Frank van den Heuvel - Managing Director
Steve Wackrow - Financial Controller
Marc van den Heuvel - Business Development Manager
Bjarne Larsen - Civil Engineer/Estimator
Ces Coles - Project Manager
Chris Puttick - Project Manager
Rodney Francis - Project Manager
Stuart Bridson - Transport Manager
Paula Woodhouse - Quantity Surveyor
Frank van den Heuvel – Managing Director
Frank is a qualified Materials Engineer (Fitter and Turner) who has transformed the one man business he purchased 26 years ago into one of the leading Contracting Transport and Earthmoving Companies in the Central North Island with a staff of over 55 full time personnel.
Frank is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of Gremara Contractors with a particular emphasis on ensuring that Gremara Contractors remain efficient and able to provide our clients with excellent service and support.
One of Frank’s key areas of interest is the support of his Project Managers and Site Supervisors and providing on the job guidance and assistance where necessary to all members of his staff.
On the rare occasions that Frank is not at work, Frank enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and salt water fishing.
Steve Wackrow – Financial Controller
Steve has been the Financial Controller of Gremara Contractors for the last 15 months after holding similar positions with other companies within the Construction Industry. Steve holds a Diploma in Business and has many years of experience in Financial, Commercial, Accounting and Accounts Management roles within Large New Zealand Companies.
At Gremara Contractors, Steve is involved with all Finance related matters and particularly Credit Control, Debt Collection, Cash Flow Management, Accounts Payable, Month End Reporting and the Management of the Office Staff.
Outside work, Steve is a passionate follower of most sports and keeps fit with regular gym sessions, white baiting and family activities. Steve is a committee member of a local Swimming Club and regularly officiates at swimming competitions throughout the Waikato.
Marc van den Heuvel – Business Development Manager
Marc is a qualified Lawyer (LLB Otago) with a background in Construction and Development Law and has practised here and in the United Kingdom for 8 years. On his return to New Zealand after 5 years in London, it was time for a change in direction for Marc and joined Gremara Contractors to focus on Business Development and Compliance.
Marc is responsible for New Business and maintaining key client relationships with clients. Marc also has the responsibility of ensuring that Gremara Contractors follow a ‘best industry practise’ focus on each project that Gremara Contractors undertakes along with Capital Expenditure and Fleet Replacement decision making.
When Marc is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, riding dirt bikes and snowboarding with his family and friends.
Chris Laqua Estimator/Engineer
Chris has come to Gremara Contractors from his previous role as Area Manager for HEB Contractors, Bay of Plenty.
Chris has over 23 years of experience in construction management and methodology with an emphasis on roads and structures together with estimating and tendering. Chris has worked on many large and successful projects around the world including major roads across Germany and roading a bridge projects along the Natal South Coast in South Africa.
Chris enjoys adopting practical approaches to his work with an emphasis on clear communication and delivery of results to our valued clients.
Ces has been with Gremara Contractors for the last 7 years working as a Project Manager. Ces has extensive experience in the Building and Construction Trades with 36 years of experience gained in the Waikato, King Country and Australia. Before joining Gremara Contractors, Ces was the Contracts Manager for a leading Hamilton Building Company.
At Gremara Contractors, Ces looks after the day to day running of any number of sites that Gremara Contractors are currently working on. Ces liaises and works with Builders, Subcontractors, Engineers, Architects and Gremara staff. Ces is responsible for site set outs, laising with Geotechnical Consultants and our House Builder clients alongside leading the Gremara Contractors Concrete and Kerbing Crew.
Outside of work, Ces is an avid follower of most sports, motor racing in particular, Trout and sea fishing, camping and caravanning with the family.
Chris Puttick – Project Manager
Chris has been with Gremara Contractors for four years, initially as an excavator operator until accepting a position as Project Manager at Gremara Contractors.
Chris brings to Gremara Contractors over twenty years’ experience in Earthmoving and Quarrying where Chris owned and managed his own earthmoving business with a specialty in installing underground services in the Taranaki area.
Chris also has extensive experience as a quarry plant operator in both New Zealand and the UK. Chris honed his management and leadership skills during his service in both the New Zealand and British Armies where Chris retired after 21 years as a SNCO Instructor.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys building and flying model aircraft, hunting and shooting and spending time with his family.
Nik Gilby - Siteworks Supervisor
With over 10 years’ experience of subgrade and pavement preparation using both GPS and laser level controlled graders and tractor/blade/scoop combinations, Nik is an integral part of the team at Gremara Contractors.
Nik is responsible for the finishing of roads and car park pavements, sand pads and batters to exacting civil engineering tolerances and standards.
Nik and his team also carry out our Quality Assurance testing on site to ensure our continued high levels of workmanship are maintained by using the requisite testing instruments and reporting those findings to clients and engineers.
Stuart Bridson –Transport Manager
Stuart joined Gremara Contractors 4 years ago as the Transport/Despatch Manager responsible for managing Gremara Contractors’ extensive fleet of trucks and machinery. Prior to Stu’s appointment, Stu was an owner operator at an International Freight Forwarding Company delivering freight all over New Zealand.
At Gremara Contractors, Stu works closely with Gremara Project Managers to ensure that all daily machinery and transport requirements are met on a timely basis and communicate with operators and drivers to ensure that paperwork and time keeping is correct through GPS management.
Stu also liaises with outside transport companies to ensure that their earthmoving and transport needs are met and completed to a high standard.
Outside work, Stu enjoys pig and deer hunting in the Central North Island ranges with his faithful dogs in tow.
Paula Woodhouse – Quantity Surveyor
Paula has been with Gremara for four years working as a Quantity Surveyor. Before joining Gremara Contractors, Paula has been a quantity surveyor for major building contractors, small builders and professional quantity surveying firms in Hamilton and Tauranga.
At Gremara Contractors, Paula is responsible for sourcing jobs to tender, the tendering process, negotiating job acceptance, progress claims, variation processing and final account negotiations.
Paula works closely with the project managers to process all financial disciplines of the job, she also liaises with the client/ main contractors and subcontractors to ensure the smooth financial running of the projects.
Outside of work, Paula lives on a small lifestyle block so is constantly tending her animals. She loves the outdoors and is frequently found in her vegetable garden, fishing, travelling or spending time with friends and family.