Mountain climbers know that reaching the summit is easier, faster and more enjoyable with support. Along the way, they establish basecamps, places to share knowledge and prepare for the next push higher. At Canerector, we’ve long embraced our own version of Basecamps. For us, they aren’t about scaling peaks but about building stronger companies, stronger leaders, and stronger connections across our network.
This tradition stretches back to our founder, Stan Hawkins. He understood that the greatest asset of any company isn’t machinery, products, or even strategy. It’s people. Stan was a firm believer that the smartest ideas are often found through the people doing the job.
In metal fabrication, for example, efficiency is everything. Stan believed strongly that when you ask someone to build 20 of something, they’ll often discover better ways to do it than what was originally imagined. Capturing and sharing those ideas was key. And with multiple businesses across our group, all doing many things in different ways, he knew there was real value in sharing knowledge.
The first Basecamp, or Interdivisional Meeting as they were then called, happened around 2000, shortly after our Robert Mitchell acquisition. This pivotal acquisition doubled the number of businesses within the Canerector group in a single day.
At the time, the company had six businesses and was experiencing significant challenges. Our team from other businesses stepped up to spend a few days there, sharing ideas and helping reorganize the layout and equipment to streamline operations.
That effort became a spark. It was the recognition that by bringing people together across businesses, we could share ideas and drive improvements.
The Power of People
The Canerector network offers something rare: a built-in community of peers who face similar challenges and share the same ambitions. Basecamps are our way of tapping into that strength. By bringing together leaders from across the network who share similar roles and responsibilities, we create a space to exchange ideas, solve problems, and learn from each other’s experiences.
From the very start, the energy around these meetings has been contagious. Discussions were shaped by attendees to keep conversations relevant and engaging, and people weren’t shy about jumping in with their own questions. In the early days, it wasn’t unusual to see a group of managers spread drawings across a table, debating the best way to solve a problem. That openness ignited incredible exchanges of ideas.
Learning doesn’t just happen ‘in the classroom’. Some of the most valuable takeaways come from touring plants. Seeing things firsthand makes lessons stick, and even small observations can have a big impact. On one tour, someone noticed piles of wooden pallets being discarded in a yard, while another division was buying pallets every week. Over the years, countless examples like this have proved the value of face-to-face interaction and understanding within our network.
The Power of Fun
There’s another dimension to this network that’s just as important: the power of having fun together. Learning is critical, but relationships are what make learning stick. It’s one thing to know who to call for advice on a new costing system; it’s another to feel comfortable picking up the phone because you’ve laughed together over dinner, or swapped ideas on a bus ride.
And there are some funny stories, too. Once, the bus that was supposed to take attendees to the plant tours got cancelled at the last minute. The only replacement they could find was a party bus, complete with a pole and neon lights. Not exactly the usual setting for a business meeting, but it got everyone where they needed to go!
The Advantage of Being a Canerector Company
For leaders across our 50+ businesses, this blend of learning and laughter is what sets Canerector apart. Our companies operate independently but they’re backed by something truly unique: an impressive network that feels both powerful and personal.
At Basecamps, someone from a foundry in Quebec might connect with someone from a machining shop in Texas. The cross-pollination is constant, and the benefit is obvious: solutions spread faster, ideas travel further, and leaders grow stronger. Stan recognized this decades ago, and it remains true today.
Still Climbing
Under the leadership of our third-generation owner Amanda Hawkins, Basecamps continue to thrive. They look different than they did in the past, with new tools, broader participation, and fresh ideas, but the heart of the program is grounded in our history.
Basecamps remind us that we are never climbing alone. Yes, we cover best practices, swap lessons, and share what’s working (and what’s not!). But the real magic happens when people look across the table, realize someone else has solved a problem they’re wrestling with, and suddenly the solution feels within reach.