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T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C O N S T R U C T I O N E X E C U T I V E S

Summer 2009 www.canadianexecutivejournal.com

FirstOnsite restOrAtiOnTaking on Tragedy

FirstOnSite Restoration

When disaster strikes, there is a rush of feelings that can range from fear to grief. After the initial shock wears off, those affected are left in the wake of the tragedy, heads reeling about how to proceed and how to function. This is where FirstOnSite Restoration comes in.

The Evolution

As the largest emergency restoration company in Canada, FirstOnSite’s name is relatively new but the predecessors to this successful company date back to 1968 when Woodhouse Contracting was founded as a home renovation company.

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When a large windstorm blew through the Kitchener/Waterloo area in 1981, the company, busy repairing the community’s roofs, was first exposed to the insurance restoration industry. Ken Woodhouse, President of the Southern Ontario Region that includes 17 offices, and his team were reimbursed by the insurance

Taking on TragedyProduced by Cathi Sachs & Written by Shelley Seyler

Based in Mississauga Ontario, REST Contracting Ltd. proudly provides the following services to its clients in the greater Toronto area.� Superior service and consultation.� Free estimates.� Fully licensed with liability and workers compensation insurance for all employees and job sites.� 24 hours on-site service.� Guarantees workmanship for 1 year.� Documents all aspects of the job using digital photography.� Applies computerized architectural rendering programs.

Rest Contracting Ltd.4444 Eastgate Parkway

Unit 15Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4T6

905.624.7378

Quality of Workmanship

Best wishes to First on Site for your continued success.‘‘ ’’

restcontracting.com

FirstOnSite Restoration

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industry and thus sparked his interest to concentrate on this market for Southern Ontario. From that moment forward, he and his team worked hard to transform their business into one that focused on insurance restorations. When in 1985 a tornado swept through Grand Valley and Barrie, FirstOnSite officially turned the corner into this new market.

In 2007, FirstOnSite Restoration was formed when Woodhouse Contracting and Edenvale Restoration Specialists out of British Columbia merged to create the largest corporately owned emergency restoration company in Canada. FirstOnSite is majority-owned by TorQuest Partners Inc. of Toronto, an equity company which has a long history of investing in established businesses. Since February 1, 2007, FirstOnSite Restoration has acquired operations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Quebec, Eastern, Northern and South Western Ontario, Manitoba

and Alberta. There are currently 37 offices operating across the country with a defined corporate structure within each region.

The company recognized that it was integral to implement a branding integration strategy to capitalize on their corporate goals of a consistent service offering and image. It was also imperative that the current customer base was retained as there were long-standing relationships within each community.

To this end, there were three stages to the branding integration. The first stage was initiated to recognize the former brand and the relationship to the corporate ownership, (i.e. Woodhouse Contracting Ltd., a division of FirstOnSite Restoration). The second stage continued this transition of phasing out the previous independent brands (FirstOnSite Restoration Woodhouse Division).

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The final stage, which is almost complete nationally, was the shedding of the previous brands to FirstOnSite Restoration (and in local markets FirstOnSite-Kitchener etc.).

The total employee count after these acquisitions now stretches to 1,000 which allows FirstOnSite to work across Canada. In house, the company holds carpenters, project managers, drywall, painters, and cleaning technicians.

Also as a part of this new and improved FirstOnSite, the company rolled out focus areas where it intends to make improvements, including consistent scoping, a content handling and restoration solution, a quality assurance program, among others. The entire company is also

operating under a singular IT operating and accounting system which they hold proprietary rights to.

The company’s work today is comprised of approximately 80 percent insurance claims and 20 percent direct to home, owner or business. FirstOnSite can tackle just about any crisis including damage caused by fires, floods, winds, as well as environmental hazards (mold, asbestos abatement, biohazard decontamination, and oil spill cleanups), accidents, and other casualties at any facility. The company serves the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors with its state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly machines and expertise.

“In any disaster situation, mitigation of the loss and/or reducing business interruption is of utmost importance.

Your satisfaction

is our commitment.

