As the year draws to a close, Sonia Hartwell, President of Berto Contractors, reflects on the company’s achievements and challenges and 2024, and shares her hopes for what lies ahead in 2025. From milestone celebrations to ambitious plans for growth, Sonia shares her insights on leadership, industry shifts, and her vision for the future.
Reflecting on the last year, is there a particular moment that you’re most proud of?
One of my favourite memories from this year was hosting our event at the Deeley Motorcycle Museum where we were able to formally present our new end-to-end business solution. It gave us the chance to connect with so many industry leaders in a fun, casual setting, which is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.
When you look back on Berto’s long history, what lessons from the past have shaped how you lead the company today?
At Berto, we operate very much as a family, a value my father instilled in the company from the very beginning. This culture has become a cornerstone of how we work and something I am deeply committed to maintaining. I believe that when a company treats its employees like family, it creates a stronger, more dedicated team and that directly translates to better results. This principle continues to shape how I lead and drive Berto forward.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment form the last year?
Definitely repositioning Berto as an end-to-end solution provider. This shift has allowed us to redefine how we serve our clients by integrating every stage of the process. We want to show the market that we’re not just a contractor, we’re a partner who can manage and execute projects from design and engineering through to completion.
What made 2024 a particularly special year for Berto?
We’re now 30 years strong and continuing to grow, which made celebrating our anniversary this year especially meaningful. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and to celebrate our success as a team.
What goals does the company aim to achieve in the next year?
2025 is going to be a big year for Berto. We will continue to focus on the diversification of our services. That will include street lighting, municipal work, EV charging stations and more. We’re actively pursuing contracts and jobs in those fields, as well as growing the design and engineering division, not only within telecom but also electrical and sustainable energy environments and industries.
Do you have any special plans for the holiday season?
This year, I’m taking my family on an exciting vacation to Egypt. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip and the perfect opportunity to disconnect, as our office shuts down between Christmas and New Year’s. We give everyone that time off, so it’s a chance to truly connect with family, experience something completely different, and learn along the way. We’ve got some incredible plans in store!
What are you most excited for in 2025?
I’m excited to learn more about the new industries I’ll be working with through our diversification plan. I’m also excited about building more internal teams and learning new areas of the construction industry so I can help my team navigate through these big changes.
