Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort Murray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I am your host Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start the show off. Like we start every episode off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. And the fact that you spend with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hidden with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:20 Oh, she caught me loves you're listening to the next then morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:29 Okay. And we're back. All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm excited about today's show. Uh, cause we got an individual that I've never really met before. And so, you know, I love to meet strangers. Uh, we've been talking a little bit and when I say we've been talking a little bit, he's been listening to me talk for the last 20 minutes. And so now I'm going to listen to him talk. So on that note, as you guys know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves. So sir, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what's your,
Speaker 2 00:00:55 Uh, my name's Andrew Gorman. I'm the owner of icon surveys here in Fort McMurray, started the company in 2017 and kind of rolling with it ever since.
Speaker 0 00:01:06 Okay. And so for the people at home and myself, I can make an assumption on what you do as a company, but what does your company actually do?
Speaker 2 00:01:13 Uh, so we do construction surveying and underground utility locating. Um, mainly I would at, uh, the sites, but we do do a lot of work here in town as well through, uh, the municipality.
Speaker 0 00:01:25 Okay. Very cool. So how does that start for you? How does that journey of obviously you must've been doing some kind of surveying work before you started to start a company or it must be in your family history somehow explain this one to me
Speaker 2 00:01:40 Completely, completely stumbled on it. Um, I guess my background is, uh, I got out of high school, joined the military, um, came out to Edmonton, uh, served with one PPC ally for almost eight years. Oh, wow. Um, did two tours to Afghanistan and on my last tour of Afghanistan, I was actually injured. Um, sorry to hear that started. The release process got out in 2008 and uh, had a friend up here. So came up to visit, um, really liked the area. So, um, he got me a job with a surveying company and uh, started at the bottom and then basically just kind of worked my way up, uh, throughout the years and, uh, eventually became operations manager of, uh, HTS focus or by, uh, WSP. Right, right. Then when they decided to close their local office in 20 end of 2016, I basically looked at it as an opportunity to, uh, go out on a limb and start my own company. So
Speaker 0 00:02:48 Right on. And it's been going well, I have to assume you're still doing
Speaker 2 00:02:51 No. It's it's been going well. Um, even with, even with COVID it's been interesting. There's lots of ups and downs feast or famine, but yeah, no, it's, it's been going really well.
Speaker 0 00:03:01 Awesome. Fantastic. So when you're in the military, what were you doing
Speaker 2 00:03:06 In the service? I was in infantry. Infantry. Okay. So, uh, yeah, pointy end of the spear. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:03:12 Oh, wow. And so I'm always fascinated with people who join the army, military Navy, so on and so forth. Like what was your, your drive to want to participate?
Speaker 2 00:03:24 Um, so really other than my grandparents in a real background in the military, um, so a little bit of a weird story. I had a friend that was, uh, um, looking to join and needed a ride to the recruiting center the one day. So skipped skipped school, took them to the recruiting center and, uh, instead of sitting in the car, obviously you have to go in and, um, I mean their sales pitches were impeccable. Do you like camping? Yeah. Yes I do. And uh, and I joined and did all the aptitude testing, stuff like that. And I always, uh, played sports and stuff like that was in the outdoors. So, um, that's the route I wanted to go in the military. So, um, ended up, I said I wanted to go infantry. Right. Um, knew that I wanted to come out west. So in Canada you've got, um, the RCR, which are in Ontario and new Brunswick, the van Duzer shrink back and PPC ally, which are in Alberta and Manitoba. So I know I want to go to west. I want to go PPC ally. Um, and then in 2001 ended up, uh, getting my acceptance and started bootcamp. So
Speaker 3 00:04:39 Year to get your acceptance into, into an army that's going after.
Speaker 2 00:04:45 I, I quite literally got the phone call on September 11th and I was sitting watching the TV and I'm just like,
Speaker 0 00:04:53 Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:04:54 Uh, yeah, yeah. Let's, let's do this. Let's go ahead with it. You think
Speaker 3 00:04:57 There was any relation there? Just a coincidence?
Speaker 2 00:04:59 Uh, probably probably a little bit of both, I think.
