75th anniversary of independence builder of Belarus, former head of Gomelobldorstroy Vadim Kravchenko
People like him are said to be a born leader. I caught the Soviet period, the unstable 1990s, the formation of the industry in the zero. Although in his youth he did not succeed in linking his fate with the roads, he was enrolled to become an auto mechanic.
Honored builder of the Republic of Belarus, honorary road builder of I and II degrees Vadim Kravchenko
Enchanted by Gomel
Born in the Zhlobin region, in the village of Streshin. At the end of the eight-year period, he succumbed to a youthful impulse – he went to the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, entered the automobile and road technical school. Documents were submitted specifically to the automobile department, although there was less competition on the road. And now the dream has come true: he is already a mechanic, comprehends the world of engines and crankshafts.
I had a chance to serve not just anywhere, but at Baikonur. In an automobile company. Behind him was a technical school, and he was entrusted to head the auto repair shops, they gave him a platoon. I personally saw more than one flight of space objects.
After the service, he was drawn to his homeland. That Chisinau voyage, which identified its mistake, now causes a prank. In 1969 he decided to pay a visit to the regional center. With the arrival, I walked along the then Pobeda Street (now – Prospect) to the tank, took a walk in the park. Gomel fascinated him. He was determined to stay here and find a job. Although in the city no one knew at all.
Nothing, understand…
It took a month to find. Purely by chance, I looked at car depot No. 1 along Shilova Street, and they encouraged me: “Oh, we need a mechanic.” He worked at the base for five years, reaching the position of department head. There he got acquainted with road construction, really got carried away by this topic. In 1974, he was attracted to work in road construction trust No. 2. The venerable specialist Vladimir Zinoviev, who he saw at that time, asked the question: “Have you thought well: are you transferring from the position of head of the department as an engineer? That’s suicide.” However, Kravchenko has already decided: he will build roads.
After another five years, he was again the head of the department, finally the Polytechnic Institute. And a new invitation – from the honored builder of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Gapeev – to lead the DSU-17 in Gomel. Lots of work and a great team. “Actually, I am a mechanic by prescription, not a builder,” Kravchenko replied to the proposal. To which he heard: “Nothing, you’ll figure it out.”
That’s how at 32 he became the director of a large enterprise. In the same year he got married. He would have known then that he would not just cope, but would slow down the over-fulfillment of the program for the public, bring management to the forefront, and work in his post for 23 years.
In 1987 he was awarded the medal “For Labor Valour”. DSU-17 thundered throughout the republic, the Gomel road network was changing. There was a large bypass road, road junctions in Uritsky and Krasny. A 50-kilometer section of the Gomel-Minsk highway was built in the Zhlobin attachment. And with the collapse, the Development Union was not directed8. The production base of the enterprise was seriously updated: repair shops, administrative building, warehouses, gas station. FLC appeared, which was set as an example throughout the country.
And in 2002, a meeting of the chairman of the regional executive committee, Alexander Belyaev, was held: “I have a meeting in the governor’s office (Alexander Yakobson – note of the head), come, there is a conversation.” As it turned out later, six people applied for the post of general director of Gomelobldorstroy, but the choice fell on him.
Of course, there were fears, Vadim Mikhailovich admits. This is a holding of a regional scale, in a limited number of more than 20 organizations. But they were soon abandoned. The team accepted on the move, and with his characteristic determination, Kravchenko got down to business. If earlier “Gomelobldorstroy” focused more on the maintenance of roads, then under it they actively took up construction. They began to do a lot on their own, refusing external contractors.
The coming enterprise, Vadim Mikhailovich recalls, was qualified and persistently inspired his colleagues with the idea that you can’t sit around waiting for additional funding – you need to earn money yourself. Technical re-equipment, search for technologies, careful study of design solutions, high requirements for the quality of roads – all this secured the title of a reliable contractor for Gomelobldorstroy.
They began to trust the construction of roads of the 1st category, the main streets of cities, complex road infrastructure facilities.
In 2007, Vadim Kravchenko was awarded the honorary title of Honored Builder of the Republic of Belarus.
“There have always been skeptics,” says the hero of the day. “Some checked the wear and tear of machinery, others the shortage of sand and gravel in the area. But we were not afraid to take on large volumes of work. Work harder and earn more. I am glad that the team supports me in this. We happened to be right.
Dear Vadim Mikhailovich!
On behalf of the entire workforce, I congratulate you on your 75th birthday! Your creative and organizational talent has served many accomplishments in the road industry. The chosen direction of development of the enterprise for the collection of material and technical base for the creation and use of a good reserve for the future.
The team of “Gomelobldorstroy” is grateful to you for the high protocol and many years of work for the benefit of the enterprise, the Gomel region and the whole country! We wish you good health, longevity, material prosperity, happiness, peace and tranquility in the family. Happy anniversary!
Igor Ivanovich KRAVCHENKO,
General Director of KPRSUP “Gomelobldorstroy”
UNP 400080835