The royal “we”

Geoff Cunningham, director of Offshore Operations, says that they coordinate orders from more than 80 different suppliers. “We’re the final gatekeeper to verify that stuff going offshore is what’s been ordered and that it’s going to the correct platform or FPSO.”

Asked whether the current downturn in the oil industry has slowed activity at the Marine Base, Cunningham says the opposite has occurred. They’ve hired, instead of laying off. And they’re building a new $10 million berth. “We don’t need two more docks right now, but we will. The oil isn’t going anywhere. We’re in this for the long haul and this gives us capacity for future growth. This company is about long-term thinking.”

It’s fitting that the last word on what it takes to survive 150 years in business goes to the family biologist. Robert Patten, who long ago abandoned his science degree for a corporate career, aptly references adaptation and evolution in his explanation of A. Harvey’s longevity. “We used to unload boats with coal lines and buckets,” he says. “Now we have modern cranes. You evolve with the times, and you invest and you adapt.”

“Mother said to John and I a long time ago, you can’t stay the same. You have to adapt. If you stay stagnant, you won’t survive. You have to be open to change. It’s going to happen anyway, so you might as well be ready for it.” Still, change is inherently risky and even the most educated guesses don’t always pay off. Both Robert and his brother John say they don’t want to be the generation that drops the ball. “We could sell if we wanted to,” says John. “But that’s not what we’re about. We’re here for the long term, so that we have something to pass on to our children.”

With his son Allan running the container division, and his daughter Stephanie in human resources, Robert acknowledges that he looks forward to seeing how the next generation responds to the challenge of keeping it going. “When my grandson was a few years old, he would look out my office window at the waterfront and say they were his trucks and his cranes. And I thought, some day, my son … some day.”

As for when that “some day” might be, or which of his children might step into his shoes when the time comes, Robert proves just how much he is his mother’s son. “It’s not something we’ve discussed,” he says evasively. “They both have skills. Maybe they’ll run it together.”

Does he have any advice for them in the meantime?

“Work harder,” he says with a laugh. Which goes to show that the real secret to A. Harvey’s 150 years of survival may well be the uncertainty of its succession. If you want to sit behind the wheel of this iconic economic engine, you have to prove you can handle it first.

150+ acts of kindness

Curiously, the Patten family had to be talked into doing this story. Chris Forward, general manager of Harvey’s Oil Ltd., says he “pushed” for it. “It was very important to the Pattens that we celebrate our 150th anniversary, not with a big publicity campaign, but by doing good in the community. We’re donating money and actively helping out with different activities and causes that are important to our employees.”

Asked if it could be described as 150 acts of kindness, Forward said the actual number of causes they are supporting this year is probably much higher than that.

Board chair Susan Patten says giving back is something she feels compelled to do. “It’s important for A. Harvey to do well by the community because the community has done well for us. It’s the right thing to do.”

The community, in return, couldn’t be more grateful.

“A. Harvey and Company exemplifies philanthropy. They give tirelessly through their volunteering to a variety of causes which impact all facets of life for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Health Care Foundation. The Health Care Foundation has and will continue to have a legacy impact on the provision of health care in our province thanks in large part to A. Harvey and Company.”

 

“A. Harvey and Company and the Patten family have been long-time supporters of Memorial University and our students, most recently by providing a generous gift of $250,000 to Memorial to establish the A. Harvey and Company Limited Teaching Fellowship in our Faculty of Business. This gift demonstrates a core belief in the critical importance of top-quality educational opportunities for our young people, and is a wonderful example of their dedication to our community. I wish A. Harvey & Company another 150 years of success.”

 

“The Harvey Group of Companies and the Patten family continue to support numerous charitable projects including the Where Once They Stood We Stand Capital Campaign at The Rooms. This $20 million campaign is the largest First World War commemorative project in Canada and we are grateful to have received a gift of $250,000 from the Patten Family Foundation towards the completion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Gallery.”