August/September 2017

New Chamber CEO quickly calling Saskatoon Home

Darla Lindbjerg, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce

Interview with Hon. Ralph Goodale pg. 7

pg. 6

Succession Planning means planning for success pg. 23

The who, what, and why’s of tourism in Saskatoon pg. 8

IS THEIR MISSION WorkSafe Saskatchewan congratulates 2017 Safe Worker Heidi McCaskill, Cervus Equipment Peterbilt Regina, and 2017 Safe Employer GFL Environmental Inc. Saskatoon. These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding employers and individuals who strive to make Mission: Zero a reality in Saskatchewan.

•

To nominate someone for

the 2018 Safe Worker or Safe Employer Awards, visit www.worksafesask.ca.

Above left to right: Garry Hamblin, Board Member, Saskatchewan WCB; Aimee Smith, Director of Safety Operations, Occupational Health and Safety Division, Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety; Safe Employer Winner Brian Hillier, National Director, EH & S, GFL Environmental Inc; Safe Worker Winner Heidi McCaskill, Cervus Equipment Peterbilt Regina; Gord Dobrowolsky, Chairperson, Saskatchewan WCB; Larry Flowers, Board Member, Saskatchewan WCB.

August/September 2017

Featured Articles New Chamber CEO quickly calling Saskatoon Home Pg. 6 Cover Story

Interview with Hon. Ralph Goodale Pg. 7 CEO Darla Lindbjerg meets with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

The who, what, and why’s of tourism in Saskatoon

Pg. 8

A recap of the winners of the 2017 Saskatoon Achievement

Three insights I learned from Kent Smith-Windsor -

Pg. 11

By Andrea Hansen

Saskatoon meets Nashville Pg. 14 What I learned at ACCE 2017 by Kevin Meldrum Chamber CEO Darla Lindbjerg Image: Grant Romancia Photography

Succession Planning means planning for success Pg. 23 Kelly Bode - WMCZ Lawyers & Chair of the Board

Board of Directors for the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Chair Kelly Bode - WMCZ Lawyers & Mediators. 1st Vice-Chair Peggie Koenig - Koenig & Associates. 2nd Vice-Chair Paul Labbe - Stantec Inc. Past President Jason Yochim - Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®. Executive Sandra Ribeiro - Canadian Light Source Inc. Bill Cooper - PotashCorp. Stacy Dybvig - ICR Commercial Real Estate. Usha Kapoor - Park Town Hotel. Linda Mason - PCL Construction Management Ltd. Deborah Meyers - Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Karl Miller - Meridian Development. Chris Sicotte - Affinity Credit Union.Brian Skanderbeg - GFG Resources Inc. Trevor Thiessen - Redekop Manufacturing. Chris Woodland - MLT Aikins.

STAFF

Darla Lindbjerg, CEO Roz Macala, Executive Secretary Terri Eger, Events and Communications Director Terry Lawrence, Administrator Kevin Meldrum, Marketing Director Linda Saunders, Bookkeeper Nathan Galan & Tasia Presber, Interns

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40052085 Return Undeliverable Addresses to: Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce 104-202 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0K1 Publisher: Kevin Meldrum - Marketing Director

Cover Image by Grant Romancia

businessview@saskatoonchamber.com

Staff Writer: Terri Eger - Events & Communications Director Photographer: Grant Romancia

BUSINESSView­is a publication of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce 104-202 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0K1 Phone: (306) 244-2151 Fax: (306) 244-8366 Email: chamber@saskatoonchamber.com Website: www.saskatoonchamber.com Twitter: @stoonchamber Feedback on articles is invited, but views expressed in BUSINESS View are those of contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by, or are policy of, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce or its Board of Directors. We encourage you to support the business leaders whose names and products you see advertised in this issue as well as throughout our entire membership. The Board reserves the right to edit submissions.

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 3

The Saskatoon Chamber Welcomes our New Members AGT Foods Food Processors / Distributors 101-203 Stonebridge Blvd, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 244-5645 Omer Al-Katib

Focus Business Support Inc. Business Services 425 Vancouver Ave N, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 291-2641 Treana Wunsch

Krakken IT Services Inc. Business Services AND Technology 317-318 21st St E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 652-2672 Carrie-Ann Allen

Ashley Tilsley RMT Massage Therapy 3211 Preston Ave S, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 220-9026 Ashley Tilsley

Free the Spirit Consulting Services Inc. Consultants - Communications Phone: (306) 361-1220 Christine Fiddler

Leah Brisdon Realty PC Real Estate - Residential 301 33rd St W, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 657-3207 Leah Brisdon

