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Penner (far right), McKee and members of the CIC crew
pictured on site at The Forks, where they’re building out
a second Winnipeg location for McNally Robinson

In many respects, it was excellent timing, Penner concedes,
“but it was also tough, because there wasn’t much work out
there at the time. So all the other general contractors were There it is again:
fighting for the same piece of pie.”
‘The CIC Way’. And it’s
Having access to plenty of skilled trades was key.
ensured that the company
“We still had some of the old guys that (Art’s dad) had. Trades
guys. So we had carpenters, we had drywallers, and ceiling has become one of the most
installers. We hired one of the guys back, then two guys. If
we needed an electrician, or we needed a plumber – we would trusted building contractors
sub that stuff out. And that was it; we just kept working at that
model.” in downtown Winnipeg.
That model would in effect constitute the first page of the CIC
playbook – quality work by skilled tradespeople, resulting in
satisfied customers and repeat business.
The first year yielded sales of about $300,000, says Penner. The company’s consistency in recruiting and retaining
Steady growth over two decades has led to a present day CIC skilled people has helped to cement its reputation for
that employs 15 staff “including carpenters, drywallers, tapers reliability and quality workmanship. “Our site super
that are all in-house,” says Penner – and earns revenues in has been with us since ’97. Most of our people are
excess of $10 million. ticketed – carpenters and drywallers,” says Penner.
“And most come to us somewhat trained, but then
CIC co-founder Art Schroeder retired in 2008, and Penner they have to be ‘tweaked’ to the way we do things.”
eventually brought onboard Jason McKee – a subcontractor he
often utilized for CIC projects – as an employee. McKee was There it is again: ‘The CIC Way’. And it’s ensured
made a project manager and then officially a junior partner of that the company has become one of the most
the firm in 2015. trusted building contractors in downtown Winnipeg.

20 BOMA MANITOBA INSIDER | ISSUE 8 | WINTER 2017/18