dollars,” Don explains. “We take on what we can do well. I’d rather have fewer jobs done right than more jobs done halfway.” In addition to commercial and residential work, Don Cullen Masonry and Tile has also left its mark on Brandon’s educational landscape. Over the years, Don’s crew has repointed and restored several local schools – strengthening aging façades, repairing crumbling mortar joints, and ensuring these buildings remain safe and welcoming for students. “When you drive past a school and think, ‘I helped build that,’ it gives you a real sense of pride,” Don reflects. That sense of pride, Don adds, is why he does what he does – and he believes it’s why the company has been successful. In a city the size of Brandon, reputation is everything, and word of mouth remains the company’s most effective marketing tool. “I don’t spend a lot on advertising,” he admits. “Your name either carries weight or it doesn’t. I’d rather put the money into doing the job well.” These days, Don Cullen Masonry and Tile runs lean, but with purpose. Don knows how rare it is to find tradespeople who are both skilled and reliable, and while he looks first for Red Seal certification in Manitoba, he also invests heavily in training younger laborers. “We like to take a young guy and train them,” he says. “Some stick with it, some say it’s too hard – but farmer kids often thrive. They’re used to 5 a.m. wake-ups, milking cows, hard work. They have a work ethic you can’t teach.” JUNE 2025
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=