Our strongest structure: our people

At Group Monument, craftsmanship, quality, and sustainability are at the heart of everything we do. Behind every successful project stands a team of dedicated people who make a difference day after day. In this article, we would like to shine a spotlight on some of the cornerstones of our organization: colleagues from our support departments who have been helping to build the Group Monument story for many years.

Their commitment, dedication, and loyalty form part of the very foundation of our company. It is remarkable to see people not only remain with us for 10 or 20 years, but sometimes for 30, 40, or even more than 50 years. Each of them has followed a unique journey, grown alongside the company, and contributed in their own way to the development of Group Monument as we know it today.

From accounting and administration to prevention and safety, these are colleagues we have relied on for many years. Their knowledge, experience, and engagement are invaluable. Such long-term trust fills us with pride, but it also raises an interesting question: what makes employees want to stay here? What creates such a strong connection with Group Monument? Which memories have stayed with them over the years, and what hopes do they have for the future?

We sat down with several of our long-serving colleagues: Vicky Belaen, Kathy Claeys, Veerle Meul, Veronique Pickavet, Nicolas van Renynghe, Nathalie Trenteseaux, Dominique Vidts, Sarah Dewilde, and Loes Simons.

Together, we look back on memorable moments from the past while also looking ahead. Their stories reflect mutual trust, appreciation, and a shared passion for building something that lasts.

From typewriters to digitalization

Anyone who has spent decades at Group Monument has witnessed major changes in both the industry and the company itself.

Vicky, who has now been part of Group Monument for almost 55 years, still remembers a time when entire letters had to be retyped if just one sentence needed changing.

"The modern means of communication we are familiar with today simply didn't exist back then—not even mobile phones. Everything moved much more slowly. But that was just the way things were."

Kathy, Veerle, Nathalie, and Veronique also experienced the transition from typewriters, fax machines, and paper files to digital systems, laptops, and automated processes. Yet they all tell the same story:

"Change brought new opportunities to grow."

"You have no choice but to move with the times. If you stand still, you fall behind," says Kathy, who has now been working in accounting for 40 years.

Over the years, not only did technology evolve, but so did the organization itself. What once started as a relatively small company has grown into a group with multiple locations, specialized businesses, and hundreds of employees.

Growing togheter with the company

During our conversations, one thing stood out: many of our colleagues have held different roles within Group Monument. Careers here are not set in stone.

Vicky progressed from administrative assistant to Administrative Director. Nathalie, now an indispensable member of the company for approximately 34 years, evolved from Technical Administrative Assistant to Production Manager and today serves as Production Coordinator. Sarah's responsibilities continuously expanded alongside the growth of the project management department. Nicolas built a prevention and safety department that has since developed into a fully-fledged team.

For many, the opportunity to grow is one of the key reasons they remain committed.

"When you're given trust, you gain confidence, and that makes you want to prove yourself even more," says Sarah, who has been a valued member of Monument Vandekerckhove West Zone for 20 years.

Nicolas, who has been with us for nearly 10 years, also emphasizes the importance of the opportunities employees receive:

"You have to keep learning. What's great is that management gives you the space to do so."

From left to right: Nicolas van Renynghe, Sarah Dewilde, Dominique Vidts, Kathy Claeys, and Vicky Belaen.

More than colleagues

When we ask about their fondest memories, surprisingly few projects or figures are mentioned. What people remember most are the people.

Birthdays celebrated in style, team-building events that still make everyone laugh years later, New Year's receptions, unexpected gestures from colleagues, or simply the everyday conversations at the office.

Dominique, who has been with the company for 25 years and is a familiar face at Monument Hainaut, sums it up perfectly:

"We are one big family."

That sense of connection is also strongly present within the various branches and teams. Loes, who has been working at Monument Goedleven for nearly ten years, explains how colleagues not only work together but also make time for one another outside of work. Annual weekends away, shared activities, and informal gatherings allow colleagues to truly get to know each other.

"We are a close-knit group," she says.

For her, that strong team spirit is one of the reasons she feels so at home here.

Veerle, who now has 35 years of experience at Monument Goedleven, also highlights the strong bond between colleagues:

"Despite our different ages and backgrounds, everyone is there for one another. People help each other, laugh together, and share knowledge."

For Sarah, Group Monument even feels like a second home. "I can still count on one hand the number of days I came to work against my will."

Proud of what we build together

Alongside the personal stories, professional achievements also stand out.

Veronique, who has worked in the estimating department for 32 years, proudly recalls winning the restoration project for Antwerp City Hall. Nathalie, who has been a cornerstone of the stone masonry division for 34 years, considers her contribution to the reconstruction of Notre-Dame in Paris one of the absolute highlights of her career.

But perhaps the greatest source of pride is the fact that so much knowledge is now being passed on to a new generation of colleagues.

"Our experience is worth its weight in gold," says Nathalie. "What we've built here can now be passed on. It feels like handing over the torch."

Left photo: Veerle Meul & Loes Simons; right photo: Nathalie Trenteseaux.

A story that continues to grow

What stands out after speaking with colleagues who together represent more than 250 years of experience?

No one talks solely about their job title. Instead, they speak about trust, respect, opportunities, collegiality, and connection. About teams where people can be themselves, where experience is shared, and where colleagues support one another both inside and outside the workplace.

The strong atmosphere that Loes describes as "a close-knit group" can be found in every conversation we had.

The stories of Vicky, Kathy, Veerle, Nathalie, Veronique, Dominique, Sarah, Nicolas, and Loes clearly demonstrate how closely loyalty and appreciation are connected. People do not stay with Group Monument for 10, 20, 35, 40, or even 55 years because everything remains the same. They stay because they are trusted, given opportunities to grow, allowed to take responsibility, and appreciated for what they do.

That stability has been one of the strongest foundations of Group Monument for many years.

There is also a strong sense of pride: pride in the projects that are realized, pride in the colleagues they work alongside, and pride in being part of a company with a rich history and a clear vision for the future.

Perhaps nothing says more about an organization than its employees' willingness to recommend it to others. Almost everyone we spoke to would enthusiastically recommend Group Monument as a workplace to friends, family, or acquaintances. Some describe it as a family business with a soul. Others call it a second home, a close-knit group, or simply a place they enjoy coming to every day.

That trust and conviction may well be the greatest compliment a company can receive.

You do not build a monument with stone alone. You build it with people. People who stay, grow, give trust, and receive trust. People who continue building a story that is written generation after generation.

A photo from the archives: when we secured the Antwerp City Hall restoration project in 2018. On the left, you can see Veronique together with the estimating team.

Do these stories resonate with you? Are you looking for an employer where trust, respect, and collaboration are more than just words, but part of everyday reality?

Then be sure to take a look at our job openings. Perhaps you'll soon be helping us write the next chapter of this story. Browse our vacancies and discover whether there's an opportunity that suits you. Jobs | Group Monument