Integrity Post Structures Integrity Post Structures: Where Innovation and Experience Meet Why Integrity Post Structures is head and shoulders above the competition Written by: Ian Hanner & Tomas Lucero
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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“For me, Integrity Post Structures is more than just a company—we are a team. Our goal is not to maximize share price, but rather to give the best building and service out there” – says Williams
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ntegrity is more than just a word to Integrity Post Structures, one of Western Canada’s leading post frame contractors. To them, it’s the guiding principle behind their entre business. Founded in 2008 by Al Williams and Jerry Myer, Integrity Post Structures (Integrity) is the culmination of the years of experience in construction and sales that the two partners brought to the table. Williams worked hard out of his truck and Myers from home to sell 75 buildings
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their first year, according to Williams. Today that number is up to 300 each year. “In the early years, we used to do it all,” Williams said. “Everything from selling to building to service. Today everybody has their roles and I have learned to place responsibilities onto the shoulders of our very capable team.”
Leveraging Technology Integrity has a lot of things going for it. They’ve learned to use technology to optimize their business, using only the best raw materials in the industry. “We have a very simple recipe,” Williams said. “We use the best products from the best suppliers. We only use quality metal. We use w w w. i n t e g r i t y p o s t f r a m e . c o m
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Our mission is to provide superior products and to make a positive dif
Structural Truss Systems is a family owned business which has been manufacturing quality trusses since 1981. Beginning as a small operation near Fort Macleod’s Historic downtown the company has steadily grown and now operates from our modern 38,000 sq ft. manufacturing plant. Since then our operations have experienced continual upgrades to equipment and processes to ensure we achieve the best possible efficiencies.
STS is also a member of the Western Wood Truss Association of Alberta which requires us to adhere to “A Code of Standard Practice.”
I Fort Macleod, Alberta T0L 0Z0 I
443 - 12th Street Email: admin@stsltd.ca
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Ph: 403-553-3306
To view our company video visit our website www.stsltd.ca
s and services, to build lasting relationships, fference in the community.
ECOnOmICAL LONG LASTING QUALITY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Since establishment in 1992, Forma Steel has been manufacturing quality steel panels and distributing related accessories. Our focus on quality and service has helped us grow into our current 26,000ft² facility offering 5 panel options and trims up to 21’ long. Continuous improvements in both equipment and processes result in our ability to offer the best possible efficiency and value.
I Fort Macleod, Alberta T0L 0Z0 I Ph: 403-553-3309 contact@formasteel.ca I To view our company video visit our website www.formasteel.ca 408 - 12th Street
Email:
STEEL ROOFING STEEL SIDING SLIDING DOORS FLASHING ACCESSORIES
SUPPLIER PROFILE
STRUCTURAL TRUSS SYSTEMS / FORMA STEEL
Employees: 60 Established: 1981 Industry: Residential, commercial, agricultural, oil field, post frame, multi-family Services: Engineered wood roof and open web floor truss systems, wood I-joist, LVL beams and associated hardware. Cut to length steel panels for roof, walls and liners. Associated trims up to 21’, sliding doors and all associated accessories. Key to success: Quality, service, lean principled manufacturing, continuous improvement Management: Frans Feyter, President James Coast, General Manager Website: www.stsltd.ca www.formasteel.ca
INTEGRITY POST STRUCTURES quality trusses from our truss supplier. Our doors are just very high quality and doors that don’t require very much maintenance. So for us that’s what makes us the best.” He added, “We have the confidence to back our buildings with the best warranty in the industry. We also have a service crew that provides immediate response to any problems that we have. We work hard every day. We look at our shortfalls and make decisions that have impacts on making our process better.” Today they’re the Western Canadian distributors of the Perma-Column, a product that has shifted the market. Perma-Column introduced its signature product by the same name. According to the company’s website, “PermaColumns are five foot precast concrete columns that keep wood out of the ground, ensuring [a] building’s foundation will never rot. They are the first product to combine the economy of post frame construction with the durability of a concrete foundation.” The Perma-Column is simple to install and doesn’t require waiting on concrete trucks or treating wood for soil introduction.
