August 2013 - Business in Edmonton

August 2013 $3.50 businessinedmonton.com

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Ron Bachmeier, President and CEO at ZCL Composites Inc. Brings His Global Perspective to a Local Manufacturing Giant

Evolving Education in Edmonton

TRAINING & EDUCATION Evolving Education in Edmonton

Construction City

Emerging Technology Trends: Inspired Innovations

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ROADS. RAILS. RUNWAYS.

2013 CIFFA/EIA CARGO CONFERENCE Wednesday & Thursday, September 25 & 26, 2013 Edmonton International Airport

1, 1000 Airport Road Edmonton International Airport, AB T9E 0V3

CARGOEVENT

Visit flyeia.com/roadsrailsrunways for more information.

Edmonton International Airport (EIA), in collaboration with the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) is hosting the Roads, Rails and Runways Conference in Edmonton on September 25 and 26, 2013. Over 200 representatives from Canada’s $11 billion freight forwarding and logistics industry are expected to attend this conference. It is an important venue for businesses targeting opportunities presented by the rapidly expanding economies of central/northern Alberta and the Canadian North, as well as the growing trade and investment with Asia and the European Union.

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SECTION CONTENTS TITLE

AUGUST 2013 | VOL. 02 #08

Features

Regulars

Summer in the city hasn’t slowed down Edmonton’s entrepreneurs. Read on to meet the men and women that continue to pioneer innovations across all industry sectors.

Each and every month

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View our elect ronic issue of this mon th’s mag azin e onlin e at www .busi nessi nedm onto n.com

BY JASON BRISBOIS

Cover

Opportunity Cost of Labour Shortage Looms Large

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

ECONOMIC FACTORS

BY MARK KANDBORG

Ron Bachmeier, President and CEO at ZCL Composites Inc. Brings His Global Perspective to a Local Manufacturing Giant

9

OFF THE TOP

19

Fresh News across all sectors.

61 E DMONTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Company Profiles 29 KOCH FORD LINCOLN

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

Celebrating their 10h Anniversary

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EDMONTON

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

29

14 EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

You radiate success.

Keep shining!

Congratulations to the Prairies award finalists!

The winners will be announced at our awards gala on October 17 in Calgary. For more information, visit ey.com/ca/EOY and follow us on Twitter @EYCanada #EOY20.

20 years of inspiration

Business-to-business products and services

Emerging entrepreneur

Oil and gas

Darcy Tofin

John Stevens ENTREC Corporation

Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, David Bouchier

Central Water & Equipment Services Ltd.

Jeff Polovick

Dallas Lenius, Dean Hall Force Pile Driving

Dr. Dennis Filips

The Driving Force Inc.

Innovative Trauma Care

Kyle Powell Geoff Gyles, Kerry Green

Gregory Hartman, Dan Smith, Darrell Boulter, Paul Smith

Wolf Trax, Inc.

RIDE Inc.

Business-to-consumer products and services

Energy services

Dale Wishewan

Enviro Vault Canada Ltd.

SureHire Occupational Testing

Russ Hebblethwaite

Booster Juice

Susan Brattberg, Elmer Brattberg, Audrey Brattberg, Holly Brattberg The Brattberg Group Weddingstar Inc.

Cleantech Mogens Smed DIRTT Environmental Solutions Genalta Power Inc.

Mark Chisick

M. Pidherney’s Trucking Ltd.

Don Sutherland Studon Electric & Controls

Manufacturing

Rick Brink

Graham Illingworth

Merv Pidherney

The Bouchier Group

Menno Admiraal Western Camp Services Ltd.

Dale Tremblay, Alex MacAusland, Jeffrey Bowers Western Energy Services Corp.

Professional and financial services Steve King Alaris Royalty Corp.

Jean-Pierre Parenty Parenty Reitmeier Translation Services

Stanford Orme Asher S.O. Asher Consultants Ltd.

Š 2013 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Jerry Naqvi Cameron Development Corporation

Reza Nasseri Landmark Group of Builders Ltd.

Allison Grafton Rockwood Custom Homes

Sean Rayner Vets Sheet Metal Ltd.

Technology and communications Craig Mackenzie Ontracks Consulting

Thane Russell

Michael Sikorsky

Absolute Completion Technologies Ltd.

Robots and Pencils Inc.

Joe Makowecki

Tara Kelly SPLICE Software Inc.

Heritage Frozen Foods Ltd.

Mike Fata Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods

Urbanmine Inc. National sponsors

Real estate and construction

National silver sponsor

Platinum sponsors

Ernst & Young is a proud supporter of entrepreneurship

Gold sponsor

OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

Features

PUBLISHER BUSINESS IN EDMONTON INC.

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brent Trimming

brent@businessinedmonton.com

continued

Summer in the city hasn’t slowed down Edmonton’s entrepreneurs. Read on to meet the men and women that continue to pioneer innovations across all industry sectors.

EDITOR Mark Kandborg

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Nerissa McNaughton

INSPIRED INNOVATIONS

BY RAMONA KORPAN

Edmonton leads the way in conscientious technology.

COPY EDITORS

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Nerissa McNaughton Nikki Mullett

ART DIRECTOR Jessi Evetts

jessi@businessinedmonton.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Cher Compton

ADMINISTRATION Nancy Bielecki Sarah Schenx info@businessinedmonton.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brisbois

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Mark Kandborg Benjamin Freeland Nerissa McNaughton Ramona Korpan Rechell McDonald James Cumming

PHOTOGRAPHY Cover photo by Epic Photography Inc.

ADVERTISING SALES Larissa Ausmus Evelyn Dehner Bobbi Joan O’Neil Carla Wright Renee Neil

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DIRECTORS OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING Kim Hogan Mark McDonald

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37 E VOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON 45 CONSTRUCTION CITY

| BY RECHELL MCDONALD

| BY BEN FREELAND

After decades of growth and innovation, Edmonton’s dynamic construction industry has at last brought its energy home. Will the city’s current construction boom last?

57 R EDTAIL LANDING GOLF CLUB

| BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

61 E DMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | BY JAMES CUMMING

CORRECTION NOTICE:

Business in Edmonton magazine would like to extend our sincerest apologies to the 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow, John Stevens and T. Marshall Sadd for the incorrect use of their names in the July issue of Business in Edmonton.

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Leaders never quit.

They may take it on the chin, they may get knocked down, but leaders get back up. We’ve done just that and continue to be in our clients’ corners, custom building solutions to help our clients do what they do best...lead.

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ECONOMIC FACTORS JASON BRISBOIS

OPPORTUNITY COST OF LABOUR SHORTAGE LOOMS LARGE

BY JASON BRISBOIS

I

n July, the University of Alberta’s Institute for Public Economics released one of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken on the Alberta labour market. The study was a research collaboration between the University’s Western Centre for Economic Research, local firm Applications Management Consulting Ltd., the Conference Board of Canada, and University of Alberta economics professor Joseph Marchand.

The study explores many qualitative and quantitative aspects of the labour market. It shows which occupational skill levels experienced the highest wage increases in the last two boom periods.

It explains the various models used to calculate labour shortages and compares their results. It examines key issues such as Alberta’s apprenticeship programs, the role of immigrants and temporary foreign workers, Aboriginal participation in the labour force and the use of fly-in fly-out labour in northern Alberta; and makes recommendations for improvements.

The study also does something that has never been done before. It calculates the opportunity cost of a potential labour shortage over the next four years (2013 to 2016). The analytical techniques used to do this are complex but following is a simplified version of the methodology and what it shows.

In the first step, Applications Management created a base case economic forecast using assumptions about growth rates, oil and gas prices, exchanges rates, inflation rates, and interest rates similar to those used in the Government of Alberta’s 2013 Budget.

Assumptions were also built in to accommodate wage changes, in and out migration and worker mobility.

In the next step the forecast was ad-

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CHART 1: POTENTIAL AND CONSTRAINED LABOUR FORCE GROWTH RATES 2013 TO 2016

INDICATOR

IMPACT IN MILLIONS OF CURRENT DOLLARS

PERSONAL INCOME -18,338 RETAIL SALES -7,189 CORPORATE PROFITS -2,546 CONSUMER SPENDING -14,065 EXPORTS -19,486 IMPORTS -14,261 FEDERAL PERSONAL INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS -2,438 PROVINCIAL PERSONAL INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS -956 CORPORATE INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS -1,100 TABLE 1: LABOUR SHORTAGE IMPACT CUMULATIVE TOTALS FROM 2013 TO 2016

justed based on hypothetical labour shortages to find out what would happen if Alberta cannot find sufficient workers to fill job vacancies across all economic sectors. The adjustment was accomplished by constraining the expected growth rate in the labour force as shown in Chart 1.

The results were significant. Over four years, the economic impact of the labour shortages resulted in a cumulative reduction in real (adjusted for inflation) Gross Domestic Product of over 20 billion dollars compared to what it would have been at the unconstrained growth level.

To add further insight, the Conference Board then ran the results through

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

its economic model to simulate what the impact would be in current (non-inflation adjusted) dollars for a series of indicators as shown in Table 1.

It is important to remember that the above results are based on a hypothetical labour force shortage. There is no absolute certainty that the results will come to pass. But if anything, the findings should be taken as a call to arms for public policy makers and industry to give serious consideration to the recommendations made in the report to help avert future labour shortages. The report can be found at BIE http://www.ipe.ualberta.ca.

Jason Brisbois is the director of the Western Centre for Economic Research at the University of Alberta School of Business.

OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

LOCAL BUSINESS

A HEALTH FOOD STORE FOR PETS

in your Community

These days we all know about the benefits of eating healthy, natural foods and when we do, the difference in our energy, skin, hair and outlook shows. It is no different for our pets.

Good eating leads to glossy fur, strong muscles and healthy joints; our pets enjoy good health as much as we do.

Thanks to The Bone & Biscuit Company’s founder, Lee Drescher, pet owners in Edmonton can find natural foods, unique baked goods, clothing and more for their pets.

Drescher launched The Bone & Biscuit Company in Edmonton in 2003. Today there are over 14 locations across Canada and a strong demand for more franchises. Business in Edmonton caught up with franchise owner Carmen Thomas, whose Spruce Grove location turns two this August, to learn more about this unique store.

“I decided to open the store a couple of years after I got my first dog, Willow,” recalls Thomas. “I was constantly looking for a healthy alternative for her in both her food and treats and found that I had to drive to the city to find what I was looking for. I thought the Spruce Grove market could support an all-natural pet food and supply store, so I did some research and decided to open a Bone & Biscuit Co.” Thomas reports that customer feedback and response has been tremendous; pet owners are relieved to have healthy alternatives for their furry friends. These alternatives include a variety of foods and other items. “The entire store has healthy, natural options for pets,” says Thomas. “Not only do our food and treats have no artificial preservatives or by-products, but we try to carry eco-friendly shampoo, beds, toys, collars, supplements and grooming supplies.”

