Accès Location + was first a division of Groupe Solubrik Inc., a pioneering company in masonry cleaning and staining in Quebec, created in 1988 by Harold Dubé. “In 2012, Mr. Dubé asked me to be his partner,” remembers Luc Bertrand, now CEO of Accès Location +. “I first joined the team as a representative in 2006. I had worked in all the positions in a similar company and I felt completely comfortable taking the reins as vice-president. I was more than ready to invest in this flourishing field!” From the four lifting equipment at the start to the 30 more acquired for the creation of Accès Location + officially in 2005, to the 1,200 today, the company has continued to grow.

Since 2018, the company has almost doubled in terms of workforce, going from 45 to 70 employees. “My forecast is to reach 90 at maturity,” emphasizes Mr. Bertrand. The administrative team works at the new head office in Beloeil, which is three times larger than the previous one. There are also two new branches in Quebec City and Laval for day laborers. Acquisition projects are constantly in the crosshairs.

Diversification, distinctions and innovation

Since the arrival of the new boss, the company has transformed. "We have diversified our offer with maintenance, repair, training, transportation and sales services," specifies Mr. Bertrand. "We are constantly renewing the fleet, which therefore remains very young, 37 months on average. This is an expense estimated at between $15 and $20 million per year."

Always looking forward is essential for those who care about service and innovation. “During the pandemic, we took the opportunity to become a paperless company and innovate with an intuitive digital portal, unique on the market,” assures Mr. Bertrand. “We did not bill those whose work had stopped; the quality of our relationship with our customers is at the heart of our values.”

The company continues to be honored, notably as a finalist at the Mercuriades, 2020 company of the year from the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de la Vallée-du-Richelieu (CCIVR) and among Canada's Best Managed Companies for three years in a row.

A good boss who has everyone's well-being at heart

The one who leads with a nimble, agile and thoughtful hand trusts his team: "I supervise managers to give them all the latitude they need to exercise their talent. I encourage good practices and good business methods." Luc Bertrand's exemplary management naturally earned him the title of Good Boss in 2019.

Certified in occupational health and safety and human resources management, he supports his growing team in an empathetic and proactive manner. During the crisis, the team benefited from interest-free loans, payment advances, and training for returning to work.

For the former hockey player and triathlete, sports and social involvement are a motivating factor. The head office has a gym and a relaxation room. Employees have paid annual activities and participate in fundraising operations such as the Leucan Montérégie Shaved Head Challenge, for which Mr. Bertrand was once the honorary co-president. Creating a spirit of solidarity as a team, everyone gets involved in the community, whether it be with the Children's Wish Foundation, Grain d'Sel, Maison Victor-Gadbois or Opérations Enfants Soleil.

Always aim higher

Luc Bertrand is a human manager. “I manage growth as smoothly as possible,” he says, full of confidence. “All the factors for success are present, we have a solid and dedicated team. The employees work as if the company were theirs, so even if I’m the one who gets the trophies, the success is also fully due to them. We are a company specializing in elevation: always going higher, that’s our great challenge!”