Under the stewardship of founder Gavin Gayadin, Modern Building Solutions (MBS) Inc, which has been operating for more than a year, has swiftly been making a name for itself in the local construction industry.
Gayadin is a civil engineer and his team includes two other engineers, two architects, and 15 labourers.
MBS Inc is an offshoot of Gayadin Construction Company, which was once operated by his father. His name being affiliated with construction, Gayadin entered the field in 1999, but mainly as a consultant and freelanced for a number of years.
He noted that construction was not confined to him and his father, but other relatives are also skilled in various categories of the trade. Asked whether while growing up he had planned on joining his father’s company, Gayadin said his parents had always tried to instill in him the idea of independence and shaping his own identity. So, even though he decided to take up the same field of business, his intention was to establish himself independently. And despite his name being almost synonymous with construction, he added, most of his customers come through recommendations and the advertisements he places in newspapers.
When he decided to make his business official more than a year ago, Gayadin did not hesitate to take the plunge as he explained that though he knew the risks involved, it was the only way to achieve the goals he had set for himself. What also encouraged him, the businessman said, was knowing that he was surrounded by supportive family and friends. His children, he added, are his biggest motivation for things he has accomplished so far.
The company’s motto is: Design, Build, and Deliver. The company, he said, has a reputation for quality work which he intends to maintain.
Gayadin shared that though a pandemic is raging, in the run-up to the Christmas season this year, work was still flowing.
Asked about challenges, the businessman said it was a challenge at first trying to land projects for the government and in the oil and gas sector, which he has been able to do and is working on making MBS more recognised when it comes to such projects. “Your merit is what gets you along the way,” Gayadin said. While the company is attached to more commercial projects than residential, Gayadin said he has not forgotten where the company started, explaining that from time to time, prospective customers would see work done at another company and enquire about it, which would later find them calling MBS. Just recently, MBS was praised for remodelling a kitchen.
“The new administration has provided a new opportunistic marketplace in the housing sector,” he stated.
Speaking of the oil and gas sector, Gayadin shared that MBS Inc’s design was selected by SBM Offshore which was awarded ExxonMobil contracts. It was the company’s first contract with ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyana. MBS has also been responsible for renovations done on most of the Royal Castle buildings around Georgetown as well as at Parika and at Giftland Mall.
MBS has already been contracted for projects for January and February. One of the projects is warehouse facility measuring 40,000 sq ft inclusive of security checkpoints and a COVID-19 mitigation centre, while the other project is a commercial building in the heart of Georgetown.
“My business philosophy is to build a brand, not my name,” Gayadin said. “When I am gone, which is inevitable, I want my business and my brand to continue to grow and to go through time. With Modern Building Solutions, I want my brand to live on which is why even my staff at the top, I try to train them and pass on the knowledge that I have to them, not only as a builder but to manage and run the operations. Already I see a lot of my engineers taking more of a leadership role whenever I’m absent. They might make mistakes here and there which is not to my liking, but they are moving in the direction I hope they can go, so even if I choose to retire, my company will still be operational.”
Though MBS has been constructing modern buildings, the businessman said that should one desire to have a Victorian-style home, the company can deliver. He noted that homes built during the 1900s would last some 50 years, but with the materials used today, he can guarantee 100 more years with MBS’s construction.
During peak periods, he often has to contract more labourers and with his many projects, this number sometimes climbs to between 50 and 75.
And while the company seeks to do its best, Gayadin said it also works to provide the best for its employees. MBS places a high premium on occupational health and safety and is fully compliant with all the laws and best practices in Guyana. He shared that providing the necessary gear for workers to stay safe is not something many businesses care about as it can be costly, but having worked in the oil and gas sector, he has learnt how important it is to provide workers with the proper safety equipment. Aside from providing the necessary personal protection equipment (PPE) for the job, the company also ensures that workers are provided with the required COVID PPE.
While it brings him much satisfaction to see his customers’ happy faces, Gayadin said he also prides himself on seeing his workers being paid for a job well done knowing that they can provide for their families.
