We Have Been in the Market for 30 Years and Continue To Adhere to the Same Principles

In the early 1990s, numerous companies were established, but only the good ones endured by adhering to the fundamental principles of ethical business. One such company is the regional firm Bystroň Group. We spoke with its founder, Michal Bystroň, about their long journey.

In April, you celebrated a significant milestone – 30 years since the founding of the company. What does Bystroň Group mean to you personally, and how would you describe your company? Additionally, what are you most proud of personally?
I believe the Bystroň Group has come a quite along way since its foundation in 1994. Today, the company is not just about me; it comprises a large team of highly capable individuals who drive it forward year after year. These team members are not only skilled in their work but also are a pleasure to collaborate with. This is not mere flattery – over the past 30 years, I have interacted with hundreds of employees, and it has not always been smooth sailing. As we celebrated our 30th anniversary in April, it is clear that I am no longer the most important person without whom nothing could get done. For the past few years, Pavel Konečný has effectively taken the helm as CEO, overseeing the operations of not just Bystroň Group, but our entire holding company, and he excels at it. One of my proudest achievements is our transition from a small company, Bystroň stavitel, to a large enterprise. While the public, our competitors, and our surroundings may see us as a huge company, I still perceive us as a tightly-knit group where everyone knows each other. From my vantage point, I can see every corner of even the most remote construction site. If I were to participate in a show like “Undercover Boss”, I would be recognised within seconds. Of course, I am pleased with interest in what and how we do things. It is gratifying to visit a doctor who knows that we are building projects like New Lauby or Ostravica. These moments are fulfilling and energise me, reminding me that our efforts are meaningful and worth continuing.

Initially, the company primarily operated within the Ostrava region. Over time, however, you have expanded significantly. What are your new destinations today?
We have not expanded to new destinations, as there is plenty of work within our region. For years, we have adhered to two principles that have proven successful. The first is to operate only locally, and the second is to work exclusively for end investors.

Which construction project in the history of the Bystroň Group do you consider to be the most significant?
Over the years, we have completed many beautiful and exceptional buildings, but the true breakthrough for us was definitely the Pavilion of Evolution at the Ostrava Zoo, which we finished 11 years ago. This project was worth over 100 million crowns and was vastly different from constructing a typical building. At the time, no one believed we could do it. Until then, our focus had been solely on building envelope insulation, and our company was even called Bystroň zateplení (Bystroň Insulation), which heightened the doubts about our capability for such a unique project. The construction included numerous artificial rocks, almost no straight walls, and the largest self-supporting net in Europe – features far removed from ordinary buildings. We managed to complete everything not only to the declared quality but also within the specified time frame. The Pavilion of Evolution marked a significant success for us. Following this, we tackled many other large projects, such as the Information Centre in the Lower Vítkovice area and the Františkov Residence in Silesian Ostrava, which brought us numerous awards. This allowed us to focus on a few major projects rather than having our team spread all over the region. Our efficiency and profitability increased, leading to rapid growth. Another significant milestone for me personally is the duo of Nové Lauby and Textilia Ostravica, which are located close to each other and were developed simultaneously. I firmly believe that both buildings will become landmarks of Ostrava, much like Textilia Ostravica had been for almost the entire last century, at least until RT TORAX completes its skyscraper.

The Bystroň Group has impressively completed 700 buildings. Do you still visit all your projects as you did 30 years ago?
No, not anymore. I only visit our buildings occasionally now. For instance, I attend opening ceremonies, like the one for the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava, which we are currently constructing. Sometimes, I go for inspections or because the investor wants to meet me onsite. Otherwise, our buildings are managed by our executive director, project managers, construction managers, foremen, and other support staff from the office. I have great admiration for them because construction today is very different from when we first started. Coordinating and managing a large portfolio of subcontractors on big projects is quite challenging. Additionally, the pressure from investors on managing construction keeps increasing – they want us to have a lot of personnel on each site to ensure efficient management and quality supervision. Fortunately, this is not an issue for us. In fact, I would say it is one of our strengths.

What do you think you would be doing now if you had not established the Bystroň Group 30 years ago?
That is an interesting question. I obtained my first business license in 1991 for Purchasing and Sales. Back then, with no mobile phones or internet search engines, I would read advertisements in the magazines Profit and Avízo, purchase foreign supplies for small children, and sell them to the still-socialist state- owned wholesalers like Drogerie Olomouc and department stores. Later, I co-founded a real estate agency with my uncle and father, managing the housing stock for Ostrava South, and eventually started my own construction company. So, if I had not founded the Bystroň Group, I might have a chain of shops selling baby supplies today.

Thank you for the interview.