It is the pet food, however, that truly sets The Bone & Biscuit Company apart. “A big draw to my store is the Raw Food Diet that we car-

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IYC JUNE 2013: Edmonton: (4.5” | x Business 9.75”)In4c. www.businessinedmonton.com Edmonton Magazine | August 2013 Business in Edmonton 2/3 page

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OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

SOME OF THE TREATS AVAILABLE AT THE BONE & BISCUIT COMPANY.

ry in our freezer,” confirms Thomas.

“Raw feeding is based on how nature intended animals to eat. The food is not processed but simply contains raw meat, bone and organs from different animals. Some products also contain fruit and veggies and we have a great supply of raw bones.

The bakery is a huge draw for people.

Not only are the cookies beautiful and fun, they are human-grade and healthy with limited ingredients and no preservatives… [they are] perfectly safe for humans to consume. They have no added sugar and are sweetened with applesauce. We also have a great selection of wheat-free and grain-free bakery cookies for the dogs that have allergies.”

Another thing that distinguishes Thomas and her staff from other pet care stores in the area is their knowledge of pet nutrition. “It is very important to me that my staff is well educated and able to assist customers with a variety of questions. There seem to be more and more animals with health problems

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SOME OF THE TREATS AVAILABLE AT THE BONE & BISCUIT COMPANY.

and allergies. We cater to these customers.”

Thomas’ Bone & Biscuit was nominated for New Small Business of the Year by the Spruce Grove

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Chamber of Commerce and even though they didn’t win, Thomas says it was an absolute honour to be nominated and be one of three finalists for the award. BIE

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NEWS FROM THE MONTH

MARKETPLACE

EDMONTON’S NEW NIGHT MARKET

Looking for something new on Edmonton’s hot summer nights? Then Just a Little Somethin’ Inc (JLS). has a treat for you! On June 22, JLS presented the grand opening of Edmonton’s first night market.

Night markets are not a new concept. Popular worldwide, especially in Asia, the dusk of evening prompts a laid back and artistic vibe that differs from daytime bazaars and farmer’s markets. Trina Shipanoff, JLS Night Market, general manager, is the one responsible for bringing this concept to Edmonton. JLS is no stranger to bringing people and beautiful things together. This Edmonton-born company specializes in scouring the world for one-of-akind gifts. For Shipanoff, the jump to bringing the sights, sounds, flavours and excitement of other world cultures to Edmonton was simply the next step in JLS’ evolution.

“Travelling around the world, the one stop I made at every destination was to the local night market,” says Shipanoff. “The combination of sounds, smells and sights was exciting to me. This inspired me to want this for my own city.”

Shipanoff explains that you can expect a feast for the senses at the night market. “What makes this market different is that it is not a farmer’s market. Goods do not have to be homemade or homegrown and this has attracted vendors with products that have never been seen before in Edmonton; Belizian art, hand stitched accessories from Guatemala, and Arabic clothing to name a few items.” The night market is not just for shopping, however. Buskers, food vendors and performers make the night come alive.

The main rule of a night market is to bring your family out and have fun.

The market starts early in the evening at 7 p.m., a perfect end-of-day activity for older children or a nice stroller ride for babies as they doze off. Going strong until 11 p.m., the night market

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The main rule of a night market is to bring your family out and have fun. The market starts early in the evening at 7 pm, a perfect end-of-day activity for older children or a nice stroller ride for babies as they doze off. will offer something for every age, taste and style.

Early response to the night market has been very positive. “Vendors are excited to be a part of Edmonton’s first ever night market,” Shipanoff confirms. “The future of the night market is headed in the direction of the popular night markets in Vancouver (and world over) which have over 400 vendors and see 80,000 plus

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

patrons a season. It will become the must-go-to destination for visitors and Edmontonian’s alike,” says Shipanoff. “The JLS Night Market is the first of its kind in Edmonton. It will be a place where the city comes alive and where culture hits the streets.”

You can visit the night market every Saturday evening until from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. until September 28. The night market is located at 10171-106 St. BIE

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

W

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hen we talk about Edmonton’s alternative lifestyle we don’t always mean counter-culture! In this case we mean alternative energy; and Edmonton is embracing the alternatives with open arms.

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

J

enifer Christenson, executive director of Built Green Canada has exciting news. Built Green Canada, an organization committed to working with builders interested in responsible, sustainability practices in the residential building sector, has seen a huge spike in enrolment numbers over the last year. In 2011, 329 Edmonton homes enrolled in the Built Green program. In 2012, that number jumped to 604.

Impressive numbers, but what does it mean when a residential or commercial building “goes green?” Leigh Bond is the president of Threshold Energies Corporation and is absolutely passionate about green technology. Threshold has been in the renewable energy contracting business for nine years and has taken on projects as small as an 800 square foot straw bale house near Pigeon Lake to as large as the new terminal 4 at the Edmonton International Airport. Bond is determined to educate and inform the public of the benefits of green energy, and this passion extends past his nine-to-five day job.

“I volunteer my time to improve the educational level for these technologies in our emerging industry,” says Bond.

“I sit on two steering committees. The first is at NAIT for the two-year full-time diploma program entitled Alternate Energy Technologist. The second is through Red Deer College where we are working with the Apprenticeship Board to start a new program for Earth Loop Technicians (geothermal drillers). I am also the founding chairman of the Alberta Geothermal Energy Association and currently sit on the Board of Directors. I also sit on the national board of our national geothermal association (IGSHPA Canada).”

While some technologies, such as wind and solar, are familiar, these days there are many exciting options, such as: Grey water: Approximately 30 per cent of household water is used to flush toilets. Since this water does not need to be drinking quality, water can be taken from the basin, laundry or shower, then filtered and treated with chlorine and used to flush toilets.

If you have never heard of grey water, there is a good reason. Building code issues prevented grey water systems from being installed in Canada until recently. “This is turning around now,” says Bond, “and it needs to be promoted.”

Geothermal: Geothermal exchange is the most popular alternative heating/cooling system. Several buildings in Edmonton, including the AMA building on Kingsway, the Animal Care and Control Center, and the St. John Ambulance building, are already equipped with this technology.

Bond points out that 46 per cent of the sun’s radiant energy is absorbed into the earth. While temperatures above ground can fluctuate wildly – especially in Alberta – ground temperatures below the frost line remain constant at six degrees Celsius, year round. Of course six degrees is not warm enough to heat your building, but by burying pipes in the ground and circulating a fluid through them and into a heat pump, the six degrees can be upgraded to 65°C. This system is highly efficient because it does not generate its own heat. It simply collects and exchanges it. www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

LEIGH BOND AT HI-TECH SEALS GEOTHERMAL PROJECT SITE.

With the newer heat pumps, this process can be over 400 per cent efficient.

“Geothermal exchange has grown the most in nine years,” Bond points out. “Subdivision developers are now doing whole subdivisions with it! Crimson Leaf, southeast of Sherwood Park is an example.”

Wind: Wind power is one of the most recognizable natural energy systems due to the stately presence and romance of the windmill. However, after multiple studies, Bond and his team discovered there are no viable options for wind turbines in northern Alberta. The wind speeds are simply not enough to offset the investment. The LEIGH BOND turbines need to spin at least 30 per cent of the time to be efficient. This works well for southern Alberta, but up here in the north, a different type of wind power is being investigated.

“We are trying to go after small wind,” said Bond of this alternative wind source is still in development. “This is wind that is four metres per second or less and does not require big wind farms. Wind is very site specific. You have to be just in the right spot.”

Solar: There are two types of solar energy systems: solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar hot water.

“Solar PV, that’s the one everyone gloms onto because it creates electricity,” says Bond. “It’s something people can see, feel and touch, unlike the other technologies.”

Solar PV is easy to recognize due to their large panels; but

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

it is its less-known counterpart, solar hot water, is rapidly gaining in popularity. A solar hot water system consists of glass collector sheets on top of black pipes.

When the sun is out, water is circulated through the collectors and energy is stored in a buffer tank. Temperatures in the collectors can reach 140 degrees Celsius. This system can easily generate 70 per cent of your annual hot water needs.

Even in the dead of winter, if the sun is out, the radiant energy will be absorbed and you will get boiling water.

The Edmonton International Airport (EIA) expansion project included such a system. On a good summer day the 64 collectors at EIA can generate 4,000 gallons of hot water per day. On average though, they generate about 1,500 gallons per day. That’s about how much is needed for hand washing in bathrooms per day.

Bond offers sage advice for how to include alternative energy in all phases of building construction. “The best way to look for alternatives is to investigate the least expensive technology to address the usual needs in a building – heating, cooling, hot water, electricity.” For example, new builds are suited to geothermal exchange since the system takes care of the heating, cooling, and hot water needs. In a retrofit, solar PV or solar hot water are best since they don’t require digging trenches in the yard.

Another thing Bond points out is the significant tax sav-

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

EDMONTON’S ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LIFESTYLE

More and more we realize the value of alternative energy and green technologies and this value goes far beyond monetary.

In addition to substantially lowered energy costs, one cannot put a price on preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy. ings associated with installing geothermal exchange and solar hot water in commercial buildings. You can write off 50 per cent of the cost as a depreciation expense, compared to the 4 per cent write off for a standard system. For solar electric systems, if you have a green power source that is connected to the grid, your energy retailer (EPCOR, Enmax, Direct Energy, etc) must pay you for the surplus energy you produce. This is according to the Alberta Utilities Commission rule 024.

Sustainable energy alternatives are being widely embraced in Edmonton in both the public and private sectors.

For example, James Wilky, director of animal care and development for the City of Edmonton is enthusiastic about the way the City has embraced green technology. “I understand the City has established a standard of building LEED quality buildings,” says Wilky. The geothermal heated concrete floor of the Animal Care and Control Center keeps the staff and animals comfortable year-round. The directors of the Brentwood Family Housing Society mandated over 20 energy saving techniques and technologies in the Brentwood Apartments. These range from solar panels to low-flow toilets to an air tight building envelope and a geothermal system. “You get the same thing [result] as conventional, but we just use a different source,” says Reg Appleyard who is part of the Brentwood Apartment project.

More and more we realize the value of alternative energy and green technologies and this value goes far beyond monetary. In addition to substantially lowered energy costs, one cannot put a price on preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy. When we work with the tools so freely given to us by nature to heat, cool and power our homes, we work towards taking these sources from alternative to where they should be – mainstream. BIE

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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COVER

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS Ron Bachmeier Brings His Global Perspective to a Local Manufacturing Giant

BY MARK KANDBORG

W

hen Ron Bachmeier walks into a room, he carries with him a quiet confidence that is his trademark. President, CEO of manufacturing giant ZCL Composites, this Minnesota native turned Edmonton champion is one part no-nonsense, two parts let’s do this and about 10 parts how can we do it better. While in the captain’s chair of the great ship that is ZCL for barely a year, he plies the seas of growth and prosperity with the steady hand and clarity of vision that even company founders rarely possess.