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Machine sheds help prolong the life of your valuable farm equipment.
“We are not driven by how quickly we move from one project to the next, but by doing the best job and paying detailed attention to each aspect of the building” – says, Williams w w w. i n t e g r i t y p o s t f r a m e . c o m
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INTEGRITY POST STRUCTURES According to Williams, the PermaColumn has been a real gamechanger for Integrity’s business. “It helps us compete in a different market, which is stick-frame buildings,” he said. “Some people would never build on a post frame model because of the fact that there’s wood on the ground and wood rots. The fact that our post is concrete really helps us sell buildings and provide added value to our buildings over our competitors.”
Integrity’s Approach to Every Job It’s important not to credit too much of Integrity’s success to the Perma-Column, as the company is one that prides itself on continually improving its own operations. On its own website, Integrity assures each and every prospective client that it will bring the best experience and innovation to every job site. “With a team that includes innovators like Al Williams and Jerry Myer, combined with the experience
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of Post Frame pioneer Irvin Goodon, our team is unmatchable in giving you the best product and service for your dollar.” A pillar of Integrity’s success is its communication system. Integrity’s communication begins with an intricately detailed drawing of each project they are commissioned to complete. From there, each stakeholder uses the drawing as the central point of reference from start to finish. This avoids confusion and crystallizes vision. Things were not always this way. “A lot of miscommunications within our industry happened because we would have construction crews building differently than we had sold the building or put together the package from the building,” Williams said. “Today, we have a detailed drawing that creates a take-off. Having a centralized communication system in the form of a detailed drawing works very, very well for us.” The handy work of the sketcher that creates their drawings is augmented by technology. Integrity has a “fantastic” dashboard module that allows
them to give real time quoting with five sales representatives. The firm uses the full spectrum of modern communication tools, from Dropbox to texting to social media. As a whole, their communication system lets them work at the speed of business. “Quoting and responding to issues: it makes our immediate responses, punctual quoting and our ability to follow up on quotes very efficient,” Williams said. Recognition In recognition of his hard work and business acumen, partner Jerry Myer was recently selected as a finalist for the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction in the Young Entrepreneur of Distinction category. The coveted award recognizes young professionals who are successfully approaching businesses in genuinely innovative ways. “I am honoured to be selected as a finalist in by the Alberta Chambers,” said Myer. “We are privileged to be based in Alberta where we have been able to tap into the many opportunities our province offers. As a company, I believe we are poised for great success in the coming years
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INTEGRITY POST STRUCTURES
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and I am excited about the opportunities that surround us.” According to the company’s website, the final award decision will be announced at a gala dinner on Feb. 27 at the Renaissance Hotel in Edmonton, after going to print. This award is just one of many indicators that Integrity’s reputation precedes them. Wordof-mouth is a major source of their business referrals. When Integrity builds something in an area, the neighbors flock to their business. “We find ourselves building clusters,” Williams said. “We track our buildings on Google Earth and we find that our buildings come in clusters. We build one building and then we build three other buildings around that particular customer.” The leadership style of Williams and Myer has kept pace with the dynamism of the partners’ company, whilst ensuring the contributions of the rank and file at the company are appropriately valued. “Although myself and Jerry are the owners of the company, we could not do what we do without the commitment and role ownership that we have in our team,” Williams said. “I would attribute the success of our company not only to the 20 staff that we have here at our headquarters in Okotoks, but too our early rising sales team and sixteen hard working crews that we have out in the field.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
48223 338 Ave. East Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, T1S 1A8 FOUNDED
2008 EMPLOYEES
~20 REVENUE
Not Disclosed
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Integrity Post Structures 48223 338 Ave. East Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T1S 1A8 Tel. (866) 974-7678 www.integritypoststructures.com