April Terreri learns a few secrets about the success of Shepard Development Corporation, including its philosophy not to build on spec, but to have value-added tenants ready to occupy new office and commercial buildings.

Bridor is thriving by adapting European breads, croissants and pastries to North American tastes, as Pam Derringer learns from company marketing vice president Pierre Martella.

Louis Le Duff arrived in North America from France some 30 years ago with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for food, looking for opportunity. He found it. More accurately, perhaps, he made it.

The history of the iron ore deposits at Mary River is a tale of politics, perseverance and hope, as Richard “Bo” McCloskey, chairman and interim CEO and president of Baffinland Iron Mines, reveals to Andrew Pelis.

The story of the Mary River iron ore deposits is a compelling tale of national pride, split opinions and fluctuating prices, with a splash of political intrigue. For these reasons, the high-grade iron ore reserves remain undeveloped, nearly a half century after they were first discovered by Murray Watts and Ron Sheardown.

The Lodi Energy Center Project is scheduled for completion by mid-2012, which means that contractors will be racing the clock—and awaiting final design—even after the shovels hit the dirt this summer. Keith Regan learns how the project will help augment existing energy production capabilities with greener power and how the lead general contractor plans to leverage its extensive experience to bring the work in on time.

Aecon, Canada's largest public construction and infrastructure development company, has signed a letter of intent to purchase oil sands mining contractor Cow Harbour Construction for $180 million.

French power giant GDF Suez is expected to announce it has taken over its UK rival International Power (IP) as early as tomorrow.

The two companies had resumed talks after failing to agree a deal earlier this year, with GDF now believed to be offering a special dividend of £1.3 billion to sweeten the agreement for IP investors.

A deal with GDF would create one of the world’s biggest independent power generators, with estimated sales of €13.5 billion. The enlarged group would keep the name International Power.

When Dubai dramatically fell victim to the global economic recession, the construction industry was hit harder than most. Electromechanical construction specialist Trans Gulf has come through it remarkably unscathed. General manager Sekhar Reddy explains to Gay Sutton how the company’s partnership policy and pragmatic approach to growth have stood it in good stead.

Jane Bordenave discovers how Thames Water, the UK’s biggest water company, is turning its customers’ flushes into energy and cost savings via its Poo Power initiative.

Australia is enjoying a boom in oil and gas exploration and development. Frans Roozendaal, managing director of Technip Oceania, tells Gay Sutton how the company is thriving in this increasingly competitive environment, and responding to the challenges it presents.

South Africa is continuing to embrace the need for change through its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) initiative. Gavin Davids tells Andrew Pelis how management restructuring in line with BEE means the sky is now the limit for Ruwacon.

Perhaps the biggest industrial change in South Africa in recent times has been the introduction of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), a tool that encourages businesses to hire, train and give ownership to the country’s black community.