6 minute read
CW2 & Guardian Fencing
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
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BY KYRA HOGAN PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
A team of business partners is looking to compliment Brandon’s business landscape through strategic partnerships, innovative approaches, diligent work, and a hint of humour.
Tanya LaBuick is the newest partner: she joined the team two years ago now in the role of Chief Operations Officer at CW2 Construction Ltd. and Guardian Fencing Ltd., working side-by-side with President Bart Curtis and Partner PJ Crane, as well as Partner Warren Hope at Guardian Fencing. The firm helps commercial and residential owners successfully achieve their new build or renovation vision by providing design, construction, and contract management services. Notable recent projects include; Precision Denture, Precision Toyota, Christie’s Office Plus, ACC Animal Proteins Facility, and various projects on Canadian Forces Base Shilo.
CW2 nominated as Outstanding New Business 2017, 2018 & 2019
Part of CW2’s uniqueness comes from the collaboration of their partnership group. Bart Curtis, President of CW2, has 23 years’ experience in the construction industry garnered from achieving his Red Seal in Carpentry to estimating, and now running his own companies. He has worked diligently in building both companies with a fever and care much like a parent with a child.
PJ Crane, Vice President of the successful family business of Crane Steel Structures Ltd. who are experts in metal building systems and have over 35 years’ experience and pre-engineered metal building systems, which are commonly used for commercial, industrial and recreational facilities.
LaBuick, who formed LaBuick & Co., a successful consulting business in 2002, built upon her 25 years’ experience in project management, strategy development, and high-performance team building is also a globally certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with clients such as World Rugby, Populous, and FIFA.
Warren Hope of Brandon Heating & Plumbing, Grand Valley Mechanical, and Grand Valley Restaurant and Equipment Supply, adds an educated perspective and industry acumen to the Guardian team with his multiple decades of experience.
WHY ADD DIVERSITY?
Although LaBuick doesn’t come from a direct background in construction, she has worked in construction divisions for multiple mega-events like NFL Super Bowls and several Olympic Games. Her experience is heavy in project management and team leadership in chaotic and high stress environments.
“Each of us has over two decades of experience, and that includes Tanya in her own sector,” Curtis said.
Hope concurred, saying, “Anytime you introduce diversity, you also introduce opportunity.”
Crane said the road to success in partnerships can be tricky, but exciting at the same time. LaBuick added, “I think it speaks volumes as to how they think and how progressive they really are that they were open to diversifying their partnership. I also think it explains their success as business people.”
The collective construction knowledge of Crane, Curtis and Hope offered Guardian Fencing the acumen and for lack of a better word, guts, to go after a piece of the market that could be characterized as a monopoly. The company went through a recent reorganization and hired in new staff to compliment the partners vision of where they want to head.
WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE?
Communication is a fundamental underpinning to the kind of flexible, agile, responsive operation they are creating together.
Hope agreed, “Developing a value-aligned partnership that focuses on common goals and complementary strengths is key to ensuring successful outcomes.
WHAT WE DO
CW2 Construction & Design Ltd.
is a full-service general contractor for construction, working predominantly in the commercial or industrial space, but providing services residentially as well. They boast an excellent team, comprised of trades people, project managers, administrative, and management staff.
Guardian Fencing Ltd.
is a full-service fencing company serving customers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We provide agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational, and residential fence solutions.
I think one other key thing is that none of us take ourselves too seriously and there is a playful banter emerging that is also building us as partners, and as a team. “
“PJ has been a really great partner in terms of building the businesses and talking through other challenges,” Curtis said. I think we all have similar risk tolerances but enough differences that we can balance the risk with calculated conversation before we leap. I’ve come to trust and rely on PJ as a mentor as I grow and stretch my own comfort zone. He’s been a great asset to me, well, all of us.”
DO YOU ALWAYS GET ALONG?
“Nope, we don’t always get along and we definitely don’t always agree. Sometimes Bart and I walk away and come back the next day with a better perspective, other times we have a good ole’ fashioned throw down and then be done with it,” she said. Curtis commented, laughing, “She rolls her eyes a lot and I shake my head. It seems to work.”
But in all seriousness, LaBuick said, “I think the important thing is that we respect each other and we have established trust and a shared vision for the companies. We want to build a different kind of construction company. “
While they each have different skill sets and areas of focus, there’s also significant overlap where the strengths they bring to the table dovetail and create a synergy of passion and energy and expertise which adds up to far more than the sum of its parts.
“Strategic partnerships benefit everyone: businesses, employees and customers. Our customers benefit from the strengths and offerings each partner brings to the table,” Crane said. “Plus, deepening ties between complementary businesses fosters collaboration and longevity, and gives us the chance to offer services and solutions for our customers.”
THE RECIPROCITY OF PARTNERSHIP
Being accountable to the each other is a good check and balance in terms of risk because the partners decide BIG things together. Progress can’t happen in one bucket and working collaboratively as partners – within the businesses as well as within their ecosystem – they all agree their goal is to improve, always, and they think this partnership sets them all up for success, collectively, and individually. Only time will tell where they end up, but for today, their foundation is solid, and they are definitely building up, wood or steel, with a combined strength.
CW2 Construction & Design Ltd. 402 Park Avenue East Brandon, MB 204.726.2270 cw2construction.ca