Speaker 0 00:05:03 Yeah. Wow. Wow. Very cool. And so very brave of you and thank you for your service, man. I appreciate it. Like it's a big deal. Like it takes you appreciate it. Yeah, man, it takes a very special person to like do that and like defend your country, man. That's that's awesome. Especially like at the time Lynn Tanner just mentioned, like you knew
Speaker 3 00:05:26 You were watching it
Speaker 2 00:05:27 In front of you. Something was about
Speaker 0 00:05:29 To happen. And I think most people in that, at that point, if not already in, would be like, you know what, let's sit back and wait to see what happens here. So. Okay. So yeah. You were in the military for eight years then and was your main base of operation? Always in Alberta. In Edmonton. Okay. Cool. Very cool. And so is Afghanistan the only country that you got to go to? Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:05:54 Okay. I did a oh four and oh six. So oh four was, um, in Kabul when, uh, just when women were getting the right to vote and stuff like that, we probably only did camp security for, uh, for the case. And then in 2006, uh, we were one of the first, we were the first rodeo to go back to Kandahar after 2001. Um, and that was a much more, um, we'll call it an aggressive mission. Right. So we were actually under, uh, operation enduring freedom. So it wasn't even a NATO led mission. It was under the Americans. Um, so we were, we were out outside of the wire quite frequently. Right. Oh,
Speaker 0 00:06:39 Wow. Proud of you, man. Thank you very much. That's uh,
Speaker 2 00:06:46 That's awesome. It was a great experience. I really enjoy that. I did it and it definitely helped me get to where I am today. Um, but yeah, I think, I think doing it differently, maybe, maybe a different trade or something like that. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:07:00 Yeah. It would have been a better idea. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, one thing I, when I used to be, uh, working at accurate, we used to have a lot of, um, NDT guys come from the military and what it was was they would actually like utilize their time off and come and work like a turnaround or a shutdown up here. Um, and I was always like, why aren't you doing this? And they're like, well, when we retired from the military, like we need some like real world experience because we're going to want to work in this industry and you make so much more money on a turnaround than the military was paying. And so like, it's nice to like, get that like little bonus. And I have to tell you, man, they were the best employees ever because they came with structure and I remember even they would still get in trouble.
Speaker 0 00:07:50 So like, as an HR manager, you got to sit down and disciplinary meetings, so on and so forth. And uh, but when a military guy got in trouble, it was just like, they would come, they would sit, they'd be upright. I'd come to my office. And I'm pretty laid back. Even in that position, like, Hey man, what's up? Like, we gotta go through some stuff today, but like, it's not going to be horrible. And they're like, yes, sir. And I'm like, do you know what you did? And they, they D they were like a robot. And I was like, listen, man, you don't have to, you can relax a little bit. And none of them would relax. But then when you do a disciplinary, um, meeting, you like outlined like, Hey, these are the steps moving forward. And these people would just nail those steps.
Speaker 0 00:08:28 Like I never saw another military guy in my office again for the same thing. I'm like, wow, you guys are Perficient. So anytime like that, we would always hire them back. And we started working with a program called helmets to hardhats. Yep. And, uh, anytime any of them would retire from the military, it was like an easy, like yeah, you're in because of the structure, because of the problem solving. And like when you're out and you're deployed and you're dealing with like real life risky circumstances, your problem-solving skills go through the roof and how you look at different experiences or just like, listen, this is shitty. However, yeah. Nothing in comparison to life or death.
Speaker 3 00:09:15 Well, and people in the service are pre-vetted as well. Like they they've already gone through all the vetting. It takes to become part of the service. Any job interview vetting will probably be a little easier than that.
Speaker 2 00:09:28 I remember when I first came to Fort Macquarie, um, um, obviously 2008, so it was at the boom. Uh, and then we hit the low. Um, so just looking for a job to kind of keep things going and, uh, went to Garda. Oh yeah. For, um, for, uh, an interview. Yeah. And, uh, it was kind of interesting the person doing the interview, um, I guess just completely overlooked the whole military experience. And, uh, they were like, what's your experience doing vehicle searches? I was like, well, you know, pretty thorough. Um, you know, so it was, it was kind of funny and, and ended up, got the job and it was a stepping stone to get back into, uh, the surveying world against.
Speaker 0 00:10:13 Yeah. So when it comes to surveying, what kind of equipment are you using? I'm interested, especially in, like you were saying, you do underground stuff. Are you using like any T based radiation? Are you using sonar? Like what are you using to read underneath?
