profile
after our existing market. We've created
great relationships over the years. Michael
is currently focusing a lot of his attention
on growing relationships with different
companies in various parts of the world to
represent us and to work with us.
RG: 2017 was the first year that Caldas
Engineering has had a stand at the
Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa
(IQSA) annual conference. What was the
reasoning behind this?
RC: Essentially, one of the main reasons
we decided to exhibit this year was to
introduce Michael and the succession team
to the industry and the people who work in
it. Michael joined Caldas in April last year,
so that’s why we went ahead with it this
year. As I said, our business model is very
relationship driven, and so it is important
for Michael and the team to meet people
and build relationships. At the same time,
I wanted to make it clear to our customers
that we have a succession plan in place.
One of the potential dangers of smaller,
family-run businesses is that once the
founder, or the person driving the business,
retires or steps down, customers can lose
confidence in the business if they are not
familiar with the person who will be taking
over. Michael has a qualification in building
science, as well as 12 years working in the
construction industry both locally and abroad,
but we really felt that it was important to get
him exposed to our existing and potential
customers, so he can continue building
relationships within the industry.
RG: As someone who has been
attending these conferences for over a
quarter of a century, what do you see
as the most important outcomes of this
year’s event?
RC: Well, I usually attend these conferences
to see friends and the people I’ve met over
the years, and while it was really good to
reconnect with them, I think one of the
biggest positives, for me, was seeing how
many younger people are entering the
industry. Previously, I didn’t see a lot of young
blood coming into the industry, but this year
there was Jeremy Hunter-Smith heading
up the young delegates programme, and it
was great to see how many younger people
QUARRY SA | MAY 2017 _ 31