By / Natalie Bruckner
In a world where people tend to stay in one job for an average of four years, being able to say that your employees are all long-term and you have little to no turnaround is extremely rare and speaks volumes about the leadership.
Such is the case for Pro Insul, and Danny Pacione, general manager for Pro Insul in Nova Scotia, believes part of the reason for the company’s retention is that the company “is truly the full definition of family.”
Pro Insul’s story dates back to 1977 when Jim Ferguson opened the doors to his specialty mechanical insulation contracting company in Stoney Creek, Ontario, where the company is, incidentally, still headquartered.
“For over 40 years we have remained in our home office location,” says Pacione. “In our early years we had district offices in Sarnia, Sudbury, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, and successfully completed projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Buffalo, NY, Bermuda, and Northwest Territories,”
In 1996, Pro Insul opened its Edmonton office and was involved with projects in Joffre, Fort Saskatchewan, and subsequently Fort McMurray. That same year, the company was awarded the Irving Oil King of Cats project, and so Pro Insul brought its highly experienced team to Saint John, NB, and with it a new team member, Ralph Landers, who became general manager of the region. Landers’ own portfolio and resume are extremely impressive and his devotion to the industry is second to none.
“Ralph is a strong supporter of New Boots, which progresses woman in trades; New Brunswick Mentor Apprentice Program (NBMAP), training its core workforce in effective mentorship; and New Brunswick Teen Apprentice Program (NBTAP), helping youth discover insulation through summer work terms,” explains Pacione.
While Pro Insul has remained in Saint John since 1999 with its commitments at the Irving Oil Refinery, in 2002 the rest of the team returned to Nova Scotia to focus full-time on the industrial/commercial industry. “It was also at that time that we jumped feet first into the marine and offshore industry,” says Pacione, who himself recently celebrated 35 years with the company.
It was also in 2002 that Jim Flower took over as president and 14 years later, Paul Mitchell, a long-time employee of the company, stepped into Flower’s shoes.
Over the past five years the company has seen continued growth and welcomed general managers Steve Wood and Cory Hitchens (in Ontario and Alberta, respectively), to the team.
Today, Pro Insul employs around 120 employees and is one of Canada’s largest insulation contractors in terms of revenue and geographic scope with four divisions under the Pro Insul Limited corporate family umbrella.
The company’s portfolio of projects is vast and varied, as its operations are maintained in all sectors of the industry from automotive, petrochemical, mining, pulp and paper, and power, to water and sewage treatment, and commercial and institutional facilities. Among its most notable of clients are Petro-Canada and Imperial Oil Refineries, General Motors, Toronto Transit Commission, and the Irving Shipbuilding FELEX project.
“Our current interests are the IKO Plant Project in Southern Ontario, Irving Oil Projects/Maintenance in Saint John, and the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship Project at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax,” Pacione says.
While 2020 was difficult, for Pro Insul it was an opportunity to put an even higher focus on safety and planning as the team continues to work through these unprecedented times with the impact of COVID-19. “It’s been an exciting journey for our group, and looking ahead with a lot more dedication, integrity, and credibility, we will see everyone through it safely,” Pacione says. ▪
