Target to become part of Hurricane Group

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In Max De Angelis’s more than three decades in the construction industry, few business decisions have been more personal than his purchase of Target Building Materials earlier this year.

The 57-year-old building supplies firm has always been run by the Drouillard family, who helped De Angelis launch his first business 35 years ago.

“Greg Drouillard helped get me started my first summer when I was 18 and has been a mentor ever since,” said De Angelis, who has purchased several long-established local family businesses in recent years. “I was sealing driveways and that evolved into coatings and some installations.

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“He kept me motivated as a young entrepreneur and has continued to offer me guidance all these years. I’ll never forget his help.

“I became like family, so it was an honour when Greg approached me about Target.”

Target currently has 10 employees, but De Angelis is optimistic about the growth potential of the firm.

He’ll initially concentrate on expanding the product offerings, introducing more technology and e-commerce into the operation and amplifying Target’s brand in the social media space.

“We hope to welcome new customers, but also bring back some who may have drifted away,” said De Angelis, who is president of Fortis Group.

“We definitely have expansion plans. Down the road, I can see secondary locations. We’d like to take the brand east down the highway.

“Right now, we’re learning the business. That’s our focus.”

Though De Angelis has helped build Fortis Group into one of Canada’s largest construction firms, Target is a standalone purchase of his own. It will become part of the Hurricane Group of local companies that also includes Hurricane SMS, Heaton Sanitation and Ken Lapain and Sons Ltd.

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The group employees between 70 and 80 employees and each company operates independently.

While De Angelis said sentiment isn’t the reason for the purchases, he said all of these companies fit into his world of operations, offer diversification and share his core business values.

“They’re strong local brands with real family legacies of over 50 years,” De Angelis said. “The families that have run them share the same business values I hold.

“Sometimes the opportunities have come because I have a relationship with them, there isn’t a family succession plan, there’s a need for resources or a need for new technology.”

De Angelis admitted taking on such longstanding local businesses does bring a sense of responsibility.

“There’s a bit of pressure on you to not screw it up,” De Angelis said. “You don’t want to mess with their secret sauce.

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“I’ve seen multi-nationals come in and often get rid of the previous owners and some employees and ruin it. That’s why I’m proud to say, because we share the same values and have relationships, I’ve always had the previous owners and employees stay and have roles.”

However, De Angelis does allow himself just a touch of sentimentality in having a hand in helping these local companies move into the next era of their history.

“It is rewarding being in the business for over 30 years and to have that respect in the industry,” De Angelis said. “That is my legacy.

“Success isn’t just the monetary benefits you receive. It’s how good you have been to your industry, to your employees and your community.”

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