Learning about Acres by Tony Hylton, President, Acres International I knew a great deal about Acres before I became president early this year. I knew the Company's reputation for innovation, sound engineering, and business integrity. I understood how the structure and vision of the Company had changed over recent years, to better address the needs of clients. I admired many projects, large and small, which the Company has completed, successfully, in all corners of the world.

Now I need to know more. So I set out on a tour of 15 of our North American offices. From West to East the locations I visited were Vancouver, Seattle, Castlegar, Calgary, Winnipeg, Oakville, Niagara Falls, Amherst, St. John's, Sydney and Halifax, as well as the SGE Acres offices in Halifax, Moncton, Saint John and Clarenville.

What especially struck me was the pride that people feel in being members of the Acres organization. Perhaps it was pride of ownership, since Acres is owned by its employees. Perhaps it was the pride of true professionals, who base their reputation on a job well done. Whatever the source of this pride, Acres is stronger for it, because it shows in the way different Business Units work well together, and in the attention paid to giving the highest level of service to clients.

One other quality that I noticed, with pleasure, was an energetic entrepreneurial spirit at all levels of the company. Unlike some long-established firms, Acres is a dynamic organization capable of thinking and moving fast, as these competitive times demand.

I was equally impressed by the things that our clients had to say about Acres people and the way they work. As a rule, it's difficult to get clients to express an opinion about the service that they receive. But in my conversations I heard many positive comments - long-term relationships, promises kept, and a feeling that Acres was a firm that could be trusted to provide a sound solution whatever the challenge.

I ended my journey on a high note with our newest offices, SGE Acres in the Atlantic Provinces. Now that's a corner of Canada where things are happening! The two firms haven't been together for long, but some excellent new business opportunities are already shaping up . . . opportunities that I'm expecting to be able to tell you more about in the very near future.