CHANGI TERMINAL THREE AND Marina Bay Sands (MBS) SkyPark have a special place in Sonny Bensily's heart. His company Prime Structures Engineering was involved in building the two icons. “We competed with international players and got the SkyPark project,” he said with much satisfaction. This mega MBS project brought Sonny into contact with some fellow NTI pioneers. He worked with Low Jhon Hien and Yong Siew Lod. The two of them run their own project management consultancy firms.

Sonny is one of 14 NTI civil and structural engineering pioneers who became their own boss. Joining Sonny in the construction industry are Er Kian Hoo and Chan Kok Jin. In 1992, Kian Hoo set up Towner Construction Company specialising in retrofitting and conservation works. Kok Jin is a serial entrepreneur with a lucrative knack for networking. After working for six years, he formed TSS Construction and got his first contract from a former colleague. He went to the second company that he worked with and became their subcontractor. As TSS Construction grew, he roped in Jhon Hien to form R3 Builders. Kok Jin gets satisfaction from quality work. “My company is known as one of the best installers in the non-HDB precast building industry,” he said.

With their work experiences, setting up a consultancy is a natural progression. Chia Yeou Cheong started Buzworkz International which trades in light fittings, fixtures and industrial equipment. The former Building and Construction Authority officer went on to set up car-grooming company Steam Jet Car Spa followed by Asia Property Inspectors, a firm that provides home and property inspection services. His latest company, Building Consulting Group provides building consultancy, project management and fire safety audits services.

While some of his peers’ work pertains to their training, Kelvin Chan Keng Chuen did something different. His company Teian Consulting International has helped some 800 companies in and out of Singapore become more productive. His clientele reads like a mini United Nations roll call. Kelvin was a senior officer with the National Productivity Board where he became skilled in productivity practices. “In the course of my work, I had to train managers from the government and private sectors. It was stressful but the exposure was great,” said Kelvin.