YOU MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE

 As one drives past the tower cranes that perform their function at the will of the Operator who skillfully brings the materials from a marshaling area on the ground to a pre-destined location within another skyscraper on the City’s skyline, the thoughts wander as to who is behind the company name that is emblazoned on the derrick? It seems that same name is common to many sites. Who controls all this activity in such an organized fashion? Is it a conglomerate? Is it a one man?

At the first impression, Peter Rezanosff is a quiet and an unassuming man that immediately presents a warmth and confidence in the firm clasp of the out-stretched hand. Yes, he is happy to meet you whether you have come from his home town, dropped in to discuss construction or perhaps to do business, Peter provides the same welcome.

“How’s it going”, one asks? The response is quick and without hesitation; “fine,” as he smiles, reinforcing his welcome.

Sitting in Peter’s office, one can peruse the various photos on the walls that illustrate just some of the projects successfully completed by his General Contracting firm that specializes in Construction Management as well as General Contracting when called upon. Interspaced are awards from many agencies along with several years running, the revered award for top fifty best managed companies in Canada. Upon questioning, Peter shyly acknowledges the awards and immediately places all the credit to his hard-working staff.

“Would you like a tour of the office?” Peter invites. I follow his lead to meet all his smiling staff.  It is impossible not to note the neatness and order that abounds in amongst the activity of Estimators, Project Managers, Accounting and Administrative Staff.  It compares to a well-balanced manufacturing machine that has been finely tuned for continuous production. The calmness and efficiency is evident and can be appreciated by those who have managed offices. It is not an easy feat to enjoy this in an organization that approaches a volume of up to $1 billion per annum in the construction industry.

Peter is at home in and about his staff because all of the office activities are something he has personally been involved with and participated in the ultimate creation of systems and procedures that are always under his scrutiny to improve even if they already at their best level. He also has served time in the field and can visualize an on-site procedure with the eyes of the Superintendent and Project Manager. He works with his staff as a team and earns his respect rather than having to command it. The smiles abound as he talks to each one and addresses them by their first names, a reward that a veteran Administrator enjoys and implements as routine.

On the subject of work ethics, which is not far from Peter’s mind, he will recall with a smile as to how he would flag a bus down at fourteen years of age on a venture to pick fruit in the orchards with only $2.00 to his name and not really sure where he was going or where he will stay. Pick fruit he did and he comments on the efficiency and ingenuity necessary to make money when the pay is “by the box” picked rather than an hourly wage with fringes benefits and a living out allowance.

“By and by, I could pick more boxes in a day than most and be able to buy food to live in the shacks provided by the Orchardists”, he recalls. “When I went home, I had more money in my pocket than I had ever seen before” his satisfied grin recalls.

He continued “later I decided that I could work on construction as I learned how to use carpentry tools from my Carpenter father. That is when I was able to dream of owning a car. At sixteen I made that dream come true and I purchased my first car”, he ends his comments on his past with well deserved satisfaction.

“Have you ever been litigated in any capacity or conversely, has anyone litigated against you in the normal contracting business cycle?” I ask knowing fully well I am conversing with a substantial Contractor that would have a multiple yearly number of purchase orders with Subcontractors, Suppliers as a rule notwithstanding the many Owners with which he would transact business.

“I manage to negotiate in such a manner that the end result is an agreement reached that is acceptable to both parties in a dispute”, he responds thoughtfully. “There were times that I paid out more money than I thought I should but an agreement was the objective. Sometimes I would need to do business with that individual or firm again and it was important that we part company as friends. I have already repeated business with those which I had disputes, on a very satisfactory basis”, he adds.

“This is almost a rarity in the industry considering your size and scope, isn’t it?” I suggest.

“Perhaps, but my premise was always to ensure that the other person’s rights are enshrined in my business policy,” he responds. “My conscience would not allow me to leave a disagreement unresolved or have to take legal action to complete such a dispute.”

“How would you develop such a philosophy”, I question with interest?

“I grew up in a close-knit family that was deeply religious. Being honest, hard-working, having faith and assisting those less fortunate, has been the foundation of my up-bringing. I believe that God created man in his image and, therefore, to cause hardship unto any person is the same as being cruel to God. It manifests my conviction as a Pacifist that harm to any living thing is a sin against God,” Peter explains.

