03/30/2024
My Father Dave’s retirement dinner.
Sure feels like time flew by and 1997 was not so long ago. With my Mother Debra attending, who as well contributed so much to Phoenix in the quarter century in business, she had the honour of presenting Dad and I with Phoenix 25 year employee rings.
Some career history.
Dave a second generation mason working in the sixties and seventies as a residential bricklayer coming into the refractory trade in 1979. He began his refractory career working on the tools as an installer, he progressed to a foreman position, then became a general foreman supervising projects for multiple refractory companies operating in western Canada. Myself I had worked two years in residential masonry then started my career in the refractory industry in 1988.
In 1989 Dave accepted a Salesman position with an American owned refractory company operating nationally in Canada. Successfully working as a salesman he earned the top position of Western Canada District Manager overseeing all western Canada operations for the American Company.
Working along side my Father in masonry and the cement trades starting at ten years old, of course I ended up working for the American company as well in 1989. In 1993 my Father pushed me into the position of Northern Alberta Field Superintendent. An elevated position for a 20 something year old kid not overly accepted in the industry as being earned, but viewed as position by nepotism. We worked together to accomplish successful office management and field project operations building a very dynamic partnership foundation in the refractory industry.
By 1996 the American company had sold changing ownership three times. New ownership introduced new management, new ambitions, envisioning that one western Canada sales rep will keep profits high, zero overhead costs, no field contracting, a new direction to only concentrate on refractory material supply in western Canada. A corporate decision that resulted in quick failure for the company believing the now established reputation in the industry is perfect timing for this business model to be highly successful in the west . All the years of Dave’s devoted hard work to revive the once limping American company into a successful competitive business all diminished to a one man gong show in thirty days.
In 1996 I’m certain Dave was feeling the sting of disappointment from the worst corporate decision made in my 36 years in the industry. Moving forward Dave accepted a position in a different industry. A career change in a new direction that surprised me, though never discussed, my thoughts were that he wanted to be out and away from the refractory industry entirely.
The customers that Dave earned in the industry felt the sting of disappointment as well not having the self-sufficient point and shoot refractory support and service. Customers realizing Dave is out of the refractory industry inquired through the industry’s grapevine if Dave’s number 1 refractory slinger Ken has left the refractory industry as well?
The first meeting I had with Dave’s abandoned customer planted the seed of opportunity for me to start contracting using the company trade name “Ranville Refractories”. Without even two minutes of me thinking it’s at all a good idea, the customer said “good you start tomorrow, this meeting is over, see you in the morning Ken!” Forcefully pushed into a refractory contractor position I easily filled the void left open with Dave’s customers left hanging from the American company scenario.
My contractor start up consisted of one experienced bricklayer tool bag, two shovels, a broom, a wheel barrow, a hand made wooden contractors box, a leased truck, a staples carbon copy invoice book and a nervous confidence that I can do this.
A famous refractory guru once told the young apprentice me “refractory workers that leave the refractory industry always end up back working refractory sometime again in their not so distant future”.
My Grandfather a tradesman and contractor said to me at 14 years old working for him “don’t sell your tools thinking that you’re done with a trade, you’ll end up having to buy them twice!”.
The year 1997, the Phoenix rises from the ashes of the American Refractory company to incorporate in three western provinces contracting. Refractory harnessing the power of fire literally to ignite a Father and Son partnership in business together.
If you read all this I’m surprised, good on you, we appreciate you!
Thank you,
Ken
Some photos 1996 to present. why not.😝