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

COVER

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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COVER

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Another area that Bachmeier is poised to grow with is pipeline development.

He explains that pipelines are an entire delivery system, going far beyond what most people think of, which is simply, well, a big pipe.

In point of fact, the ship metaphor doesn’t really do ZCL Composites justice. To think of it as a fleet might be closer to the mark. Founded by Cote in 1987, this Edmonton based company has steadily evolved to become North America’s leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of fibreglass tank systems to the petroleum, chemical manufacturing and water storage industries. With its subsidiary companies Xerxes Corporation, ZCL Dualam Inc. and Parabeam B.V., and with nearly 800 personnel working at plants and distribution centres across Canada, the U.S. and in the Netherlands, ZCL is moving ever closer to its goal of becoming the planet’s leading provider of environmentally-friendly liquid storage solutions.

Outside of North America, ZCL operates through technology licensing agreements. They have licensees in South America, Asia and Europe who manufacture tanks using their technology. “If you’re interested in making fibreglass tanks in Australia, you come to us. We sell you the technology for a fee and then we collect a royalty over a 20 or 25 year period,” Bachmeier explains. “China is a big one that is just getting up and running and we just signed another agreement with a company in Brazil.”

One of ZCL’s growth areas internationally is water storage technology. “The theme for our water business is “water as the next scarce resource,” Bachmeier says.

“Whenever you have an identified resource that has scarcity, then containment, storage, recycling and reuse become a fundamental part of the story.” And wherever you have those sorts of themes, a large capacity storage system is part of the solution, which is where Bachmeier believes his company has a lot to offer. “In places like Europe where everything is already built, water storage is a real estate issue. You can put our tanks underneath buildings, under parking lots, so you’re using real estate both above and below the ground more efficiently.

Another area that Bachmeier is poised to grow with is pipeline development. He explains that pipelines are an entire delivery system, going far beyond what most people think of, which is simply, well, a big pipe. Every few kilometres there is a need for what are called dropout stations, which are used to either clean the line or to change the materials flowing through the line. You need to empty the line periodi-

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

cally, and when you empty it, you store it. Historically, storage plants in the dropout stations would’ve been aboveground steel tanks, Bachmeier says. But again, he feels ZCL can offer pipeline companies a better solution. “What we’ve brought to the market over the past seven to nine years is the ability to offer the same functionality, but once again, underground,” he says. “On the surface, tanks would be subject to vandalism.

They’re an eyesore.” While traditionally, tanks needed to be easily accessible for visual monitoring, with today’s continuous monitoring technology, that’s simply no longer the case, he says. Needless to say, Bachmeier is watching the Keystone XL and B.C. Pipeline situations very closely.

While the geographical breadth and diversification of ZCL’s manufacturing and distribution components is more than a little impressive (Bachmeier points out that if you were to draw 500 mile concentric circles around their manufacturing plants, you’d cover 80 per cent of the population centres in North America), Bachmeier is wary of the potential for the various companies under the ZCL umbrella to pull in different directions. “One of the things our CFO Kathy Demuth and I have really focused on is to bring about a cultural change to become one company under the ZCL theme,” he says, pointing out that creating what he calls a one company culture takes time. “We’re still in the process of evolving. But we take great pride in helping our North American employee base understand that this Edmonton-based company is really who they’re working for. Even though they’re working for one of our brands, we’ve got people pulling now all in the same direction, instead of being regionally focused on what’s good for Xerxes, for instance.”

ZCL corporate headquarters are firmly entrenched, and deeply rooted, in Edmonton. They have been from day one, and proudly so. But a lot has changed since the company began and now 60 per cent of ZCL employees and 60 per cent of sales are outside Canada, while only 10 per cent of employees and 10 per cent of sales are in town. “We have to manage the business beyond the borders of Edmonton, beyond the borders of Alberta, beyond the borders of Canada,” Bachmeier says. “Right in our vision statement we say we’re a global company, so you have to make decisions based on that.” For Bachmeier, that means being careful

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COVER

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

to avoid a strictly Edmonton-centric viewpoint. “One of the things that I perhaps bring to the table,” he says, “in league with our strong Edmonton-based board from the city’s business community, is an outside perspective. I live here, I’m part of the community, but I think my prior experience outside the country benefits the company, because the decisions we make have to be based on what’s good for us from a North American point of view.”

Many of those decisions, of course, are geared toward company growth. But not growth at any cost. “When (former ZCL CEO) Rod Graham joined the company, he and our executive team settled on a strategy called ‘simplify to grow’,” Bachmeier says. “One of the challenges that entrepreneurs have is they want to be everything to everybody, and they want to get there overnight. That’s just what drives entrepreneurs. But when Rod came in, he saw we were doing too many things. Some of them didn’t make sense. We had a steel tank company inside of our operations. We’re a fibreglass company, why were we selling steel tanks? So we sold off a couple of what I would call under-performing businesses and refocused the company on profitability, as opposed to pure growth at any cost.” For Bachmeier, it’s no good to take on an unprofitable business because it helps you grow, if you don’t make any money doing it.

Not surprisingly, Bachmeier has some very clear ideas of how to bring about that profitability. “ZCL has always had

great products, wonderful engineering, great product design, the best concert products you can buy for different types of applications,” he says. “But where we struggled, and maybe didn’t understand what was possible, was on the process side. What you make and how you make it are really two different worlds.” So he and his executives have recently turned their focus to the ‘how’ part of the equation, which Bachmeier sees as manufacturing with a whole new way of thinking. A major driver on this new journey is the company’s new COO Kapul Gill, who comes to ZCL with a distinguished efficiency pedigree. “Kapul worked for Jaguar and Honda as well as for a large international yacht builder, so he brings a new philosophy of how to run a plant. We’re probably halfway through a multiyear transition that will drive ZCL in terms of profitability and being leaders of the next era, that of being not just a good product company, but a good process company,” he says.

Bachmeier is quick to point out that he doesn’t believe efficiency or profitability are goals that can, or should, only be implemented from the top down. Which is why he visits all 13 ZCL plants two or three times a year to, as he puts it, ‘get in front of’ all the employees. “A lot of people say, ‘what can I do? I’m just one person.’ So we drive home the theme of ‘save me a dollar a day’,” he says. “If you have a thousand employees working 250 days and everybody saves a dollar a day, that’s $250,000 of increased profitability. And I would challenge any employee whether it’s the janitor to www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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COVER

RON BACHMEIER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

the highest level executive that everybody, just by doing something, can save a dollar a day.” And then he takes it to the next level. “I say let’s multiply that by saving me a dollar an hour. So you take $250,000 times eight hours then you’ve got $2 million of profitability that should be achievable just by people working a little bit faster, a little less waste, whatever you want to call it.”

As an example, Bachmeier suggests thinking of ZCL’s basic materials of construction, resin and glass. “Resin is a dollar a pound, nine pounds per gallon. And a gallon isn’t very much. It’s gold, liquid gold. So by using material more wisely at the individual worker level and cutting out a gallon of spillage a day, you’ve saved me nine dollars. There’s your dollar an hour.” A dollar a day, a dollar an hour is something that Bachmeier brought forward as a way to simplify a common goal. “If we just talk about increasing profitability, nobody thinks, ‘ that’s about me’. But it’s about every single employee.”

Bachmeier wants to be clear that this is not an accounting driven issue. “It’s not about squeezing pennies,” he says. “It’s not about restriction, it’s about efficiency. You’re a product driven company, you need to sell. That’s number one and number two. And then you’ve got to figure out how to do it profitably. They’re not mutually exclusive.”

So how does Bachmeier see the future unfolding for ZCL? “Ven Cote had a grand vision to build a $1 billion company,” he says, “My dreams are to be the most profitable $250 million company and I can clearly see us reaching that goal within three to five years just through organic growth, based on existing products.”

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that the quarter million dollar figure is some kind of an established ceiling.

Bachmeier certainly doesn’t. “There are acquisition opportunities, and that’s the only way you get to a billion. You need to buy something that gets you exponential growth.”

That goes for almost any type of industry, he says, but points out that for an industrial products company to go from $170 million to a billion without acquisitions would be next to impossible. “So we look at all those opportunities, whether inside or outside of Canada, and then take a look at what the next phase should be.”

With one hand steady on the tiller of profitability and the

24

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

As I said, Ron Bachmeier is one part no-nonsense, two parts let’s do this and about 10 parts how can we do it better. But there’s another portion of the mixture of the man which I failed to mention. He’s also at least a few parts humility.

other coaxing greater and greater speed from the thrumming engines of growth below, Bachmeier is scanning the seas constantly, alert to changes in the wind, but also on the lookout for bountiful new lands calling out for cultivation. “It’s important to know what the next big thing is, and you don’t want to wait until it hits you in the face.

There are game changers, a number of evolutions inside of energy that are absolutely going to take place. One of the most important things we can do as a company is look at where we fit into those.”

As I said, Ron Bachmeier is one part no-nonsense, two parts let’s do this and about 10 parts how can we do it better. But there’s another portion of the mixture of the man which I failed to mention. He’s also at least a few parts humility. “If Ven Cote, the founder of this company, was still in this seat you’d have a totally different story to write about. He was one of this province’s great entrepreneurs,” he says. “So the history of having strong leadership in ZCL is part of why we’re here. I’m just the guy doing my part now.”

Perhaps. But it’s a part Bachmeier seems born to play. BIE

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

INSPIRED INNOVATIONS

INSPIRED INNOVATIONS Edmonton leads the way in conscientious technology.

BY RAMONA KORPAN

ANNEMARIE BRATTLAND AND TASHA BERTRAND, OF BERT&BRATT.

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TRENDS INSPIRED INNOVATIONS

BERT & BRATT BABY DEVICE

W

hen you hear the words “new technology,” odds are the first things that come to mind are such frivolities as gaming consoles, smartphone apps, or temperature-controlled cup holders for your vehicle. Many of the most talked about new pieces of technology tend to be a little on the indulgent side; however, Edmonton stands out as a hub for innovators whose ambitions run a little deeper than robotic excesses. From major industrial equipment that promotes sustainability, to small, everyday-life changing technology, Edmonton is brimming with bright and conscientious innovators whose inspired technological developments are set to improve the lives of people in every possible market.

When Annemarie Brattland and Tasha Bertrand, both mothers from Devon, Alberta, saw a need for a way to properly sterilize baby items on the go, they realized they were in the best position to fill it. The two got to work forming Bert & Bratt, a company dedicated to making the world a safer place for babies and a more convenient one for their parents.

Brattland and Bertrand once owned a salon and spa together, and during that time became familiar with UV/ O3 technology, which is commonly used for cleaning salon equipment. They soon realized that if that technology could be used to sterilize dropped or dirty pacifiers, bottle

26

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

nipples, sippy cup lids, and other items that babies put in their mouths, parents would be saved a lot of stress. “There are so many bacteria now that are drug resistant or at least hard to treat,” the women point out. “It is a different world than when we were young and a penicillin prescription cured everything. This product will help to reduce the risk of exposure and encourage parents to clean their child’s dropped pacifiers.”

