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Leader of Tomorrow:
Mike Joseph Company: The Ceili’s Group Incorporated: 1999 Date leadership assumed: 2009
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he first pint at Ceili’s Irish Pub and Restaurant was poured in 1999 under the ownership of the PLE Group. The memorable Calgary institution has since evolved and grown into a truly western Canadian brand under the stewardship of Mike Joseph, former vice president of Penny Lane Entertainment. He bought the three-location pub company and formed the Ceili’s Group in 2009 with a vision to transform the original concept into a chain of progressive pubs and restaurants, while remaining true to its roots. “We are striving to build an iconic hospitality company that will still be around in 50 years,” says Joseph, who spends much of his time mentoring staff and management while working on building the Ceili’s brand. Today, the company operates six high-profile pubs: three in Calgary and three in the Greater Vancouver Area. Development plans are currently in place for three additional stores in Western Canada in the next 18 months. Joseph attributes much of his success to his own mentors, namely Glenn Fawcett (president of Black Hills Estate Winery, who gave him his first job at Bust Loose! Holidays), Paul Vickers (of Penny Lane Entertainment fame) and Brett Wilson (high-profile Calgary entrepreneur, television ‘Dragon’ and a significant shareholder in The Ceili’s Group). For Joseph, it’s all about keeping the momentum going and giving back to the community. His company is a proud supporter of the Calgary Scope Society and many other charities. He’s a firm believer in the power of his people. He’s the type of entrepreneur who places trust in every individual within his organization. “Find people that share your values and provide a framework for them to be successful,” he says. “My mentors and others believed in me and, in turn, it gave me the confidence to believe in myself.”
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Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography Inc.
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