APEX SPECIALIZED &
PRO-TECH INDUSTRIAL MOVERS
Case History
KLYNSOON’S LEADERSHIP
Gary Klynsoon is an industrial leader. He believes strongly in doing the right thing, even when it hurts. Since 1989, he’s been working within the heavy machinery industry and, although he’s been with several different companies, he keeps finding himself in leadership roles. Klynsoon has not only learned how to make businesses profitable, but also how to value relationships in the process. For Klynsoon, making money should never come at the expense of people.
In 2014, Klynsoon was looking for a new challenge and heard about a leadership opportunity with the Norland Group of companies. They were looking for a General Manager for two of their key businesses: Pro-Tech Industrial Movers and Apex Specialized Rigging and Moving. Klynsoon knew it would be a significant step in his career.
“When I heard about the opportunity with Norland, I was immediately interested,” Klynsoon said. “I knew I was capable. I felt confident, but I was also aware that this was different than what I had been doing. So I needed some reassurance.”
WIEBE’S MENTORING
So what did Klynsoon do next? He called Gerry Wiebe. “I asked Gerry out for breakfast and we talked about what to expect. I just needed to talk to somebody with understanding of what I would be up against in the interview. Gerry ended up mentoring me, coaching me through the whole process of getting this job.”
The two had met years earlier when they both held positions with Eagle West Crane. From that experience of working together, Klynsoon trusted Wiebe and appreciated his relational approach to leadership and business management.
“With Gerry’s coaching,” Klynsoon said simply, “that guy became the best sales estimator we have.”
Klynsoon got the job, and now, in his role as General Manager of Apex and Pro-tech, he continues to call on Wiebe Industrial for help. He regularly utilizes Wiebe’s expertise in business development, marketing and sales for the growth of Apex and Protech.
Soon after stepping into his new role, Klynsoon hired a salesman, and he promptly asked Wiebe to train him. “With Gerry’s coaching,” Klynsoon said simply, “that guy became the best sales estimator we have.”
When the company needed another salesman, Klynsoon repeated the process and brought in Wiebe again to provide training and mentoring. “He’s just able to teach these guys how to bring operations, marketing and sales together in a way that makes sense for the company,” Klynsoon said of Gerry’s integrated approach.
WIEBE’S REPORTING
On another front, when Klynsoon was considering his biggest capital purchase ever of new equipment for Apex/Pro-Tech, he again called Wiebe for help.
Klynsoon believed in the purchase and he was willing to take the risk in approaching the Norland’s Board of Directors for backing. It was the right thing to do, but Klynsoon also realized that it was a big investment, even for a company like Norland.
“It’s not every day you ask your Board for $2 million dollars to buy new equipment,” said Klynsoon, “so I knew that I needed to be ready with a strong business plan.”
So Klynsoon brought in Wiebe to prepare a presentation on why that piece of equipment would make sense for the company’s growth into the future.
“He did a whole binder of market research and information from the latest studies,” said Klynsoon of Wiebe’s thorough preparation. “He gave it 120% and, when we presented the report to the Board, it just knocked them over. They approved the purchase and we had our equipment.”
For Klynsoon, it was a necessary capital investment for the company. “It’s already paying for itself,” he said, “but we know the potential is there for even more. The new equipment helps position us for long-term growth.”
APEX AND PRO-TECH’S SUCCESS
As Apex and Pro-Tech find success under Klynsoon’s leadership, Wiebe has been more than happy to play his role in mentoring and business development.
“Our next steps as a company have more to do with our website and digital marketing,” said Klynsoon, “and so we’re looking to Wiebe Industrial for help with that too. It may turn out to be our biggest initiative with Gerry yet.”
Wherever that initiative leads, Klynsoon is confident in the innovative and reliable services that Wiebe offers. But when it comes right down to it, Klynsoon is even more confident that Wiebe values the relationship that they share. Both of them are committed to a people-first approach to leadership.
“We were fishing together a while back,” said Klynsoon, “and I was telling Gerry about how I sit in all of these meetings with other GMs and VPs and all they talk about is money, profits and the business side of things.”
Klynsoon felt troubled about the disconnect that he often felt in those meetings. “When it comes around to me,” he continued, “I always say the same thing: I just look after my people, and they look after the business.”
Wiebe looked at Klysoon and simply said, “Stay the course. Don’t change anything. You’re the one who’s doing it right.”
Wiebe’s commitment to Apex and Pro-Tech is evidenced mostly through his investment in Klynsoon as a leader. And Klynsoon knows it. “That one-on-one mentoring that Gerry provides,” he says, “to me is priceless. It really is.”
