Page 29 - BOMA Spring 2017 Insider

PEOPLE OWNED
Today, Antex Western’s management
is proud to point out that the
company remains not only Winnipeg-
headquartered but locally-owned as
well.Kolas himself was originally hired
as a flooring installer, working his way
into the role of a minority shareholder
and eventually company president
by 2003. As former company owner
and president Elliot Saunders was
transitioning into retirement, Kolas
felt compelled to bring on additional
partners with an active interest in the Antex Western's head office in Winnipeg
company. The partners could then
continue to build upon the company’s
success together. “I really believe that you’ve got to have day-to-day challenges, and with that
people with ‘skin in the game’ or you comes a great deal of respect for the
Joining Kolas as shareholders
were Chief Estimator Joe Ng, won’t get full production out of your terrific work our employees do.”
Brian Fedorchuk (now Manager, team,” says Kolas. “And quite frankly, That work is now handled by more
Floorcoverings), Ken Klohn (VP of we saw that advantage (of employee- than 150 Antex Western employees
Business Development), and Bryan ownership) almost immediately. We in Winnipeg and satellite offices in
Demarcke, who has since retired. quickly went from $3 million in revenues Edmonton and Fort McMurray. And
to $10 million. The partners were fully despite the range of projects and
engaged and it showed.
product offerings already being as
“ “Plus, I always found it better to have remarkable as the work itself, Antex’s
... you've got to have
owners have big plans for the future.
more heads at the table, trying to figure
people with 'skin in the
ideas you have from people contributing,
game' or you won't get out strategy and set direction. The more COMMITMENT TO R&D
Always looking ahead to the next
the better the end result is likely to be.”
full production out of Dan Demarcke, now the youngest partner chapter in their firm’s history, Kolas and
” “When our project teams collaborate, efforts.
his partners are plowing ahead with
your team. at Antex, agrees. ambitious research and development
there never seems to be a shortage of In 2011, Antex brought on board its own
Rounding out the company ownership good ideas going around the table,” says research scientist, Asia Shvarzman, a
are Sal Maida (Manager, Hard Surfaces), Demarcke. professional engineer with a Ph.D in
Antex CFO Elmer Rudan, and Bryan Following in his father’s footsteps (dad building products. Shvarzman was hired
Demarcke’s son Dan—now Manager of Bryan was a 43-year veteran of the to help the company perfect its recycled
Antex’s Special Projects Division—who company before he retired in 2016), the terrazzo product — Reazzo® — which
purchased his father’s shares in 2016. younger Demarcke has now been with is used for floors and countertops. And
the company for 18 years, currently she was also brought in as a partner
Kolas is the first to admit that having
seven owners—all of whom are overseeing Special Projects. Gaining for the new Antex affiliate called ACM
involved in day-to-day operations of the valuable project experience over time has (Alternative Cementitious Material).
company—is probably a rarity in the prepared Demarcke and his fellow owners Kolas maintains that sustainability has
contracting world. And it’s a marked well for taking the reins at Antex in the been a company goal for many years. In
departure from much of Antex’s 90- years to come. addition to its commitment to Reazzo®,
year history, which saw the company “We, as managers and owners, have Antex was also able to divert nearly
controlled by just one or two individuals. all gone through various roles in the 100% of construction waste from the
ut the company president insists that company,” says Demarcke, himself a landfill when completing its own head
things have worked out even better than certified journeyman carpenter. “So we office overhaul.
expected. have a pretty good understanding of the

BOMA MANITOBA INSIDER | ISSUE 7 | SPRING 2017 28