N&GP: 519.579.2982F: 519.342.1418 Unit 2, 249 Cortland Ave E, Kitchener ON N2G-2V6

Kitchen Cabinets Wall Units

MantelsEntertainment Centres

Custom Woodworking

CUSTOM WOODWORKING

81 Coach Hill Drive, Kitchaner, ON N2E 1N7Phone: (519)742-0636

Pleased to have been working

for the past 12 plus years.

side by side

Doors Window Siding Soffi t Fascia Eaves Trough

Glass & Screen Repairs Small Renovations

Right Choice Contracting Ltd.Right Choice is the Best Choice

Glad to be part of the team.

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We’re sensitive to the needs of our clients who are dealing with property loss trauma…” explains the Web site.

Fostering Expertise

Working in such a sensitive industry, FirstOnSite has extensive training programs to ensure that its employees are well-prepared and educated on the latest methods. The company offers to foot the bill for between 50 and 100 percent of an employee’s continuing education expense, paying 100 percent if it is a company-mandated program. FirstOnSite also has an in-house carpentry apprenticeship program through which it has successfully trained a majority of its staff. Following industry guidelines, the company also adheres to IICRC requirements, the educational body that governs the disaster restoration industry in Canada. The company does what it can to ensure that its employees are properly trained.

Woodhouse and his team acknowledge the importance of personal growth: “We work diligently to post and promote within the company when possible. If employees apply and show efforts to a specific position, we try and direct them to company-covered training to help them advance, both personally and professionally.” The corporate structure of FirstOnSite will also allow employees to eventually apply for positions within other provinces.

A Range of Challenges

Damage can come in various forms,

ASSESSMENTS � COMMUNICATIONS � RECOMMENDATIONS

RELECTRONIC-REMECH consultants provide:� Project Management to reduce business interrup� on and losses� Valuable assessment of damaged equipment� “Like-kind-and-quality” replacement costs� A fi ll review of service in a clear, concise and unbiased report� Mobile equipment and staff to set up a the loss area as soon as the loss site is secured

www.Relectronic-Remech.caEmergency Service 1-800-465-9473

Head Offi ceWaterloo, ONT 519-884-8665Toll-Free 1-800-465-9473

Greater Toronto AreaMississauga, ONT 905-672-0947Toll-Free 1-877-282-2252

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On behalf of everyone at Len Koebel Flooring we would like to congratulate First on Site Restoration on their achievements and wish them continued success for the future.We offer over 45 years of experience. Specializingin prefi nished fl ooring, old fl oors refi nished, new fl oors installed, residential/commercial and insurance work.All of our work is guaranteed with references available. ExperienceQuality Friendly ServiceProfessional Advice

www.koebelfl ooring.goldbook.ca

from a burned counter top to a demolished home. FirstOnSite responds to all of the above. Most recently, the company was involved with 1,000 claims from Southern Ontario after heavy rains caused the rivers to rise and cause rampant damages

Even within the vast array of necessary restoration projects there is variety, tornado damage presenting some of the most interesting if not also the most tragic.

“When we walk down the street, there is one home totally demolished, another with the roof partially gone, and another with just siding damage. The uniqueness is in the difference in severity,” says Woodhouse.

Other work can include fuel oil spills when a car drives into a pond and the company is charged with the mission of restoring this important aspect of the ecosystem.

A recent challenge completed by FirstOnSite was for a university where a fire left its wrath behind just before the university’s new student and family orientation day.

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Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Niagara Region since 1976since 1976

Kitchener-Waterloo519-743-9754

Cambridge519-654-2038

Guelph519-766-0563

Niagara on the Lake905-468-1107

SteamCARPET CLEANING

www.aaa-clean.ca152 Bedford Rd. Kitchener, ON, N2G 3A4

Truck Mounted System

Tile and Grout Cleaning � Duct Cleaning564 Weber Street North Unit 1, Waterloo, ON N2L 5C6

Fitzgerald Carpet One offers the largest selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, resilient fl ooring, and more — and you’ll always fi nd the best prices

and great savings... everyday. Withover 50 years experience, our specially trained fl ooring experts provide personal

service giving you the right product, colour and the best warranty in

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Why FITZGE� LD

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FirstOnSite had to control the odors of 120,000 square feet along the corridors so visitors could pass through without being exposed to the permeating odors.

FirstOnSite is also there when pesky rodents become enough of a problem that residents can no longer contain them. “We had one project where there were so many mice that, even though our people were all suited up in protection, we had to stop working because people were stepping on the mice,” explains Woodhouse.