The result of Brattland and Bertrand’s efforts is the Bert & Bratt Baby device, a small, portable pod that can be easily carried in a diaper bag or purse. Contaminated items, such as dropped pacifiers or bottle nipples, are inserted into the device’s cavity. The device is then closed tightly, and when turned on, gets to work sterilizing the item. Sterilization happens by combining oxygen with a 455-nanometer UVGI bulb. The bulb converts the oxygen to ozone, which eliminates bacteria by breaking down their cell walls and destroying their DNA. The ozone then converts back to fresh oxygen. The entire process takes only four minutes, and the bulb automatically shuts off if the device is opened, reducing the risk of UV exposure. Despite having such a genteel purpose, the Bert & Bratt Baby device really is a piece of advanced and cutting-edge technology.

“We do truly believe that we are improving the lives of parents and babies,” says Bertrand. “The ripple effect will

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TRENDS INSPIRED INNOVATIONS

Bert & Bratt is poised to become a household name among conscientious parents who understand the value of preventive maintenance on items their child comes into contact with. Preventive maintenance seems to be a trend in technology.

result in decreasing trips to the doctor or missing time from work to attend to a sick child and peace of mind. Our product is something that we would have loved to have when our children were young, because we were concerned with what they were exposed to. This product makes it easy for parents to clean the products while eliminating the hassle of finding soap and water. The easier something is to do, the more people will do it.”

Bert & Bratt is poised to become a household name among conscientious parents who understand the value of preventive maintenance on items their child comes into contact with. Preventive maintenance seems to be a trend in technology. Devices, apps and systems that turn the heat up in your house before you wake up, inform you of traffic problems on your regular route or keep your baby’s accessories germ-free have all become popular for the work they save. No one wants to deal with disaster or discomfort, so technology that prevents that from happening is always welcome.

However, sometimes problems do occur before you can prevent them, and you have to find a way to eliminate the problem when it’s already in full swing. No one knows this better than Shaun Heglin. Heglin is yet another Edmonton innovator whose work goes beyond noisy, time-consuming gadgets. Heglin’s company, We Kill Bedbugs, does exactly what the name promises. However, they noticed a gap in the market.

Extermination services can be expensive, leaving some people to share their home with the tiny pests rather than shelling unmanageable sums of money out to eliminate the problem. It became clear to the We Kill Bedbugs team that they had an opportunity to help out this group of people.

“We found that there was a large segment of the market not being served with an eco friendly and one hundred per cent effective solution at a fraction of the cost of regular heat treatments,” Heglin says.

What they came up with was a do-it-yourself bedbug kit that customers can rent for a fraction of the cost of standard extermination services. The kit, which is currently in development, uses heat treatment to kill bedbugs. The kit comes with a six-month guarantee, and only requires a basic power source in order to operate. The kit will be shipped to customers’ homes for convenience and discretion, furthering the goal of making the process simple and attainable.

Edmonton’s most compassionate innovators aren’t limited to those creating personal items. Edmonton has a

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

long tradition of industrial innovation, particularly when it comes to technology used in the oil and gas industry.

However, many of the newest innovators on this scene are creating products that don’t just benefit the industry, but the surrounding environment and those who live in the area.

CCW Energy Systems is poised to not only save money and resources for their clients, but also revolutionize the way power is consumed. They recently developed the EnerSaver, a device that cleans up dirty power as it comes off the grid and into oilfield pump jacks. It also captures energy from the pump jack and sells it back to the Alberta grid.

The EnerSaver works by restoring quality that is often lost from power when it travels long distances. The higher the quality of the power, the less required. The EnerSaver reduces high power consumption, providing a more sustainable and cost-effective model to its customers.

The benefits of the EnerSaver reach far beyond their customers. Because the EnerSaver allows power to be fed back into the grid, utility companies are left with a higher capacity to service other commercial and residential customers.

Industrial companies, who have traditionally been thought of as a power drain, are now contributing to a more efficient, sustainable energy model, reducing the need for more power-related infrastructure. “The EnerSaver is a valuable tool in a time where there is a desire to become more energy independent with cleaner technologies,” says David Melligan of CCW Energy Systems. “The ability of the Enersaver to generate renewable power and to reduce energy consumption will allow our customers to add more pumping systems into an existing field without requiring more energy from the current utility grid. The reduction in power consumption from the EnerSaver smart grid oil fields will help utilities from requiring brown outs or rolling blackouts.

This will help customers stay cool, make sure hospitals stay fully operational, and generally improve life in those times people need help the most.”

Whether directly or through a trickle-down effect, the latest technology coming out of Edmonton will have a positive impact on the lives of residents here and elsewhere.

From the smallest personal items that save a few extra minutes, to large, industrial technology that has the power to completely change the way we view power usage, Edmonton’s innovators are leading the industry not just in technological advancements, but in conscientiousness and consideration. BIE

The Many Faces of Koch Ford Lincoln

By Nerissa McNaughton

Koch Ford Lincoln’s focus is on people; and that is what drives their success.

Dealerships abound in Edmonton, but there are many reasons why Koch Ford Lincoln is set apart.

Rather than focusing on moving cars off the lot, their focus is entirely on customer service – and this is an area in which this dealership excels.

F

ew businesses exemplify the term family business as Koch Ford Lincoln. Started in 1965 by the Koch brother’s father and uncles, the dealership has been in the family ever since. Today, David Koch, president of Koch Automotive Group (KAG) runs the dealership along with brothers and partners, Duane and Rick.

The dealership has changed with the times as much as the cars on the lot. The Koch family started the dealership as Koch Mercury Sales. That changed to Koch Mercury Lincoln in 1968 and again to Koch Ford Lincoln in the mid-90s. The 90s also saw the first expansion to include the second branch, DK Ford Leduc. The Koch brothers worked at the dealership since the 70s and they purchased the flagship store from their uncles Original partners. Loris Koch, Les Koch, Murray in 2003. In 2005, KAG opened Koch Ford AthaKoch and Frank Paege 1965. basca.

Dealerships abound in Edmonton, but there are many reacustomers and staff, you have a completely successful business.” sons why Koch Ford Lincoln is set apart. Rather than focusing This progressive people-first philosophy is seen in Koch Ford on moving cars off the lot, their focus is entirely on customer Lincoln’s diversity of departments, their varied marketing stratservice – and this is an area in which this dealership excels. egy, and their contributions to charitable causes.

An example of this difference is seen in the Lincoln departKoch Ford Lincoln is made up of several departments. New ment. Ford Lincolns are a specialized brand that exemplifies vehicles is where you will find the 2013 and highly anticipated luxury and elegance. Koch Ford Lincoln has a separate depart2014 models. Ford Fusion, C-Max Hybrid, Edge, Escape, F-150, ment for Lincoln. The staff are specifically trained in all aspects LINCOLN MKX, MKZ, MKS, Navigator – they are all available of this brand. When a customer comes to test drive a Lincoln here at prices that are hard to beat. If you prefer a great selection or have one serviced, their needs are handled by specialists that of pre-owned vehicles, Koch Ford Lincoln has a large line up of know every nuance of these distinctive vehicles. older models. The fleet department, which is one of the stronIt is not as though Lincoln customers receive any better treatgest and most active fleet departments in Alberta, has everyment, however. Each and every customer receives first class thing you want for your company’s vehicle needs. Whether you service, whether they are browsing in the pre-owned departwant one vehicle or many, the fleet specialists at Koch have a ment or checking out a new model. “The number one imporsolution for you. In addition to high-quality fleet vehicles, Ford tant thing in the dealership is customer service,” says General Quality Fleet Care, Business Preferred Total Transportation SoManager Kurtz. “The number two thing is our employees. Putlutions for Canadian Business, and the Commercial Customer ting people first is what makes a business a success. We strive Incentive programs are also available. for completely satisfied customers. When you’ve got satisfied

Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 2

Of course, no Ford product is complete without a range of accessories; and Koch Ford Lincoln has those too. Koch Ford Lincoln keeps an impressive stock of Ford parts, including oil filters, cabin filters, windshield wipers, axels, struts, brakes, batteries and more. Parts can be ordered in person, online or by phones and don’t forget to check out the Koch Ford Lincoln website (kochfordlincoln.com/ parts-department.htm) to save money with their deals and specials on parts.

The collision department is comprised of the body shop and the detail centre. The body shop cares for your car as you care for your health following an accident. Knowing that no accident is a pleasant experience, they promise not to add to the stress you are going through. A team of painstaking perfectionists gets your car back on the road in record time.

If you have not had an accident but simply want to give your car a little something special, the body shop is happy to oblige. From putting Lamborghini doors on a Ford Mustang to changing your vehicle’s paint colour, the body shop has what you need to keep your car looking its best.

Each visit to the detail shop makes your car look brand new.

The technicians are trained to deal with Ford’s wide variety of fabrics, finishes and trims ensuring your car gets the proper care from the inside out. Acid from bug splatter or bird droppings can damage your paint as can grease residue. The detail centre removes these dangers with tried and true yet gentle methods.

On the inside, the upholstery must be cleaned to maintain its strength. Your dashboard and doors must be moistened – not just to keep that glossy shine – but to also prevent creasing and cracking due to weather conditions. From a basic wash and dry to a state-of-the-art triple stage power polish, the detail centre has something for every car and every budget. With all the options available, there is no reason your car can’t always look brand new!

There is more to Koch Ford Lincoln than their outstanding line up of high-quality vehicles and car services. For example, they have a program that offers subsidized rates for students that graduate in their field. They understand that a student just starting out needs reliable transportation to find and keep a job.

This program gives students the option to own a vehicle as they launch their career.

Congratulations Koch Ford Lincoln on your Grand Re-Opening & 10th Anniversary!

17229 - 103 Ave Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1J4 Tel: 780.436.2174 • Fax: 780.436.2179 • www.cpiconstruction.ca Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 3

Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 4

Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 5

There is also a program for customers struggling with lessthan-fortunate credit. “We have a department at Koch where we arrange sub-prime credit for people who have had trouble financing in the past,” says David. Koch Ford Lincoln understand that unfortunate circumstances sometimes happen for reasons beyond our control. The sub-prime program puts a little of that control back in consumer’s hands.

Koch Ford Lincoln’s altruism extends outside of the dealerships as well. When the team was approached by the Rotary district to sponsor a dinner benefiting Rotary International, they were all for it and KAG became the title sponsor. In addition to the funds the Rotarians pledged to the foundation, the $10,000 tickets created $1 million in immediate funds. Overall all, $4.3 million was raised. The funds will be distributed among communities worldwide.

KAG is also involved in the Ford Mobility Program. This program assists those whose vehicles require special adaptations such as hand driving controls and wheelchair lifts. Under the program, new or leased Ford vehicles may be eligible for up to $1,000 in modifications. Koch Ford Lincoln works with Malley Industries Inc. to modify personal, commercial, para-transit and taxi vehicles to ensure people with all ranges of mobility can enjoy the safe, comfortable ride a Ford product offers.

