Dowco Technology Services
Ewen Dobbie, President

For the most part, 2008 was an amazing year. Congratulations to each and every one of our customers for their business acumen and for looking to Dowco and Tekla for their technical solutions. Thanks to those efforts, a record number of people joined the Dowco Technology Services Tekla family in 2008, taking advantage of Tekla's industry and paradigm-shifting software.

As markets around the world continue their downward spiral and as the talking heads on television continue to forecast doom and gloom, Dowco Tech and Tekla march on. It's interesting that the more people talk about how bad things are, the worse things become! Maybe it's time to start Dowco Tech Innovative Building solutions TV, and talk about technology and BIM tools and the companies using them who are thriving in this economy, despite the horrendous performance of many of our so-called prestigious financial institutions.

Yes, there are people around the world experiencing financial challenges, but there are also those who continue to lead companies that provide hope and work to create freedom for people and industry. If you have invested in Tekla Structures, you have invested in your business and your future. By using Tekla Structures, you have positioned your company as a leading edge, technology savvy company. Your message to the marketplace proclaims your commitment to the future, commitment to the new workflow paradigm that is emerging, and your commitment to working in a collaborative, model-based work team. This industry is hungry for bold, strong, technology competent designers/detailers willing to continue to answer the call.

Our plan for moving ahead at this time is: To find out what the masses are doing and do the opposite. While other businesses are contracting, we are looking to expand, to re-train, to re-tool, adding the software tools that will separate us from others. It's an opportunity for businesses to stand up and say to an industry that might be heading south, that we're heading north, and you should jump on this train because there's more room. It's time for Dowco–Tekla users to step up and step out… to do, be, give, and become MORE in our businesses.

We at Dowco feel that over the years we have helped improve the business lives of people with whom we deal… one Tekla licence at a time. In the early days of selling Xsteel to our first customers (early adopters), it was often necessary for them to finance the purchase over 12 months. And then companies wanted another licence or licences, only months after obtaining their first. I believe it was this success and the momentum generated from these early adopters in Canada, that in many ways has shaped the new workflow paradigm that has emerged in our industry. Those early adopters are part of industry history and should be proud of their participation and accomplishment, for together, we made an impact and improved our industry.

And continuous improvement leads to excellence, and that remains our goal.