By / Natalie Bruckner
Peter Jovic’s business journey is one that many entrepreneurs will relate to. In 1987, Jovic decided he was tired of working for other people and wanted to try his luck at running his own business. Many co-workers told him he would never succeed, but this only fuelled his flame. Together with his wife Annie, he took the bull by the horns and launched Coquitlam Insulation . . . and proved them all wrong!
More than 36 years later, BC-based Coquitlam Insulation is still going strong. In fact, today it is one of the most established mechanical insulation contractors in the province.
Throughout his career, Jovic was driven by a desire to be the best and provide a comfortable life for his loved ones. “When Peter started out, he had a young family and he wanted to ensure that he worked hard everyday, not only for his business, but also to provide the best childhood for both his daughters,” explains Sean Glenfield, Jovic’s son-in-law, who has now taken over the reins at Coquitlam Insulation.
While the company has grown over the years and has experienced the many economic booms in BC, the four core values with which Jovic started the company have remained at its heart: pride, workmanship, honesty, and integrity. “It is important to know who you are and what you stand for,” Glenfield says. “By staying true to yourself you can get you through the good and bad times. Coquitlam Insulation has always maintained a consistent crew and has never been greedy by taking on too much.”
Their reputation is second to none. The answer to the company’s success lies within its commitment to never take short cuts and never take advantage of new customers by over pricing services. It’s a company that truly puts people first, both inside and outside the company.
“We pride ourselves on having so many repeat clients,” Glenfield says. “We consider all of our friends to be part of our family and work hard on each job so we can work together on the next one.”
Over the years, Coquitlam Insulation has worked in a number of sectors, including marine, healthcare, education, commercial, and residential markets throughout all of BC. But today it is in the commercial market that Coquitlam Insulation is the strongest and where its main focus lies.
The company’s portfolio is incredibly impressive, having been involved in thousands of projects across the province. Just one example of the depth and breadth of their work is the Fort St. Johns Hospital—a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Northern BC that is poised to be a model of excellence in rural healthcare. This project’s innovative, sustainable design is intended to promote the high standard to which all hospitals throughout the surrounding regions will be built in the future.
Other examples include the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre in Victoria, the North Island Hospital project in Campbell River, and the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. All three hospitals are setting new standards in healthcare construction, as well as in the standard of care and sustainable design.
“These projects have allowed Coquitlam Insulation to work all over the province to help make a small contribution to the healthcare of our communities in BC,” Glenfield says.
Coquitlam Insulation is a true family business, and not just because it has been kept in the family (which Glenfield says Jovic is very proud of). The company believes in cultivating this family feel by also devoting time outside of business hours to bring people together with events such as the annual Christmas party, golf tournaments, and fishing trips. Glenfield says doing this has helped build great relationships and camaraderie with all of its team and clients, who they also consider friends.
As the business celebrates it 36th year in business, Glenfield says he is proud to follow in his father-in-law’s footsteps and build on the solid foundation and reputation of Coquitlam Insulation. “The company is still going strong and will be for years to come,” he says. ▪
