< PreviousYou step up to the challenge, and it’s changing every day, too. It’s dynamic, it’s both rewarding and enriching.” Recent challenges in the industry include supply chain issues with both materials and availability. This accompanies a sig- nificant price escalation of material costs, which are expected to continue into 2023. The team at Ball Construction plans to persevere through these challenging times, as they have done previously in the past. Cameron suspects that it is “the family-owned aspect that has influenced our success. We do try to foster a family atmosphere here as opposed to a punch-the-clock, nine-to-five attitude. We do a lot of team-building initiatives between golf tournaments and Christmas parties and various other social get-togethers.” Trade shows are popular tools for education, outreach, and team-building initiatives as well, another factor that contrib- utes to Ball Construction’s success. This is reflected in the company’s numerous awards of excellence won over the “The ability to pivot is a skill that the company has acquired during its longevity.” 10 years. Along with awards, the company is extremely proud of its dedication to safety, something Ball takes very seriously. The firm recently achieved its milestone of one million hours worked without a lost time injury. “We were one of the early adopters of COR™,” adds Jason. “When COR™ was brought into Ontario, we were one of the first dozen general contractors to become COR™ certi- fied, which is a higher safety standard for certification, now required throughout the province.” Of course, keeping up with the latest technological advance- ments is vital as well. “You won’t be successful as a contractor, or in any industry, if you lose sight of technology,” Jason says. “You’ll fall behind and you won’t be competitive. We’ve always prided ourselves on being able to keep up with the latest technology.” Whether from a safety, operational or software standpoint, Ball Construction has continuously embraced the technology needed to do the job effectively and competitively. “Something else a little different than the typical contractor of our size, is 100 years ago there wasn’t a whole group of sub- trades,” adds Gary. “A general contractor had to self-perform a lot of the different trades—drywall, masonry, even building windows out of wood and buying the glass. There weren’t 11 CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS specific sub-trades, and we hung on to that in the concrete and carpentry areas. We’re able to self-perform our concrete work and rough carpentry.” “A lot of similar contractors these days are in an office building without a yard full of equipment and carpenters and labour- ers on staff,” Gary adds. This is one significant aspect Ball Construction has hung on to, and an important part of what’s helped the company achieve its success through the years. “We’re more of a traditional contractor as opposed to a broker contractor,” says Jason. “We still have 100 carpenters and labour- ers on our direct payroll, so we can self- perform the key components of the job, move it along and control the schedule better. There are only a handful of general contrac- tors like that. It’s very rare to find someone like ourselves that has that type of equipment and those types of resources and expertise to self-perform that work.” “The company prefers to hire out of colleges and universities, bring potential employees into the company, make them part of the team, and then mentor them through their careers.” 12 Ball Constructions plans to be in business for another 100 years, passing the torch to the next generation, including Ethan Ball, the family’s fourth generation. Ball Construction is also proud of its strong community roots in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, making time to give back whenever possible, including to minor sports teams and local firefighters. “We’re very local and community-minded, as there are a lot of initiatives we get involved with to support our community,” says Cameron. That mindset and awareness of community spirit have become an integral part of Ball Construction’s identity; they are proud and fond of the community they have grown in for the past century. “To be around 100 years doesn’t happen by accident,” says Jason. “You have to have a good reputation. You have to be known for your integrity and your honesty and your ability to deliver the product as you committed to. Without that you won’t last.” Content Developed by Wendy Hood-Morris 13 CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS SUPPORTED BY As featured in October 2022Next >