time) young company was undeterred, however, and used a combination of experience, smarts and tenacity to complete the job. As Raywalt became increasingly known as the company to call to get a job done quickly, efficiently and on budget, growth in
Dandy Oil Products Ltd. Congratulations on 35 years Raywalt! Dandy Oil Products looks forward to working with you in the future.
projects and staff were steady. Raywalt relocated from their original south Edmonton location in 1988 and settled in Acheson’s sprawling industrial park. With a growing client list, the company narrowed their focus. “We have done work all over the province,” Johnson notes, “but we have enough work here in the Edmonton region, allowing our forces to service our loyal clients.” This work includes servicing thousands of residential lots, challenging transmission mains projects (including crossing the North Saskatchewan River, the Bow River in downtown Calgary, large diameter deep excavation trunks, and steel water transmission projects all over Alberta), and specialized work in the construction of irrigation canals, pipe bridges, trenchless crossings, sewer and water main replacement (including 14 km of water replacement for City of Calgary), box culvert installation and environmental protection work. “We have installed 1.4-metre diameter water trunks in Edmonton as well as under the Bow River in Calgary,” Johnson explains. In 2009, Raywalt was chosen to complete several large diameter sewer and water relocations on the Anthony Henday northwest project, allowing the construction of the freeway work without disrupting crucial services to Edmonton, St. Albert and other communities. “The relocations were unusual and varied projects within a project which required experience and the expertise. Ultimately, we were chosen to become part of the team,” remarks Johnson of the relocations that spanned three years.
The best success stories are the ones written right here
Dandy Oil Products Ltd., the petroleum products supplier of choice in the Earthworks and Excavating industry. Congratulations to Raywalt Construction on 35 years in business. Edmonton Main branch 12230 Jasper Avenue P: 780.424.4846 cwbank.com
780-452-1104 | info@dandyoil.com www.dandyoil.com
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T
om Allison started with Raywalt as a general labourer on a pipe crew before he was 20 years old, and worked his way up to foreman, superintendent and general superintendent as well as one of the partners who purchased the company from Volsky 10 years ago. His career at Raywalt is an indication of how far a person with dedication and a good work ethic can go in a challenging, yet rewarding career choice. Derrick DiPalma (a.k.a. Turk) started with Raywalt in 1981 as a labourer. Today he is a superintendent in charge of several sites. When Zutz and Johnson bought the company, he was one of the partners that helped to finalize the deal. He would later sell his company shares, but continues to enjoy his time at Raywalt. Wayne Carr started in 1983 as a track loader operator. Today he is “Raywalt’s most senior and talented mainline excavator operator,” Johnson points out. Another long-term employee, Fred Fisher, started his Raywalt career as a rubber tire loader operator. The crew still looks to Fisher to do what he’s been doing best for over 30 years. Johnson and Zutz express their thanks to these and the many other members of their office and field staff that keep Raywalt’s projects running smoothly year after year.
Raywalt’s efficiency in the field is also seen at the administration level. There is a staff of 10 in the office and approximately 150 seasonal workers in the field. Like many Edmonton-based industrial businesses, Raywalt faces challenges from the sweet siren song of the oilfield that lures good workers out of the city with promises of fat paycheques and overtime hours. Yet, thanks to the value Raywalt has always placed on their staff, their seasonal workers are happy to keep coming back summer after summer. “We’ve had people that have been with us for a very long time,” says Johnson gratefully. “Some for 20 - 30 years and lots at 10 - 15 years.” (See sidebar.) It’s easy to see why. Merit benefits and training, ASA training and having a safe and productive work environment and support from all levels of management are just some of reasons Raywalt’s field staff are more than happy to return each season. Raywalt Construction Company Ltd. does not stop at providing great service in the field and a supportive team environment. Their work extends into philanthropy as well. “It’s all part of being a corporate citizen,” says Johnson. “Whether it’s a good economy or a bad economy, you have to give back.” And give back they do. Raywalt happily contributes to the Kids With Cancer Society, the Cross Cancer Institute, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Habitat for Humanity and ABC Head Start, to name a few of dozens of charities they support. “They are all good causes,” says Zutz. “We have good [philanthropic] role models,” Johnson adds, “like Irving and Dianne Kipnes. There are a lot of people in Edmonton that dedicate tremendous efforts to charitable work.” This year Raywalt Construction Company Ltd. celebrates two milestones. It’s their 35th anniversary and as of this August, the
10th anniversary of Johnson and Zutz’s leadership in the new ownership group. Looking back, the two partners have nothing but fond memories. “We have improved on how we do our work, in our reputation, and how we handle safety,” says Zutz as he thinks of the changes over the past decade. “We are more solid. We are more relationship-based than tendered. We are loyal to our clients and in turn, they are loyal to us.”
