Chris Powell & Travis Powell | Top 40 Under 40 2024

The brothers are leaders in eco-friendly construction practices and prioritize a diverse workforce and collaboration with Indigenous partners.

Travis Powell (left) and Chris Powell. Photo by Jared Sych. Location: Centennial Place.

Age: 39 (Chris); 35 (Travis)

Occupation: Chief Operating Officer (Chris) and President (Travis), KLS Earthworks & Environmental and Calgary Aggregate Recycling

Growing up on an acreage near Grande Prairie, Chris and Travis Powell spent their childhood in the great outdoors. “We got off the school bus and didn’t come back inside until dark,” says Travis. When they got a little older, the brothers swept floors and did other chores for the oilfield business run by their dad and uncles, and absorbed how their elders did business.

“We have always understood that in order to have success, you have to get at it, even when the going gets tough,” says Chris. “It’s ingrained in who we are.”

Today, the brothers run KLS Earthworks & Environmental, providing earth-moving services that include excavating, grading, site preparation, remediation and underground utilities. They also run the complementary company, Calgary Aggregate Recycling (CAR), which recycles waste and repurposes it into materials that can be used for road construction and landscaping. In just over a decade, the Powells have distinguished themselves for incorporating eco-friendly practices into every aspect of their businesses, as they strive to reduce the carbon and environmental footprint of construction. CAR’s contaminated soil-reuse facility, which takes materials such as contaminated soil, concrete, asphalt and rubble and transforms them into high-quality recycled aggregates and construction products, is the first of its kind in Canada and has received international acclaim.

Along with promoting diversity within their workforce — over half their leadership team is female — the brothers, who are Métis, foster collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities. They worked closely with the Stoney Nakoda Nations to address damage after the 2013 flood, and are members of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses.

When they aren’t busy pioneering their industry, the brothers are immersing their children in the activities they enjoyed as kids. “It’s not the free-range parenting we had,” says Travis with a laugh, “but we still have a lot of fun.”

Thank yous
Chris Powell: “My wife, Shelby, and our kids; Mom, Dad, my brother Travis, Arielle, Cori, Maria, Meghan, Travis Carmicheal and the entire KLS – CAR team.”

Travis Powell: “My wife, Nachelle for the support and for taking good care of our family; my parents for teaching us how to work and for being instrumental for our success in business; and our teams at work: our business would not be possible without your commitment, willingness to learn, and help-first attitude.”

 

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Learn more about the people and organizations moving Calgary forward with Avenue's Innovation Newsletter.

This article appears in the November 2024 issue of Avenue Calgary.

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