Speaker 2 00:10:29 Uh, so primarily we use, uh, it's basically like an electromagnetic field. Okay. So a transmitter receiver, um, which is great for anything that's conductive. Right. Um, getting into the ground, penetrating radar stuff. Now I'm looking just to continue expanding and
Speaker 0 00:10:48 Nice. And how many, uh, roughly, cause I know things fluctuate, especially during COVID, like you said, feast famine some time, like roughly how many people do you have working with you
Speaker 2 00:10:56 For people right now? Right on pretty small, but yeah, it's, it's been great. And um, we've all worked together before, or it's basically just family atmosphere.
Speaker 0 00:11:08 That's what you want. Yeah. Like we were talking about it before, like how this got started. Like you gotta like the people you spend the most of your life with. Exactly. If you can make your work environment fun, then like
Speaker 2 00:11:19 Everything, it just doesn't become work. It's just, you just want a good time. And I think that's the greatest thing about, um, um, our job is that it's, it's the problem solving it's yeah. It's not doing the same thing day in and day out. We might be doing the same thing day out. We'll be somewhere else, a hundred percent or different conditions. Um, so it's always, always kind of fun to put the brain to the test and it's crazy how you can make it work.
Speaker 0 00:11:45 I just got the signal from Tanner. Uh, he's ready with his questions for the Mac city minutes. So I don't know what he's going to ask you. I wish you nothing but the best of tenor and with the Mac city minute,
Speaker 3 00:11:56 Where's the weirdest place serving his, taking you
Speaker 2 00:12:01 Weirdest place? Um, been to some pretty, pretty remote locations. Um, not necessarily weird, but, um, getting to take a helicopter in and then jump into an Argo, uh, and then continue your journey out to, uh, to the well site and stuff like that. Um, probably the most odd ball kind of place to be found, I guess.
Speaker 3 00:12:26 Yeah. Question number two. What is one thing that about Fort McMurray that made you want to stay on your initial trip here?
Speaker 2 00:12:35 Um, the people, uh, honestly, just once you start to get to know the people, the community itself, what it has to offer for, uh, for individuals and families, um, it really changes your opinion from what you hear from when you're outside of Fort McMurray. That's right.
Speaker 3 00:12:53 Question number three. What is one thing you take from your time in the armed forces that you take with you in your everyday life?
Speaker 2 00:13:03 Um, gratitude. I mean, uh, you're just always grateful to, to learn, uh, always grateful to meet new people, um, to help people. Um, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:13:17 Um, question number four. What is one thing about opening up a business in Fort McMurray that you enjoy the most,
Speaker 2 00:13:24 The challenge? Um, good things don't come easily, so you just have to persevere, uh, figure out how to make it work and, and, uh, hopefully that ends becomes a mean, so, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:13:40 And your final question, what is one thing about Fort McMurray that has changed your view on life?
Speaker 2 00:13:46 Uh, again, just go back to the community, uh, just how giving, uh, the community is, what they will do to support each other through thick and thin. And those
Speaker 3 00:13:55 Have been your five questions. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:13:57 There we go. Cool. So originally, what, where were you, where are you from? What province?
Speaker 2 00:14:04 Uh, Ontario. Okay. Yeah. What part of Ontario? Uh, but now we're west of Ottawa, small town called Perth.
Speaker 0 00:14:11 Yeah. Um, uh, it's not a college at birth. What? You guys have some Conklin. There we go. There we go. Because, uh, they have very specialized training there. They're not necessarily for NDT, but a lot of staff went to Perth for like ultrasonics and different things like that. When you didn't happen to any of your sonar courses or your surveying courses or anything there? Nope. Okay. So you just totally fell into absolute what you came out here to do.
Speaker 2 00:14:43 I didn't w when my, uh, when my buddy was like, do you want to get into surveying? I was like, you know, is that like knocking on doors? Like, what are we talking about here? And then once I got into it, like just military background and like map and compass and funny enough calling in like mortar strikes and stuff like that, I was like, oh, this is the same less consequences. Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 0 00:15:05 That's hilarious. That's awesome. And so I don't, I'm just going to ask what company were you with before when you first got started with it? Which company hired? You came up with focus.
