Solidly and affectionately united, sisters Véronique and Sabrina Trépanier will co-chair the Armature Trépanier Group, without any one having pre-eminence.
The group, which employs more than 250 workers, brings together 3 divisions: Philippe Trépanier inc. in Saguenay, Ferrailleurs du Québec in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Armature Nationale, in Rouyn-Noranda, all specializing in the manufacturing and installation of reinforcing steel and wire mesh.
Both sisters rely on solid family foundations.
The original company, Philippe Trépanier inc., was founded by their grandfather Philippe in Jonquière in 1957.
“My father Laurent and his brother took over at a very young age when my grandfather died,” relates Véronique Trépanier. Together they founded Les Ferrailleurs du Québec, in Saint-Augustin. »
The two sisters in turn take over from their father, who has led the group since 1978.
One is a lawyer, the other is a civil engineer.
“I am the lawyer,” informs Véronique Trépanier.
” It’s funny. My sister, her natural path, her clear path, was really to join the company. She always knew she wanted to be an engineer. As soon as she left university, she started working. Even though she’s in her early 40s, she still has 20 years of reinforcing steel experience. »
Véronique’s journey is less linear. But no less interesting.
“At first I wanted to be a journalist. I did my course in Jonquière and then I branched off into law. I practiced for five years in private practice. »
She joined the company in 2015 after completing a master’s degree in business administration, to stabilize a foundation in management. Sabrina had then been technical director for several years. The transfer of the father’s shareholding to his two daughters (his only children) had already begun.
“We both had an interest in the succession of the company, but it was not clear who would officially chair it. And the idea of co-presidency emerged. »
They will share management tasks according to their respective skills, which also coincide with their affinities. They are very complementary, assures Véronique. No clashes or divergent visions.
“We’ve known each other for 40 years, we’ve been connected to each other, so we have a very good bond. »
From childhood ?
“Of course, during adolescence, there is always a slightly more difficult period,” she admits.
It’s the distant past.
“We even travel together with our children,” she provides as proof. We each have two boys, around the same age. »
Purchased in lengths of 18 m (60 ft), the reinforcing steel bars are cut and bent to the dimensions required by the quotes in the group’s three production plants. “It’s all done just in time,” describes Véronique Tremblay. “It’s so heavy, reinforcing steel, that we manufacture it straight away for the next day. It is always made to measure and we want to avoid manipulation and handling. »
In Saint-Augustin, Ferrailleurs du Québec also has a storage and prefabrication plant, where reinforcing elements are assembled which will then be embedded in concrete – columns or box piles, she explains. example.
The third pillar of the group, Armature Nationale, is a small company acquired in 2016. “Over the years, it has grown, and this year, we are in the process of building a new 24,000 sq. ft. factory. in Rouyn-Noranda,” she says.
The investment amounts to 9 million. The launch of production and the hiring of new employees will occupy the coming months.
“For the moment, we still have a lot of projects on the way, so we will stabilize before growing,” says the co-president.
“Currently, we are bidding for the Île d’Orléans bridge. In the Montreal region, we are starting the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital, which is a very large project. In Quebec, the Enfant-Jésus hospital is being completed. »
For three years, Véronique Trépanier has been president of the Reinforcing Steel Institute of Quebec, which brings together companies in the sector.
“It was never an issue for us to be women in this environment,” she notes. Even if it is very masculine, there is still a great openness to the presence of women. »
The company website has an online store. No, they don’t sell souvenir steel bars there. At the top of the page: women’s clothing, embroidered with the Group logo. Those for men follow. Then the children. There is even a baby bib.
“We put this in place because the workers are very proud to work in the reinforcing steel industry,” explains the businesswoman. Our employees are proud to wear our colors. And it’s also a way to create a feeling of belonging. »
A feeling that hugs their father.
Laurent Trépanier will definitively hand over the reins to his daughters in 2024.
“Laurent turned 70 this year, and his retirement is a bit of a taboo subject. He wanted to talk about it, but not too much. At one point he said he would no longer come on Fridays. But even then, he was incapable of not coming to the office. It was a difficult decision to make, because we celebrated Philippe Trépanier’s 55th birthday. This company is his whole life. »
He started working with his father when he was 15.
“It was the result of a lot of reflection on his part, and a journey he made over the last year. But I think now he’s ready. »
His succession is well established.
