< Previous| 30 MAY 2023WRITTEN BY FIONA SHERIDAN contracting, pre-engineered buildings, and civil works. RAW has a proven track record of successfully delivering turnkey packages and design-build services, including multiple proj- ects for First Nations communities. In addition to its rich history and wealth of experience, RAW Group's expertise in pre-engineered buildings allows it to provide high-quality, cost-effective projects for clients in various industries. In order to succeed in business, a company needs many things, skill, determination and a commitment to profes- sional excellence. However, in addition to that, a company needs something that is a little less tangible. True excel- lence comes from a company vision, something that will embody what the company and its employees stand for. The Seven Grandfather Teachings are at the heart of the RAW Group’s success, serving as its core values and guid- ing principles. According to Morgan Messenger, Business Development Manager at RAW Group, these teachings form the core beliefs that guide RAW Group. Not only that, but for Messenger, they have a massive impact on the company's ongoing success. R AW Group stands as a trailblazer in the construction industry, breaking down barriers and challenging ste- reotypes. This Canadian Certified First Nations Corpo- ration, founded in 2019, is dedicated to serving and protecting First Nations communities with a strong commitment to its cultural heritage, meaningful employment opportunities and growth. Through the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, turn-key solutions, and the dedication of its employees, RAW Group has achieved extraordinary success. This serves as a powerful testament to the limitless potential of First Nations communities, making the company a source of pride that embodies the spirit of determination. RAW Group's achievement is clear evidence that with a combination of hard work and a commitment to excellence, anything is possible. RAW Group distinguishes itself in the management of its subcontractors and its ability to provide turn-key solutions on time, on budget, the first time, every time. Supplementing its General Contracting and Construction Management services, RAW Group self performs several scopes including: electrical | 31 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION"The Seven Grandfather Teachings are critical to our com- pany's growth and success. We believe in Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility, and Wisdom, and these values guide all of our business decisions and interactions with clients," said Messenger. It is clear from speaking to Messenger that the Seven Grandfather Teachings are not just a set of values, they are a way of life for RAW Group and are fully integrated into every aspect of the company's culture and operations. The impact of these values on the company is undeniable. In the face of the pandemic, RAW Group not only survived but thrived and rose as an example of resilience and leader- ship in the construction industry. Having established itself in 2019, the same year Covid-19 emerged, the company faced numerous challenges such as supply chain issues and a shortage of skilled labor. “It all goes back to the principles the company is founded upon," said Messenger. "Of course, there were many challenges, but we navigated them with our team and a steadfast commitment to employee safety." When asked about the company's growth during challenging times, Messenger credited his remarkable team for their hard work and determination. "Our team is the reason for our rapid growth. We are a small team that is capable of doing great things, and every member of the team is multi-talented and dedicated to getting the job done right the first time." The company's success is a testament to both the 100+ years of combined experience that its key employees hold, and the successful partnerships it has nurtured with major mining conglomerates such as Vale, Glencore, KGHM, among others. "We are well-equipped to handle new projects and take on new challenges," said Messenger. This belief is evidenced through excellent projects RAW Group has completed for organizations such as Sudbury Hydro, Health Sciences North, Greater Sudbury Police Services, SNOLab, multi- ple First Nations, Kirkland Lake and District Hospital, and all of the school boards in the Greater Sudbury area. For Messenger, these projects demonstrate the high levels that clients of RAW Group have come to expect, and showcases the company's expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions. "Our company's cultural values and commitment to employee safety guide everything we do," he says. "We are proud to have established a reputation for quality and excellence in the industry." As the conversation with Messenger progressed, his empha- sis on safety at RAW Group became ever more apparent. He mentioned the company's commitment to safety, which he explained was connected to its values and to the principles of the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Messenger emphasized that safety was not only a common practice at RAW Group but was taken much more seriously. Incredibly, for those at RAW Group, safety is given top priority over any other job or task. "We have love for all, and we have the wisdom and bravery to ensure our safety standards are above industry compliance," he added. | 32 MAY 2023What truly sets RAW Group apart from its competitors is this unwavering commitment to safety. This is a company that believes that safety should never be compromised for the sake of completing a job, and this is evident in its ISNetworld