RYAN MCAS: Was being at your dad’s shop and “holding the light” a contributing factor to following in his footsteps? RYAN: Very much so. Everyone likes to talk about farmers who need to farm because it is “in their blood.” Growing up exposed to the trade had the exact same effect on me. Although I tried a couple of other experiences to validate it, I don’t think I ever really doubted that this was what I would spend my life doing. MCAS: What made you decide to leave inspecting and go back to your roots? RYAN: Growing up seeing the entrepreneurial way of life and being exposed to common sense, the political and bureaucratic aspects of a government job became very frustrating. I wanted to be in a situation where I was able to make my own decisions and take responsibility for them. MCAS: Have you incorporated things you’ve learned watch- ing your father run his business into your own company? RYAN: It is amazing how many of the principles that I run my business by are the principles that my dad taught me. There are many differences as well, but considering the differences in tech- nology and scope, we have more in common than one would think. MCAS: What does being a member mean to you as a business owner? RYAN: Being involved in my community has always been very important to me. It is one of the core values that my father taught me. He was always the chairman of the school board, the fire chief, the Mayor, etc. I consider the mechanical contracting industry to be a community that I am a part of, and the MCAS is my way of contributing to that community. MCAS: What is your most memorable work experience involving your father or son? RYAN: I would have to say that the most memorable is the pro- cess, rather than specific experiences. Often I will drive by a farm or a house and remember dad and I working together there, or go into a building where Cory and I worked on a project together and think about that, but it is the big picture and the continuity that I appreciate most. Perhaps the best feeling is when the three of us are around a table talking shop, and it just feels right. Did you know there are more roads in Saskatchewan than in any other province in Canada? According to Highways and Infrastructure, there are 26,000 kilometres of highways in the province and a total road surface of 160,000 kilometres – enough to circle the equator four times. 24 MCAS www.mca-sask.com FEATURE