The Estevan Business Excellence (EBEX) Awards have proven to be a great event for Ed Turnbull and Turnbull Excavating.
During the second edition of the celebration of the local business community in 2013, Turnbull Excavating was named the Business of the Year.
And now at this year’s ceremony on Friday night at the Wylie-Mitchell Building, Turnbull Excavating was inducted into the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s Nick and Verna Morsky Business Hall of Fame.
“This is really overwhelming,” Turnbull said in his acceptance speech. “I never considered myself as a hall of farmer. In my eyes, I’m just an everyday guy trying to make a living.”
He said he was stunned when he was told he had been selected for enshrinement.
Turnbull believes there are so many people out there in the business community who have bigger companies, or have branches in other communities, or have done more important things than him.
“We stayed here and we stayed steady in Estevan,” Turnbull told the Mercury. “We like the place. “It’s my home, and no matter where I go, this is where I want to come home to.”
An honour like this causes him to not only reflect on his career in the business world, and the history of the business, but those who have been enshrined before him. Seven other individuals and families have been inducted into the local business hall.
Turnbull Excavating was started by Ed Turnbull in the 1986. He had a Bobcat, truck and trailer at the time. Over the years, Turnbull Excavating has grown to over 30 employees and more than 100 vehicles in its fleet.
“As business owner, Ed Turnbull treats his employees and customers like family,” stated a video that aired before his induction. “He values his employees and their loyalty, and continues to reward them accordingly.”
Employees make the company look good, he said, and they lead to happy customers.
“I’ve had one guy who has been with me for 30 years, and one at 28 years, and is here tonight,” said Turnbull.
Turnbull said he shares the award with his staff members.
“I started out as a one-man operation, but I couldn’t do anything on my own, so I needed to hire a guy to help me haul dirt, and that same guy is with me still,” said Turnbull.
He also paid tribute to his parents for their guidance and business advice. He worked for his parents at the Esso Bulk Service Station on Sixth Street while he was in school and after he was finished his education.
“My parents had great work ethics and they knew what it was like to be poor,” said Turnbull.
They came to Estevan in 1967 because of the opportunities, and not because of all it has now for recreation.
“We have struggled at times, and we have been able to capitalize at times as well,” said Turnbull.
He believes the fact that he started out with next to nothing has played a big role in his success.
“I was poor when I started,” said Turnbull. “I had a skid steer and zero money, but it was go from there. I was in a business with my parents, and it was okay, but it was boring.
“I just needed a change. I decided that if I’m going to be in business, I need to be doing something that I like. I like moving dirt, and here we are.”
Turnbull loves the feeling associated with doing a good job, and seeing customers and employees satisfied. When a job doesn’t go great, then he has to think about it and try to do a better job the next time.
Turnbull Excavating has gone through some tougher times, he said, just like other companies in the Estevan area. There might changes coming in the future to expand into different areas, but he expects the business will continue to provide services for the area.
“When you get a downturn, it’s about maintaining your key people,” he said. “You don’t want to lose them, because it’s going to get busy again.”
In order to be eligible for Estevan’s Business Hall of Fame, a company must be around for at least 15 years, and make contributions to the economic wellbeing of Estevan and the surrounding area.
