On the surface, our story is like many businesses’ stories – an entrepreneur-minded person saw the opportunity to take an existing product and do it better. But our story, and what defines Integrity, is so much more. What makes this company special is a strong set of core values – Integrity, Commitment, Teamwork, Innovation and Safety – that organically grew and have become established in all we do.
Starting near Okotoks, Alberta in 2008, our first post-frame buildings were built on a basic principle – build better. “I saw a need for better built buildings – buildings that would last longer, stand stronger, and add greater value to customers,” says Jerry Myer, CEO and one of Integrity Group of Companies founders.
The ability to fulfill a need in the market, coupled with a strong commitment to innovation and hard work, fuelled the start of a 15-year journey that has seen Integrity expand. Integrity has grown from a single company to four, and our footprint has grown from one to three locations.
INTEGRITY’S EVOLUTION AND GROWTH
Integrity Post Structures began in 2008, offering post-frame products for southern Alberta, and quickly expanded to include helping customers across the province, as well as in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Through a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, Integrity pushed the boundaries and helped evolve post-frame construction in Western Canada. “Integrity took post-frame into award-winning designs and expanded from the traditional segment of ag buildings to more commercial, lifestyle and residential solutions. Our customers learned that choosing Integrity offered them the flexibility and expertise to design the building that met their specific needs, both in utility and appearance,” explains Jerry.
By 2012, the growth of Integrity Post Structures warranted the need to bring the purchasing and distribution of lumber and building materials in-house. This expansion led to the creation of Integrity Building Products, which quickly established itself as a leading supplier of building materials to the home building industry in Calgary.
The momentum of growth continued in 2019, with Integrity partnering with Hoyle Enterprises to form Integrity Fabrications, a custom metal fabrication shop with a highly skilled team. And finally, as 2023 kicks off our 15th year of business, we proudly opened the doors of Integrity Building Components, which serves as our manufacturing division, specializing in floor systems and pre-fabricated wall panels for the home-building market.
INNOVATION DRIVES OUR SUCCESS
Post-frame construction is not new – it can be traced as far back as the early English settlers in North America. The Prairie landscape is a testament to its history, dotted with post-frame barns and haysheds, many of them built decades ago. Integrity respects the history, while also striving to improve the future and leave a legacy of buildings that will last generations and the test of nature.
Innovation, this desire to leave things better than we found them, is ingrained in our DNA and is established as one of our core values. We are constantly evolving and improving our construction methods and materials, never settling for just “good enough”. This focus on innovation is part of what makes Integrity different.
“We incorporated and developed innovative materials and engineering over the years as a way to solve some of the challenges our customers were experiencing”, explains Jerry. “The Storm Bracket and our patented Frost Shield insulation are just a couple examples of this, as well as being the first to bring the Perma-Column® foundation system to Canada.”
The desire to innovate is not limited to post-frame construction. Integrity’s growth is largely influenced by our drive to improve the customer experience and add true value. “Integrity Building Products was initially started to help us manage and have more control over our lumber supplies”, explains Scott Myer, Integrity’s Chief Operating Officer, “It gave us the opportunity to be more responsive to customer needs, as well as have more control over inventory levels.”
Integrity Building Products isn’t just a lumber yard, it is a service-driven company that has transformed how the industry supplies building materials to home builders. “Through integrating value-added services such as design and estimating, and our client-centric approach, we are able to elevate our client’s experience”, adds Scott. “What sets us apart from our competitors is our dedication to pushing the boundaries, being creative thinkers, and finding innovative solutions to our client’s challenges.”
WHAT WE BUILD
“When you join the Integrity team you immediately feel that this company is different.”
At Integrity, we don’t just build buildings. “We are building so much more”, explains Jerry, “we also build careers, family and community.”
When you join the Integrity team you immediately feel that this company is different. There is a sense of home and family, coupled with an exceptionally strong work ethic. “We are successful not only because we offer a great product,” says Shanna Groeneveld, Chief Strategy Officer. “We are successful because teamwork is one of our core values – together we collaborate, problem-solve and are driven to succeed.”
Integrity’s dedication to teamwork, and its employees, has been a key driver in Integrity’s success. “Some of our first employees are still with us”, explains Scott, “and some of our greatest innovation and business practices were driven not by the leadership team, but by the employees that are involved in the day-to-day operations.”
SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY
Integrity takes safety very seriously. “If you are going to be in construction and you are going to help employees build lives and futures, you want everyone to be able to go home safely at the end of the day,” explains Jerry.
As one of Integrity’s core values, our dedication to safety is evident in all we do. Integrity is COR certified, we ensure all employees have the proper personal protective equipment and that safety procedures and policies are in place and adhered to.
“Safety is a priority for Integrity”, explains Carlin Bell, Integrity’s Safety Manager, “We are an industry leader in our safety practices and policies. We are unique in the post-frame construction industry for being COR certified.”
DEFINED BY INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT
“We don’t just ask a post-frame customer, ‘how big?’ Regardless of our customer type, we lead with an approach of ‘how can we help solve your problems.’ “
A common question is why we selected the name ‘Integrity’. “We chose the name Integrity because, from the very beginning, the entire company has been designed around always doing the right thing,” explains Jerry.
Integrity isn’t just a word we use, it is a core value that we work to uphold every day. It is the underlying driver of all of our actions – product development, customer service and business practices. “Integrity is the choice to consistently make decisions that benefit the team and the customer, not just an individual”, says Jerry. “It’s about never compromising quality or service to save time or money.”
At Integrity, we are committed to challenging ourselves. “We don’t just ask a post-frame customer ‘How big?’ Regardless of our customer type, we lead with an approach of ‘how can we help solve your problems.’ We created success by tirelessly working to meet the needs of our customers”, explains Scott.
“At the end of the day, what makes Integrity stand out is our commitment to having a positive impact each day we show up to work”, says Shanna. “Whether that is through our design and construction processes, or by offering homebuilders a better experience, or through niche services such as fabrication, we want to have a positive impact on the many customers we serve.”
FIFTEEN YEARS AND COUNTING
“It’s been an amazing fifteen years, and we are not slowing down!” says Jerry.
Over fifteen years Integrity’s growth as an organization is exceptional. Driven not only by a strong product that the market wanted but by a set of core values that permeates everything Integrity does. From continuing to grow our customer base, expanding into different products and marketplaces, and building careers, partnerships and community, Integrity has a lot to celebrate.
Visit Our Story to learn more about Integrity, our history, our people and our values.