From a T GILLIAN SLADE
ru-co has all the hallmarks of a successful and innovative company — including growing the number of employees to 100 in just three years — but four years ago its fate was precarious.
Tony Isaac, president, was in the process of building a home for his family when the 2008 downturn in the economy resulted in
multiple orders being cancelled.
He kept as many employees as he could by having them help to build his house.
Meanwhile he personally battled depression. It looked as though there was no way to save this Bow Island business.
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place of hope Tru-co survives near bankruptcy to fi nd success and a way to give back
They moved into his parents home and the business continued to struggle.
“In August 2011 the bank gave me one week to prove that Tru-co could make a profit,” said Isaac. “There was no hope. It was over.”
One afternoon Isaac went to the burnt ruin that had been their family home and just sobbed.
Tony Isaac, president of Tru-co, in the workshop where trailers for the oil and gas industry are manufactured.
Soon after moving into the new house in 2010 their young baby awoke early alerting Isaac to a strange smell.
Downstairs, the whole house was on fire — something had gone wrong with the woodstove.
Isaac and his family got out with just the pyjamas they were wearing and saved one rocking chair.
Isaac, born in Peace Country, moved to Bow Island in 1998 to do custom farm work. In 2003 he saw a need for flat deck and cargo trailers. Without any special training he understood what someone wanted and had the ingenuity to figure out how to build, supply and deliver.
In May 2006 Tru-Co transitioned to building structures required in the oil and gas industry, supplying trailers for on-site offices and full living quarters.
diversification into other sectors,
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He made a promise that afternoon that if anything of the company survived bankruptcy he would run it for the greater good. He then prepared mentally to drive a gravel truck to provide for his family.
commercial, industrial and even
residential.
When he awoke the next morning his depression had lifted. When his accountant said he’d put together a report that he felt was good enough to show to the bank, Isaac was skeptical but it proved to be enough for the bank to give Tru-co another three months grace.
“By then we were on our feet again,” said Isaac. “We went from leaking money to making more money than we ever dreamed.”
It brought about a profound change in his life — one of gratitude and thanksgiving.
“I believe in divine intervention,” said Isaac. “I have a Grade 9 education. I have no education or experience in this sector. I’m sharing God’s love through my vulnerability, inspiring confidence in others.”
Our main focus is
“A trailer customer asked for something bigger than a skid- shack or camp-shack,” said Isaac. “We started building one and got all certified and kept on going.”
By the end of the first year the Department of National Defence ordered trailers for a 150-man camp. Tru-co supplied 24 buildings.
“We ramped up to 30 staff to do that,” said Isaac. “It was a year of extremes and learning on the job.”
The company was employing 140 people until the beginning of this year when 60 were laid off.
While some have already found other work Isaac says the company will offer jobs to those people first when in a position to hire again. Employees are usually hired by word of mouth and recommendation.
The trailers/skid-shacks have an industry life span of about 10 years. The recent downturn in the economy has the oil and gas industry stretching that to 12 years now to reduce costs. That has affected expected orders.
“Our main focus is diversification into other sectors, commercial, industrial and even residential,” said Isaac.
The company’s own design team is working on, Tru- Eco, an energy efficient and “green” modular home design that will be highly insulated and soundproof.
41227079•03/31/15
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