As the vehicles get more progressive, so does Koch Ford Lincoln’s marketing strategies. “We have a business development center that takes care of our social media marketing, says David.

“We are involved in every aspect of social media marketing.”

David anticipates that 80 per cent of their advertising will be through social media over time. Currently, their social media marketing strategy is getting a little help from internal and external sources. While the general public is having fun commenting on posts and retweeting their information, an internal contest has staff sending media coordinator Laurie Callsen photos, videos, and content for all their online media platforms.

Each submission gets the sender an entry form into a draw. The prize? A weekend away at the Koch Ford condo in Canmore.

Rotary Million Dollar sponsorship.

Congratulations Koch Ford on your Grand Re-Opening & 10th Anniversary!

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Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 6

Since the Ford brand has been around for many years, so have the various dealerships. Recently Ford decided it was time these buildings got a facelift. Koch Ford Lincoln was right on board with creating a better shopping experience for their customers and were quick to overhaul the look and feel of the dealership. New landscaping, a completely refreshed interior and a sumptuous Lincoln lounge are just some of the improvements you will see at Koch. The Lincoln lounge’s big-screen television, snack centre, massage chair and leather furniture make car owners want to take their car in for service so they can enjoy this luxurious treat.

So what is next for Koch Ford Lincoln? “Further expansion if the right opportunity comes along,” indicates David. Such expansion, however, does not mean KAG would lose that family feel. As David points out, for him nothing is better than “being in business with my family.” The Koch brothers have worked as family promoting the KAG brand for the majority of their careers. Now the second generation of Koch family members, their children and nephews, also work at Koch.

Koch Ford Lincoln drives forward with a newly renovated building, a thriving dealership, and many satisfied clients. The family business remains as strong as ever and there are no signs of that slowing down in the future. “It was always in our blood; in our family,” concludes the Koch family and management team. “It’s always been Ford.”

5121 Gateway Blvd NW Edmonton, AB T6H 5W5 (780) 434-8411 • 1-888-697-2294 www.kochfordlincoln.com

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Koch Ford Lincoln | Page 7

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TRAINING & EDUCATION

EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

BY RECHELL MCDONALD

E

dmonton, and Alberta in general, has a diverse industry that requires highly skilled workers to fulfill roles in the trades industry, medical fields and business sector – to name a few. The current job market is demanding people who are more and more qualified in areas of management or who have specialized training and experience within their given fields. This demand puts a lot of pressure on the individual worker but it has also put Edmonton and its educational institutions in a position to pioneer and change the face of education in this city. Schools like the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the University of Alberta are working hard to provide opportunities for new and continuing education students that will ensure they can compete with the demands of the job market in this province.

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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TRAINING & EDUCATION EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

NAIT strives to remain current and in line with job market trends as president and CEO of NAIT, Glenn Feltham explains, it is imperative to maintain an alignment with the job market. “Our promise to our students is to ensure they have a meaningful career. Our focus is on the preparation of the students and we achieve this by reviewing our programs yearly to ensure they are meeting market demand.”

While it is not uncommon for schools to feel this way about their students and programs, because great employment statistics for their graduates reflects positively on the school, it is not just something school officials say – they really mean it. NAIT is demonstrating its commitment to its students and the community by trying to bridge gaps in the current educational offerings available. One particular way that NAIT is bridging these gaps is with initiatives like their Trades to Degrees pathway. This pathway, which just wrapped up its inaugural year, provides Journeyman Trades professionals the opportunity to apply directly to the third year of NAIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration program by recognizing their post-secondary education and work experience that led to trades certification. The rationale behind this new opportunity for tradespersons is all about the value of real-life and on-thejob experience, as Feltham explains, “We are very much a pioneer and work with each student individually to ensure they are ready to seamlessly enter the third year of the degree. Employers need people capable of management and leadership in industry. Those with a trades and business background are ideally suited.”

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

At first it may appear as though NAIT is serving a niche market demand but the fact is that with the energy sector, Alberta has an already high number of trades workers and is on the lookout for more. As skilled workers continue on in their careers and new workers complete apprenticeships and begin work, the demand for the experienced workers to move into management roles grows. The Trades to Degrees pathway provides an opportunity for workers to gain the management knowledge they need to further their careers and meet the needs of employers.

The trades have always had a certain stigma or stereotype surrounding them, despite the fact that the skills required to do these jobs are tremendous and the pay is relative to these skills, many still associate “blue-collar” or “under educated” when they think of trades workers.

This is a stigma that Feltham hopes ebbs in the coming years through initiatives such as Trades to Degrees. “It’s important for NAIT, as a leading Polytechnic Institute, to recognize the expertise and experience that tradespersons have. We are never closing work opportunities to those who choose a trade career. We want to encourage kids who are skilled with their hands to choose a trades career.”

The students themselves do appear to be enjoying the opportunity. Boni Ehmann, a parts person with over 20 years in her field and part of the first cohort of student s through the program, shares her experience with Business in Edmonton.

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Step Forward

PROFILE

One of the most promising and rewarding careers that many students are focusing on is that of the

“Supply Chain Professional” A ccording to the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council (CSCSC), more than 720,000 Canadians are employed in the supply chain sector and the numbers are growing!

Canadians are demanding more products and services, which fuels the supply chain sector, creating more jobs. Over 86,000 new employees are needed in the supply chain sector each year. You can be part of it!

“Supply chain management is the lifeblood of the business world,” Nick Bensch SCMP says. “My career in SCM has allowed me to work in a variety of industries across Alberta, with each one bringing its own unique challenges and opportunities. I encourage students to explore this opportunity, because there truly is something for everyone in supply chain management.”

What is supply chain management? Simply put, it’s the process of strategically managing the flows of goods, services, finance and knowledge. For example, a retail organization purchases consumer goods from a producer. The retail organization has to negotiate pricing and inventory with the producer so that the retailer can order the products and sell them at a price that is attractive to the consumer. The retailer has to be strategic to get a competitive edge in order to maximize their sales profits, while minimizing the inventory stock to meet the demands of the public.

In addition to the logistics aspect, there’s procurement, warehousing, transportation, inventory control, contract management, financing, marketing and other factors that are a part of the supply chain profession.

In other words, supply chain professionals strategize to provide a competitive advantage for their employer. They help firms deliver significant and real value to customers, while enhancing the shareholders’ profits.

Jerome Ferber SCMP and President of AIPMAC observes, “Over the years, organizations have recognized that to stay competitive, they need to maintain margins without increasing prices. They need to grow their market share in an ever changing business landscape.

This has increased a focus on cost reduction, partnerships, alliances and risk management. The people that are the best equipped to make the most of opportunities in those areas are supply chain management professionals. “ Businesses today are challenged with many issues, including globalization, sustainability, market loss and information technology.

In this dynamic environment, improving supply chain performance has become essential for companies to remain successful. It’s a growing trend that will only intensify.

“Effective supply chains are able to integrate and coordinate their activities. This improves the likelihood to optimize the flow of goods and services from supplier to customer, while reacting efficiently to the consumers’ changes in demand”, adds Ferber. “The supply chain professional impacts an organization’s reach to consumers locally, regionally, nationally and/or globally”.

As you can see, there are numerous roles, responsibilities and challenges for supply chain professionals – which reflects the great need by employers for people with the right training, knowledge

In this dynamic environment, improving supply chain performance has become essential for companies to remain successful.

It’s a growing trend that will only intensify. and skills. Supply chain professionals can be generalists who focus on all aspects of the supply chain. There are also supply chain professionals who specialize in a specific area of supply chain management, such as procurement, transportation, or logistics.

Top employers in all sectors – including energy firms; manufacturing organizations; wholesale and retail businesses; commercial service enterprises; transportation companies; communications corporations; governments and public sector institutions; educational bodies; financial establishments; non-profit organizations and many others play a major role in Alberta and Canada’s economy.

Canadian supply chain professionals control more than $130-billion in annual spending, making a significant contribution to the economy. The supply chain profession influences the social and economic success of Canadians and citizens worldwide.

The Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) is the leading and largest association in Canada for supply chain management. It is the principal source of supply chain training, education, networking and professional development in the country. Students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institutes can join AIPMAC for

only $20, compared to the regular annual membership fee of $420.

PMAC grants the SCMP Designation (Supply Chain Management Professional), the highest achievement in the field and is valued highly by top employers. The SCMP Designation Program is an intense comprehensive program geared to managerial and executive professional success. Although achieving the SCMP Designation can be very challenging, the benefits are significant in professional growth advancement and financial rewards.

The Supply Management Training (SMT) program offers incomparable flexibility for people interested in starting in the industry or developing their skills within the industry. Anybody can enter the SMT program, as there’s no educational or experience pre-requisites. You have your choice of in-class or self-study courses designed for the demand for skilled entry to mid-level practitioners.

The program’s flexibility allows you to study while maintaining employment and other personal needs.

For more information on the exciting and rewarding strategic supply chain career, visit the Alberta Institute PMAC website at www. aipmac.ab.ca or email info@aipmac.ab.ca. Contact AIPMAC tollfree at 1-866-610-4089.

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TRAINING & EDUCATION EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

TRAINING & EDUCATION EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

The University of Alberta has seen the emergence of certificate programs over the last few years, not as replacements to degree programs but as opportunities to add value to degree programs.

“It feels great to have my trade certificate and my experience in industry acknowledged. There will be many more opportunities available upon my completion of the degree. I have enjoyed learning new material and a couple of the courses have made me look differently at happenings around the world.” But Ehmann also admits that the experience has not been without its challenges. “It has been challenging getting back into studying, working and just generally living, however, for the opportunity it is all very much worth the adjustment. The most challenging aspect has been getting back into homework.” While the juggling act of student life never seems to change, no matter how old you are, Ehmann believes this program is a significant

one for the area. “This will bring more opportunities for upper-management positions, as well as allowing tradespeople to take their career in a different direction.

NAIT isn’t the only Edmonton institution throwing their hat into the ring for the battle to remain current, innovative and on-point with Alberta’s industries.

The University of Alberta has seen the emergence of certificate programs over the last few years, not as replacements to degree programs but as opportunities to add value to degree programs. “One of the advantages that we are seeing with the development of certificates is that they allow degree programs to be responsive to our changing world in a cross-disciplinary way,” Says Bill Connor,

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

43

TRAINING & EDUCATION EVOLVING EDUCATION IN EDMONTON

vice-provost of academic programs and instruction at the University of Alberta. “We have two models of for-credit certificates at the University of Alberta: freestanding certificates that provide post-graduate specialized education (e.g. post-graduate certificate in Francophone practice for Speech Language Pathologists) and embedded certificates that provide an additional level of specialization within an existing degree program (e.g. Certificate in Community Engagement and Service Learning).”