certification. This third-party safety auditor has verified its safety practices, and they have been able to work with major corporations like Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One, which have the most stringent safety practices in the province. "At RAW Group, safety is our top priority," said Messenger. "We believe in creating a smart, up-to-date work environment where all employees are trained to recognize and mitigate workplace hazards. We prioritize the safety of our employees, and it is our duty to ensure that our safety standards always exceed industry compliance." In addition to this commitment to safety, RAW Group is also committed to working with First Nations communities to ensure its operations are aligned with its values. As a Certified Aboriginal Business, the company is dedicated to providing employment and training opportunities in addition to reduc- ing its carbon footprint. RAW Group has set green goals to be achieved on a quarterly basis and plans to have a majority green fleet by 2030. RAW Group is also proud to have the second-highest number of Indigenous electrical apprentices in the province and is always looking for ways to increase this number. "Our mission is to 'move forward together' with First Nations communities. We believe in providing opportunities for growth and development for Indigenous people and are proud to be a leader in this area." The conversation with RAW Group left me feeling optimistic about its future. It is rare to find a company that is dedicated to excellence, safety, cultural values, and sustainability above profit margins and growth. These values ensure that the company is making a positive impact in the construction industry and beyond. RAW Group's commitment to the Seven Grandfather Teachings, safety, and First Nations commu- nities serves as a model for how businesses can prioritize people and the planet. RAW Group is building a better future for all, and I look forward to following its continued success. “At RAW Group, safety is our top priority.” | 33 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL A s industry ebbs and flows, change is a constant and by its very nature, innovation will drive sectors for- ward. As these areas grow, the landscape will contin- uously alter. From the development of new materials to the need for more sustainable practices, no commercial envi- ronment can stay the same. If we look at these industries, we are always told the same thing. Change is positive. While the headlines might seem clear cut, the reality is somewhat more nuanced. For example, do industries welcome this change, or are some battled to retain the status-quo? What happens when there is a resistance to change? Furthermore, a critical look at any industry would show that occasionally, change can take place too quickly. Infrastructure and pro- cesses, policies and laws, these things take considerable time and have been developed through intensive dialogue with stakeholders. When rapid change takes place, can society be left behind in some regards? If so, how do we respond? More importantly, how can we remove the emo- tion from these changes to make lasting decisions that benefits workers, companies, and individuals alike? While the question is ongoing and with no clear answer in sight, we look to those on the ground. | 34 MAY 2023One area that has often faced such challenges is the auto- motive industry. For generations, the sector has grappled against change in a way that few others have experienced. From developments in both appearance and speed to sig- nificantly more advanced capabilities, the automobile has seen it all. Crank-up engines to smart vehicles, the history is long and storied. At every step, however, these changes have been faced with opposition. Even now, as the vehicle steps into a more environmentally friendly chapter, chal- lenges remain. It is within this context that we look at the Electric Vehicle. With an ever growing need to transition from fossil fuels, it is an important step in human devel- opment. The emerging market is baked by science and societal demand. However, the EV has not been welcomed with open arms and detracting voices can be found across the industry. In fact, a recent bill put forward by Republican lawmakers in Wyoming wants to end EV sales by 2035. According to the bill, “The proliferation of electric vehicles at the expense of gas-powered vehicles will have delete- rious impacts on Wyoming’s communities and will be detrimental to Wyoming’s economy and the ability for the country to efficiently engage in commerce.” While this may come from the extreme end of EV opposition, it is clear that the road ahead is far from smooth. | 35 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION “Despite being ‘dead’ in terms of an EV, these batteries still retain around 80% of their original capacity which makes them incredibly useful.” Despite this, however, the EV market is continuing to show its potential. Figures show that sales of both fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are growing exponentially every year. For example, in 2021, 6.6 million cars were sold worldwide with more EVs being bought each week than there were in the whole of 2012. Evidently, the sector is growing. However, the question that remains is a simple one, are we ready for a full transition and if not, what problems do we face? One interesting aspect of this market that has yet to be resolved is what happens to EV batteries once it reaches the end of its lifecycle? More importantly, can they be put to good use? While the answer to this question is not yet definitive, it is showing