Our Team
Ownership
Pieter Cruson
CEO/Owner
Pieter was raised on a mixed farm near Pilot Butte, SK and grew up in a steel manufacturing business. He pursued an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in the early 90s. Upon graduating, Pieter returned to his family’s business where he launched his career. Prior to acquiring Vale Industries, Pieter worked for a couple of Saskatchewan steel manufacturing companies in a leadership capacity. Pieter is passionate about providing purpose-built solutions for his customers and leading his team with integrity and benevolence. Pieter and his wife Kendra are business partners. They have two adult children and reside in Indian Head, Saskatchewan.
Kendra Cruson
Business Support Manager/Owner
Kendra grew up on a mixed farm near Balgonie, SK, as the oldest of four. She worked in the steel manufacturing industry early in her career and later on opened a store on 13th Avenue in Regina. Kendra who has always loved adventure seized the opportunity in 2013 to travel with her husband Pieter to 23 countries over the period of a year. In 2017 Kendra graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Regina. Kendra considers herself a generalist with a bent for sales and marketing. Kendra is passionate about continuous improvement and how leveraging incremental change can deliver more value to her customers. Prior to acquiring Vale Industries, Kendra enjoyed gaining experience with a publicly traded company and a business-focused not-for-profit. She and her husband and business partner Pieter reside in Indian Head, Saskatchewan.
Chris Halford
Owner/Advisor
Chris grew up with his two siblings in the valley near Indian Head, Saskatchewan. His career aspirations kept him on the farm while also pursuing a career in the family business, Conserva Pak. Conserva Pak became known for pioneering zero-till machinery on the prairies in the late 80’s. Chris helped lead Conserva Pak until 2008 when John Deere acquired the intellectual property and manufacturing rights from the Halfords. From 2008 until Chris and his brother Grant created Vale Industries in 2014, Chris was the sole owner of Vale Solutions, a steel manufacturing company specializing in hopper bottom production. Chris is passionate about identifying and leveraging efficiencies to improve his team’s production efforts and safety. Chris is married to Jackie and they have two adult sons. They reside in the original valley, farming the same land that was homesteaded by the Halfords more than a century ago.
Grant Halford
Owner/Advisor
Grant grew up on Vale’s namesake farm near Indian Head, Saskatchewan. His educational pursuit took him to study engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in the mid-1980’s. Early in his career, Grant moved to Alberta, first in Fort McMurray and later in Airdrie. After more than 25 years in the mining equipment industry, including the founding of an equipment business, Grant came home to Saskatchewan to set up a partnership with his brother Chris. Together they launched Vale Industries in 2014. Grant is actively involved in the business, leading the Aggregate & Mining Division. With his expertise in custom design-engineer-build solutions, Grant knows how to help Vale’s customers successfully overcome their biggest bulk materials handling challenges. Grant is married to Jocelyne and they have two adult children. They reside in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Agriculture
Al Bergen
Division Manager
Al grew up a steel manufacturing company in Drake, Saskatchewan. For many years, he and his family produced trailers, augers, and harrows for the agricultural industry and did custom manufacturing for the mining industry. Before Al joined the Vale team, he also worked in engineering for a large Saskatchewan based company. In his role, Al is leading the Agricultural Division, focusing on creating a market for the newly released Vale Grain Giant. Al and his wife Sherri live in Indian Head and have three adult children.
Clark Behrns
Engineering Manager
Clark grew up on a grain farm near Abernethy, Saskatchewan. Prior to launching his career, Clark studied at the University of Regina’s faculty of engineering, where he received his degree in Industrial Engineering in 2002. Upon graduation Clark went to work for an agricultural manufacturer near Regina, where he achieved his P. Eng. professional designation. Later on, Clark embarked on a more entrepreneurial journey, founding an agricultural spraying business and offering contract engineering services to local manufacturers. Clark is passionate about the details and creating products that farmers can count on when it matters most. Clark leads Vale’s agriculture engineering, including the newly launched portable “Grain GiantTM” field bin. Clark remains active in the family farm with his wife Jen. They have three children and live near Balcarres, Saskatchewan.
