Brown & Marshall Electric | 55th Anniversary
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BROWN & MARSHALL ELECTRIC TURNS 55
Brown & Marshall Electric’s roots as an Edmonton corporation go very deep. Cofounders James Brown and Dave Marshall launched the company in 1948 and incorporated in 1960. During the 50s and 60s, they found themselves running one of the biggest electrical contracting firms in Edmonton. Today, company president Jeff Dux continues their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.
Following a desire to be his own boss, Dux purchased Brown & Marshall in 1997. At that time, the company was located on the north side of Edmonton. Four years ago, thanks to Brown & Marshall’s rapid expansion, Dux moved the operation to the current location on Parsons Road to take advantage of increased work and office space.
The location and staff may have changed since the 50s, but the many things Brown & Marshall stands for have not. “Quality service, reliability and dependability,” says Dux firmly, explaining just a few of the attributes that contribute to the company’s success. “Our main niche is institutional and commercial with some
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light industrial. The quality of our work is what sets us apart from our competitors.” Dux is also very proud of their outstanding safety record and ensures all the staff are updated as core-certified contractors able to work on live (electrified) equipment. Brown & Marshall works closely with the University of Alberta (U of A), a relationship they secured in the late 90s – an ongoing position that is still active today. “That is when we had the backing to say we got our foot in the door,” smiles Dux as he remembers how he felt when he learned the company would be working longterm for the U of A. The large project is just one of many locations and buildings to experience the Brown & Marshall touch, as the company services all of Western Canada, with 90 per cent of their
Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2015
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Brown & Marshall Electric | 55th Anniversary
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Mark Longhurst & Ian Horton
Longhurst started as an apprentice and is now a job site foreman. Horton, an estimator/project coordinator, has been at the company for over nine years. “As a company, we try not to just be a job,” says Longhurst. “Working at one place for just one or two years happens a lot in the industry, but here more than 50 per cent of our guys have been long term with the company. I tell people I have been an electrician for “As a company, we try not to just be a job. Working at one eight years and have only place for just one or two years happens a lot in the industry, had one job. That’s shocking to them.” Longhurst, who but here more than 50 per cent of our guys have been long apprenticed under Dux, reterm with the company.” -- Jeff Dux flects on his career at Brown & Marshall, “It’s my job, but it’s more than that. I feel like I have a stake in it. I’ve been here my entire electrical career and I would like to stay here for the rest of it too always tricky. Because of our size, there is no place for anyone to hide within our company. Everyone has if I could. We pride ourselves on doing the job right. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone that would do to be a key member,” he explains. His strategy for the job as well as us. I never felt pushed to do somecarefully assessing skills and how each member fits thing below my standards just so we could make a into the company has paid off. Dux has been rewarddeadline or a few extra bucks.” ed with loyal, long-term staff, including his two longest term employees, Mark Longhurst and Ian Horton. Horton agrees, saying, “This is my home away from projects in the Edmonton region. In addition to delivering high-quality services on time and on budget while developing long-lasting customer relationships and garnering positive word-ofmouth advertising, Dux puts a lot of time and energy into building the right team. “Quality employees are
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April 2015 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com
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Brown & Marshall Electric | 55th Anniversary
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President Jeff Dux
Have a market. Do your homework. Check the quality of people you are hiring. You need people you can trust. Owning your own company and putting your own stamp on the way things are done, finishing projects on time and on budget with happy clients – these are some of the perks.” The perks extend to the staff as well. Dux ensures they have a good time building comradery both in and out of the office through team building events such as barbeques and horse racing. In his time away from work, Dux enjoys being a family man, chasing his two energetic kids, working out and playing golf. As a corporation and on his own, he likes to give back to the community that supports Brown
“Have a plan. Have a market. Do your homework. Check the quality of people you are hiring. You need people you can trust. Owning your own company and putting your own stamp on the way things are done, finishing projects on time and on budget with happy clients – these are some of the perks” -- Jeff Dux home. Each job we do as a company, we treat it as though it’s for ourselves, not a client. I treat it like it’s my business we were going to move into, or my building. We strive to get better every day with what we do as a whole and as a group. There is no room to be satisfied with what you already do. You need to be leading by example, and we do a great job of that.” Leading by example is how Brown & Marshall got to 55 years in the business. As they mark over half a century of service this year, Dux looks back on what it takes to be an entrepreneur. “Leading by example versus just barking orders is how I like to work. If I’m not willing to do it myself, then I can’t expect other people to follow me.” His advice to fellow entrepreneurs is, “Have a plan.
Brown & Marshall Electric Congratulations on your 55th Anniversary! We wish you many more years of continued success!
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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2015
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Brown & Marshall Electric | 55th Anniversary
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& Marshall by donating to various charities, including the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The future plan is continued growth,” concludes Dux. “We are growing at a pace we are really happy with right now. We plan to expand and hold steady at 20 employees.” On behalf of Brown & Marshall, Dux would like to thank
their general contractors, suppliers, accountants, lawyers and everyone that has ties in the growing company, including on and off site staff. Dux feels it is a pleasure to be part of a historical Edmonton company and to bring it into the future in a strong and sustainable way.
CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS Brown & Marshall Electric on 55 years of
ON 55 YEARS!!
successful business!
We wish you continued success for years to come!
Supporting Brown & Marshall as an ECAA member since 1982
Your friends at
www.ecaa.ab.ca
Congratulations to Brown & Marshall Electric on 55 years of business!
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April 2015 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com
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