Think of the word “security.” Are you imagining a guard or police o�cer, perhaps an alarm system, closed cir-cuit camera or an electronic lock on a door? Behind

those commonly imagined security devices are computers, so�ware and networks which enable these people to do their jobs. �is is where CONTAVA comes in. “We provision and administer the IT infrastructure and so�ware necessary to collect security data and apply the security rules decided upon by management. We monitor the network, look at the security devices and ensure, 24 hours a day, security is playing its role in protecting businesses assets. We are the behind-the-scenes part of what makes a business secure,” explains CONTAVA president Curtis Nikel.

CONTAVA does business in the security vertical of infor-mation technology. “�e opportunity which I saw,” says Nikel, “was that the information technology (IT) departments within companies were being asked to take the lead on the procure-ment and the administration of security technologies. �is made perfect sense as most companies IT infrastructure existed amongst all of their properties. Armed with the request to pro-cure security, IT departments then began to search for partners

who could explain how security devices would behave on their networks and what the con�gurations would look like. Further, they needed to ensure these technologies would meet the needs of the security department and allow them to apply those secu-rity rules mentioned earlier. Understanding that IT knows best

C O N T A V A : C O N T A V A : S E C U R I N G T H E F U T U R E

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BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

CURTIS NIKEL

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diverse and extensive client list includes all the heavy hitters across every western Canadian region that has natural resources interests. These clients include: Husky Energy, Suncor Energy, Encana, Esso Imperial Oil, MEG Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, Devon Energy Cor-poration, Laricina Energy Ltd., Cenovus Energy, Cono-coPhillips Canada, Nexen, Shell Canada, Rio Tinto Alcan, Apache, Paramount Resources Ltd., Progress Energy Can-ada Ltd., WorleyParsons Resources & Energy, Flint Energy Services, Fluor Canada Ltd., JV Driver, Bantrel, PCL Con-struction, URS Corporation, Express Integrated Technolo-gies LLC, CB&I and Ledcor Group.

In 2014, ENTREC claimed the fourth spot on Alberta Venture’s Fast Growth 50 list and was also named as one of Alberta’s Top 65 Employers. “It all comes back to employee ownership,” says Stevens who credits every hard-working member of the team for the recognitions. “We are really big believers in employee ownership. It’s been our goal to be in the Top 100 since day one. We achieved this because of our core values and employee ownership program. We built our entire business model on engaged employees and strong core values. Out of 700 employees, about 500 are owners in the company. This certainly helped us achieve such a high rating in the Top 100 program.”

Another driving factor for the Top Employer’s recogni-tion is ENTREC’s “if it is important to our employees and important to our customers, it’s important to us” philoso-phy. To this end, ENTREC has supported one of their em-

ployees who ran across Canada in support of cancer re-search, provided a free barbecue meal to the volunteers helping with the High River �ood, donated a bobcat and crew to last year’s �ood cleanup e�orts, sponsors play-grounds, local 4-H clubs and so much more.

Stevens’ leadership has also been well recognized. In 2013 he was winner in the Leaders of Tomorrow awards and a �nalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards (prairies region) in the emerging entrepreneur category.

The future holds nothing but promise for ENTREC. Bi-tumen production in the oilsands remains at or above forecasts with a steady increase predicted through 2030. Two proposed LNG export facilities and four pos-sible pipelines prove the outlook for the LNG industry is strong as well. With ENTREC ideally situated in the heart of these thriving sectors, there is only one direction for the company to go: up.

“We are just getting started,” smiles Stevens. “The crane and heavy haul industry is a worldwide industry. Our goal in 10 to 15 years is to be a global company. We will take advantage of the growth here and then we will venture beyond this geographical region. We will keep growing and succeeding, and we will do it the same way we built our company to this level; with employee own-ership and engagement.”

www.entrec.com

how to install and manage technology while security knows best how to establish rules and apply them, CONTAVA was cre-ated to bridge the two industries together.”

Nikel’s instinct was right. �e doors opened for the business in 2004 and ten years later, the company continues to grow at a rapid pace. “�e growth has been fuelled by the passion of our employees, the trust and acceptance within our target markets and the leadership the team has been able to o�er our clients,” says Nikel with pride in CONTAVA’s achievements. “�ere is nothing more important to CONTAVA than our culture and the quality of our people. �at’s what drives our success.”

Just how important is protecting client data in this day and age? Very! One needs to look no further than the recent high pro-�le cyber attacks on Home Depot and Target. �e Home Depot attack alone put 56 million consumer credit and debit cards at risk across Canada and the States. “�e cyber attack risk exists for every business,” stresses Nikel. “It’s happening right now as you and I talk. People are trying to hack into networks and ob-tain that con�dential data we all store. �e concern is we are all moving into everything being networked, from our home alarm to our refrigerators; even one day our cars will report back to the manufacturer when parked in our garages. We are so networked and the risks are enormous, to individuals and companies.”

What’s a company to do? Operate o� the grid? �at’s impos-sible in a world where your business doesn’t survive if we can’t search for it on Google. “You need to be connected to do busi-ness today, but you also have to protect your data,” says Nikel. “�is is where CONTAVA is going. We must be leaders in this area. To work on client’s networks, businesses need to have cy-

ber business policies that protect clients and ensure integrity is never compromised.”