promise. Connected Energy is a UK based company seeking to become a world leader in battery energy storage. While many energy companies around the world offer similar services, Connected Energy is different. By using the ‘dead’ batteries from EVs, Connected Energy has created what it calls a second life. The rationale for this technology is both urgent and fascinating. The battery used in an Electric Vehicle is only capable of pro- viding the level of performance needed for about a decade. After this, the battery will need to be replaced. The battery itself, however, is far from finished. In fact, despite being ‘dead’ in terms of an EV, these batteries still retain around 80% of their original capacity which makes them incredibly useful. According to Matthew Lumsden, chairman of Connected Energy, the need to find alternative uses for EV batteries is vital. “As the batteries degrade, they lose their usefulness for vehicles. But batteries can be used for so many other things, and to not do so results in waste and more mining of natural resources.” In a complex procedure, the power is extracted from these batteries and remarkably, is then returned to the local grid. “By extracting the value from the finite resources already embedded in them, we double their working lives. We are driven by helping to solve the challenges of the energy tri- lemma by disrupting the throwaway economy. Bringing huge environmental benefits to our partners and our customers.” One impressive example of how this ‘second life’ can have real-world benefits is in the project that Connected Energy has rolled out in collaboration with the city of Nottingham, UK. By using the energy collected and stored from dead EV batteries, coupled with two-way chargers and solar panels, energy is being returned to the local grid on a daily basis. This ‘vehicle to grid’ system assists the local energy grid | 36 MAY 2023at peak times throughout the day, ensuring that residents have sustainable and reliable energy supplies. According to Nottingham City Council’s Technical Lead, Steve Cornes, the project has a number of benefits. “We are trying to create a virtual power station. The solar power and battery storage will help us operate independently and outside of peak times, making our system more resilient and reducing stress on the national grid. We could even make a profit.” The Vehicle to Grid system may be a relatively new one, but it is gathering momentum. While Nottingham is an example of its benefits, the city is not alone in moving forward with this innovative and essential technology. In the U.S., Fermata Energy has partnered with Nissan to produce the first ever bi-directional charger for the Nissan Leaf in the States. The company’s FE-15 charger recently met all requirements from Nissan and is UL 9741 certified which means that it is V2G compliant. While the Nissan Leaf may be currently the only EV in the US with this capability, this may soon change. By uti- lizing Fermata’s FE-15 charger, Leaf owners may soon have the ability to return energy to the grid and also, potentially, sell electricity back to their utility. The FE-15 also continu- ously monitors a building’s electrical loads, drawing on the EV’s energy to provide power to the house at peak times and during periods of high energy usage. As we have seen countless times before, change can take place too quickly for society. In the case of Electric Vehicles, the secondary industries that support and consolidate this new technology need to get moving. If EVs are to succeed, infrastructure needs to catch up. In the midst of an infrastruc- ture crisis when energy grids are fragile and overworked, this innovative measure could be the key to addressing the latest challenge facing the automotive industry. As society grappled with the EV questions, it seems that some of the answers might be already here. For Jessica Dunn, Senior Analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, it can’t come quickly enough. “Over the next decade we are going to see this gigantic wave. Companies are recognizing this is a necessary industry. They need to ramp up infrastructure for recycling and reuse.” | 37 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONFetzer Institute Kalamazoo MI Photo by Ritsema Associates | 38 MAY 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN I n an ideal world, those who are more fortunate are those who are the most deserving. Opportunities would not present themselves simply on who you may know, instead they would become accessible through hard work and sheer talent. Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world and the dream of a meritocratic society often remains just that, a dream. However, while society may not have fully adapted the meritocratic approach, there are people who work every day to defend and advance the principles of the merit shop philosophy in the construction industry. These people are unbiased to race, color, creed, age, sex. These people focus on ability and determination to succeed. These people are those at ABC Michigan. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 69 chapters representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms across the United States. ‘Merit Shop’ means the construction philoso- phy which encourages open competition and a free-market approach that awards contracts to the lowest cost responsi- ble bidder based solely on merit as determined by contractor, regardless of labor affiliation. Fetzer Institute Kalamazoo MI Photo by Ritsema Associates Fetzer Institute Kalamazoo MI Photo by Ritsema Associates | 39 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >