Innovation, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, combined with hard work and quality service have put a Manitoba construction company on the fast track to success

By: Barbara Bowes
Date: August 14, 2010
The Winnipeg Free Press

The construction industry is probably one of Canada's oldest industries and according to the Construction Sector Council, it is also one of the largest in terms of both value and employment.

Today, for instance, construction represents a $168-billion industry and approximately 13 per cent of Canada's economy.

Construction-sector activities include new-home building and renovation, and heavy industrial, institutional and commercial and civil engineering. In other words, everything from houses to hospitals, power stations, mines, dams and pipelines. In fact, more than a million men and women are employed in a diverse number of trades while there are over 150,000 firms operating in the area of trade contracting.

Being a well-established industry, one might wonder if there is room for just one more construction company. Especially a firm led by an up-and-coming, 37-year-old Generation X-er in conjunction with his longtime, trusted childhood friend. Is there room for a firm that applies Gen-X ideals, not only questioning authority as well as the status quo, but who asks that employees seek a bigger meaning in life and work? Well, Jamie Saulnier and his construction firm, Connotec Inc., are doing just that.

Saulnier grew up in the small town of Ignace, Ont., where he absorbed the small-town values and learned to respect hard work as well as the beauty and abundance of nature.

When his dream of becoming a conservation officer was crushed, his best friend's father offered an opportunity to "job shadow" and experience several different trade occupations, which led him to choosing to become a journeyman welder. This, in turn, led to 15 years of work opportunities in mining, pulp and paper, shipyards and pipelines throughout the country.

While his reputation for hard work, excellent technical skills and relationship-building soon became well known, Saulnier never forgot the value of his job-shadowing experience, which he nicknamed the "Manfred" approach, after his mentor.

Although he is leading one of the fastest-growing firms in Manitoba, one could say Saulnier was initially a reluctant entrepreneur. After years of hearing the voices and whispers from employers literally begging him to start his own firm, he finally took the leap. Working both in the business and on the business, Saulnier soon developed a reputation for his special team of talented professionals, high-quality work, and exemplary customer service.

Saulnier laughs at himself as he recalls working out of his home basement, looking up at a whiteboard scribbled with staff names, work schedules, flight schedules and, of course, payday schedules. But his efforts paid off. Not only did he garner multiple contracts, former colleagues from all the trades fields were calling him and asking to be part of his team.

Finally, after five years of spectacular growth, Jamie knew he needed help. So he called his best friend, Kliff Lengwenus, to join his leadership team.

By now Lengwenus, a skilled millright, was a successful senior operations manager working out of province. Thankfully, the opportunity for ownership, the call for adventure and their long-term friendship convinced him to join.

Together, the two principals have created a company that reflects Generation X thinking. Saulnier wanted to be different than other traditional firms. To do this, he involved his employees in defining the best organizational culture and work environment that would serve to create the best place to work. They brainstormed past lives and jobs and defined the most desirable traits they could find. And then they put them into practice.

As a result, the company has not only become known for its quality work and high levels of customer service, but it has also become known for high employee morale and the sense of individual pride. While it is difficult to create a sense of family amongst employees at the best of times, Connotec Inc.'s employees do indeed feel like they're family and it's Saulnier's goal to ensure they are treated like family.

For instance, work rotation shifts are balanced so that employees get quality time with their family.

As well, growing up in a small northern community enabled Saulnier to recognize and appreciate the value of a local aboriginal labour force. Yet, more and more frequently, he began to question the lack of First Nations individuals in Manitoba who were trained as journeyman trades professionals. He discovered there were numerous barriers to entry, as well as gaps in the traditional training systems. So he decided to do something about it.

He reached out to First Nations organizations and the various government officials involved with the trades and single-handedly facilitated the conceptual development and creation of a unique pre-apprenticeship program.

Following a brief but intense period of training and pre-employment assessments, selected participants are then hired as labourers and offered the "Manfred job shadow" approach to experiencing the various trades' professions.

This model has many benefits, including the fact that individuals are earning an income while they are gaining experience. Following approximately five to six months of working alongside various trades, individuals select their occupation. And, once an individual chooses their preferred trade, they are then placed in Connotec Inc.'s formal apprenticeship program.

Today, after 10 short years, Connotec Inc. employs more than 100 people and specializes in providing a full range of services in mining, right from construction to shut-down maintenance.

Persistence, hard work, quality service and the development of trusting relationships with a wide variety of key stakeholders has certainly paid off for Connotec Inc. But it is also the innovation, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking that has helped this firm develop at such lightning speed.

In fact, it's their refreshing philosophy of personal caring and their attitude of giving that make this young company so unique and has enabled it to create business, social and economic success for all concerned.


Source: Construction Sector Council website, interview with Jamie Saulnier and Kliff Lengwenus, Connotec, Inc.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCHRP, CMC is president of Legacy Bowes Group, a Manitoba based talent management solutions firm. She is also host of the weekly BowesKnows radio show and is the author of the newly released bestseller, Resume Rescue. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it