Progicon moves: official inauguration of new premises

Good evening everyone,
Welcome all,

"Amai, should I find such a space in Bruges, I would have bought it a long time ago."

That was about the start of the adventure of which you now see the result.

And an adventure ... it was.

Now, I will soon be forty. That's a good time to pass along some limited life lessons. So the adventure I am about to tell you, I have hung on those life lessons.

Lesson 1 - You don't always have to search to find something

As most of you know, Progicon started in 2009 as a one-man company based in Wondelgem, between my first partners EIV and TBMA. In 2015, we moved to Sint-Martens-Leerne down the road here. Meanwhile with a team of 3 people. We were allowed to start on some big projects and at the time we said to each other, "Now we really need to add people, otherwise it won't work here."

But more people also meant we needed more space.

One evening my wife Els comes back from work and sees this building for sale. An old superette. "Maybe you should go look anyway," she said. And since I always listen to my wife, I went to take a look.

It was a slum here, but with a little imagination you could see potential. So I went to my accountant who spoke those winged words, "Amai, if I could find a space like this in Bruges, I would have bought it a long time ago."

And if your accountant gives his blessing, don't hesitate too long.

Lesson 2 - Hangovers don't always come because you drink too much on Christmas

The day after Christmas we were supposed to sign the compromise. Only it turned out not to be a holly jolly Christmas. The day before Christmas I was told by the notary that the seller was bankrupt. Hop, everything to the trustee. Including this building. Excluding the seller, because he suddenly disappeared into thin air.

We then proactively contacted the trustee. Made an appointment, negotiated, and still signed the compromise on March 7, 2020. All's well that ends well.

And then came corona.

Lockdown. Everyone home, the construction industry on hiatus, stocks that were depleted. Productions that were down. Let's just say that during that period, stress levels peaked.

On the one hand, you pay off a new building that you don't even see renewed because the construction industry wasn't allowed to work and contractors couldn't get materials. On the other hand, your company can't sell much because there are no materials available there either. But meanwhile, you have to keep your people working.

And then when you can finally start and think yes, now it's going to move forward, you get the pleasant surprises of prices that went times 2, times 3.

Lesson 3 - Seven is more than three

In May of this year, we finally moved. With in the meantime 7 people. Today, besides myself, Progicon consists of Peter Beckers, who started as a vacation jobber, then intern and today the senior member of the gang. Peter arrived here together with his colleague Kris Maes. He too is now an ancien and is in his twelfth year at Progicon.

Then we have Jeroen Depoorter. He also has some miles on him. He started here about eight years ago. I noticed him during his graduation at the Hogent.

Alexandre Finet is our corona acquisition from 2020. Back then, we needed support in working out electrical schematics. Alexandre turned out to be the right man for that.

Besides Alexandre, Jeffrey Van de Vijver is another crack at electrical schematics. He started here in 2021 and came over from a customer who unfortunately had to quit.

And finally, there is Jan de Vydt. He joined our team just before the turn of the year in 2021. Jan was no stranger, as that final work defense of Jeroen just now was a duo project ... with Jan.

And so today there are seven of us at Progicon. And seven that's more than three, as you all probably know.

We learned that this number nevertheless had an impact on the organization of Progicon. Before, everyone knew what each individual was doing. With seven people working - since corona - more often away from home, there had to be some more structure. We did that with Filip's guidance. He helped us with structure, and he helped me with delegation. With handing things over. Peter is my right hand today, and together with the entire team we went from growing pains to growth plans.

This new building is the next step in those plans. We also bought more than seven chairs. So there is still room to expand: in staff and in projects.

Before I give the floor further to Filip, I would like to conclude by thanking our architect, all the contractors, suppliers and customers for the course we have taken together over the past few years.

Part 3 of Progicon begins today. And once again we are happy to have you there as well.

I will now leave the floor to Filip. Then I invite you to raise a glass to the future and have a bite to eat together.

Thanks again for being here and see you later.