February 8, 2006

Kingston CA

Members’ strength found in commitment

Family man living his childhood dreams

DAN O’REILY

correspondent

While some people consider a variety of careers as they regroup and then choose a different path, the new president of the Kingston Construction Association never deviated from his childhood dreams.

“I’ve always loved construction. My parents worked in construction in Holland before coming to Canada,” says Rene Doornekamp, president of Morven Construction Ltd.

Rene Doornekamp

A sewer and watermain excavating firm with approximately 25 employees, it’s based in Napanee and covers an area stretching from Brockville to Trenton.

A graduate of St. Lawrence College in Kingston where he studied civil engineering technology, Doornekamp started in the construction business in 1977 after working for a few years for a consulting engineering firm.

“The venture began with my father who was already retired and my brother Hank. This union lasted until 1983 with my father going back into retirement, my brother starting his own company and I formed Morven Construction. I value the experience I got from both of them.”

Doornekamp says his views on life, work, and the construction industry were shaped by his upbringing.

“I grew up in a family with eight children. Getting out of bed early and going to work was the rule and going to college or university was expected.”

A former president of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, Doornekamp said that experience is the reason he felt obliged to serve in the same role for the Kingston Construction Association.

“One of the lessons I learned was for an association to remain effective it has to have a strong and committed membership and maintain a healthy financial well being. The KCA has all those attributes and this is a real testament to our past and present boards, members and staff.”

Some of his goals as president include continuing to improve the association’s relationship with the City of Kingston and enhancing the services it provides members, such as a relatively new electronic plans room.

“We have been working on this for the past five years, by observing other systems, learning from their mistakes and as a result have a seamless and very cost effective system.”

Married with four children, Doornekamp’s hobbies include rugby and coaching basketball.

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