In short, on top of regular program requirements, students have the opportunity to earn credentials for very specific skill sets that would be in addition to the achievement of their degree. This opportunity to hone or develop a particular skill or subset of skills makes every student more valuable, employable and qualified when they graduate – or can be taken advantage of, as a learning opportunity, after graduation.

Each school faces its own unique challenges when it comes to adapting programs or changing their available programs to coincide with the current job market but one way they face these challenges is to ensure change is ongoing. “Existing programs and course content are ever-evolving to respond to changes and new knowledge in specific disciplines and the demands of the job market.”

Explains Connors, “In addition, the University of Alberta

44

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

strives to introduce new programs to meet the demands of students and employers. For example, the university will launch a Doctor of Pharmacy program in September, 2013 – a new program that reflects growth in the roles, skills and scope of pharmacists as well as evolution in the credentialing of pharmacists across the world.”

While the responsibility of schools to meet and often exceed the expectations of the job market can seem impossible at times, schools like NAIT and The University of Alberta are meeting the challenge head-on. Through pioneering programs that allow skilled workers to convert their work experience into a degree that will propel their careers forward, and certification programs that allow students to focus on very specific skills and qualifications, Edmonton Institutions are changing the way we approach education.

In the past there has always been a focus on the general concept of a “degree” but in many cases a degree produces a very cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all employee. By encouraging workers to bring their work skills to their education and giving students opportunities to further specialize and diversify their degree experience, Edmonton schools like NAIT and The University of Alberta are turning out qualified people capable of competing in the world job market – not just the Alberta one. BIE

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CITY

TOWERING ACCOMPLISHMENT: 104 STREET’S NEW FOX TOWERS ARE A NEW HIGHLIGHT OF EDMONTON’S REJUVENATED DOWNTOWN AND REPRESENT AN EMERGING EDMONTON DESIGN AESTHETIC. CONSTRUCTION WAS LED BY EDMONTON’S GRAHAM CONSTRUCTION GROUP. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION)

Construction After decades of growth and innovation, Edmonton’s dynamic construction industry has at last brought its energy home. Will the city’s current construction boom last?

CITY

BY BEN FREELAND

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

45

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CITY

E

dmontonians are fond of describing their city’s climate as consisting of two distinct seasons: winter and construction. There’s more than a little truth to this characterization. As much as Edmonton is a winter city, it is also a construction city, home to a world-class and highly experienced construction industry that encompasses residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, civil and roadway construction and employs over 55,000 people – about 10 per cent of the city’s workforce. The Capital Region is home to some of the most recognized and respected industry leaders in the country, including Canada’s largest general contractor and the U.S.’ sixth largest (PCL) and the country’s leading open shop contractor association (Merit). Edmontonians may moan about roadwork and detours, but there’s no denying the construction industry’s vital role in the regional economy.

While Edmonton’s status as a construction powerhouse stems in large part to its proximity to Alberta primary economic driver, the Athabasca Oil Sands, its history as a city of builders predates the discovery of oil in its backyard.

As a major staging point for overland expeditions to the Klondike Gold Rush and its early establishment as a railway townsite, fin-du-siècle Edmonton grew at a meteoric rate, from a population of 700 in 1892 to 72,000 in 1914.

Anointed capital city of the new province of Alberta in 1905, Edmonton’s status as provincial seat of government spawned a flourish of building, and its emerging status as western Canada’s ‘Gateway to the North’ brought it Canada’s first licenced airport at Blatchford Field. All this

fostered the growth of an energetic construction industry made up of both homegrown companies and transplants like PCL (formerly Poole Construction), which relocated its head office from Regina to Edmonton in 1932.

Edmonton’s enduring status as a leader in construction has seen it overcome enormous obstacles. With building at a standstill in the mid-1980s in the midst of a deep recession, a group of open shop contractors met at the headquarters of the Edmonton Construction Association in 1986 and formed Merit Contractors Association, centred on the concept of offering cost-effective benefit packages to non-unionized construction workers, and in doing so helped jumpstart a then ossified industry with a fresh dose of free-market competition. The next two decades would see the Merit model replicated across the country and further establish Alberta (and Edmonton) as a leader in construction policymaking. Alberta’s emergence as a bona-fide oil and gas powerhouse in the following decade further galvanized the city’s centrality as a construction hub, transforming local contractors like Ledcor, Graham and NWT transplants Clark Builders into national industry leaders.

It took a long time, however, for Edmonton’s world-beating builders to come home to roost. While the skyline of its southern rival blossomed with architectural flair in the 1980s and 90s, Edmonton’s city centre stagnated over the same period, hindered by building height limits imposed by the presence of a downtown airport and an exodus of corporate head offices to Calgary. This began to change in

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: EDMONTON’S NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA. WITH THE FINAL PIECE OF FUNDING HAVING BEEN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL THIS YEAR, CONSTRUCTION IS DUE TO BEGIN IN THE SPRING OF 2014, WITH EDMONTON’S OWN PCL CONSTRUCTION AT THE HELM. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION)

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August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

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DIRT MANAGEMENT IS BIG BUSINESS

he company trademark ourlifeisdirt.comTM, captures life at Keystone Excavating. It’s not glamorous work, nor is it clean, but it is highly rewarding. From excavations to site grading to deep-service work, Keystone has built a solid reputation as a company that cares. They are completely committed to customer satisfaction and pride themselves on building solid relations, delivering superior service and working with the very best people in the industry.

Dirt management is big business in Alberta and for over 30 years, Keystone has been a significant contributor to the overall growth and development in Calgary and recently in Edmonton.

What started as a one-man operation has grown to become one of the largest excavating contractors in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Keystone is recognized as an industry leader for their innovative thinking, their field applications of technology, their high safety standards and an unwavering commitment to quality. Over the years, they have won numerous SAM awards for trade partner of the year and recently they were awarded the Safety Leadership Award for the second year in a row. It appears their growth remains unabated as they forayed into the Edmonton market in the spring of 2011.

Keystone was established in 1981 as a family business and today the second and third generations are actively involved, the business has evolved and given rise to a new president; a highly skilled management team and larger-than-life goals.

BUSINESS EXPERTISE

Residential earthworks was a primary focus until the mid-nineties when commercial projects became part of the service offering.

Today Keystone has become an industry leader in commercial & infrastructure earthworks, ranging from multi story underground parkade structures, large scale warehousing sites, and some prominent projects including the Calgary South Health Campus, Telus Science Centre, Saipem Warehouse & M.O.D. Fabrication Yard and Microtel Hotel in Lloydminster.

In addition to ‘digging holes’, Keystone provides consultation at conceptual stages, preliminary project budgeting, dirt management, and project management. Through employees and trade partners Keystone has been providing clients complete earthwork services from excavations, grading, retaining walls, site servicing, & surface improvements to give our clients a complete civil works package.

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OVER 30 YEARS PROVES OUR LIFE REALLY IS DIRT! Keystone is a full service earthworks company providing: • RESIDENTIAL EXCAVATION • • COMMERCIAL EXCAVATION • • EROSION CONTROL • • UNDERGROUND UTILITIES • • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • • SITE GRADING • • TRUCKING •

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ur company has been in business for three short years. Kevin Moser, the owner operator of the company worked in the millwork, renovation and the cabinet industry for most of his 25-year career.

The business grew from a two man shop in 2010 in a depressed economy to a staff of nine employees. We now have Kevin in marketing, sales and purchasing.

Kevin is also the shop foreman. Mike does our drawings.

Three employees work in the shop. We also have three installers on site. We recently hired Kevin’s daughter, Erin, to run our front office, which is very exciting for us. Our business has two branches to it which may or may not overlap into each other.

The shop is located at 20907 107 Ave in Edmonton which is the hub for all of the activity. We specialize in custom cabinetry, wood work and renovations.

With a new addition of a CMC machine we are able to manufacture product right on site from new materials to finished detailed product in our paint shop.

Kevin has groomed and maintained a strong name and reputation in this industry through his previous foreman position at Milteck Millwork Glen Thordason. Kevin is a hands-on individual that will do anything in his power to ensure his clients are happy with their new kitchen, bathroom or mantle, to name a small few projects.

He really enjoys the client interaction and loves to work with Interiors by Lara to design and help us create the majority of the residential renovations that we do. Our second part of business is our commercial side. Some of our clients include Sobeys, Coast Edmonton House, Simons Wem and several others.

Our goal is to secure a few more of these types of contracts and also to grow and nurture our ongoing contracts in order to stabilize our business. In doing this we keep our employees, perhaps employ a few more, but mainly to build a foundation of dedicated staff, (a team) in the field and in the shop – a staff that is committed to having pride and are driven to help the company continue to grow. We try to build this by hosting a Christmas party, social nights and BBQ’s.

We hope to expand these events to our suppliers who have worked with us through all the growing pains. We are quite sure there are more to come in the “ups and downs” of our economy.

These goals as a company have always been quality, creative and timely delivery of work and a personal touch as well. Our success this far was built on very hard work, juggling, patience, perseverance, long term goals, short term pains and integrity.

20907-107 ave NW Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1W6 • Phone:780-455-5547 • Fax: 780-455-5587 kjeselitemillwork.webs.com

20907-107 ave NW Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1W6 • Phone:780-455-5547 • Fax: 780-455-5587 kjeselitemillwork.webs.com

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the early 2000s with a series of ambitious new projects such as the new MacEwan University City Centre Campus and the Randall Stout-designed (and Ledcor-built) Art Gallery of Alberta, which opened in 2010.

With the 2008 recession proving to be but a minor setback to the provincial economy, Edmonton’s building boom continued with the futuristic EPCOR Tower and a massive raft of expansion at Edmonton International Airport, more than doubling the airport’s carrying capacity. On the industrial side, the Leduc-Nisku Energy Park has grown to become North America’s largest oil and gas-focused industrial park north of Texas.

At present, Edmonton’s construction colossus is at a crossroads. The numbers suggest business as usual in Construction City, with total building permits totalling $580,007,500 in February 2013 (an increase of over $500 million over the previous year) and a whopping $200 billion in major projects under construction or planned in Alberta over the next decade, much of it centred in Edmonton’s northern backyard. And yet, recent economic uncertainties have led to talk within the industry of a forthcoming ‘pause’ in major projects, while growing concerns about anticipated worker shortages have some contractors worried about the availability of manpower necessary to see the province’s infrastructure commitments through. Nevertheless, the overall industry mood remains positive, bolstered recently by some much-welcome closure surrounding Edmonton’s most anticipated megaproject: a new downtown arena for the Edmonton Oilers.

John McNicoll, executive director of the Edmonton Construction Association (ECA), is among those bullish on Edmonton’s construction industry.

A roofer and contractor in Edmonton for over 30 years, McNicoll has seen his industry persevere through good and bad economic times and sees a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors as the key to Edmonton’s construction success story.

