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ACE Engineering Ltd.
contractors, ourselves.”
Over the last several years, ACE Engineering
Ltd.’s workforce has fluctuated with the local
economy and the ups and downs of the con-
struction sector. At one time or another it had
anywhere from approximately 40 to 120 employ-
ees. “In 2012, we had more than 120,” Le Blanc
remembers. “2014-16 were our leanest years;
we had just about 43 employees at the end of
2016.”
When asked what differentiates his compa-
ny from the competition, Le Blanc points to its
mission statement: “To satisfy our clients’ re-
quirements by providing good quality and timely
services in a financially viable manner, while
maintaining a good and safe environment where
people can showcase their talents.”
“Our strategy is led by our mission,” he con-
tinues. “Satisfying our customers so the net
effect is a customer who wants us back; pro-
viding the required quality always and within
the time allocated; being efficient, so we can
justify and maintain our pricing with a reason-
able profit; running a tight ship, financially, so
our bankers have no issue in providing finance;
and treating our employees well and getting
them to have a vested interest in our mission.”
The company also continues to innovate and look
for more efficient ways of doing things.“Even after we
have priced a job,we continue to research and consid-
er different approaches in order to improve efficien-
cy and safety. We will invest in new,more efficient
equipment whenever it is the best strategy.”
Le Blanc adds that staying solvent means
staying on top of the nuts and bolts of the con-
struction business. “Construction is entwined in
laws, rules, and formalities,” he says. “You have to
understand the various technical, regulatory, and
legal requirements of the business in order to
obtain the best value in each undertaking and to
stay in business.”
Over the next several years, Le Blanc says that
ACE Engineering Ltd.’s agenda includes renewing
its equipment fleet, and planning for its suc-
cession. “Making sure that when I move on, and
the other shareholders move on, that there are
people who can continue to provide services and
keep the mission alive,” he relates.
In addition, Le Blanc says that ACE Engineering
will continue its fight for a more open and trans-
parent public procurement system in Dominica.
“We have found that the market for locally-fi-
nanced work is not as open and transparent as it
ought to be,” he claims. “That has affected how
we do business. It’s made it even more difficult
to get work from the government, directly. As a
company, we have spent much human and finan-
cial resources aimed at fixing that, so that we
have an opportunity to get a share of the market
and the taxpayers get value for their money.”
Nonetheless, Le Blanc stresses that ACE Engi-
neering Ltd will continue to ply its trade strictly in
the country where it all began.“The directors took
the strategic decision not to island hop for work;
to limit company growth in order that we have
a reasonable life with our families,”he says.“The
same for our employees. Quite often, people see
business as the only important thing.Happiness
for us is being the best at what you do where you
are and allowing others to do the same.We have
evolved over the last 20 years to being a significant
economic player in Dominica.We have imprinted
our mark on construction in many ways.We have
touched the lives of many persons, mostly rather
inconspicuously - but profoundly.We would want
to continue to do so for years to come.”
Preferred
vendor
n E.H. Charles & Co. Ltd.
Established in 1967, E.H.
Charles & Co. Ltd. manufactures
housing components, including
timber doors, windows, and mill-
work. In 1981, the company began
supplying builders’ hardware and
building materials. The company
is also the agent in Dominica for
True Value Hardware, the Makita
Corporation, and Berger Paints.