APEX SPECIALIZED & PRO-TECH INDUSTRIAL MOVERS
Case History
KLYNSOON’S LEADERSHIP
Gary Klynsoon is a leader. He believes strongly in doing the right thing, even when it hurts. Since 1989, he’s been working within the heavy machinery industry and, although he’s been with several different companies, he keeps finding himself in leadership roles. Klynsoon has not only learned how to make businesses profitable, but also how to value relationships in the process. For Klynsoon, making money should never come at the expense of people.
In 2014, Klynsoon was looking for a new challenge and heard about a leadership opportunity with the Norland Group of companies. They were looking for a General Manager for two of their key businesses: Pro-Tech Industrial Movers and Apex Specialized Rigging and Moving. Klynsoon knew it would be a significant step in his career.
“When I heard about the opportunity with Norland, I was immediately interested,” Klynsoon said. “I knew I was capable. I felt confident, but I was also aware that this was different than what I had been doing. So I needed some reassurance.”
WIEBE’S MENTORING
So what did Klynsoon do next? He called Gerry Wiebe. “I asked Gerry out for breakfast and we talked about what to expect. I just needed to talk to somebody with understanding of what I would be up against in the interview. Gerry ended up mentoring me, coaching me through the whole process of getting this job.”
The two had met years earlier when they both held positions with Eagle West Crane. From that experience of working together, Klynsoon trusted Wiebe and appreciated his relational approach to leadership and business management.
“With Gerry’s coaching,” Klynsoon said simply, “that guy became the best sales estimator we have.”
Klynsoon got the job, and now, in his role as General Manager of Apex and Pro-tech, he continues to call on Wiebe Industrial for help. He regularly utilizes Wiebe’s expertise in business development, marketing and sales for the growth of Apex and Protech.
Soon after stepping into his new role, Klynsoon hired a salesman, and he promptly asked Wiebe to train him. “With Gerry’s coaching,” Klynsoon said simply, “that guy became the best sales estimator we have.”
When the company needed another salesman, Klynsoon repeated the process and brought in Wiebe again to provide training and mentoring. “He’s just able to teach these guys how to bring operations, marketing and sales together in a way that makes sense for the company,” Klynsoon said of Gerry’s integrated approach.
WIEBE’S REPORTING
On another front, when Klynsoon was considering his biggest capital purchase ever of new equipment for Apex/Pro-Tech, he again called Wiebe for help.
Klynsoon believed in the purchase and he was willing to take the risk in approaching the Norland’s Board of Directors for backing. It was the right thing to do, but Klynsoon also realized that it was a big investment, even for a company like Norland.
“It’s not every day you ask your Board for $2 million dollars to buy new equipment,” said Klynsoon, “so I knew that I needed to be ready with a strong business plan.”
So Klynsoon brought in Wiebe to prepare a presentation on why that piece of equipment would make sense for the company’s growth into the future.
“He did a whole binder of market research and information from the latest studies,” said Klynsoon of Wiebe’s thorough preparation. “He gave it 120% and, when we presented the report to the Board, it just knocked them over. They approved the purchase and we had our equipment.”
For Klynsoon, it was a necessary capital investment for the company. “It’s already paying for itself,” he said, “but we know the potential is there for even more. The new equipment helps position us for long-term growth.”
APEX AND PRO-TECH’S SUCCESS
As Apex and Pro-Tech find success under Klynsoon’s leadership, Wiebe has been more than happy to play his role in mentoring and business development.
“Our next steps as a company have more to do with our website and digital marketing,” said Klynsoon, “and so we’re looking to Wiebe Industrial for help with that too. It may turn out to be our biggest initiative with Gerry yet.”
Wherever that initiative leads, Klynsoon is confident in the innovative and reliable services that Wiebe offers. But when it comes right down to it, Klynsoon is even more confident that Wiebe values the relationship that they share. Both of them are committed to a people-first approach to leadership.
“We were fishing together a while back,” said Klynsoon, “and I was telling Gerry about how I sit in all of these meetings with other GMs and VPs and all they talk about is money, profits and the business side of things.”
Klynsoon felt troubled about the disconnect that he often felt in those meetings. “When it comes around to me,” he continued, “I always say the same thing: I just look after my people, and they look after the business.”
Wiebe looked at Klysoon and simply said, “Stay the course. Don’t change anything. You’re the one who’s doing it right.”
Wiebe’s commitment to Apex and Pro-Tech is evidenced mostly through his investment in Klynsoon as a leader. And Klynsoon knows it. “That one-on-one mentoring that Gerry provides,” he says, “to me is priceless. It really is.”
