b'MEMBER PROFILEa small forge that ran on propane. I thought there was probably a big opportunity here to sell these things and immediately started researching how to build it on a manufacturing basis, he recalls. The guy got pretty excited, and I went and incorporated under that name, Forge. But the gentleman was kind of a seniorhe wasnt really interested in putting his name on it, and it never really went anywhere. It was at that point that Shecter reverted back to what the shop had been doing: mainly servicing clients in the Nelson area with a lot of railing work initially, before branching out into generalcustom fabrication.Zap has been working out of the same shop at 19 McDonald Drive in Nelson for 35 years, doing work ranging from $50 jobs for someone who needs something repaired, to half a million dollars somewhere in the province of B.C. or Alberta. Weve worked all the way east to Red Deer, west to jobs on the Island, and up north in Fort St. John, Kitimat and Prince Rupert, explains Shecter. Were not a big operation, but we pick the jobs we can do that wont jam up our shop, and that we can complete in the allotted time with our crew of seven.When asked what sets his company apart from his competition, Shecter says that there is plenty of work to go ZAP WELDING around, so a unique selling position isnt really necessary. But he also offers, We try to think outside the box about how we can do something different CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF HOMESPUN SUCCESSsomething that hasnt been tried before. That can be challenging, because BY KELLY PARKER people often have a conventional way of doing things, and theyre comfortable with that. Trying to push boundaries ap Welding is a small weldingPeople said, Oh, thats good, so I wentsometimes takes a brave person on the Z company that is based inwith that. other end to say, Yeah, lets try it out, Nelson, B.C., but will alsoespecially if the cost isnt prohibitive.travel to complete a range of fabricationShecter graduated welding school in contracts, from small local repairs to1986 and had worked in constructionAmong many standout experiences, larger structural components.all over B.C. and Alberta. He had alsoShecter is proud of his firms work on a started a family, so he decided to stoprecent rebuild of Kootenay Boundary The homespun approach of thetravelling and set about figuring outRegional Hospital as a subcontractor to company is exemplified by how founderwhat he could do at home in Nelson.Ledcor, suggesting that personal touch and owner Jeff Shecter named hisIve always been kind of a serialis a priority: It was a great experience fledgling firm back in 1989. I had beenentrepreneur, so I started a couple working with them. The superintendent running around in the first iteration ofof businesses. was excellent, and to this day, we still the business with just a welding truckhave a very good relationship. Its almost and heavy equipment, he explains. IOne of thoseand the first thatlike a personal friendship now.was at a poker game, and I said, I needShecter incorporatedwas called Forge a better name for doing this thing. OneIndustries. A gentleman came into myA group of large homes in town that of the guys threw their coins onto theshop to repair something and had hisZap worked on with Pacific West table, and another guy responded, Zap!own kind of idea about how to buildBuilders also ranks on Shecters list of 16 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'