GEN-PRO Brochure by North American Constructors Journal

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GEN-PRO :

An approved contractor with multiple capabilities Growing mid-size Ontario firm GEN-PRO has earned its reputation as a reliable partner in numerous sectors. Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino

www.genpro.ca

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Established in 1998, GEN-PRO of Burlington, ON has taken less than two decades to stake its claim as a growing mid-size player in the Commercial, Retail and Institutional sectors specializing in interior renovations, fit-outs and additions. The company has demonstrated time and again the ability to adhere to complicated schedules and meet special requirements. GEN-PRO was founded by President John Dawson, a native of England with 50 years of industry experience (the first 18 in England) dating back to his start as an 18-year-old apprentice. Today the company employs 25 full-time office and field staff, typically adds one new position each year, mentors student-interns, and works across southern Ontario, taking on projects ranging from $10,000 to $8 million. The company’s success is best measured by its above average bid-to-hit ratio. “Right now, for every six projects we bid, we are awarded at least one, which is above industry standard, and they range in many sizes. We’re generally looking at be awarded about 100 projects a year,” Dawson says. “The only projects that don’t have changes are Design/Build, whereas

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GEN-PRO | 4 Tendered projects we do, have many changes. The biggest challenge we’ve got is not only keeping the project going but making certain the Trades and the Clients are all satisfied at the end of the day and that they achieved what they expected to get out of the project,” he explains. Another indication of long-term success is GEN-PRO’s status as an approved contractor for a number of Universities, Colleges and Infrastructure Ontario (IO), no small feat. “That means they (Colleges, Universities and IO) will only invite those General Contractors that are on the Vendor of Record (VOR) list to

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I love construction. I take pride in any project that we build. - President John Dawson

installation of major Mechanical and Electrical equipment, complete with Architectural and Structural services throughout the C-wing and E-wing at the Trafalgar Campus

bid. It takes years, to gain the experience and knowledge to properly showcase your ability to be accepted onto the VOR lists. Repeat opportunities go to an elite set of contractors, which we are part of,” Dawson says.

GEN-PRO completed a $5m exhaust system modernization of the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW) laboratory, owned and managed by Environment Canada. CCIW is located in Burlington, occupying a large waterfront tract just inside Hamilton Harbor. The general scope of the project involved uniting individual fume hood exhaust systems in laboratories located from the fourth through seventh floors into a single variable high plume exhaust systems + HVAC upgrades to other BuildingsGEN-PRO executed

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Key Projects GEN-PRO’s largest project to date is currently in progress, the $8 million Sheridan College Energy Centre, Phase 2. The general scope of work involves the supply and

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GEN-PRO | 6 the installation of a new two-storey hydraulic Passenger Elevator within Building A on the North Campus of Humber College in Toronto. This required interior excavation/backfill, underpinning, poured in place concrete foundations, concrete block shaft walls, and a new second storey mezzanine to provide access to the elevator under Occupied conditions. In 2014, GEN-PRO constructed its new 3000sf office building. This has become the new face of GEN-PRO and a showcase of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability and expertise in constructing and managing projects of the magnitude. GEN-PRO purchased the 1.38 acre property, formerly a transportation sales yard that included a small 800sf maintenance shop that GEN-PRO renovated to provide temporary office space to continue business during the design and construction phases of their new building. Once the new offices were completed GEN-PRO renovated the temporary space to provide a second office building with similar design features to the main office building. GEN-PRO has completed numerous Design/Build project for Momentum Credit Union, University of Guelph, and Cinema One. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We always try to complete projects on time and within budget. These days, with the industry being what it is, there are so many changes that

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GEN-PRO | 7 happen on projects that keeping both on time and on budget is becoming harder and harder,” Dawson says.

Safety and People “Safety is No. One. It’s a dangerous industry and there are too many incidents and accidents. We strive to insure that everybody who starts work in the morning goes home at night,” Dawson says. The company has achieved IHSA (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association) Certificate of Recognition (COR), an occupational health and safety accreditation program introduced into

Ontario jointly with the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA), in alignment with national Health and safety standards, demonstrating to buyers of construction that our health and safety management system has been developed, implemented, and evaluated on an annual basis through comprehensive internal and external audits. The certification is valid for three years, provided the company performs and successfully completes internal audits in the second and third years. GEN-PRO is currently in their second year (First year internal audit). GEN-PRO is also part of the League of Champions Construction

Commercial • Industrial • Institutional Total Roofing Capabilities

George Roque, President george@grrc.ca

Quality is OUR Strength

We specialize in: • Re-roofing • Maintenance • Waterproofing • New Construction • Roof Restoration • Emergency Repairs 24/7 • Slope/Shingles/Metal

www.grrc.ca 905.393.7989 www.genpro.ca

GEN-PRO | 8 Safety in partnership with MySafeWork & the OGCA to promote a safety culture and build awareness, not just to the industry, but and most importantly, upcoming Students and Re-trained persons. GEN-PRO retains a dedicated Safety Officer as a consultant, holds regular safety meetings both in the office and on job sites and, once every three months, brings the entire group together for in-depth update sessions. Dawson notes that “in the past 10 years we have had only two incidents and in the last four or five years we have been accident-free.” The company encourages ongoing education and reimburses any employee that successfully completes a course.

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“If it meets an enhancement for their ability to be productive, we don’t just support it, but we say sure, you go ahead and enroll. If they come back and say I passed it, we pay them back the money they spent to do that course,” Dawson says. Superintendents, Estimators and Project Managers with a minimum of five years in the field that becomes Gold Seal certifiedreceive incentives for their achievements.

Looking Back – and Ahead Dawson says, knowing what he knows now, he would’ve taken the leap of faith and started his own company at a younger age.

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That means they (Colleges,

Universities and IO) will only invite those General Contractors that are on the Vendor of Record (VOR) list to bid. It takes years, to gain the experience and knowledge to properly showcase your ability to be accepted onto the VOR lists.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Repeat opportunities go to an elite set of contractors, which we are part of, - President John Dawson

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Dawson’s son Shaun, the company’s Vice President, and Scott Tye, the General Manager, are handling the brunt of the oversight at job site. Dawson says he’s mostly buried by huge amounts of paperwork these days. The company has established its niche and seems likely to continue along the path of measured growth that has brought it to this point. “I love construction. I take pride in any project that we build,” he concludes.

We always try to complete projects on time and within budget. These days, with the industry being what it is, there are so many changes that happen on projects that keeping both on time and on budget is becoming harder and harder, - President John Dawson

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“I worked for someone else until I was 47 before circumstances I felt gave me the opportunity to go on my own. I think I’ve always had the belief in my ability but it’s been the biggest gamble of my life,” he says.

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