b'BM: What was your first job? very proud of, but maybe it is because RT: My first job at a Bonanza restaurantI get to enjoy a steak at the same time is one that Ill always remember. Asidethat I get to enjoy the memories.from meeting some great people who IBM: What is the best advice thatstill call friends to this day, it was a greatyou could give to a young person opportunity that taught me hard workentering construction?pays off as I quickly moved up fromRT: One of the keys to being successful being a busboy to an assistant manager.in the construction industry is realizing It also taught me how to grill 20 steaksthat you dont need to know everything, at once and started my love for cooking. but you need to know how to find the BM: What influenced you to work in theanswers. The industry is filled with construction industry? great people who want to share their RT: It was almost by chance that Iknowledge, so dont be shy to seek ended up in the industry as I had noadvice as the people around you are exposure to the construction industryyour best resource. BM: What are some topics/issues in growing up. I started university wantingBM: Tell us about your new company,the industry youre championing or are to pursue computer science and thenRivers 3 Construction Ltd. important to you?quickly found out it wasnt for me. NotRT: Rivers 3 Construction is a generalRT: I have been involved with the having a solid back-up plan, I remembercontracting firm that will pursueprompt payment discussion for quite my mother used to see a tarot cardgeneral contracting and constructionsome time, and I want to see it cross reader who told her one of her kids wasmanagement opportunities in the ICIthe finish line so that it can benefit our going to be an engineer, so I figured, Iand civil markets. I am starting my newindustry once and for all. Another issue guess thats me, as my siblings wereventure small but with big ideas, so Iour industry is facing is one of image, already on their own paths. At thatam looking forward to the challengeand I believe we can do a better job of time, it was very competitive to get intoof growing my new company intopromoting it as an excellent industry to engineering, so I also looked into thesomething special. build a career.Civil Engineering Technology programBM: What motivated you to join theBM: What do you do when youreat Red River College, which is where IWCA Board of Directors? not working?ended up. The rest is history. RT: I spend time at my cottage in BM: If you werent working in theRT: I got my first taste of being on aNutimik Lake in the Whiteshell.construction industry, what would youboard by volunteering my time at the be doing? Garden City Community Centre andBM: Do you have a motto orseeing the impact one could make.business philosophy?RT: I have a love for cooking and tryingI love our industry and Ive alwaysRT: I believe that treating people with new recipes, so I think if I wasnt inwanted to learn more about the issuesrespect is paramount to building good construction, I may have become a chef. we face. My involvement started first byrelationships and that you should BM: What is the best part about simply attending the General Contractoralways conduct yourself with integrity. your job? Division meetings, and when theBM: What would people be surprised RT: It is easy to say its the people thatopportunity presented itself, I becameto learn about you? you get to meet and work with alongthe chair of that division. From the start, the way, because it is true, but it is alsoI quickly found myself surrounded byRT: Up until my girls moved on from some incredible individuals that wereyouth sports, I spent most of my the pride you feel driving around andlending their voice to better the industry,time in the winter coaching them in seeing the fruits of your labour standingand I knew I wanted to be involved. ringette, which Im grateful to have and serving the community in which youBM: What is one thing that you want tohad the opportunity [to do]. Summers live and travel. My daughters are stilldo as WCA Chair? have always been about having fun in amazed when I point out every bridgethe sun! I love to make people smile and every building Ive ever built! RT: Ultimately, I would like to leaveand can be the first one to laugh at BM: What project are you most it in a better position than it alreadymyself. Having said that, Ive earned proud of? iswhich is a lofty goal, since Ellowynthe nickname Rum Roger from riding Nadeau has left it in such good place.my Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville three-RT: One of my favourite projects is oneIm surrounded by both an outstandingwheeler bike around Nutimik Lake on I did earlier in my careerThe Keg onBoard of Directors full of great industryoccasion. If you see me, say hi!Portage and Moray. At the time, it wasinsight and experience, and a staff at the largest project I worked on and itthe WCA that is top-notch and nothingBM: Whats your favoritewas the most challenging to date. I hadshort of excellent at what they do forManitoba attraction?the good fortune of having a great clientour industry. I want to make sure I listenRT: North Whiteshell Provincial to work for, a collaborative consultantto what is keeping our membership upPark. Whether it is going for hikes, team and an excellent team of trades.at night and do my best to help ensuresnowmobile runs, fishing, swimming or It is one of many projects that Ive hadtheir voice is heard in the industry andjust sitting outside around the fire, its the good fortune of working on that I amwith government. my happy place. Issue 1 | Spring Edition | 2024 BUILD MANITOBA 9'