T.J. Harvey takes over as President and CEO
For the first time since 1967, Centreville’s Metalfab Fire Trucks Ltd. is under new ownership. Since its inception, the Green family has owned and operated the company, which started as a metal fabrication shop and evolved into a fire truck manufacturing plant. Don Green started the company and sold it to his son, Gordon, approximately 20 years ago.
This spring, a consortium purchased the manufacturer. Gordon Green said it was time.
“We’ve been looking at (selling) since 2018. This isn’t out of the blue. I’ve always been looking ahead. I’ll soon be 69,” said Green. “It was time. The process started in November.”
The company was purchased by Miguel Gagnon, President of Gagnon Construction and Gagnon Line Construction in Madawaska, Jean-Louis Thériault, President of Kenworth Grand Falls, and former Tobique-Mactaquac MP T.J. Harvey.
Harvey is now the President and CEO. Green plans to stay on as the company’s COO. His father, 98-year-old Don Green, can still stop in and offer help and advice whenever he wants.
“That was part of the deal, right from the beginning. He’s welcome here anytime,” said Gordon Green.
Green says the company is in good hands.
“I wanted to make sure the company would continue without me,” he said. “Not much has changed, really.”
Late last year, Harvey joined the company as COO, learning from Gordon during the transition.
“Nothing has really changed. We are still doing the same things we have been doing,” said Gordon, who will stay with the company as COO.
CEO Harvey said he and his friends had been looking around at local companies to purchase – in particular, they wanted to buy companies that were community anchors. Ultimately, they knew Metalfab was a good choice because of its reputation. They also did not want to see a large company come in and purchase the plant, possibly strip it or relocate it elsewhere.
“Our goal was to keep a good thing going,” said Harvey. “Metalfab has a strong foundation, a dedicated team, and a product that communities rely on.”
While current market conditions aren’t ideal, Gordon doesn’t see the picture as bleak.
“It’s all going to work out eventually,” he said. There will be short-term pain, but we’ve had clauses in our purchase contracts since the COVID-19 pandemic, so we will do what we can until things become more stable.”
Harvey says it’s “steady as she goes” for now, but the new owners also have long-term plans.
“Our goal is to build on this legacy, maintain our reputation for excellence, and continue to grow in a way that stays true to our roots.”
