December 28, 2006

Management

Best managed firms include ICI companies

BRIAN BAKER

staff writer

Several companies serving the ICI sectors have joined the ranks of “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies”. Of these, five were granted the distinction of Platinum Club status.

Companies that have re-qualified are in their second and third years of applications, while those with Platinum status have won consecutively for seven years.

“That’s what is unique about our program, it is the only one that we know of that is cumulative — you have to win year over year — and it is all about sustainability,” said John Hughes, National Leader of the Best Managed program and Deloitte Partner.

John Hughes

“Certainly some of the companies are recognizable, but these are not companies that have grown 50 or 100 per cent for the last six years.

“These are companies that have done significant growth, but at a steady pace, profitably, they’ve grown the business and have not taken a risk in doing that.”

Graham Group Ltd., PCL Construction Group, Brock Solutions Inc., Flynn Canada Ltd. and Modern Niagara Group Inc. were granted the distinction of Platinum Club status.

Golder Associates Ltd., NORPAC Controls Ltd., Cana Group of Companies, Jayman MasterBUILT Inc., Trico Homes Inc., EllisDon Corporation, Murray Demolition LP, Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Limited, Groupe Montoni (1995) Division Construction Inc., CIMA , and Pomerleau Inc. took honours as re-qualified companies.

All companies over $10 million are solicited every year, with 15,000 applications mailed out.

Around 250 to 300 applicants are screened and close to 200 companies are interviewed in the final process.

Those companies that make it through the process get the benefit of networking with other best-managed companies.

Hughes added they still had to do a proper assessment of the 44 Platinum Club members and 84 leading companies that re-qualified.

“We need to look at financials to make sure nothing has gone off the rails, and we want to make sure, frankly, if we put their name on the list for best managed companies that we wouldn’t be embarrassed doing that.”

As to why companies look to pursue top management status in the nation, Hughes commented, “It’s kind of like when your mother tells you that she loves you, you know that.

“But when someone else is coming in from the outside, it’s kind of an external validation of ‘yeah, you are doing the right things in the marketplace.’”

“This designation is another tribute to every PCL employee across North America. Recognition like Platinum Club membership is further testimony to just how well our employees manage our business,” says Ross Grieve, president and CEO of Platinum winner PCL Construction Group.

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