WELCOME to Aspec Constructions 20th anniversary. To our clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, a few free loaders and our staff thank you for being here this evening to celebrate this momentous occasion.
20 Years – No matter which way you try and dress it up.... it is a long time. A quarter of a lifetime, or half a working lifetime ...
It certainly doesn’t feel like 20 years since Aspec started trading. But I do notice that I did have a full Head of Hair!!
I have been very fortunate in that I chose and have been involved in such a diverse and dynamic industry. An industry A trade A profession encompassing, property, construction and management. It is a huge industry that provides challenges, opportunities and frustrations in bucket loads to each of us on a daily basis. It is empowering, stimulating and exciting.
Ultimately it comes back to individuals doing what they say they are going to do and each of us trusting each other to do and deliver on what we say. It brings together so many people with different objectives, skills, philosophies and business and personal goals.
For me there is nothing more satisfying than the completion of a project and meeting or exceeding the project objectives. We are one of the few industries where there is something physical left for all to see. A lasting monument to what we have achieved.
There are other rewards as well, we have made some fantastic friendships, You are constantly forced to listen to the other peoples opinion and to be openly receptive to change, Challenging yourself and others, Developing new ideas techniques and products, communicating with skilled and unskilled alike, empowering others, and best of all seeing individuals grow to a level greater they had envisioned for themselves. The belief and empowerment that can be passed to these individuals changes their lives and our industry forever.
Over 20 years Aspec Construction has had the most Incredible success.
And I am not overstating it when I say it is due to each and everyone in this room tonight.
Our ability to deliver consistently at the highest level and to go the extra mile for our clients and their representatives is due to our staff, subcontractors and suppliers
Aspec have the best of these three components critical to the success of any building project.
We all know good people are hard to find. The reality is it has taken us 20 years Our staff are loyal competent and empowered with the Aspec vision and philosophy.
Too take the hassle and conflict out of the construction process.
When Aspec started business it was a unique philosophy and it really has been the cornerstone of our success and our ability to attract the best people and to retain them ..........and the large salaries.
Aspec Construction was borne out of a frustration of dealing with numerous construction companies who didn’t or couldn’t deliver or worse didn’t care. I was working as a Project Manager for Carson and Partners at the time and said to Ian Morris that I was a project manager not a nanny. These building contractors were making me look bad. We both agreed a construction company was a logical solution The two of us developed our Business Plan over several nights and a few rum and cokes and with the backing of the Carson Group Terry Carson Tony Nicklin and Bruce Walker, i.e. there money, Aspec Construction was formed.
It was an exciting time being involved with a negotiated contract with John Bethel of Private Lifecare and for whom we constructed all the 2 storey apartments at the Red Beach retirement village. We were then fortunate to secure a contract with Peter Cross for a four level office building in Rotorua and numerous other smaller contract works.
I can remember the excitement of going to these projects and employing staff and subcontractors setting up the business and doing it all on the hoof it was amazing how productive you can be when you are motivated and could work night and Day
So Aspec started out in 1986 with one Site Manager (me) , one Foreman, one Quantity Surveyor, one portacom, one-second hand Toyota Ute The infamous rattler. one ramset gun and one dumpy and our turnover in the first year was $4.5 million.
So in the space of 18 months I became a legend in my own lifetime.
I had always been aware of the saying” if it is too could be true it probably is” Well I found exactly what it meant over the next 3 years. The NZ economy crashed and burned and to coin a phrase "things were a bit tight in the construction market” in NZ.
Being naïve I think helped me a lot because while the marked contracted I didn’t really comprehend the scale of the situation. It meant we were doing lots and lots and lots of small jobs. We would do anything concrete repairs fitouts demolition temporary works Antenna installations Enabling works sealant works. Can you do ..... Yes yes we have done that many times...We became very responsive and quick on our feet.
Well slowly the economy improved and we were able to grow the business in a structured way. John Duffin joined the business in 1992... and his impact was immediate. We went thru a significant growth phase over the net 3 years...
We purchased the Carson Group shareholding in 1996...and became masters of our destiny...
4 new shareholders joined the company over the next 5 years Mike Barltrop Dale Deppening Gavin Fleming and Steve Morris
So what has changed 20 years on...? We still do lots and lots of jobs. We now have a maintenance division an interiors division and the construction division. And we have Aspec Construction in Wellington with by Dave Wenden
The stats have changed somewhat
At last count NZ wide we have 69 management staff, 47 carpenters and labourers, 8 maintenance staff, 15 interiors staff, 26 portacoms, 65 vehicles, so much plant and equipment that it takes a yardman and a Hiab truck to look after it all and we are one of the top eight construction companies in Auckland and our turnover exceeds 100milion annually.
We are very proud of what we have achieved in 20 years.