Canada was more than ready for CONTAVA. �eir �rst large project was University of Alberta’s Enterprise Square in 2006. “�at project gave us an opportunity to work with a well-known builder and electrical contractor. It also gave us the opportunity to on board pro�cient technical people and create a solid foun-dation for business in Edmonton,” says Nikel.

Many more high pro�le projects quickly followed, including work for the City of Calgary’s LRT system. �is project show-cased the full cross section of CONTAVA’s talents, including data networking, �bre optics, video storage, a command and control center, engineering, electrical work and ongoing support.

In Edmonton, CONTAVA recently completed the upgraded command and control center for the LRT and is applying its security technology in many of the construction projects un-derway in the downtown area.

Today, CONTAVA works across Canada. Its clients have properties and employees working east to west and CONTAVA’s employees are right there supporting their needs. CONTAVA technology, in the hands of the security professionals, allows millions of people to go safely to work, unlocks and locks thou-sands of doors, and archives hours of video for investigations. While you’re not at work, CONTAVA technology is protecting your workplace so you have one to return to the next day.

“�e CONTAVA di�erence is that we only focus on security,” Nikel explains. “We are security professionals; we employ pro-fessional engineers and perform design services for our clients. Our sta� of university and college graduates combine to o�er a

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Congratulations to CONTAVA Inc. on 10 years of success—here’s to decades more.

Who takes pride in the success of your business?

We do.

1.866.788.5095 • www.lenel.com

very high IT IQ to our clients and allows us, as a team, to devery high IT IQ to our clients and allows us, as a team, to de-liver on many complex opportunities. We are the only security liver on many complex opportunities. We are the only security integrator this committed to the industry in Canada. As a full-integrator this committed to the industry in Canada. As a full-�edged engineering company, we o�en earn the opportunity �edged engineering company, we o�en earn the opportunity to work with others to be part of the early design on client’s to work with others to be part of the early design on client’s facilities. �is early planning ensures our clients receive a well-facilities. �is early planning ensures our clients receive a well-functioning and secure building. functioning and secure building.

“Once on board with CONTAVA, our sta� receives industry-“Once on board with CONTAVA, our sta� receives industry-speci�c, ongoing education. We are committed to sta� that are speci�c, ongoing education. We are committed to sta� that are likeminded to learning, have a passion for security and for maklikeminded to learning, have a passion for security and for mak-ing the community a safer place. We have a set of corporate valing the community a safer place. We have a set of corporate val-ues that we live by, and we expect our employees to live by them ues that we live by, and we expect our employees to live by them as well. Wellbeing, integrity, respect, creatively, accountability as well. Wellbeing, integrity, respect, creatively, accountability

and passion can be found in all of our people. We are all focused on delivering results that make a di�erence.”

CONTAVA also makes a di�erence in the community. “CON-TAVA’s culture is one of fun, respect and continuous learning,” smiles Nikel. “We get involved in many activities, both indi-vidually and corporately. �ere is not a day that goes by when someone posts a fundraiser or charitable event on our compa-ny’s intranet.” CONTAVA’s charitable participation includes the ALS Ice Bucket challenge and 630 CHED’S Santa’s Anonymous, among many others.

One charitable organization that is very dear to Nikel is Crime Stoppers. He is the second generation president of the Edmonton and Northern Alberta chapter. “�e value Crime

Congratulations to CONTAVA Inc. on 10 years of success—here’s to decades more.

See how ATB can help your business succeed. Visit atb.com/business

Who takes pride in the success of your business?

We do.

™ Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.

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Lenel would like to thank Contava Inc. for their continued

support and best wishes for the future!

Open security solutions that align with your priorities

1.866.788.5095 • www.lenel.com

2845 23 St NE 116 • (403) 250-56982845 23 St NE 116 • (403) 250-5698www.commerciallocksmithcalgary.cawww.commerciallocksmithcalgary.ca

Congratulations on your success!! We’re happy to be working with

such a talented group.

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Stoppers provides communities in Alberta is unbelievable,” he Stoppers provides communities in Alberta is unbelievable,” he points out. “I recently met with the Edmonton Police Service points out. “I recently met with the Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP. In both cases, the senior o�cials had tremenand the RCMP. In both cases, the senior o�cials had tremen-dous respect for what Crime Stoppers provides them by way of dous respect for what Crime Stoppers provides them by way of intelligence and how it o�ers anonymity and information.”intelligence and how it o�ers anonymity and information.”

�is year, Nikel won a well-deserved Leaders of Tomorrow �is year, Nikel won a well-deserved Leaders of Tomorrow award and he’s poised to keep the company on its path of growth award and he’s poised to keep the company on its path of growth by adding new client-centric services. He also wants CONTAby adding new client-centric services. He also wants CONTA-VA to continue as an employer of choice in the industry. He’s VA to continue as an employer of choice in the industry. He’s thankful to his clients, sta� and many supporters, both personal thankful to his clients, sta� and many supporters, both personal and professional. “Building a business is a team e�ort and you and professional. “Building a business is a team e�ort and you

need to work with individuals and groups inside and outside of your wall to achieve this.”

Nikel’s philosophy ensures CONTAVA and his team have a bright future forecast. “�ink big,” he says in closing. “You only get what you ask for in life.” CONTAVA asked for, and received success; but it’s not an inward-focused success.

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