Service is a Team Sport at M Builds
by Kelly Gray
M Builds is a full-service construction company providing general contracting, construction management and design-build services. Its portfolio spans decades and a wide range of sectors, with completed projects including the Millennium Library, Leatherdale Hall, Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, Halo Towers, the McPhillips Street Station Parkade, and numerous residential, healthcare and educational facilities across Manitoba and beyond. With offices in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, M Builds has grown beyond its Manitoba roots. That growth has been driven by experienced people, strong relationships and a practical approach to working with clients, consultants and trades.
“We see our role as helping guide clients through the construction process and making sure they understand what is happening at each stage,” says M Builds Partner Robert Ferraro.
“Our supervisors and project managers have the experience and authority to make decisions. We trust their judgment, and that allows us to deal with issues quickly and keep projects moving.”
M Builds Partner Tony Nocita agrees, saying that trust extends to how the company works with its clients. “We believe in being transparent, honest and doing what we say we’re going to do,” says Nocita. “We also give our people the authority and tools they need to make decisions and get the job done.” That approach has contributed to one of the largest volumes of work orders in the company’s recent history.
For Ferraro and Nocita, building the right team starts with finding people who understand people and know how to work with them.
“We look for people who can communicate, listen and understand different personalities,” says Ferraro. “That’s a key fundamental if you want to succeed in this business. Construction is technical, but at the end of the day, you’re dealing with people. Clients, trades, consultants and your own team all have different perspectives and pressures. Being able to understand that and work well with people is extremely important. For me, leadership is about taking care of those in your charge. If you support your people, give them the tools they need and trust them to do their jobs, they’ll take care of the project and the client.”
“Attitude is just as important as experience,” adds Nocita. “You need people who communicate well, respect each other and are willing to work together. We can help someone develop their technical skills, but they need to come in with the right attitude and an ability to work with others.”
“Our people support each other,” adds Ferraro. “The goal isn’t just to complete a project. It’s to build relationships, solve problems together and deliver a successful project in a way that makes the client want to work with us again.”
Senior Project Superintendent Kurtis Carpenter has more than 22 years of experience with M Builds and the general contracting company that preceded it. He says the company’s team approach has a direct impact on clients.
“We’re always looking out for the client’s interests,” says Carpenter. “That can mean providing options that save time/money, or coming up with a different way to solve a problem. Within our team, we’re constantly talking to each other and sharing ideas. Someone may have dealt with a similar issue before and can offer another perspective.”
Carpenter says that open communication also means employees are comfortable asking questions and seeking input. “Construction can be complicated, and part of our job is to take some of that stress away from the client,” he says. “There are no bad questions. If there’s an issue, we talk about it and work toward a solution.”
M Builds Superintendent Kevin Schiller sees that same approach in the relationship between the office and the job site. “At some general contractors, you can get an ‘office versus site’ mentality,” says Schiller. “We don’t operate that way. Nobody says, ‘That’s not my job.’ We work together to solve problems and complete the project. I think clients recognize that, and it’s one of the reasons they come back to us.”
Schiller began his career as a carpenter 30 years ago and says construction requires people to continually learn and adapt. “Experience matters, but attitude and willingness to improve are just as important,” he says. “If someone is the right fit for the company, we can help them develop their skills.”
That learning extends across M Builds’ superintendent group. Team members regularly visit other job sites, compare approaches and share their experience. “We have a lot of knowledge within the company,” says Schiller. “The more we share it, the stronger the whole team becomes and the more value we can provide to our clients.”
M Builds also recognizes the pressures that come with working in construction and the importance of supporting employees beyond the technical aspects of their jobs. “Construction can be demanding,” says Ferraro. “There are deadlines, difficult decisions and situations that aren’t always within your control. We want our people to have the tools to deal with those pressures, do their jobs well and still have a life outside of work.”
As part of that effort, M Builds works with workplace coach Dr. Jason Brooks, who helps employees address workplace challenges, develop strategies and strengthen communication and self-reflection skills.
“We want people to be successful here, but we also want them to be able to go home at the end of the day, recharge and enjoy their lives,” says Ferraro. “If our people are doing well, it shows in their work and in how they deal with clients and each other.”
Individuality is also part of the company culture. “We want people to be themselves,” says M Builds Project Manager Rita Penner. “People need to feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions and sharing ideas. When communication is open, the team works better and problems get addressed sooner.”