Over the years we have formed enduring relationships with a lot of people. John Bethel for whom we did our very first project we recently completed another extension at Hillsborough Village last year.
Brown Day architects Murray Day and Malcolm Brown who designed the retirement Villages for John Bethell and we have carried out many projects with over the years
Peter cross whom we have completed numerous projects for over 20 years. Infact our largest residential project at Acacia Cove also involving Carson Group– Phillip Kean and Martin Lekner - I was fortunate to meet in the heady days at Brierley Properties Where Martin was CEO and Phil was Property manager We have completed and continue to work for and through these two individuals today. It was through Philip and the work generated by Brierley Properties following the crash that helped Aspec survive when so many other construction companies didn’t. Thank you Martin and Phil
Through Martin and Philip I was introduced to Evan Davies and Bryce Morrin who at the time were responsible for the Brierley SkyCity Casino Bid that they won We have been involved with Sky City ever since and are about to commence a significant refurbishment of the main gaming floor. Through Evan and Bryce we were introduced to Warren Hollings Moller Architects Beca Carter, Rider Hunt and RCP (Nick Beale Warren Warfield and Jeremy Hay and as a result have carried out a huge assortment of Residential commercial, Hospital and fitout projects.
Bill Ross for whom we had the privilege to construct the Farmers Warehouse, which was at the time largest super flat floor warehouse built in New Zealand. And again recently for Bill Ross now at Metlifecare we have constructed over 130 apartments in Remuera’s St Vincent Ave with Klein Architects and at pinesong with Q design Mark Foo.
Progressive Enterprises, Simon Scott with Woodhams Meikle Zhan Architects Watters and Palmer and Project Economics
John Lander who also worked at Brireley now at Auckland University and Architectus
Auckland Airport Authority, Adam Tyrie and Eclipse Architecture and Peter Boardman of Structure Design
Auckland City Council with Darryl Tutchen City Design Jasmax Economics
Ken O’Donnell of Caltex NZ wide, Ian McGregor of BP NZ, and technitrades Mark Keogh and Project John Buller at the team at Buller George
Carey Oldfield, a friend of Martin Lekner and also an ex Briely properties executive and John Day of NZ Post and his property team
Ross Jackson from the ASB
Finstar group Craig and Cameron and Bob Mcguigan and his team at Mcguigan syme chilcott
Tom Dixon from Pepper Dixon who provided us with our first concrete repair job 18 years ago and a range of commercial projects ever since
A number of our key subcontractors that have been with us for many years Mike and Max Bakker Allendale Electrical, Commercial Plumbing, Grant Wilson Hills Flooring Kevin Hitchinson painters Ward Demolition peter and Randell. Atlantic Engineering Brian Harris Jand F Painters Felix Lim
Our Key Suppliers Placemakers Cook St Nick Letica and Nardo, Carters John Grant, Stevensons Phil Stevenson and Kevin Micheski
- We thank you and everyone in the room sincerely for the opportunities and the continuing support that you provide us.
It has been a fantastic 20 years. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved. I am exceptionally proud of our staff, our site managers, our foremen, our project managers, our quantity surveyors, our office administration staff, our cadets, carpenters, our laborers, each and every one of you have contributed to the overall success of our company and I know will continue to do so over the next 20 years.
John Duffin my Business partner for the last 15 years Thank you. John is an unsung hero. John is Aspec Rock Honesty Integrity and the ability to see the bigger picture...he is always there and he is 200% reliable. John is responsible for the success of Aspec Construction just as much as I. We have a huge respect for each of our complimentary skills. And probably even more importantly John has been responsible for paying all our subcontractors and suppliers religiously.
Over the last 30 years I have meet some amazing people who have motivated and influenced me and who achieved so much more than I and not necessarily in a business sense. Several are here tonight you know who you are
Thank you. Also our Partners Wives and families that sometimes take second place due to the demands of the Projects that consume us. In their absence I acknowledge their contribution on behalf of all of us.
And so to the future we are very pleased to confirm the appointment of 3 new directors Mike Barltrop, Dale Deppening, and Steve Morris. Please come onto the stage. You will be seeing a lot more of these talented and experienced individuals as the face of Aspec Construction on a daily basis.
John and I have established a new business, a property holding and development company. Aspec Properties .This is a natural progression and is something we have wanted to do for several years. We will remain as Directors of Aspec Construction and will be involved in the business at board and Management level.
It is an exciting time for all of us at Aspec we are seeing levels of enquiry at an unprecedented level and we are looking forward to incremental growth for the various business and divisions over the next 24 months.
We will savor what we have achieved tonight and we will but.... only briefly because this Industry is not one you ever take for granted, because tomorrow morning despite the headache and to coin a phrase and tune I cant get out of my head We’ve got to Get On with Business every night and every day!
Thank you
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