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Congratulations RAYWALT on your 35th Anniversary CONGRATULATIONS RAYWALT CONSTRUCTION ON 35 YEARS OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS!
WITTEN LLP | 2500 Canadian WesternBank Place 10303 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 3N6 Phone: 780-428-0501 | Fax: 780-429-2559 | www.wittenlaw.com WWW.LAKEWOODCHEV.COM
Congratulations Raywalt on 35 great years! We are proud of our history with Raywalt in supplying hot tap, valve insertion and line stop services. CELEBRATING OUR 68TH YEAR
LEADING THE TRENCHLESS INDUSTRY SINCE 1970
CONGRATULATIONS ON 35 YEARS OF SUCCESS
21521 112 AVE EDMONTON, AB | P: 780-486-4050 | F: 780-488-7984 WWW.NEPTUNECORING.CA
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the company has become – or how much potential it has to grow even faster – Johnson and Zutz hold fast to the qualities that made Raywalt so successful since 1979. “We have no intention of being a monstrously huge company,” says Johnson. “You just can’t do it all. We don’t overextend ourselves. We do the jobs we have committed to and we do them well. We turn away work that doesn’t fit and we stick with the clients that have been loyal to us.” It’s a strategy that has worked and there is no doubt it is a strategy that will continue to work in the years ahead. Johnson and Zutz would like to thank their clients and suppliers whom they have built a relationship with based on mutual trust. Special thanks also goes to their staff, both permanent and seasonal, for their hard work and dedication.
“We realize this is a team environment. It’s more than just a job,” Johnson agrees while adding his thoughts on his time as employee, then president at Raywalt. “This team includes everyone, including the other firms. We all work together.” The story of Raywalt Construction Company Ltd. is far from over. In fact, it’s just barely into its second chapter. Volsky laid the foundation, Johnson and Zutz took over as the next generation and the upcoming partners that will succeed Johnson and Zutz are already in motion. Yet no matter how successful
506, 53016 Highway 60 in Acheson, Alberta (780) 962-0030 • email mainoffice@raywalt.ca www.raywalt.ca
Cement • Aggregates • Concrete • Pipe
Congratulations on 35 years, Raywalt Construction Co. Ltd.! Proud to work with you to build our community.
www.lehighhansoncanada.com
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Congratulations!
N
orwood Waterworks is the leading supplier of water
works products in Alberta. Established in 1922, the company serves the waterworks, agriculture, oil and gas, and forestry industries. The company’s success is built upon providing the
best value, service and expertise in the industry through our technical and experienced staff. As a full line waterworks distributor, Norwood stocks one of the largest inventory levels of waterworks products in Canada. Norwood Waterworks is proud to be partnered with Raywalt Construction and wishes them another 35 Years of Success!
780-488-7788 | e-mail Sales@NorwoodWaterworks.com | www.NorwoodWaterworks.com
Congratulations Raywalt on 35 years! We wish you the best for many more years to come! 7224 50th Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2J8 Phone Number: (780) 466-5832 • Fax Number: (780) 465-7020 • Email Address: info@jatec.ca www.jatec.ca Raywalt | 35 Years | Page 7