“There’s a long tradition of creativi-

August 2013 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

ty and innovation here in Edmonton,” he asserts. “That coupled with the fact that we’re a government town and the main staging point for the oil sands has been a huge boon to this industry.” At the helm of the ECA since April of this year, McNicoll argues that this 82-year-old association, whose membership now stands at over 1,100 contractors, has been instrumental in fostering the city’s distinctive construction culture.

“We’ve worked hard to contribute to fair bidding and to stop bid shopping and other unfair practices, which has helped us avoid the problems you see in places like Montreal. We have a very healthy industry here.”

In addition to an optimal location and an enviable degree of industrial harmony, Edmonton’s construction leaders also cite the industry’s wealth of expertise and longstanding commitment to construction training and education. “There’s a tremendous depth of skill here,” says Bill Stewart, vice president of Merit Contractors Association. “Companies like Ledcor have been active in the oil industry since the 1940s and we’re world leaders in cold-weather construction, and with the growth in modular construction centred on the oil sands we’ve been ahead of the curve there. We’ve also benefitted from great partnerships with our universities and colleges, from the engineering department at the University of Alberta to leaders in skilled trades programs like NAIT.” Stewart also attributes much of Edmonton’s construction success to support from the municipal government. “What’s been put in place here is a huge tribute to Mandel and his council,” he contends. “They’ve moved the yardstick considerably.”

As for the continued development of Edmonton itself, both McNicoll and Stewart take the view that the pause currently being observed, with LRT expansion and other projects being put on hold, will prove to be a temporary phenomenon. “We’re seeing a brief stall in activity right now, with people waiting to see what happens to the economy,” says McNicoll.

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION CITY

MOVING RIGHT ALONG: A SCHEMATIC OF THE EXPANDED CHURCHILL SQUARE LRT STATION UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE NORTH-SOUTH LINE TO NAIT IN 2014. EDMONTON’S GRAHAM CONSTRUCTION GROUP IS OVERSEEING THIS PROJECT. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION)

“But I think we’re going to see a fresh flood of development once this passes,” Stewart concurs, adding that finality in the arena soap opera has bolstered the mood of the city’s contractor community. “I think the arena decision has come at a tremendous point in time,” he asserts.

“We are experiencing a bit of a pause right now, with some projects being put on hold, but we have very good capacity right now and this coupled with the new (Royal Alberta) Museum and the redevelopment of the City Centre Air-

port lands bode very well for the industry. And while we do have labour concerns, we also have superb training and the proven ability to attract good, qualified workers.”

Moreover, as was the case a century ago, construction activity is not only a lifeline in Alberta’s capital city – it’s also a necessity of life. “We have a huge influx of people and goods coming into this city,” Stewart adds. “We can’t possibly accommodate all this growth unless we continue to build.” BIE

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Edmonton International Airport’s new Central Tower

Photo courtesy of Edmonton International Airport.

Photo courtesy of Edmonton International Airport.

Oilers-themed baggage carousel. Photo courtesy of B.Hayden.

Edmonton International Airport: A Constant Evolution

By Nerissa McNaughton

EIA’s Renaissance by Marriott Hotel, opening this fall.

T

he Edmonton International Airport (EIA) is an exciting hub of activity and adventure. Whether you are taking off for faraway lands, coming home after your journey or meeting an arriving loved one, your pulse quickens and your senses heighten when you set foot on the grounds of EIA. Although EIA has been trending in the media for its recent expansion, the history and facts of the airport are just as interesting. For instance, did you know the airport has been open since 1958? The original terminal was built in 1963, and it’s still standing. It is comprised of the old tower and the north end of the facility.

When it opened, EIA was the second largest airport in Canada. It functioned as an important refuelling stop, as planes back then didn’t have the flying range that they do today. The original terminal was 27,668 square metres. Today, the terminal, including the new central tower, is an impressive 140,297 square metres – that’s larger than 17 football fields. Thanks to the large amount of land owned

by EIA, the airport has been able to expand on site over the years rather than relocate to a larger area.

With a history stretching back to the 1950s and over 120 departures daily, the fact that there has only been one incident at EIA resulting in loss of life is a testament to the skill and efficiency of the staff and airline crews. The accident happened in 1973 when a Pacific Western Airlines Boeing 707 cargo jet hauling cattle from Toronto crashed a mile short of runway 30. All five crewmembers perished, as well as the cattle on board.

While the crash was big news back in the day, these days the EIA news is all about the expansion. Traci Bednard, vice president/passenger market development, has been with EIA for 15 years. Bednard is excited about the new look of the airport. “It’s not what people were expecting!” she exclaims; perhaps because the result is a fusion of technology, green space and function seldom seen in such harmony in a place as busy and industrial as an airport. “We wanted to de-

velop and airport that reflects our community here in Edmonton,” Bednard continues.

The renovations were an absolute necessity as the preexpansion terminal, designed to process 5.5 million passengers annually, reached 5.2 travellers per annum by 2006. EIA passenger traffic swelled by 71 per cent between 2002 and 2008, making the goal of working with 10 million passengers annually impossible without significant expansion. The planning phase took two years and construction commenced in 2009. From conception to completion, the $670 million project took six years.

Highlights of the expansion include: • More shopping and eating destinations, including the Belgian Beer Café, the Heineken Lounge, Caffè Sorrentino, Dufry Duty-Free, Coney Island Candy, iStore, Indigo Spirit and Chili’s Express.

• Upgraded, centralized baggage delivery system that includes fully automated tracking and cutting edge baggage screening technology.

• US Quick Connect security station that allows passengers to proceed directly to their US connecting flight. This service includes baggage transfer.

• Green technologies such as solar water pre-heating, low-flow toilets and energy efficient ventilation.

• Soon-to-be-opened luxurious Renaissance hotel; the first Renaissance-brand hotel to be attached to an airport.

Edmonton International Airport | Page 2

Living Wall. Photo courtesy of Merle Prosofsky.

Central Hall. Photo courtesy of B.Hayden.

Photo courtesy of B.Hayden.

“We have great facilities and a great airport,” says Bednard.

“It’s a different airport than it was a few years ago.” One of the notable differences is the stunning Living Wall. The Living Wall, a wall comprised of live plants and mosses, is the largest of its kind in North America.

When we think of winter in Alberta, the first thing that comes to mind is all that snow. For an airport, snow and ice mean trouble. Despite the 239 centimetres of snowfall seen over the course of nine separate storms between January 2011 and April 2012, EIA remained open for the

entire winter season. Their performance in snow and ice removal earned them a Balchen/Post award in 2012.

Currently, EIA is the fastest-growing major airport in Canada. EIA is also one of the fastest growing cargo airports in North America. Part of the expansion included major upgrades to the cargo facilities and the creation of “Cargo Village”. Cargo Village accommodates the supporting businesses that are vital to air logistics, including the Canada Border Services Agency, brokers, freight forwarders, air carriers, distributors, warehousers, shippers and receivers. September 2013 sees EIA hosting

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Edmonton International Airport | Page 3

the 65th anniversary conference of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), in recognition of EIA’s new role as a leader in cargo aviation.

Always one to move with the times, EIA is also one of Canada’s most active airports in terms of social media. It has the third largest group of followers on Twitter and Facebook and was ranked third place for excellence in social media at this year’s Airport Council International – North America conference in Atlanta.

EIA is flying into a future bright with promise. Myron Keehn, EIA vice president of commercial development, is excited about the airport’s next steps. “Now that Expansion 2012 is complete, our focus is on filling the building and expanding our network of non-stop routes,” says Keehn. “Our vision is ‘more flights to more places,’ and this is our promise to Edmontonians.”

“We’re also actively promoting Edmonton around the globe through trade missions and conferences, and we’re thrilled that the provincial government has made promoting Alberta to the world a priority going forward,” Keehn continues. “We’ll be working closely with the province and the EEDC to promote this region and this city, thereby ensuring that we have that inbound traffic as well as outbound.”

Keehn points out that the good news about EIA’s future extends from the passengers to the community as a whole.

“We’re also continuing to improve on our passenger experience here at EIA. In June we held the official grand opening of the Plaza Premium Lounge at EIA, making us one of only three Canadian airports to provide this unique pay-in VIP lounge service and we’ll be opening the Renaissance by Marriott Hotel in the fall. We’re also continuing to promote the city’s arts and culture through sponsorship, art installations at the airport and live entertainment featuring Edmonton’s finest emerging artists.”

It takes just a glance around the clean, efficient, beautiful airport to see the work, love and care that has gone into traveller’s comfort over the many years, and this is something VP Bednard is particularly proud of. “We want Edmontonians to feel proud of their airport,” she concludes. “The airport is a first impression of a region.” The locals are very impressed and there is no doubt that visitors to Alberta’s capital city find EIA the perfect entrance into the city of Edmonton.

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BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

R

edTail Landing Golf Club is the “public golf course with a private feel.” Created by the world-renowned Puddicombe Golf team, RedTail Landing is the only course of its kind in the Edmonton area. Links-style features include lots of sand, water and natural grasses, with every hole having a run up area to the green. The club house presides over a 19 acre practice facility that includes 65,000 square feet of natural grass teeing area along with two practice bunkers, three putting greens and two chipping greens.

The 18-hole championship golf course opened for play in 2003; this year is their 10th anniversary. To mark this special anniversary, RedTail Landing hosted the 2013 Alberta Open. The prestigious Alberta Open brought together 96 elite players from the Canadian PGA Tour, the PGA of Alberta, as well as many top collegiate and amateur players from across the province.

Joshua Davison is the head golf professional at RedTail Landing Golf Club and has been playing golf for over 20 years. He loves how the game of golf is for everyone.

“Anybody can play. It’s a game for all skill levels and it will always be that way. That’s the greatest thing about the sport. Anybody can play at any age or any skill level. The game of golf does not discriminate,” says Davison.

The game does not discriminate, but it does offer a challenge and the greatest challenge at RedTail Landing is hole number 11 (Oceans 11 to be exact). “This nerve-racking Par 5 starts you off with a demanding tee shot, a forced carry over

18 Hole championship course Now accepting tournament bookings for groups of all sizes Open year round for meetings, weddings, and parties Ranked #2 best public course in Edmonton – Score Golf Magazine 2011 PGA of Alberta Merchandiser of the Year – 2012 PGA of Canada Retailer of the Year – 2012

Book your tournament or tee time today!

Call (780) 470-4700 or visit www.theranchgolf.com www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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GOLF

REDTAIL LANDING GOLF CLUB

RedTail Landing is happy to partner with you to make your wedding, seminar, fundraiser or other event a success. With light, tasteful décor inside and the stunning grounds for outdoor photos, you and your guests will be right at home for the duration of your event.

HOLE #15.

water,” explains Davison. “Your next shot leaves you with a decision to either lay-up with your second shot, or go for it… this shot is over water as well.” Then he adds with a smile, “It’s my favourite hole!” It’s a favourite for a lot of RedTail Landing’s guests. “There is so much wow factor going on with the water and sand,” Davison says, as to why the guests love it so much. “With the water lapping against the sand that guards the front of the green, it looks like a beach.”

