After 28 years of leadership, CEO, Alan Barkman passes the torch to his son, Scott Barkman, marking a major milestone for the third-generation family business.
On October 6th, Barkman Concrete underwent a significant leadership transition as Alan Barkman made way for his son, Scott Barkman, to take his place as CEO. With this significant milestone, Barkman Concrete celebrates the transition into its third generation of family leadership.
Barkman Concrete was founded in 1948, in Steinbach, Manitoba by Peter Barkman and his two brothers, when they opened a small hardware shop. Seeing an opportunity in the market, the Barkman brothers began experimenting with precast concrete septic tanks. This not only helped them to solve key issues that traditional septic tanks had but also allowed them to keep their employees hired through the slow winter months. In the process, they developed a reliable method of manufacturing precast septic tanks while also inventing and patenting a revolutionary siphon for the tank made entirely from concrete. These innovations kick started their journey into precast concrete production and laid the foundation for what Barkman Concrete is today.
It did not take long to build on this foundation and move into full-scale precast concrete manufacturing, and by 1960, the company had built a brand-new manufacturing plant on Brandt Street, where Barkman Concrete’s headquarters remain to this day. Peter Barkman and his brothers led the company through the latter half of the 20th century, always looking for new and innovative products to bring to Manitoba. Inspired by how the Europeans were using precast concrete for paving solutions, Barkman Concrete bought its first concrete paving stone machine in 1975, becoming among the first in North America to begin producing paving stones. With this, Barkman Concrete grew and developed a large line of precast concrete products.
Having grown up around the family business, Alan Barkman had worked in various roles, before 1978, when he and his wife Joy bought into ownership of the company. Over the next 18 years, Alan took on new roles within the company including Plant Foreman, and Winnipeg District Manager. Then in 1996, Alan became president when his father, Peter, retired. During the 28 years as Barkman Concrete’s leader, Alan brought the company from a small concrete factory on the edge of town, to a national leader in precast concrete production, with production facilities across Western Canada.
“I am grateful for the work that my father has done. He has truly transformed this company during his time in leadership. It has been a great pleasure to learn from him and watch him lead with humility and patience as he built strong infrastructure and even stronger teams around him. His decades of work have enabled and positioned us to be ready to take this step in family succession. Without this foresight and foundation, we would not be where we are today.
It is a great honour for me to step into this role and continue the legacy of our family company within the communities we serve. - Scott A. Barkman”
Alan has now passed the torch of leadership and has transitioned from CEO into the role of Chairman of the Board, as Scott Barkman takes over the active leadership of the company as CEO.
“Scott is ready to take over as CEO. We have been preparing for this day for many years, and I have no doubt that Barkman is in very good hands. Scott’s time in the company in the various roles he has held positions him well to take on this new responsibility.” - Alan Barkman
Scott Barkman has been actively involved in Barkman Concrete for over 15 years. During this time, Scott learned about the company from the ground up, beginning his career working in the yard and manufacturing plant. Scott was instrumental in starting the Marketing and Corporate Communications departments and as a key member of the Executive Team helped drive the company’s expansion into Western Canada. In 2023, Scott joined Alan as Co-CEO, creating a yearlong runway into the transition that came on October 6th, 2024.
“I have worked closely with Alan for many years, and it has been an absolute pleasure to be part of helping him build the company. I have had the privilege of watching nearly all of Scott’s career at Barkman. As he has taken on more responsibility in the company, he has proven that he is a strong leader. I am excited to work alongside him and see how Barkman will continue to grow under his leadership.” - Brian Pries, President
Barkman Concrete has been preparing for this significant milestone for years and is grateful to see its hard work pay off. Barkman Concrete hopes you join them in extending heartfelt congratulations to Alan as he retires from an outstanding career. With 76 years of business success behind the company, Barkman Concrete moves confidently forward into the third generation.