Carnegie Medical Supplies Health Care - Services / Supplies H-2301 Millar Ave, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 668-3998 James Carnegie

Grayling Business Consulting Accountants / Bookkeepers 144 12th St E, Prince Albert Phone: (306) 764-3552 Tim Leson

Little Grouse Restaurant Inc. Restaurants 226 3rd Ave S, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 979-0100 Erick Strong

Cathedral Social Hall Saskatoon Restaurants 608 Spadina Cres E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 668-1011 Ray Dulos

Greenfields Agriculture Corporation Agricultural 1332 8th St E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 491-6728 Dongliang (Frank) Su

Lung Association of Saskatchewan Non-Profit Organizations 1231 8th St E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 343-9511 Jeffrey Culbert

Children’s Discovery Museum on the Saskatchewan Entertainment / Attractions 2325 Preston Ave S, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 683-2555 Amanda McReynolds Doran

Hardpressed Print Studio Inc. Retail - Clothing / Costumes 224 20th St W, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 384-5488 Whitney Thomson

Miller, Ryan Construction AND Home-Based Business Phone: (306) 281-7996 Ryan Miller

Hertz Canada Ltd. Automobile - Lease / Rental / Sales 3911 Burron Ave, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 668-8868 Ajay Dhiman / Luis Moreno

National Displays Inc. Trade Show Service / Supplies 1504 Warman Rd, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 715-8163 Alex Choiniere

Home-MD Construction Construction AND Home Builders / Renovations 122 Blackthorn Cres, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 227-4444 Tim Heisler

OUTSaskatoon Non-Profit Organizations 201-320 21st St W, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 665-1224 Rachel Loewen Walker

Close Capture Images Photographers - Sales / Services 250 Pohorecky St, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 715-2077 Arun Joseph Crazy Tails Canine Services Pets / Pet Supplies / Pet Training 518C 44th St E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 270-6025 Meghan Oesch Crooked Hill Creek Farm Inc. Agricultural 1020 Ave E N, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 665-1078 Tim Myrfield

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Ibezi, Kenechukwu Individual Member Phone: (639) 471-0914

Dr. P. LaBelle Medical P.C. Inc. Home-Based Business Phone: (306) 652-6900 P. LaBelle

Infinite Water Solutions Water Softening Equipment / Service / Supplies 2-615 Haskamp St, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 382-2782 Amanda Machuk

Driverseat Taxi / Limousine Services Phone: (306) 803-5775 Steven Schmidt

JDR Reinforcing Ltd. Construction Phone: (306) 203-4313 John Baldwin

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

Packham Avenue Dental Health Care - Services / Supplies 116-335 Packham Ave, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 651-7366 Laken Bleackley-Friesen / Glenda Orr PHL Prospector Holdings (2008) Ltd. Accountants / Bookkeepers AND Home-Based Business Phone: (306) 291-1051 Ramon Boyd Pradera Environmental Solutions Inc. Consultants - Environment 10-2220 Northridge Dr, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 229-1158 Abra Gruber

The Saskatoon Chamber Welcomes our New Members preferred choice Development Strategists Consultants - Business AND Consultants 734 Beechdale Way, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 380-0907 D. James Leier Riverside Resort: Pets on Vacation Pets / Pet Supplies / Pet Training PO Box 33058 RPO Confed Park, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 260-3666 Rick Kimakowich Salon Icon Inc. Cosmetic / Esthetic - Services / Supplies 2-421 Ludlow St, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 975-0019 Giselle Thomas Sask Valley Refrigeration Refrigeration PO Box 2035, Warman Phone: (306) 290-1112 Murray Daschuk Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Government Agencies - Provincial / Federal 324-111 Research Dr, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 975-1680 Richard Kies

Saskatoon SPCA Inc. Non-Profit Organizations 5028 Clarence Ave S, Grasswood Phone: (306) 374-7387 Lily Iliev Smith-Windsor Partnership Management Services - Project / Construction Phone: (306) 979-8700 Kent Smith-Windsor Sticks and Stones Restaurant Inc. Restaurants 226 2nd Ave S, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 979-1919 Brett Theriault Terra Modelling Services Mining & Exploration 609 Ross Ave, Dalmeny Phone: (306) 292-9154 Louis Fourie TJ Fraser Holdings Inc. Transportation Industry Phone: (306) 229-9003 Tom Fraser

Touchstone Development Corp. Home Builders / Renovations 1-320 Jessop Ave, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 974-5099 Denise Selby uBreakiFix Technology 160-3020 Preston Ave S, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 657-4233 Eric Urzada Untapped Potential Business Consulting Ltd. Consultants - Business 454 Lenore Dr, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 230-6895 Rodelle Genoway Yung’s Nails & Spa Cosmetic / Esthetic - Services / Supplies 2403 22nd St W, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 974-3913 Dung Vo

Total Protection Security Security / Surveillance Systems 207-416 21st St E, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 664-3364 Colleen Grainger / Daniel Jabour

Small Business Owner? The Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce represents over 2000 business owners & individuals in our community, most of which are small businesses. Members get benefits like networking, learning, & advertising opportunities and special discounts on business services like group health insurance, and credit/debit processing.

