A.B. Electrical Engineering
INTERVIEWEE: Aaron Batty, Co-Founder of A.B. Electrical Engineering
Founders of A.B. Electrical Engineering Give New Grads a Bright Start
Looking back, brothers Aaron and Andrew Batty can now concede that they didn’t quite know what they were getting into when they started their firm, AB Electrical Engineering. One of their most significant obstacles – and now, accomplishments – was building a team that could work together toward the same goals.
The work itself was never an issue. Coming from a technical family (mom was a technologist and dad, a civil engineer), the electrical engineering program at the University of Alberta felt right for both of them (especially for Andrew, who had access to all of Aaron’s school notes!)
The pair worked separately for a few years, each finding a position at consulting companies in Edmonton. Within a few years, they realized that virtually the only aspect of the work they weren’t doing was… well… finding the work. They didn’t hesitate to take on this new challenge.
Setting Out
In 2010, Andrew and Aaron hit the ground running on their path to business ownership. AB Electrical Engineering was born, but working out the details took time. The first item on their to-do list was finding office space. They needed a physical location to ground their operations, but they didn’t have a lot of time to find and set up a brand-new space.
When they ended up coming for a tour of NABI, they got more than one item checked off their to-do list. They had internet, copying and printing, a receptionist, and other critical office services all at their fingertips, and all included in the price of rent. It meant a few less things to worry about. Aaron says this helped him and Andrew focus on the rest of their business development, which took some high-level management thinking they hadn’t anticipated.
Building a Team
As business picked up in those early years, the brothers brought on a summer student. It turned out to be a learning experience for everyone involved. Aaron and Andrew quickly realized communication and training was lacking. They’d never had to describe the full process to someone who hadn’t done it before, and this stood out as a challenge. How could they get everyone in the office working together in the same direction?
They got to work on developing their management skills and creating an onboarding process that would be pain-free for everyone involved. A few years later, they got to test it out on their first full-time employee. His name was Trevor, and he’s still with AB Electrical Engineering today.
Growing with Exciting Projects
In 2014, AB Electrical Engineering had the opportunity to work on the Symphony Tower, a 28-story high-rise in downtown Edmonton. Putting together this type of project is no small amount of work. Electrical engineering drawings can take a couple of years and require a great deal of coordination with architects and mechanical engineers. Overall, it was a major achievement, and although it came with some unique challenges, it was exciting for the team to see it come to fruition over the last year as construction finished.
As the business started to move faster, the team was quickly outgrowing their space. Aaron and Andrew wanted to remain at NABI for as long as possible so they could focus on team-building instead of setting up a new location. In the ten years they’ve been here, they’ve graduated to several different spaces to accommodate the growth in their team. Now, they finally have their corner office!
Giving Graduates Opportunities
Andrew and Aaron have grown AB Electrical Engineering based on their reputation and relationships. Many clients come to them as referrals after a negative experience with another firm. So, when it comes to building a team, character is just as important as skill.
The two newest employees rounding out the AB Electrical Engineering team came to them straight out of school. Aaron and Andrew remember what it’s like to be fresh out of school and wanted to give new grads a chance, even without previous work experience. Now that the company has a solid strategy for training, all they need are people who are willing to take the initiative to become a strong team player. So, they interview and hire based on fit and character instead of qualifications. This helps them build a team that can work and grow together.
It’s no small investment, though. Training takes 18-24 months, so there’s a serious time commitment on both sides, but the strategy has worked out well so far. One of their earliest hires came to them straight out of NAIT. The team supported him in his decision to go back to school, but they’re hopeful he’ll return after getting his degree.
As the team continues to grow and expand organically, they expect to offer even more opportunities for new grads. Finding that first job is tough, and finding an opportunity where you get the training and teamwork you need to get your footing is even harder. Luckily for new electrical engineering grads in Edmonton, Aaron and Andrew will continue to build out their talented team through hard work, patience, and mentorship.
For media inquiries or more information on A.B. Electrical Engineering or NABI’s community get in touch with Emery at emery@nabi.ca
