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BUILD MANITOBA     winnipegconstruction.ca
MEMBER MILESTONES
Sometimes, if everything falls into place 
just right… 
Scratch that – if most things fall into… 
Make that, if a couple of tradespeople 
doing separate but similar work decide 
to band together under one shingle, 
and then work their tails off with an eye 
to doing excellent work at a fair price, 
word gets around. Before they know 
it, they have over 200 employees and 
are celebrating 25 years in business. 
Exhibit A: SCMI (Southern Comfort 
Mechanical Inc., which is not, it should 
be noted, named after a spirit, but came 
to mind after several initial choices 
were unavailable, and seemed like a 
memorable choice).
Paul Neufeld and Mel Buhler are the two 
founders in question. Recently named 
one of Manitoba’s fastest-growing 
companies, SCMI has expanded over 
the years from Neufeld’s specialty doing 
HVAC and boiler work, and Buhler’s 
sheet metal work, to now include 
integrated design, geothermal, plumbing 
and hydronics, variable refrigerant  
flow (VRF) and related service  
and maintenance.
The handshake deal between the 
two that formed the company was 
THE SCMI STORY
What started as a handshake between two 
tradespeople has grown into one of Manitoba’s 
fastest-growing mechanical contractors
By Kelly Parker
SCMI management team.
Photos courtesy of SCMI.

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