BIV 2011 FORTY UNDER 40
Business in Vancouver December 27, 2011–January 2, 2012
Erin Chutter President and director, Puget Ventures Age: 37
E
rin Chutter has a yellow sticky on her wall that reads, “Want it more than sleep.” The 37-year-old mining executive believes her success is due to an unwavering persistence to succeed. “One of the character traits I admire more and more in people is persistence,” she said. “It’s easy when things are going really well to take credit for things that would’ve happened anyway, but when you run into challenges or see someone who has been persistent day in and day out … that’s something I really appreciate.” These days, Chutter’s mining mettle is tested every day in Vancouver’s extremely competitive junior exploration sector, which is home to more than 800 companies. When she’s not
volunteering in her community or raising her family, Chutter is downtown working with investors, bankers, colleagues and project partners to build Puget Ventures (TSX-V:PVS) into the world’s next cobalt producer. But her career hasn’t always been about rocks. Chutter started out as a strategic planning and communications consultant. She helped run political campaigns for the likes of former premier Gordon Campbell, and counted members of Vancouver’s natural resource sector among her clients. Eventually, she got the mining bug and decided she wanted a company of her own. Earlier this year, Chutter engineered a reverse-takeover deal that gave Puget a large cobalt deposit in Siberia. The Russian government has also committed $400 million to help build the project. Chutter said although building a junior
exploration company is tough work, it’s not all that different from running a political campaign. “It’s very much like putting together a campaign; you need to put together strategy, attract and hire the right technical talent, inspire a team, get everyone working in the same direction and ask perfect strangers for money.” Ą
“It’s easy when things are going really well to take credit … but when you see someone who has been persistent day in and day out … that’s something I really appreciate”
Birthplace: Duncan, B.C. Where do you live now: Vancouver Car or chosen mode of transport: These days? 747 airplane Currently reading: Re-reading Barney’s Version by Mordecai Richler – my favourite book Last CD bought or music downloaded: Bad as Me by Tom Waits Favourite local restaurant: Though there are so many good choices in Vancouver, probably Flying Tiger as it is a family birthday dinner favourite Profession you would most like to try: Cannot imagine anything I’d love more than what I’m doing now Mentor: Many good friends, young and old, have given me good advice and direction, but my husband, Geoff Chutter, counsels me from a place of great love, which is an added bonus Toughest business or professional decision: Letting go of a transaction that wasn’t working out Advice you would give the younger you: Strategic vision is great, but persistence gets you through the tough days What’s left to do: Let’s see how far we can go!
Matt Breech President and CEO, TallGrass Distribution Age: 37
W
ith many consumers turning to natural and organic products, TallGrass Distribution Ltd., founded in 1997 by best friends Matt Breech and Ben Banky was perfectly poised to take advantage
of the burgeoning green revolution. The importer, distributor and manufacturer of natural and organic beauty products and supplements grew to have 45 employees in B.C. Alberta, Quebec and Ontario.
Birthplace: Toronto Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: BA honours history, UBC Car or chosen mode of transport: I don’t drive, never have. I walk to work with my dog, Milo Currently reading: Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner Last CD bought or music downloaded: African disco compilation Favourite local restaurant: Chambar Profession you would most like to try: Winemaker Mentor: My parents, Ben Banky and Ted Ticknor Toughest business or professional decision: The toughest situation I’ve experienced in life and business was undoubtedly the tragic loss of my business partner Ben. And, of course, many tough decisions flowed from that Advice you would give the younger you: Focus on profitability. Starting out, we didn’t have a clear plan for how our business was going to be profitable; and as Ted Ticknor always told us, making money is the hardest thing to learn how to do What’s left to do: It seems appropriate to quote Ben Banky: “We believe we don’t succeed unless the people around us succeed, and the planet not only is not harmed but rather is improved by our work. Part of the fun of building a business is imagining what the future can look like and making that dream come true.” TallGrass is still a young company, and we are going to keep building that dream for many years to come
TallGrass grew 250% over the past five years and became one of the largest suppliers of natural products to London Drugs and Save-On Foods. Unforseen misfortune hit the company in 2008, when Banky, president and co-CEO of the company, was murdered by an employee at the office Christmas party. Despite his personal sorrow, Breech led his griefstricken team through a very difficult period and managed to keep the TallGrass business growing. “It was a challenge to buckle down and get our bearings, but we had to continue to build the company and build the dream,” said Breech. “We were determined to continue to grow and thrive. Anything else would be letting down Ben’s memory.” Breech took on full responsibility for TallGrass, implemented a new product development strategy, and lead the company to revenues of more than $6 million in 2010, with 20% growth so far in 2011. Breech commented that
his attitude of the whole process being a journey is key. “You have to enjoy building an organization and take it one day at a time,” he said. “It’s important when you have a visionary and leader that you can continue their legacy, that’s a wonderful thing and you feel that person is with you every step of the way.” Ą
21
“It’s important when you have a visionary and leader that you can continue their legacy, that’s a wonderful thing and you feel that person is with you every step of the way”