Building (as) a Small Business
- Dev Team
- 14 Oct 2016
urbanicity Sits Down with Zoran Tomasevic
It’s no secret that the small business landscape in Hamilton is teeming with new ventures. From coffee shops to creative firms, new small businesses are popping up everywhere. More unique, however, is a startup construction company. Enter Zoran Tomasevic and Harbour Hills Construction Management. Bringing years of experience with him, Zoran and his team are literally building the facilities for businesses in Hamilton while growing their own firm. We caught up with Zoran after the opening of his latest project, the new Keller Williams office on Cannon Street East, to learn more about building (as) a small business in Hamilton.
Q: Tell us about your professional background. What prepared you to launch your own small business?
A: Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s largest and most successful construction companies immediately after graduating Mohawk College’s Architectural Technology program. Working nearly 10 years with them provided me the chance to meet and collaborate with some of the country’s most influential designers, planners, engineers, and subcontractors while building some of Toronto’s most iconic new buildings.
It took several years of preparation to feel confident enough to start Harbour Hills Construction Management and leave the security of employment. I made it a prerequisite of mine, before I left my old job, to develop the ability and experience required to lead every phase of a major construction project. I constantly requested different assignments and key roles to expose myself to everything from the early proposal and design development phase, through to the estimating and tendering process, and finally to the project execution and closeout. In mid 2015 I had finally arrived at a point where I felt that I was ready to take the next step and leave.
Q: What was it that made you want to start your own company? Did you feel you were taking a risk?
A: I always believed that I was an entrepreneur at heart, and often found inspiration in the success stories of other entrepreneurs in a variety of fields. Starting my own company was something that I had planned for several years, so personally, leaving my employer was never about the company itself, but more out of a desire to have full responsibility and control of my career.
Of course, leaving a secure company and turning away a steady paycheque for a new venture always has its risks, but I learned that there is no perfect moment to leave and it’s more of a leap of faith. I felt that I had done all that I could to be prepared, and would just have to figure the rest out by doing it.
So, two days after getting engaged to my long-term girlfriend, I informed my employer that I was leaving the company to start my own. How expensive can weddings be anyway?
Q: What has the first year in business been like for you? How has the market responded?
A: Our first year in business has been fantastic with plenty of lessons learned. Like most new companies, we’ve experienced some typical growing pains but as we expand, we continue to strive for improvements. Improvements in our operations, but also in solidifying relationships with quality designers, engineers, subcontractors, and of course – our clients.
The local market in Hamilton is incredible – there is a strong sense of community among local businesses helping each other to succeed. Over this last year, we have met so many ambitious people that appreciate a homegrown construction management company committed to the city.
Q: Hamilton has frequently been referred to as a city of entrepreneurs. Do you feel this is accurate? Is this an easy city to be an entrepreneur in?
A: I feel that the rejuvenation Hamilton is experiencing is in no small part thanks to many of the entrepreneurs that are locally-based. Hamilton’s small business community is buzzing with opportunity and it’s great to see the impact many of our entrepreneurs and leaders are having on our city.
Now, I don’t believe being an entrepreneur is ever easy, but if you’re committed to delivering a quality product or service to the local community and it is priced accordingly, you’re often welcomed with open arms.
Q: What are the greatest challenges you see facing small businesses in Hamilton? The greatest opportunities?
A: A great challenge for small businesses everywhere is the ability to differentiate your product or services from your competitors. It is very difficult by today’s standards to have an original idea or venture; Many times you’re delving into a market sector that is oversaturated and very competitive. I believe small businesses need to constantly re-evaluate their products/services in order to evolve and not become redundant to their target market.
In Hamilton, the greatest opportunity is that we have the desire and capacity to welcome new businesses in all fields as long as they contribute to the overall long-term health of the city. Small businesses equally see Hamilton as uncrowded territory that provides unique ventures with better odds of success.
Q: What is next for you and your company?
A: We are planning an announcement soon for a few of the exciting projects we will be working on in late 2016/2017. We’re working with several new clients that have fantastic properties in Hamilton that will be receiving major facelifts.
With the successful completion of the Keller Williams Realty building on Cannon Street East and the Mortgage Financial Corporation head office on John Street, we have also focused our attention on expanding both our site and office teams in Hamilton.
Beyond that, we will be relocating to a new office in the downtown core in early 2017.
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