About Great Western Valve
Great Western Valve was established in December 1990, by Ed Bordeau. Mr. Bordeau operated the company until June 2007 when it was purchased by a business group led by Shelby LaCroix. In July 2007, the group purchased and moved the business to its current location in east Houston. 2008 was the first full year of operations with production utilizing two of the plant’s buildings and providing control valve repairs. The plant soon expanded and now operates out of four production buildings, a warehouse, production offices, and the administration building. The building complex is approximately 22,000 sq. ft. Laydown yard, storage racks, and shipping/receiving areas add significantly more space. The separate buildings and work areas are designated for specific aspects of the operations including, receiving, QC inspection, teardown, machine shop, weld/fabrication, assembly, instrumentation, testing, painting, and parts & inventory.
In 2009, the company added pipeline repairs and field services and also expanded its services to control valve and pipeline valve R&G services. The company has built a significant surplus inventory and supply network to provide quick delivery of R&G valves. As the result of exceptional customer service and quality, the company continued to grow and in 2010 sought new growth capital investors to help take the company to the next level. In June 2010, Murphree Venture Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm, led a growth capital investment round. At that time, Mr. LaCroix retired from the company and new management took over when Jim Reilly, President & CEO, and Jim Hazlewood, CFO, joined the company in July 2010.
Under new management, the company has continued to grow with its existing customers, rapidly expand new customers, and has continued to add new products and services. In November 2010, the company received its National Board VR Certification of Authorization and is now providing PSV-SRV set pressure, test, and repair services to numerous customers. In 2012 the company is continuing its expansion with added field services and more instrumentation services. The company has also added new Account Managers and has expanded its regular services coverage throughout SE Texas, down to the coastal bend to Corpus Christi, and is often called upon for project work all over the U.S.