Beginning his working life as an apprentice fitter/machinist, Russell Tierney worked evenings in second jobs before buying his first business 11 years ago.
In 1992, while running the family restaurant with his wife, Mr Tierney purchased a small home-based company with six personnel and a contract to service one mine site.
Within three months, the company had increased to 35 employees, and by 1998 continuing strong growth resulted in the purchase of larger premises and a support business, Tierney Coating Services.
Anticipating a change in mining culture in the Goldfields and a decline in contract maintenance, Mr Tierney steered the company to the project portion of mining, ensuring its success amidst the difficult years of a mining downturn.