Davison has seen a change in demographics over the years. “I’m seeing a new breed of golfer,” he explains, “younger faces more often.” In fact, RedTail Landing has something special for the younger golfers. Golf camps run throughout the summer for students aged 7 – 14. At camp they learn the basics of golf and then get to apply their newfound skills in fun games and competitions.

You don’t have to be a youngster to take advantage of RedTail Landing’s high-quality golf instruction. Their Golf

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Academy has a variety of lessons and programs for all ages and skill levels.

RedTail Landing is happy to partner with you to make your wedding, seminar, fundraiser or other event a success. With light, tasteful décor inside and the stunning grounds for outdoor photos, you and your guests will be right at home for the duration of your event. Catering can be customized to everything from light snacks to gourmet dining and their approach to outstanding customer service is second to none.

RedTail Landing Golf Club…the Public Course with a Private feel.

RedTail Landing Golf Club is like no other golf club you have experienced. Plan a visit before golf season ends and be sure to test your skills against hole number 11! The club is located just minutes from Edmonton’s south side and near the Edmonton International Airport. Learn more at redtaillanding.com. BIE

WWW.EDMONTONCHAMBER.COM

BUSINESS GROWTH BUILDS OUR COMMUNITY

BY JAMES CUMMING, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JAMES CUMMING

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dmonton is in the midst of another season of vibrant festivals that have given the city a world class reputation for innovative and successful summer events. Tens of thousands of Edmontonians and visitors from around the province will gather outdoors, enjoy the entertainment and be a vital part of our success during the summer months.

Business is a cornerstone of our way of life; providing the jobs and taxes that support social institutions and our standard of living.

Edmonton’s arts community is an important part of our city culture and a valuable sector in our economy. Edmonton has gained a reputation of being able to start small with a good idea and watch it grow into its full potential. The Fringe Festival and Folk Music Festival are two well-known examples of this ability to grow and develop significant arts-based enterprises here in Edmonton.

There are great similarities between our festivals and other businesses in our local economy. Edmonton entrepreneurs are able to achieve great success by starting with a good idea, founding a company and developing it into a thriving enterprise that leads on the global stage. You can find examples of innovation and growth in almost every sector of our economy. This thriving growth underpins an exciting sense of potential within Edmonton and real-world ability to invest back into community priorities. It is important to keep the momentum building in our great city.

Edmonton is also facing change in municipal leadership this fall. The municipal election will usher in a new mayor and several new councillors. The decisions of mayor and council have a great impact on the business community. The Edmonton Chamber will be actively engaged in the

municipal election. We believe that it is important that the voice of business is heard.

Right now, the Edmonton Chamber has an active task force working with our members to identify which municipal issues are most important to Edmonton businesses. We will ensure that our members and the community understand where the candidates for mayor and council stand on the issues that impact business and enterprise in the city. It is the intent of the Edmonton Chamber to make sure a discussion takes place on the matters of strategic importance to our membership. We want to challenge candidates on their vision for our city and how they see business as a part of that vision.

THE EDMONTON CHAMBER IN ACTION

Recently, your Chamber travelled to Terrace, B.C. to provide final arguments at the Northern Gateway Pipelines Joint Review Panel. In our comments, we made it clear that the Edmonton Chamber supports the project on the principle that it provides better market access for our natural resources. We believe that this project has national significance, promotes job creation and intergenerational prosperity. It is a key imperative of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce that we champion responsible growth that brings economic benefits to Edmonton, the region, and other Canadian communities. Business is a cornerstone of our way of life; providing the jobs and taxes that support social institutions and our standard of living. The Northern Gateway Pipelines (NGP) project is among the most-studied projects in our nation’s history and utilizes solid science in its design. The NGP will be an economic benefit to the communities that build and maintain it, while diversifying market access for the investments that have already been made in Alberta’s resources. Our families, businesses, and communities benefit when we prudently make the most of what we have.

Edmonton’s vibrant community, with a dynamic business culture, and its Chamber of Commerce are working together towards a positive future as a Great Northern City. www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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EVENTS ORDER YOUR TICKETS TODAY. VISIT EDMONTONCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS

Edmonton Eskimos Sawmill End Zone

Tailgate Party

Join the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce for the most anticipated game on the annual schedule: the Labour Day Classic Rematch!

First, guests will enjoy a tailgate-style barbeque catered by the Sawmill Group. Then, take in the game at field level and be part of the battle within earshot of players and officials.

A football experience like no other awaits you!

Buy your tickets early!

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Edmonton Eskimos vs Calgary Stampeders

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Friday, September 6, 2013 Commonwealth Stadium Gate: 5:30 p.m. Game: 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by

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Tickets: Members $79.00 + GST Non-members $99.00 + GST

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CMY

Selling to the Government & the Public Sector

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Seminar Wednesday, October 23, 2013 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

World Trade Centre Edmonton 6th Floor, 9990 Jasper Avenue

Learn more about public tendering, the MERX and Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC) online tender sites, trade agreements, making contacts, and other helpful hints that can help you be successful.

Presenters will be from the Government of Canada, the Alberta Government, the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services and NAIT. If your business wants to provide goods and services to these large organizations, you need to be at this event.

Hurry! Limited space available.

Presenters:

Tickets: Members $99.00 + GST Non-members $135.00 + GST Lunch is included

EDMONTONCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS

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SECTION EDMONTON.COM TITLE

TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TURNS 25

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lthough Edmonton Research Park’s Advanced Technology Centre celebrated its 25th anniversary in June, this landmark building has been the launching pad for some of the city’s most innovative and successful start-up companies.

Still looking futuristic at the corner of 23 Avenue and Parsons Road on Edmonton’s south side, the awardwinning Barry Johns-designed structure is a business incubator that houses small, creative and mobile technology companies in the early stages of commercialization.

Over 100 companies have gone through the building, typically staying between three and five years to develop and grow their business.

But it is more than just space that entrepreneurs access here. They can take advantage of a stimulating and nurturing environment. Month-to-month lease terms, flexible office space with shared meeting rooms, networking programs, entrepreneurship training, and referrals to programs at regional agencies — these are just some of the services available to tenants.

Currently housing 28 tenants, the Advanced Technology Centre was built through a partnership in 1986 of the then-Edmonton Research and Development Park Authority and the Alberta government. The park itself was created in 1982 to provide a high-quality business park for the

high-tech community as well as to diversify Edmonton’s economy.

Tenants specialize in a wide range of industries, like energy, education, nanotechnology and biotechnology. Aside from the Advanced Technology Centre, they can also lease space from the Research Centre One and the Biotechnology Business Development Centre, depending on where companies are in their development.

Over 1,500 people work for more than 55 leading-edge companies in the research park. The Advanced Technology Centre is a key catalyst in laying the foundations for tomorrow’s economy.

WELCOME CENTRE MOVES EAST ON JASPER AVENUE Shaw Conference Centre block party kicks off 30th year celebration

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dmonton Tourism’s welcome centre has moved eastward. Opened officially on June 21, the new location at 9797 Jasper Avenue is more visible and easier to access.

“Many visitors still enjoy a one-on-one, face-to-face connection with a visitor counselor and it has proven to extend their activity and stay,” says Maggie Davison, vice-president of tourism at Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. “The new location makes it easier for visitors and convention goers alike to discover what our city has to offer. We look forward to tripling our walk-in traffic and adding to Jasper Avenue’s colour and dynamism.”

Gone is the traditional counter separating staff and visitors, allowing for more free-flowing and in-depth counseling. Upon entering the welcome centre, visitors are greeted by ceiling-to-floor vistas of North America’s largest urban parkland, the river valley. Metered parking spots are available in front of the building.

Its former location at the World Trade Centre drew 3,000 visitors in 2012. Edmonton Tourism also welcomes visitors at its award-winning facility at Gateway Park and a summer booth at the Edmonton International Airport.

The facility’s opening was followed by a midday neighbourhood block party on Jasper Avenue marking the Shaw Conference Centre’s 30th anniversary and the growing downtown vibrancy along Jasper Avenue east. The community event included roving entertainers, food trucks, new public art displays, and tours of the centre and the new CKUA Radio building.

EDMONTON CITY COUNCILORS TONY CATERINA AND KAREN LEIBOVICI CHECK OUT THE NEW WELCOME CENTRE.

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | August 2013

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EDMONTON.COM

TITLE

EDMONTONIAN WINS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL PRIZE

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embers of Shaw Conference Centre’s kitchen have captured a prestigious national culinary competition for two consecutive years. Apprentice cook, Myles Fedun, won over competitors from Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia in the Canadian Culinary Federation’s recent culinary chef challenge.

Occurring alongside the federation’s annual conference, which was held in Edmonton this year, the chef challenge features cooks and chefs who qualified to compete after winning regional competitions.

“Winning this is a humbling achievement, and would not have been possible without the support and mentorship of many people,” says 22-year-old Fedun. His interest in the culinary arts was spurred by participating in the Canadian Culinary Federation’s annual high school challenge while he was attending Fort Saskatchewan High. “I applied for a scholarship and it took off from there.”

Fedun’s victory comes on the heels of a Shaw Conference Centre colleague’s success last year. Sous Chef Serge Belair took first prize in the same competition in Halifax and will represent Canada in August at the World Association of Chefs Societies’ global chef challenge in Las Vegas.

No stranger to competition, Fedun was a member of Alberta’s team at last fall’s World Culinary Olympics in Germany. Fedun is a Red Seal cooking graduate of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s culinary program.

“Greater Edmonton is filled with a tremendous amount of creative talent. What differentiates Shaw Conference Centre from other facilities is our culinary team’s reputation for excellence and creativity,” says executive chef Simon Smotkowicz. “Our guests leave with a memorable experience at every level — dining, client service and views of the river valley.”

THE WINNING MENU BY FEDUN FEATURED: • Buffalo mozzarella panna cotta, Caprese salad, balsamic gel, chipotle tabasco tomato sauce, basil powder, pine nut brittle and basil oil.

• Salmon mi-cuit, sun choke puree, green pea veloute, radishes, fennel, dilled peas, sunchoke chips and citrus sabayon.

• Ash-crusted sous-vide tri-tip of beef, farro bar, smoky creamed parsnips, baby carrots, brussel sprouts, pickled pearl onions and sauce Marchand de Vin. • Terrine of dark chocolate marquise, hazelnut crunch, hazelnut blondie, mango parfait, raspberry clafoutis, chocolate crumble, mango beurre blanc and raspberry coulis.

CHEF MYLES FEDUN’S COLOURFUL CREATIONS THAT EARNED HIM TOP PRIZE IN A NATIONAL CHEF CHALLENGE.

NEW BUSINESS FESTIVAL THIS FALL

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t’s Edmonton’s newest festival.

Entwine yourself with entrepreneurs, explorers, entertainers, economists, educators in this must-not-miss event of the year, happening September 12 – 13.

For more, visit e-town.ca.

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