See how Chamber membership can benefit your small business.

SaskatoonChamber.com 306-244-2151 BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 5

Chamber News

New Chamber CEO quickly calling Saskatoon home

Image: Grant Romancia

By Terri Eger Events & Communications Director, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Darla Lindbjerg is settling into life in Saskatoon and is already making strides to lead The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce into the future. Lindbjerg’s roots are in southern Saskatchewan where she grew up along the shores of Diefenbaker Lake and attended school in Beechy. She and her husband Halden have been married for 17 years and spent their first year together in Denmark where he played professional hockey before developing a career as a journeyman carpenter. They have three children: Aida (13), Ethan (10) and Eva (7) who are quickly calling Saskatoon home. “We love Saskatoon,” she said. “There is so much to see and do and the people are fantastic. The business community has been extremely welcoming.” Outside of work Lindbjerg has a passion for photography and travel, although she admits that her leisure time is primarily focused around her career. With her welcoming smile and positive attitude, she’s eager to see The Chamber move forward. Lindbjerg brings 10 years of experience from the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce including time spent as a member, on the board of directors and in the staff position as CEO. She is now embracing her new role as CEO of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. Her love of business initially drew her to the organization and is what continues to motivate her today. “I love being able to affect positive change in a community,” she said. “I love working as a champion on issues that can contribute to the growth of the business community.” She has vast experience around board tables and finds time spent with Chamber Members to be valuable. “Who doesn’t want to be around a board table with people who want to make things better?” she asked. “These people are looking at the long-term and developing strategies to 6

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

make the entire community successful.” Lindbjerg sees The Chamber as a huge asset to Saskatoon as a whole. “The Chamber is a connector, facilitator, conversation starter and collaborator in the community,” she said. “We work with stakeholders to give them the information they need to make informed decisions.” As the voice of business, Lindbjerg sees the Chamber as a key component to business success. “The Chamber is strong in advocacy, member development and connecting businesses,” she said. “We have a multitude of services that help businesses save time and money.” In her new position, Lindbjerg is taking time to meet people across the various sectors that make Saskatoon tick. “I pride myself in being accessible,” said Lindbjerg. “If members have concerns or want to talk, my door is open. “ The roots of the Chamber run deep in Saskatoon and she sees the strength of the business community stemming from the membership base. “Businesses often look at the Chamber and ask, ‘What can the Chamber do for me?’ and we are there to help them,” she said. “But what really excites me is when they ask, ‘What can I do for the Chamber?’ “The Chamber was built by business for business. Our mandate is to build a strong business community.”

From the CEO

A CEO Interview with Hon. Ralph Goodale Recently, Chamber CEO Darla Lindbjerg had an opportunity to meet with Hon. Ralph Goodale, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Lindbjerg took this chance to interview Minister Goodale for the BusinessView magazine, in order to share his message with the Chamber membership and the business community at-large. Lindbjerg: As it’s our first official meeting, I want to take the opportunity to hear from you, understand all viewpoints and get ahead of the issues before they arise. What’s your perspective on the last several months in federal government? Goodale: To think through the last 20 months since our government took office, there has been a constant list of issues that have been worked through positively between the Saskatchewan government and the Federal leadership: the transfer of management of water dams to SaskWater, collaboration on a mental health and home care agreement, and negotiating a better Canada Pension Plan agreement for the entire country. When it comes to the trade agenda, our position matches Saskatchewan’s position on these important but tricky issues. There’s been a whole series of really good things between Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada. Lindbjerg: How about the issue of carbon tax? We know that’s a topic of strong debate right now between the Province and the Feds. Goodale: We’re trying to work our way around this right now. Real effort is being made by officials on both sides to find some common ground, and trying to make this a win-win. Our conversations have continued with the Environment Minister and Finance Minister to keep the dialogue open on this topic, among other things. The mood has changed from what was a previously heated argument to a collaborative conversation now.

