Much has changed for Peter Vicano since he first went into business for himself more than 30 years ago, modestly equipped with a $600 pickup truck, borrowed tools and the strong will to succeed. 

A graduate of Mohawk College’s Architectural Engineering Technology program, he now heads up Vicano Construction Ltd. in Brantford, which does about $30 million in sales on an annual basis. Due to economic constraints, Vicano knew living away from home to attend university was not possible. Possessing a passion for architecture, Mohawk College best suited his needs as a higher learning institution. Looking back, he’s of the firm belief attending a community college was one of the instrumental factors which has led to his enormous success in the business world. Vicano enrolled at Mohawk College in the fall of 1969, commuting each day to the Fennell Campus from Brantford, where he lives to this day. He graduated in the spring of 1972 after successfully completing the comprehensive three-year program. 

The Early Years: Tough, But Rewarding 

“I worked in the summer at all sorts of jobs, to put myself through college,” Vicano reveals. “I worked in road and sewer construction since I was 15. On top of that, I delivered newspapers, worked at bowling alleys setting up pins, and did all kinds of farm work. You name it, I did it.”  Upon graduation in April, 1972, Vicano was hired by a company called Walter, Eull, and Elliott Consulting Engineering on Locke Street in Hamilton, which had about 30 employees. Over the years, it evolved into what is now known as Group Eight Engineering Ltd, on Main Street in Hamilton. 

“My job was a junior project designer/ draftsman,” Vicano remembers. “It was a matter of starting at the bottom, running off blueprints and then designing mechanical and electrical systems. I was there for two years, and worked closely with one of the owners, Gary Elliott, who was one of my mentors. He instilled in me the good business work ethics early in my life.” 

While those first two years exposed him to invaluable work experience, it also provided Vicano with definitive proof that, because he was not a professional, his opportunity for advancement in that firm or any other in the design and engineering field would be limited. 

Packed with determination and ambition to succeed, Vicano spent his time away from work – doing more work. “I was also designing small businesses and houses after hours, so I got my feet wet on my own doing small business design projects,” he says. “Then people asked me to do the physical work, fix a door here, put some panelling there.” That was the kick-start he needed to instill the confidence to test the waters and branch out on his own. 

By now Vicano was married to his wife Bonny and the couple had the first of their four children, Michael. “In 1975, I incorporated Vicano Construction Ltd. with about $1,100 in the bank,” he says. “From that, I spent $600 on a pickup truck and off I went.” Sons Michael and Paul now work with their father as project managers. Daughter Nicole is a recent graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has taken a position with a development company in Toronto. Youngest son Marc is in his first year of Construction Engineering Technology in college and plans on joining the family business upon graduation. 

Times were lean at first, but Vicano persevered with the help of family and friends, not to mention inherent, instinctive savvy to spend money wisely.  

“Back then, I’d borrow a hammer before I’d buy one,” Vicano says, underlining both a resourcefulness and attention to financial detail, two traits which have at least partially helped him achieve the far more lofty status he enjoys today. 

“In my early days, I’d plan my schedule so tightly, I’d never have time to gas up the truck,” Vicano jokes. “I’d do it late at night on the way home, so I wouldn’t have to take time during working hours.” 

Through the years Vicano Construction has embarked on a number of high profile design-build projects, including the Adidas Canadian Distribution Centre in Brantford and head office in Toronto. The company has also done its share of banks, car dealerships and the likes of Tim Hortons restaurants. In 1990, the company constructed the new main library in Brantford, contracted for $5.2 million. 

Laurier-Mohawk Project 

A few years ago Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and Mohawk College combined forces to create a new facility of higher learning in Brantford, something about which Vicano has always been a politically outspoken advocate. He believes such an educational institution “will help put Brantford on the map” for something other than the home of Wayne Gretzky. 

“We were able to bid on their work and have completed a number of jobs including classrooms, lecture halls and offices and residences for students,” Vicano proudly states. The Old Downtown Theatre is reborn as the Laurier-Mohawk lecture halls. Originally built in 1957 it had sat vacant since 1998. When students arrived at the new Odeon it was reborn as a place of higher 

learning. That is in a large part thanks to Vicano, whose company purchased the building last November and converted it into 20,000 square-foot facility housing four lecture halls with a capacity of about 700 students. 

“As of September 2004, it opened,” Vicano notes. “It was a joint venture between Laurier and Mohawk. We took the old original post office constructed in 1867 and renovated this old building and converted into a student residence. It’s now called the Laurier Post House Residence and comes with a 62-bed student residence.” 

The project is something Mohawk College looks upon with great pride. “We’re always looking to build relationships with our alumni as we continue to grow, whether it’s to raise funds, mentoring or participating on committees,” says Debbie Logel Butler, Executive Director, Community Relations, Advancement, Alumni & Awards. A highly successful entrepreneur such as Peter Vicano is yet another reason for Mohawk to be extremely proud in being able to showcase the type of people who got their start at the school. 

“One of our strong beliefs is that students come first,” Logel Butler asserts. “Students are at the heart of all we do.” “No doubt about it,” Vicano agrees, in giving his former program the thumbs up for students considering a similar career path. “Any young man or woman who has an interest in the design field of buildings and construction, the Architectural Technology program is one they should look at.” 

The diversity of the program is something Vicano recalls as being a big part of his success in the business world. “It’s a good blend of theory and design in the field and very hands-on,” he says. “We learned surveying, estimating, model building, drafting, engineering aspects and much more. We even learned how to mix concrete, were shown how masonry is put together and how bricks are laid and what concrete blocks can and cannot do.” 

$50 Million Project Just Completed 

In August, 2004, Vicano Construction Ltd. was awarded a $50 million contract to construct the new head offices and distribution centre for Marco Sales and Incentives Ltd. in Brantford’s Northwest Business Park. The building is composed of a two-storey, 60,000 square-foot office and 110,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution space with expansion capabilities up to an additional 100,000 square feet. Construction was to have been completed by the end of February for a spring move-in date. 

Overall, Vicano’s company has constructed more than 500 projects that range from 500 to over 220,000 square feet and a total value of over $100 million. Despite the tremendous growth of the company over the years, Vicano likes to keep right in the middle of things on each project. 

“I still get involved in pretty well everything,” Vicano confirms. “I am still very much hands on, from the design on through to completion.” Vicano Construction Ltd. now employs 45 people. “About 90 per cent of our projects are design-build, where we hire the architects, engineers and planners. We have project managers and AutoCAD personnel and property managers.” 

Vicano estimates about 60 to 70 per cent of the company projects are based out of Brant County, but he’s always looking for business projects in other areas, including Hamilton. “We construct between 15 and 20 projects at any one time,” he adds.  

At that rate, Peter Vicano is probably still filling up his vehicle’s gas tank late at night, just before heading home.

By: Angus Gillespie 

This story was originally published in Spring 2005 of the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.