To rectify the situation, FirstOnSite brought in an external company to trap the mice humanely so it could continue the work.

Another recent project involved work after a major

chemical fire struck a building in Hamilton. FirstOnSite was responsible for the clean up and containment of the building site through demolition.

Established : 2007 Employees : 1000

Offices Across the Country : 37

www.firstonsite.ca

COMPANY AT A GLANCE


is a certifi cation body for soft contents restoration companies. Its primary purpose is to provide international standards and certifi cation for the restoration of fi re or water damaged soft contents. CCRN members employ the patented Esporta Wash System to recover approximately 85% of the smoke, soot and water damaged goods that would otherwise be considered non-restorable. CCRN currently has over 74 members in Canada. For more information: www.softcontentsrestoration.com

i tifi ti b d f ft t t

THE CERTIFIED CONTENTS RESTORATION NETWORK (CCRN)

BOARDMANCONTRACTING INC.

Chris Boardman began working for himself at the ripe age of 18 and today, 26 years later, he is the head of the successful carpentry company, Boardman Contracting. The company specializes in finish carpentry including insulation, drywall, wood floors, tile work, and wall cabinets, among others. Boardman Contracting would like to offer its congratulations to Ken Woodhouse and First on Site for the inclusion in the summer edition of Canadian Executive Journal.

BOARD

Cutting-Edge Toys

The restoration industry requires some of the most up-to-date equipment and the company certainly makes use of such opportunities. The Esporta Wash System is what Woodhouse describes as a “glorified washing machine” that can clean items that are so heavily soiled they would have ordinarily be thrown out. Though the machine cost about $100,000, FirstOnSite has a running tab of how much Esporta has already saved their clients through restoration as opposed to replacement and this number totals upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Esporta works by pushing water through the material rather than agitating it as most washing machines do; from stuffed animals to sports equipment and bullet proof vests Esporta can clean it all. Prior to attempting to clean



For over

25years

BOARDMANCONTRACTING INC.

For all yourrenovation

BOARDM

905.715.90531422 Queen St. West, Alton, ON L7K-0C3

needs.

the items through Esporta, swab tests are done on the items to identify the contamination level and determine what bacteria is on the material before it is even washed. Upon removal, items are tested again to determine its contamination grade which most often reaches retail or hospital level.

“If kids lost something in a flood or they have things that have just been kicking around for 10 years, we can clean it,” says Woodhouse.The benefits of Esporta are two-fold: not only does it give clients back what they thought was lost but it also prevents things from going straight to a landfill, making it a benefit for the environment, too.

FirstOnSite does elevate the importance of this latter benefit


CALL US TOLL FREE AT 1-866-211-1447www.workprostaffing.ca

SERVING SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Kitchener519-725-0999

Mississauga289-652-1555

Toronto416-736-9899

Is First On Site Restoration a good place to work?

Just ask Tom...When First On Site Restoration needed another reliable person for their team, they talked to us.

When Tom was looking for a good job, he talked to us also.

After just 7 weeks of work, Tom was hired on full time with our client.

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Many companies use a staffing service in order to maintain steady personnel while having the ability to fluctuate staff according to their day to day requirements. Other companies use them to deal with high turnover or scarcity of qualified individuals. For this reason, staffing services make an ideal human resource partner. With 30 years of combined staffing experience, we have become Pros at meeting and exceeding many of our client’s variable requirements for personnel.


Best wishes First on Site, for your continued success!

AM ROOFING SYSTEMS INC.FLAT AND SHINGLE ROOF SPECIALISTS

QUALITY WORKMANSHIPLICENSED AND FULLY INSURED

905-529-5111

and is transitioning its trucks to be more fuel efficient. The company also makes a point to use cleaning products that are biodegradable and organic.

If the recent past is any indication for the future, FirstOnSite is certainly positioned for growth, even in today’s struggling market. The company has enjoyed stability amidst this rocky landscape and is “always looking for premier restoration companies to purchase,” says Woodhouse.

“Our goals when these opportunities arise are to expand or support our service areas in Southern Ontario, and nationally.” Indeed, this is a noble and attainable goal.

Summer 2009 www.canadianexecutivejournal.com

FirstOnSite Restoration170 University Ave., Suite 403

Toronto, ON M5H 3B3Canada

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