The origin story of Stratus Electrical & Instrumentation begins with dissatisfaction. Ten years ago, Dave Smith looked around and realized he worked in a dysfunctional environment. He was surrounded by a hardworking team, but unfulfilled promises by management had created a culture of frustration and aggravation. “We had an amazing team,” recalls Smith, “but the ownership let us down. We knew we could do better. So, five of us decided to build the company we all wanted to work for.”
That idea – we could do better – was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Stratus. What started as a group of employees hungry for more, blossomed into a thriving, employee-owned company whose culture prioritizes people, collaboration and long-term growth. It’s now celebrating its 10th anniversary.
When Stratus Electrical & Instrumentation was founded, the team knew they wanted their core values to be more than just corporate buzzwords. They wanted a meaningful framework that the team could live by daily. “We didn’t just want to have cheesy ones or the typical safety and quality values because, like every company, if you don’t have those, you’re not going to be a company anyway,” says Joey Koester, vice president of operations at Stratus. “So, we spent a lot of time researching and brainstorming the values we now wholly believe in. They really hit home, and they still hit home today.”
There are four core values at Stratus:
• There is No Stratus Without “US”
• Accept the Challenge
• Commit & Execute
• Make Customers’ Lives Easy
Over the years, Stratus leaders have reviewed and reflected on those values, to discuss whether they needed updating. They quickly discovered that the values they drew up at the beginning of their journey were still as relevant and effective as ever.
“This is us,” says Leslie Erdahl, director of people at Stratus. “We don’t do anything without considering our core values. It’s why we’re here. We’re here to continue to build the company we want to work for, and we’ll do what it takes to make that happen.”
One of the most critical elements of its culture is its emphasis on collaboration. Since the beginning, Stratus’s employee-centric spirit and collaborative mindset have resulted in open and honest dialogue, giving the team the confidence to share ideas regardless of rank. Smith credits this openminded approach as a key factor in the company’s growth. “We all get together, talk about it, figure out the plan and then build from there.”
For Stratus, the people are everything. From employees to clients, the company believes that investing in individuals is the key to success. “It’s all about the people,” says Joey Tetarenko, vice president of business development. “The more we invest in our people, the more we make it a great culture for our people,” Tetarenko stresses this focus on people isn’t limited to employees, it extends to customers as well. “I believe that rolls over into our customers, and the way we do work with our customers. They benefit from better service and better results. It’s always about people, and it always has been.”
Stratus sets itself apart by focusing on relationships rather than just the bottom line. “We don’t sell a widget or a product. It’s all about service. The culture we build, and the happier our people are, means we do better out in the industry,” adds Tetarenko.
Delivering for its customers is paramount to Stratus which has built a reputation for tackling difficult tasks head-on. “Again, one of our core values is to accept the challenge,” says Smith. “We pride ourselves on taking on projects that others may look at and say, ‘it’s too hard, I’m not doing that’. If a customer says they need this or that, but they don’t really know how to build it, we’ll put in the extra effort to bring in engineering or supply things that we wouldn’t normally supply. We pride ourselves on understanding what our clients need and give them a complete solution.”
And when Stratus steps up, so does the entire team. “With our proposals, we all genuinely care about what we’re delivering for our customers,” says Richard Owens, vice president of renewables and Stratus’ northern region.
Dave Meyer, vice president of industrial, echoes that sentiment. “We have a lot of senior leaders within our field personnel, and they set the tone and get the job done,” he says. “I think that’s a result of our culture and how we do things differently.”
An example of this ingenuity came during a project for TransAlta at the Bearspaw Dam. Faced with the challenge of transporting massive MCC and PLC cabinets across a bridge, the team proposed an out-of-the-box solution: using a helicopter to lift them. “We just put our heads together and figured out it would be a lot cheaper if we just brought in a helicopter, picked these things up and delivered them to the top of the dam,” recounts Koester. “We made a big issue go away because of ingenuity and knowledge of projects.” However, while Stratus is willing to take calculated risks, they’re also careful not to overextend themselves. “We try to make sure we know who we’re working for and that all the conditions and terms are negotiated up front so there’s a win for everybody,” adds Smith. By maintaining transparency and building trust with clients, Smith says the company has grown steadily through consistent performance. “We get in the door, do the project and do it well, doing all these things that we’ve been talking about. We’ve turned a number of those first-time clients into long-term clients, some of which we’ve had since we started 10 years ago.”
