ENTERPRISE
One of the most prominent businesses in Enterprise has new owners.
Mike Unger, left, and Wayne Knelsen are two of the three new owners of Klassen Homes in Enterprise. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
Klassen Homes - which supplies manufactured homes to many communities in the NWT - has been purchased by three men from La Crete, Alta., although two of them are now new residents of Enterprise.
The new owners are Mike Unger, now the business's office manager; Wayne Knelsen, the yard and construction manager, and a silent partner in Alberta.
Unger, who worked for about eight years as sales and shipping manager at La Crete Sawmills, said after the silent partner heard Klassen Homes was for sale, they talked about buying it and then brought Knelsen into the discussion.
"We're all capitalists so we saw the opportunity and thought, well, the North looks like a nice place to be," he said.
Knelsen has been in the construction business for many years doing such things as housing, landscaping and concrete work.
"I've been on my own since 2006 as a construction contractor," he said. "So that's why they approached me because I've got the experience in construction and Mike's got lots of experience in sales."
Klassen Homes is a dealer for Triple M Homes in Lethbridge, Alta.
"We don't do any other homes," said Unger, noting he and Knelsen visited the Triple M Homes factory in May. "And we were very impressed with the way they were built."
Noting he has done a lot of renovations, Knelsen said, "I've never seen a manufactured home built as well as a Triple M home."
The new owners have no intention to change the name of Klassen Homes, which was started in Enterprise in 2007.
"Klassen has got such a good name there's no reason for us to change it," said Unger.
"I think it would confuse people more than help anything ... We want to give them the same type of service, so why change a good thing?"
Knelsen noted Klassen Homes is already well known in the NWT by setting up manufactured homes in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Behchoko, Fort Simpson and elsewhere.
"There's room for expansion here, for sure," he said, adding the company has turned down work over the last few years because of a shortage of labour.
"So we're hoping that we will have enough manpower to continue whatever we can handle. I'm hoping that will be more than what they were doing."
Last year, Knelsen worked on contract with Klassen Homes and did set-ups in a number of locations in the NWT.
Unger said Klassen Homes, which employs four people, will continue to concentrate on the NWT.
"That's why we moved here," he said.
Knelsen said Klassen Homes also has a good location in Enterprise, and everyone entering or leaving the NWT on Highway 1 passes right by the business.
Since March, Unger and Knelsen have been coming up to Klassen Homes to learn the business before assuming ownership, which officially happened on May 20.
Glen Klassen, the former co-owner of the business, is expected to help out as a consultant for a couple of years.
Knelsen said Klassen has vast knowledge of the North and he will help ensure a smooth transition for the business.
Unger agreed.
"What we didn't want is to purchase it and then not be able to service customers correctly and not be able answer questions," he said.
With the arrival of the two new owners and their families, there has been a bit of a population boom in Enterprise, which only has about 100 residents. Knelsen's wife and two sons are already living in Enterprise, while Unger's wife will be arriving in June. Plus, a new worker and his family also moved up from Alberta.
"I like the North," said Unger, adding he particularly enjoys fishing, hunting and the fact there are not that many people in the NWT.
"It's nice. It's quiet."
As for Klassen Homes, he sees it as an exciting opportunity.
"I enjoy challenges," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing what the future has."
