owners were tired and wanted to enjoy life. They didn’t push the business to where I saw it.” The first thing Claude did once he took the helm of ALDG was restructure. “I started with the basics: accounting, economics, management, reducing spending and automation of certain things.” “Then I attacked the sales department, where I already had a large clientele from other businesses since I’ve been in the construction business all my life. I made things more efficient. Two years after buying the business, I built a building that brought our manufacturing onto one floor.” In the years since, Claude has continued to reinvest in the business. “We’ve invested in the manufacturing process and automation, we’ve invested in branding, and we’ve built a team around me as president,” he says. “Today the company is 10 times bigger than it was when I bought it.” These days, the size and scope of the company’s projects are also much bigger. Two years ago, they started doing high-rises, and those now comprise the majority of their projects. Their clients include recognizable names in Ottawa such as Brigil Construction and eQhomes. According to Claude, clients of that caliber have started relying on ALDG due to the availability and their ability to achieve tight turnaround times. He believes that’s what sets them apart from the competition. “For midrise properties, we’ve been told we’re available all the time,” he says. “I’ve had a client call Sunday night saying they need occupation for Monday morning and we needed to help him, so JUNE 2024
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