As Stratus celebrates its 10th anniversary, the company reflects on a decade of growth and challenges. From its early expansion to the hurdles of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has navigated through the good times and the hard times with resilience and determination.
In the early days, Stratus’ growth was extraordinary. “Within the first five months, we went from a handful of people to over 90,” explains Erdahl, indicating the rapid expansion was made possible by the collaborative culture Stratus had cultivated. “Collaborative is the word that comes to mind. It was just everybody pitching in where it was needed, getting things done. For some of us, we had never done that before. In the beginning, it was said a few times that we’re just electricians trying to run a business,” she chuckles.
“What helps with that collaboration is that the level of commitment never wavers,” adds Meyer. “It doesn’t matter whether the business is doing well or there are gaps that need to be filled, the level of commitment by the group is always the same. Everybody is involved, everyone wants to do the best thing for the business and the clients.”
The past decade hasn’t been without its setbacks. The pandemic hit Stratus hard, forcing the company to make some difficult decisions. “I remember at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, nobody knew what was happening. We were forced to downsize, going from about 175 people to 35 within a couple of weeks,” recalls Smith. “It was just imploding, it was crazy. We met daily and looked at every corner of the business for ways to be efficient and cut costs. To shrink that fast was an incredible challenge.”
But with a relentless focus on efficiency and an unwavering dedication to the business, they emerged stronger. “There’s obviously been lots of ups and downs, but we’ve always been able to band together and get through things as a group and deal with those challenges,” says Owens.
Stratus isn’t just focused on building a successful business, they’re also committed to making a positive impact on the community. The team places a strong emphasis on philanthropy, community relations and Indigenous engagement.
“How we engage with Indigenous communities is how we engage with our team, making it a totally inclusive environment for everybody to work, live and breathe socially, economically and through governance,” says Tetarenko. “When we approach Indigenous communities for work, we want to make sure it’s the best benefit for the Indigenous group because many people go in and tell them what they’re going to do. We like to ask and make sure they’re included in all the decision-making, while also investing in community members and opening up opportunities for work and development.”
With 10 years behind them, Smith is confident the company is poised for even greater success in the years to come. “Our goals are to continue to sustainably grow in western Canada by expanding our footprint,” he says. “We continue to work closely with clients from all sectors to ensure we have a diverse client base so that if, for instance, oil prices were to crash again, we would still be going strong in our renewables or agriculture sectors.”
With its strong foundation built on collaboration, innovation and a commitment to people, the future looks bright. What was born out of dissatisfaction and a desire to do better, Stratus has grown into a thriving, employee-owned business, prioritizing its people, values relationships over profits, and embraces challenges with ingenuity and determination. “Our desire to continue to grow is based solely on the idea of continuing to challenge and provide growth opportunities for our people so they can continue to advance in their careers at Stratus instead of seeking those opportunities outside our business.”
Having never strayed from its core values written up at its inception, Stratus has not only fuelled its growth but also set itself apart from its competitors. With a strong foundation, clear vision and trusted values, Stratus is more than just a business, it’s a community dedicated to making a positive impact within its building, its industry and beyond.
ALBERTA LOCATIONS:
Calgary (Head Office) – 4720 – 78 Avenue SE,
Calgary, AB T2C 2W9
Edmonton – 17306 116 Ave NW,
Edmonton, AB T5S 2X2
Lethbridge – 3400 12 Avenue N,
Lethbridge, AB T1H 5V1
Phone: (403) 775-7599
SASKATCHEWAN LOCATIONS:
Saskatoon – B 2334 Hanselman Avenue,
Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Z3
Phone: (306) 477-7455
