New owners at Cowden-Woods Design

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At Cowden-Woods Design Builders Ltd, the leadership torch has been passed to the next generation. As they begin their tenure, new owners Anita Stacey (left) and Mike Cowden (right) will be supported by founders Keith Cowden and Ron Woods (not pictured), who will remain on the company board of directors.

A recent leadership transition at Cowden-Woods Design Builders Ltd. has been constructed to ensure continuity and encourage growth.
After 25 successful years in business, founders Keith Cowden and Rob Woods are taking a step back while new co-owners Anita Stacey and Mike Cowden take the helm. The veterans will continue to support the company as advisors on the board for at least the next five years, confirms Stacey.
Serving the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector, builder Cowden-Woods is set on a familiar path of growth.
“I’m a firm believer in keeping on the same track we have over the past 25 years,” says Stacey, who has been with the company since 1994. “We get very emotionally involved with our projects and want to do a good job. My goal is to keep everybody employed and going through our current economic swing.”
The crew is currently overseeing the construction of the Parry Sound Home Hardware, a building for Seeley and Arnell Aggregates in Durham and a host of smaller projects.
Stacey was originally brought on board in a sales and marketing capacity but she was soon taught how to estimate and project manage. Eventually her role evolved.
“In a small company, you have to wear a lot of hats,” she says. “I think everyone around here has done that, so it made it very easy for me to go thorough the transitions.”
As the incoming president, she’ll shift her focus again, this time away from project management to some extent, and more to the human resources and big-picture operation.
“We have a great environment here,” says Stacey. “I think that’s what has kept me interested over the last 15 years. It’s always changing.”
In addition to her new responsibilities at Cowden-Woods, Stacey is also the incoming president of the Barrie Construction Association. Stacey is only the second woman to lead the BCA in its 17-year history. Lisa Bertram, vice president of Bertram Construction & Design, was the first several years ago.
For more information visit www.CowdenWoods.on.ca