My Story

My name is Aurelian Ciobanu, commonly known as Ricky C. I am originally from Romania and immigrated to New Zealand in 2006.

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I embarked on my construction journey alongside my father Constantin, starting with small renovation projects in retirement villages. I found this work incredibly captivating and decided to pursue a career in construction. Witnessing the transformation of projects and the art of building fascinated me. Shortly after completing year 13, I made the pivotal choice to join my father full-time on the construction site, which turned out to be the best decision of my life.

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In 2009, I joined Ryman Health Care, one of New Zealand's largest construction companies, where my father and I worked on the finishing touches of three townhouses. Together, we achieved remarkable results, completing the projects swiftly and to a high standard. Little did I know, this would mark the beginning of my 13-year career with Ryman.

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Since 2009, I have actively participated in the construction of seven multimillion-dollar retirement villages. Through hard work and dedication, I progressed from a hammer hand to a Project Manager. Currently, I am involved in the development of the Keith Park Retirement Village.

Throughout the years, my responsibilities have encompassed managing site teams, ensuring health and safety compliance, overseeing construction processes, and coordinating designs to ensure timely, secure, and budget-friendly project delivery.

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The largest project I've overseen involved 45 subcontractors and utilized over 650 workers. This nine-level village center consisted of five on-grade structures, supported by more than 650 concrete piles, with a total floor area exceeding 16,000 square meters. Remarkably, we completed this project within a short span of two years.

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Overcoming various challenges has been an inherent part of my journey. These obstacles include design complexities, material supply, labor availability, language barriers, time constraints, council inspections, fire rating considerations, and skilled labor requirements. To tackle these challenges head-on, I assembled exceptional teams with my Project Manager at the time, ensuring a track record of consistent success.

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To provide a snapshot of my professional growth:

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• Hammer Hand: 2009-2012 (Evelyn Page Retirement Village and Gisborne Retirement Village)

• Leading Hand: 2012-2015 (Grace Joel and Edmund Hillary Retirement Village)

• Structural Foreman: 2015-2018 (Bert Sutcliffe Retirement Village)

• Site Manager: 2018-2020 (Murray Hallberg Retirement Village)

• Project Manager: 2020-present (Keith Park Retirement Village)

 

In recognition of my dedication and expertise, I have received notable accolades:

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2016: Construction Team Member of the Year
2021: Safety Excellence Award by NZIOB
 

For a glimpse into some of the recent projects I've been involved in, please refer to the gallery section on my profile.

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After years of invaluable experience and profound lessons, I have chosen to embark on my own entrepreneurial venture. Our goal is to establish ourselves as the most sought-after construction company in New Zealand. While we are starting small, we are committed to providing top-quality labor and site management, ensuring that every project is delivered right the first time, safely, and on schedule. I assure you that choosing us will be a decision you won't regret.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work together.

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Ricky Ciobanu

Founder, ALS360 Construction