The Oil and Gas Industry Merges with the Construction Industry – Here’s Why You Want to Be a Part of It!

Long gone are the days of strictly localized business opportunities. This is an entirely new era of business. Globalization is permeating everything we do, and companies have unprecedented opportunity to partner globally and expand locally with alliances and strategic partnerships.

We live in amazing times. Times that focus more on collaboration and less on individualization. Times that harness the power of technology and exponential growth rather than singularity. Times that focus on sharing and communicating rather than holding cards close to the chest. Times that force us to be creative and collaborative rather than the same old status quo. At this point in time, the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador has an unprecedented opportunity to be world leaders on the stage of vision and growth of its offshore resources.

In the oil and gas industry, there is an incessant need to meet budgets, timelines, and goals. Companies of the energy sector need top suppliers with the best range of services for the best price. As we grow and expand, this means availing of construction companies and support companies that allow the industrial sector to grow with ease and deliver on contracts as agreed upon. That process is the integrity of business and it’s what keeps companies profitable and powerful.

The business climate of globalization, coupled with technology advancement, brings about the opportunity for strategic alliances and partnership as the way forward. The business model of the day includes the oil industry merging with the construction industry – it’s simply a more cost-effective way to operate. In times of change, we need to be more resilient than ever as we discover creative resilience in partnerships between industries.

Construction has long been a mainstay of the provincial economy, and the expertise in the region is world class. One out of every eight dollars is spent on construction, and one out of every twelve jobs is either in construction or related supply industries. Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction industry is among the top three employers in the province.

Newfoundland & Labrador Construction Industry

Supporting the growth and major plays of the construction industry is the foundational leader of the sector, The Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA). NLCA is an incorporated, not-for-profit association of contractors, builders, and suppliers primarily engaged in the construction industry throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. NLCA’s members have representatives of all aspects of the construction industry including sectors of construction such as industrial, architectural, and engineering firms with support sectors such as marketing and communications. That means that oil and gas companies and major contractors who need to develop their industrial operations have a world-class range of companies in which to partner with and hire.

Business success relies on communication success – and that’s because business is nothing more than a network of communication. Our ability to be effective communicators correlates directly with our outcomes and results. In this light, the NLCA is an extremely powerful source of information and communication networks that support its members in strategic ways. Continuous access to information from Electronic Plans Room, the NLCA website, weekly construction bulletins, a construction magazine, member directory, daily project updates, seminars, bidders lists, tender results and awards, educational opportunities, and networking events all play a role in the support of NLCA members. The overall range and scope of the NLCA offerings provides a diverse set of solutions that keeps members in the loop of the top projects and opportunities and that translates directly into new business. For the oil and gas industry, who want to avail of greater opportunities and streamline operations, the NLCA is a solution. Being a member of this organization will provide a source of new suppliers and contracting solutions for any industrial endeavors.

Chair, Ed Legrow

Instrumental to NLCA’s success is Chairman of the Board, Ed LeGrow. Having grown with NLCA over the years, Ed’s contribution has seen the organization grow from 297 members in 2007 to now more than 685 members in 2015. Ed says, “These growth figures wouldn’t have been possible without the relations that have been fostered by past boards, the President, and various stakeholders in the industry and the provincial and federal governments, as well as the NLCA team. Armed with a visionary strategic plan for NLCA, which was proved in 2014, the planis structured to bring the goals and objectives of NLCA to fruition up until 2017 and include the many offerings of NLCA.”

Additional opportunities for members have been added to the strategic plan in the areas of training, interactive video conferencing facilities, webinars, new office training boards, relevant events and networking, social media and communications expansion, and a commitment to bring youth into the construction trades.

President/Coo, Rhonda Neary

Rhonda Neary, the President and Chief Operating Officer of NLCA, is literally a force to be reckoned with. A smart, creative thinker, her role in the association fosters a culture of inclusion, collaboration, transparency, and opportunity. Rhonda’s outlook and energy is infectious, and it trickles throughout the organization’s team – and also its members. Rhonda’s role includes fulfilling the mandate and strategic plan of the association, being accountable for managing day-to-day operations, and monitoring project budgets while ensuring the goals, timelines, and expenditures are met.

Rhonda works in conjunction with the Chair of the Board – acting as the principal spokesperson on all issues affecting the Association – and acts as liaison with all levels of Government and regulatory authorities, other industry related associations, representatives of the media, and the public at large. She is responsible for promoting the Association to prospective members.

Rhonda says, “Our goal is to support our members in every way possible. We are adaptable to change and we are immediately reactive to our members’ needs. We support our members in pre-planning, strategic growth, and succeeding at supplying and acquiring the construction jobs of the province. So for all those industrial companies in the oil and gas industry that really require strong support in the supply and contracting of any of their construction projects – we are a great fit!”

The Board Of Directors

With twenty members on the board, the success of the future of construction in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador lays predominantly in the hands of these people. Tasked with guiding the Association membership to success, the board has succeeded in accomplishing record growth and supporting the construction industry in forward-thinking ways. With a broad range of talents and expertise, the board offers a foundation of industry intelligence which is the driving force of its vision and success. Interacting with these board members, you get an immediate sense of down-to-business and get things done! A high-performance board, this group motivates the NLCA team to support its members with the highest opportunities and possibilities.

The NLCA is a responsive construction organization that not only provides business opportunities, but business solutions for the oil and gas industry. As the two industrial sectors merge, the opportunities expand exponentially. It’s a win-win for all.

CHAIR, Ed LeGrow, Cummins Eastern Canada LP | FIRST VICE-CHAIR, Stephen Hayward, Extreme East Metals Inc. | SECOND VICE-CHAIR, Rhonda Collings, Glenn Collings Ltd. | THIRD VICE-CHAIR, Keith Matthews, Bird Construction | SECRETARY-TREASURER & PAST CHAIR, Kirk Saunders, EllisDon Corporation | DIRECTOR, Travis White, North Shore Roofing Ltd. | DIRECTOR, Henry Power. Shoal Bay Services | DIRECTOR – CENTRAL, Gena McCarthy, McCarthy’s Heating Service Limited | DIRECTOR – WESTERN, Sandy Murphy, Brook Construction (2007) Inc. | DIRECTOR – LABRADOR, Greer Hunt Jr., Hunt’s Transport Ltd. | GENERAL CONTRACTORS SECTION CHAIR, Karl Maher, Olympic Construction Ltd. | ELECTRICAL SECTION CHAIR, Craig Drover, Jenco Ltd. | MECHANICAL SECTION CHAIR, John Hiscock, G. J. Chaill & Company Ltd., The Tower Corporate Campus | MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS SECTION CHAIR, Colin Doyle, RONA | TRADE SPECIALTY SECTION CHAIR, Michelle Webb, Harris Rebar | HEAVY CIVIL CONTRACTORS SECTION CHAIR, Terry Dunn, Atlantic Industries Ltd. | STANDARD PRACTICES COMMITTEE CHAIR, Brad Sheppard Allied Constructors Inc. | SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR, Andrew Munn, Ellis Don Corporation | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR, Darren O’Keefe, Cox & Palmer | EDUCATION & TRAINING COMMITTEE CHAIR, James Loder, Academy Canada