Garry Johnson
Sales & Service
Garry grew up in Regina, although every weekend he made his way to the family farm located near Moffat, Saskatchewan. That’s where his passion for farming and agriculture was born. Early in Garry’s career, he developed an interest in steel fabrication and manufacturing. Thanks to his multifaceted background and experience, Garry is able to deliver quick and efficient solutions to his customers in the Ag industry. Garry is committed to delivering high-end service to his dealers, continuously keeping them informed of the latest trends and product updates in the industry. With Garry’s assistance, dealers are able to provide up to date grain storage solutions to our prairie grain producers. Garry, along with his wife Melissa and three children, make their home in the picturesque town of Wolseley.
Aggregate & Mining
Kyle Lockert
Division Manager
Kyle grew up in the small town of Odessa, Saskatchewan. His educational aspirations took him to SaskPolytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus where he obtained his Computer Aided Design diploma, which led him to later become a registered Applied Science Technologist (A. Sc. T.). Kyle’s experience includes design and project management from sales through manufacturing, testing and commissioning of products in various industries. In his role at Vale, Kyle manages the engineering department in designing rock-solid solutions for the aggregate and mining sector in Canada and the United Sates. Kyle is married to Amber and they are active in her family’s farm operation. They have three young children and live on a farm near Kendal.
Anneke Snow
Engineering Team Lead
Anneke grew up and studied in South Africa prior to making her move to Canada. Her educational background includes two degrees, one in Actuarial Science and the second in Aeronautical Engineering. Her career path has focused on product development and management in the Saskatchewan steel manufacturing industry. Anneke is an avid tennis player and serves as the president of her local tennis club. She enjoys spending time with parents on their grain farm near Quill Lake and spending quality time with her husband and their dog.
Sean Williamson
Sales & Service
Sean, originally from Indian Head, SK, has come full circle after living away in Saskatoon for many years. While in Saskatoon, Sean attended the University of Saskatchewan where he studied Agriculture. Sean is energized by people and has leveraged this energy to provide valuable sales and service to his customers in a variety of sectors. As sales lead for Vale’s Aggregate & Mining Division, Sean focuses on finding solutions for his customers, including providing after sales service and support. If you are looking for portable or stationary rock-solid solutions for your material movement challenges, call Sean at Vale Industries.
Operations
Lex Bartsch
Manufacturing Manager
Lex grew up in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Early in his career he pursed welding and a position at Conserva Pak located south of Indian Head. During nearly a decade there, Lex took on many exciting projects, including travelling to Australia as sales support of the Conserva Pak Seeding System’s expansion into new territory. This experience led him to take a position with one of Saskatchewan’s largest steel manufacturing companies based in Regina for the next few years. Lex made the decision to return to Indian Head to lead Vale Industries’ entire production team. Lex is passionate and caring about the people he leads. He uses his expertise to run an efficient operation that focuses on quality and safety. Lex is a Journeyman certified welder. He and his wife Laurie have two adult children.
Careers
Driven by our vision, mission, and values, and known for excellence in everything we do, Vale Industries Ltd. offers opportunities for success and career growth.
Each member of our business and manufacturing team plays an important part in our success. We invite you to learn about our exciting products and new developments and consider how you might make Vale Industries Ltd. your employer of choice.
Our environment and culture provide you with a solid foundation to build a career that’s challenging, satisfying and responsive to your changing needs.
We are always open to welcoming good people on our team. View our current career opportunities. If you don’t see a current opportunity that matches your qualifications and you are excited about our company and working for us, fill out this form
Our Communities
Vale is proud to support our surrounding communities. You can find out about some of the many work and living opportunities that are available in our surrounding communities by visiting some of the following websites: