Turning risk to reward
It’s encouraging to hear good news in the oil and gas industry, and Dynamic Risk has plenty of success to talk about.
Originally a tiny, two-person office on 11th Avenue S.W. in 1996, it relocated to the second floor above Morgan’s Pub on 17th Avenue S.W. in 2004. Business expanded enough that it had to increase its space to 8,000 square feet, then to 12,000 and 15,000. It currently leases 18,000 square feet in the same building.
Now, president and CEO Trevor MacFarlane finds it necessary to move into bigger and better space for his Calgary team, and has started renovations on two full floors of 333 11th Avenue S.W. that will provide his staff with a comfortable 23,000 square feet.
That’s pretty exciting for a company that when MacFarlane joined had two employees and two contractors on the payroll. Today, it has a Calgary staff of 125.
MacFarlane was born in Prince Edward Island but moved around a lot growing up as his father was a member of the Canadian air force. He earned his master’s in engineering at Queen’s University.
After graduation, he moved to Calgary at the same time TransCanada Pipelines relocated here from Toronto, and he was recruited to join its staff in 1993.
In 2006 he was asked by founder Glenn Yuen to join Dynamic Risk and accepted, despite the fact that it was a small operation with zero contracts at the time.
But he threw himself into the job, becoming the company’s president in 2008, and has since helped it be recognized today as the top pipeline integrity company in North America, rewarding Calgary expertise and knowledge that is valued across the continent.
Dynamic Risk provides consulting, engineering assistance and software solutions for oil and gas production gathering systems, transmission pipelines and distribution networks.
MacFarlane says helping operators to improve operational performance and optimize the use of risk-informed decision making means they can manage risk across the entire life cycle of the assets they own and operate.
Pipeline safety and prevention of leakage has become very important to companies with operating lines and those wishing to build new ones. He says that although Canada has an excellent record — where standards are very strict — many people have lost trust and clients depend on the regulatory credibility, industry knowledge, subject matter expertise, exposure to global industry best practice and industry-leading software of the company.
It has worked with most of the pipeline operators throughout North America, providing consulting, engineering assistance and technology solutions for more than 600,000 kilometres of pipelines.
Sixty-five per cent of Dynamic Risk’s business is in the U.S., providing good employment for its creative Calgary talent.
MacFarlane says a company needs a little luck; his first U.S. contract was sold at a conference to BP, Houston. It was a name that could be boasted about and helped attract his 70 different clients south of the border. An important new contract is to review the pipeline that crosses the Mackinac Straits into Michigan.
U.S. business necessitated opening offices in Houston, Boston and, more recently, Atlanta, where it already has a staff of 16.
In Calgary, its new offices on the 11th and 12th floors of the Aspen Properties tower were leased with the help of the Colliers International office leasing team, Peter and Justin Mayerchak.
The space was gutted to allow for a purpose-built design to fit the business. One of the features is a scrum room where the 45 software developers will meet every morning to plan the day’s activities, and all work stations — with height adjustable desks — are located along outside windows to allow for natural light.
MacFarlane says he hosts a lot of visitors from the U.S. and looks forward to showing off the great views of Calgary’s downtown skyline from his new office.
Congratulations to Erica Morgan of Brookline Public Relations, who has made it on to Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 list. It’s the second year in a row for the Calgary agency; last year, Madison Olyniuk was recognized.