Speaker 2 00:15:17 Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:15:18 And the pain
Speaker 2 00:15:19 And you were, uh, I was with them for a little bit until the downturn that I went with, Campsie mining, doing, serving for them. Uh, and then I went back to focus again.
Speaker 0 00:15:30 Okay. Cause I remember, um, accurate didn't do any of that type of work, but it was close enough that it was a discussion topic. Like, do you pick up that type of work? But I just remember there being other companies and it being like, no, I think these guys they've got it kind of unlocked down. Let's kind of stick to what we do, but like NDT and like what you do there's opportunity in it, but nobody knows about it. Yeah. Like it's a career that like, when you say like, am I knocking on doors? Like your guidance counselor in high school is not telling you about it.
Speaker 2 00:16:13 Never even heard about geomatics industry until, until coming out west. I didn't hear about it until you just said it.
Speaker 0 00:16:19 That's right. Yeah. That's it. So one of my biggest hurdles for NDT was actually because nobody knew about it, like hiring people and like informing youth about this and going to like job fairs. How do you, how have you found the hiring in this industry for like your technicians? Um,
Speaker 2 00:16:38 It's a, it's a little bit of a challenge. Uh, there are quite a few companies up here, so it is competitive. We are a part of, uh, the union of operating engineers. So that, that helps. Right. Um, but at the same time, I'm, I'm part of Napa I'm part of, uh, helmets to hardhats. So we try to, uh, get the word out, uh, and we're willing to train the right people. Right. Um, because we have, you know, the actual technicians that are doing the work, but we also have assistants that are helping them. So getting them in and getting them to understand what what's surveying is not knocking on doors is I guess the first steps.
Speaker 0 00:17:16 Yeah. And so in your industry, is it like an oil and gas industry where you have like shutdowns turnarounds and like a ramp up? Or is there like a season, like I used to be, um, these worked for everybody clean harbors. And so like, you have, like when it's cold, we did ice roads and getting out to drilling rigs, like in your industry. Is there that, or is it kind of consistent
Speaker 2 00:17:36 And all over the place, colder weather you'll be doing reclamation or, or drilling? Um, we definitely do have some, some peak times, September for whatever reason. Uh, everybody's trying to get their projects in before the snow flies.
Speaker 0 00:17:50 Right. Right. And so with your staff, are you fortunate enough to like, have your staff located here in forming Murray or do you find yourself in a position where a lot of companies find themselves in where they have to like fly in and fly out? Um, individuals for temporary work?
Speaker 2 00:18:08 Our whole, our whole company is local. So we try to do everything. Local is as much as possible local people, local equipment, local supplies.
Speaker 0 00:18:17 That's awesome. So that's know. Sorry, tenor. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. That's it. That's a big deal. That's a big selling feature for you guys because it's not always the case, so local and part in Napa. So that means like there's an indigenous component to the company there as well. Yep. Yeah. We love Napa so awesome. All right, man. Well, listen, that's it Tanner top the watch. So I know I'm coming to the end of the show. Um, but that being said before we cut you loose, everybody gets a shameless shout-out or plug. So you got cameras, lights on you, the mic have fun.
Speaker 2 00:18:49 Uh, I guess the biggest thing I'd like to plug is, um, icon surveys as big into the community. Um, one of the things we do is we work with a CMHC, uh, and, uh, I actually chair a, uh, PTSD peer support group for first responders. Um, military veterans, firefighters nurses, uh, here in Fort McMurray. So we, we meet every Thursday. Um, if you're interested in finding out more about it, uh, I can throw my contact information out, uh, to whoever's looking for it. But, uh, it's just a great group of, of like-minded people who have gone through similar events and are there to help support and, and to learn things. So
Speaker 0 00:19:34 There we go. That's a good shout out, man. Okay, well, listen, thank you very much for coming on the show. It's been awesome. We've been chatting a long time before the show even started. Uh, please, please, please feel free to come back as many times as you want. There's ever anything going on with like the support group that you're doing, or you want to talk about surveying something new is happening, anything you want, please, please, please feel free to come back on the show again. I love it. Awesome, man. All right. Well Fort McMurray wood, Buffalo in the rest of the world, that's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you very much for tuning in. It really does mean the world to me. I hope you have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:20:10 I just dies that desk. Another Mac city morning, show Dawn.
Speaker 5 00:20:27 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
