Working closely with Michels Corporation Senior Vice President Bob Westphal, Michels Canada Vice President Mike Prior has led Michels Canada to new heights north of the border.

The unique business model that Michels has pioneered allows its divisions to share resources, equipment, and above all, knowledge and expertise. The success of Michels Canada has helped Michels to climb to number 45 on Engineering News-Record’s yearly Top 400 contractors list.

The ability of Michels’ people to collaborate together has made it one of the strongest forces in the industry. Michels Canada recently showcased its purchasing power and strong relationships with international unions on both sides of the border, working hand-in-hand with Michels Pipeline Construction to successfully complete Enbridge’s Alberta Clipper, Southern Access, and Southern Lights projects.

Mr Prior said “Having the expertise and experience of Pipeline Construction Vice President Bob Osborn and Directional Crossings Vice President Tim McGuire is a great asset to our business and to our customers.

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“We get together and recap projects as to what went well, what needs improvement, and how our overall performance was in terms of safety, quality, production and the environment. To be able to get each other’s perspective on projects is truly an advantage to Michels and our customers.”

In an effort to provide full disclosure to customers and the public at large, Michels recently released its first-ever Corporate Social Responsibility Report. In the same spirit and to cope with the changing regulatory environment, Michels Corporation has been building its safety and environmental programs over the past five years. Michels Canada has access to these robust programs, and having a quality management system in place to ensure that the end-product meets customer demands has been paramount as the company grows.

“At Michels, we saw the need to invest in these programs years ago, and today we continue to invest in them to meet the needs and expectations of our customers,” Mr Prior said.

“Contractors must continue to develop and train their employees to keep up with the changes in the business.”

Michels has kept up with the latest technology and equipment, having added more than 350 new pieces to its fleet in the past two years. Nearly 50 sidebooms, 60 hydraulic hoes, 40 dozers, and two 1175 Tesmec Wheel Trenchers have been added to the company’s fleet.

With many significant Canadian projects including the Keystone XL, Pacific Trails, Northern Gateway, Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, and the Canadian sections of the Alaska Gas Pipeline planned for the next several years, the cyclical Canadian pipeline business is ready for a boom in business.