In early 1988, Fred Sheldon, the last of the original group who bought out the Randall brothers in 1959, retired. The management team did not replace him, but chose instead to continue with three partners. In the original arrangement, Laurie Cleutinx was primarily responsible for the office and accounting functions, Norm Hanson estimated and supervised on the heating side while Bob Lynch looked after the plumbing, the service department and the back shop.
Between 1987 and 1989, Randall completed a large renovation at the Children’s Hospital and performed numerous apartment block water pipe replacements. In early 1989, Arthur McKenzie was lured from Master Plumbing to replace the retiring Norm Hanson. Art had worked throughout the 1960’s for Randall as an apprentice and a supervisor and was very well-respected within the industry. The new ownership group of Laurie Cleutinx, Bob Lynch and Art McKenzie used their vast collective knowledge base and experience to push Randall into newer markets such as the pharmaceutical sector as evidenced by the Trimel Plant, the Apotex CER and Cangene BMF addition projects. Randall also continued to be a large presence in the downtown renovation and in the hospital construction businesses. Can Oats in Portage la Prairie, Federal Records, Stonewall Hospital and the two Manitoba Lotteries casinos were all major projects undertaken during this era.
The years between 1987 and 1996 were also significant in another profound way. Many of the tradesmen and staff who were undoubtedly responsible for much of Randall’s success over the past three decades retired. Henry Boychuck, Ray Cook, Ken Dwyer, Art Olver and George Schmidt all left the firm; each after many years of distinguished service. A new generation of foreman and back office staff was left to fill some fairly large shoes. In addition, Brad Marr, a onetime protégé of Art McKenzie was added in the office to help with estimating duties. In late 1996, Laurie Cleutinx retired as the last person still employed who had worked under the Randall brothers. Laurie’s influence is still deeply felt at Randall Plumbing. In addition to being an employee and an owner for close to twenty years respectively, many of the tracking systems he instituted or carried forward from earlier days are still in existence today within the firm (albeit updated now to reflect computer technology). Much of his knowledge and philosophy was instilled in Marc Lynch, whom he chose as his successor in the financial realm of the business. Upon Laurie Cleutinx’s retirement, Tom Sheldon became a partner in the firm.
Tom brought years of experience of estimating and managing smaller construction and office renovation projects to the ownership group. With the new managerial team of Bob, Art and Tom, Randall became more heavily involved in the design build-market. The Faculty of Nursing and the Pan Am Gym both were built within these new and innovative parameters. Other notable projects from this time include the Via Rail Union Station Redevelopment, the Riverview Health addition, the 395 Main Street Renovation, the overhaul of the Headingley Jail facility and numerous HSC jobs.