“I consider my relationship with all living things to be one of peaceful coexistence and that is my basic philosophy that substantiates my business practice and fundamental premise in my dealings with employees, partner, clients and all firms that do business with my firm,” he confidently avers his statement.

“Would you like to visit some of my construction sites?” he invites.

I am thrilled at this opportunity to be personally guided by the President of this successful organization. Peter selects some of his projects and I am absolutely amazed at the adherence to detail where the concrete was exposed as well as the evidence of dimensional tolerance. “Hey Peter, if I drop a plumb bob on the outside corner of these sundecks through the twenty-five floors, I doubt if there will more than 10 mm deviation”, I remark.

“Our tolerance is better than that”, Peter replies. “We cannot permit any deviation, whatsoever; otherwise the building will not meet the requirements. Our layout people and surveyors work to the highest accuracy as a result.”

I smile approvingly at the tidiness and site organization, a true indication of project management to the highest degree in the industry.

In one of his “high end” projects, I am speechless as I see perfection on finishing and quality of material chosen. The kitchens, in themselves, are beyond the terminology of “Dream Kitchen”.

“If you mind me asking, how did you ever decide that this is what you wanted to do in life”, I ask?

“No one knows for sure how their lives will unfold and I was twenty-six years old when I decided that I wanted to become an Architectural Technologist”, Peter began. “I was short my senior two years of high school and so I needed to obtain an accelerated program which I was able accomplish within sixteen months prior to qualifying for entrance into the Institute. I had a family at that time and so it was necessary to work and earn a living while I did the entire program to achieve a degree in Architectural Technology. This meant sacrifices for my family and a great deal of commitment on my part” he summarized, keeping the story about him very short and almost forcing him to talk about this.

“What type of work did you do while obtaining your education”, I am prodding him now and I am not sure how much he will reveal of his past.

“Well my skills were carpentry and I was able to make contact with those that needed my talents. I even framed a few houses during the summer breaks between classes.” I had to earn a great deal to limit the amount that I needed to borrow to subsidize my education and the needs of my family,” his memories place a hard look on his face which is evidence enough of the hardships endured.

“I recall my years at University as a challenge enough just to complete the course load much more being able to hold down a job”, I offered as sympathy.

“Add to the equation, the fact that I was twenty-six years of age when I decided to enter into this quest,” he countered, “It was definitely a personal challenge that perhaps molded the rest of my life in no uncertain terms”

Everywhere, there is evidence of Peter’s personal ideal to achieve the best of his ability and utilize the best that is available whether it is the car that he using to escort me or the Condo that his wife and him enjoyed. Both had the most modern style and quality available. “It is not that I feel that I need to have all this, but it is that I appreciate what is now in the market place and what my firm provides to our customers albeit some are within the upper economic capability. Perhaps it is my desire to determine if the products that I use are, in fact, deserving of the advertized performance”.

What I find so comforting is that the change in life style from where Peter started his career to where it has taken him, did not alter the personal self in what he considered important in his philosophy then to him attitude today. Yes, it is possible to notice Peter in a crowd of people but it is the aura about him that shows rather than the body exercising its authority, as perhaps it could, given the social status that Peter finds himself in now.

“Can you think of anything in your upbringing that you would have rather been different or that you would have preferred to change had you had a choice today”, I ask referring to the exceptionally different circumstances that Peter had experienced as compared with others?

After a moment of deep thought, Peter responds with a smile, “no, nothing. My parents and my extended family generated the love, compassion and good will to all which prepared me for my future life challenges. Why would I even want to change all that? I am comfortable with my inner self and I still enjoy my extended family to this day. Many of my family are involved in my operations so that I continue to enjoy this family privilege today”

So I reflect on this “giant” in the construction industry and I know that an ordinary person is behind the tower crane and the high rise that displays a possible tycoon. What I see before me is a man who has lived a full life and will enjoy the rest of his life, not in receiving accolades, but just knowing that he has been there and succeeded where others could not.

Peter Rezansoff has been there!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ END  +++++++++++++++++++++++++  (revised by EWV August 31, 2012 with permission of Peter Rezansoff)