BVA was first established by Fred Braun in 1968, as an in-house Engineering Design firm, involved with capital-project engineering and outplacement of individuals. By 1982, the company had a new name – Braun Associates – and had evolved into a total recruiting agency for skilled technical people in the North American petrochemical industry. With the acquisition of Valley Project Services in 1999, the company once again had a new name – Braun-Valley Associates. Today, BVA enjoys a high profile in the Sarnia-Lambton area and will be proudly celebrating its 50th year in business in 2018.
Kerry Tully purchased the company in March of 2013. “Fred’s son, Mark, had decided to sell the company and I was approached. I had previously owned Best Personnel, so I knew the business and admired what they had built and how they ran the company,” says Tully. “After taking over the company, we had a chance to look carefully and decide amongst ourselves a way to separate from our competition and to move forward. I feel we’ve done that successfully.” As a result of their in-depth knowledge of the Chemical Valley and Sarnia-Lambton’s petrochemical sector, BVA has become a recognized leader and supplier of temporary/long-term contract and permanent staffing. Braun-Valley Associates has expanded their customer base, negotiated new contracts and implemented new systems and processes. “We implemented a program, agreed upon a plan, put that plan together and the team has excelled.”

At BVA, they provide skilled labour, not general labour. They have hired everyone from administrative personnel to professional engineers and plant managers. Their method of recruiting is unique; they don’t simply provide clients with a resumé, they provide their clients with a candidate who has been personally interviewed, qualified and, in some instances, psychologically profiled to assure a better match. BVA finds candidates that will ‘fit’ within their client’s organizational culture, which provides a long-lasting fit and atmosphere for candidates to meet their career goals. “It’s our job to put the right people in the right situation.”

BVA’s success leverages from a lengthy history of integrity, ambitious standards and performance within their industry and the fostering of long-term partnerships with their clients and candidates. In addition to an established tenure within the local community, Braun-Valley offers over 100 years of collective experience within their professional management and recruitment team. Their business goal is to build long-term partnerships ensuring the successful fit of their candidates to the client’s project needs. Applicants know Braun-Valley Associates as a company that works to provide employment opportunities that complement their education and experience to enhance their careers.

Clients know BVA as a company that strives to put customer service and satisfaction above all else. These are key differentiators they are proud of. “Our continued success is a result of our in-depth knowledge of the recruitment business and petrochemical sector.” The most rewarding part of the job is seeing people succeed. “It feels pretty good when you get a call from someone to say, ‘You changed my life, thanks!’”