Image courtesy Ralph Goodale

Lindbjerg: How do you measure success in your role? Goodale: Enhancing people’s quality of life, especially those who are in the most vulnerable positions. Lindbjerg: Out of all of the portfolios you have held in your career, which has been your favourite? Goodale: I’ve really enjoyed them all, but Public Safety has been the most exciting of the portfolios – it’s a serious portfolio that impacts the lives and safety of all Canadians, and things move very quickly. There are the wildfires, border issues, policing, corrections, national security issues, CSIS – they’re all hugely interesting but what makes the portfolio challenging is that each issue is so serious. There’s nothing frivolous, and there’s never a break from it. Lindbjerg: What initiatives are you focused on right now? Goodale: The biggest issue overall is the long term reshaping of the policy for national security. The new legislation we announced in June and the creation of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency is the major initiative that is dominating everything right now. This is the first comprehensive review ever of our security and intelligence activities at this level. Lindbjerg: How do you describe your personal values?

Goodale: I think that the guiding principle that I’ve always tried to have is to do your best with the resources that you’re given. Also, to conduct yourself in a way that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to read about it on the front page of the newspaper. Lindbjerg: You are the only one in parliament to have served with both Pierre Elliott and Justin Trudeau as Prime Ministers. How do they compare? Goodale: They are both very charming, both very smart. They’re both very public and tenacious people. The fundamental difference: Pierre was shy, a very private person. He could animate crowds, but I don’t know if he particularly liked them. Justin, on the other hand, just feeds on the energy. He’s charged up by the crowd. Lindbjerg: What is the riskiest thing that you, the Minister of Public Safety, have ever done? Goodale: In another portfolio, as Minister of Natural Resources, I visited Chernobyl shortly after the meltdown. The government asked for Canadian expertise to contain the fallout, but nobody knew at that point in time what the risks really were. Their scientists were reasonably certain that the immediate danger had passed, but it sure felt risky at the time – we had to trust they knew what they were doing! Lindbjerg: What message would you like to share with the members of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce? Goodale: I’ve always had an intense interest in the wellbeing of Saskatchewan – whether that’s social issues, or economic ones, it’s the one thing that’s on my mind constantly. How can we make life in this province better? And along those lines that Saskatoon’s success, in all of its dynamic industries, is important to the wellbeing of all of Saskatchewan.

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 7

Saskatoon Business

The who, what, and why’s of tourism in Saskatoon

By Aviva Kohen, Media Director at Tourism Saskatoon

Image courtesy of Tourism Saskatoon

Tourism Saskatoon is the internationally accredited destination marketing agency for Saskatoon. Established in 1977, their mission is to promote economic development through tourism in Saskatoon. The notfor-profit agency has a board of directors that represent the major sectors of the industry, including business and government leaders in the city. Tourism in Saskatoon is big business. It is the largest industry in the world, with international travel receipts totalling more than $1.159 trillion in 2013. The value of the tourism industry to Saskatoon’s economy has grown from $210 million in 1991, impressively to more than $530 million in 2013, and continues to climb. Approximately 9% of Saskatoon’s workforce is employed in tourism-related jobs, including hotels, attractions, transportation, retail, and food and beverage. These jobs and dollars being injected into our economy are not from leisure travel alone. Tourism Saskatoon has departments dedicated to bidding on national and international conferences and events and sporting events. They work with local leaders – ambassadors that assist in attracting and hosting conferences and events in their industry or area of interest – to showcase what makes Saskatoon an excellent host city. Events like this September’s CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards) are an

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BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

example of a successful bid by our National Conventions team. This week-long celebration of Canadian country music in our city will draw visitors from across the province and country to kick up their boots in Saskatoon. Dawn Woroniak, local leader and Chair of PotashCorp Country Music Week 2017, was involved with the initial successful bid that Tourism Saskatoon supported back in 2010 to host the 2012 CCMAs. She says, “Without them (Tourism Saskatoon), we wouldn’t have been able to even think about pursuing another bid for 2017. They knew it was a huge success for the city. The city benefited economically and the people of the city really got behind the event.” Sporting events such as FIBA 3 X 3, an event recently added as an Olympic sport, took place on the streets of downtown Saskatoon mid-July and will be back in Saskatoon for the next two years, drawing more visitors - and their dollars - into the city. This is the only stop in Canada and the US for this fast-paced, growing sport. Local leader and one of the top 3 X 3 players in the world Michael Linklater hails from Saskatoon, and working alongside Tourism Saskatoon, was enthusiastic about bringing the sport to the city, after its previous stops in Prague, Mexico City and Lausanne. Events like the CCMAs and FIBA 3 X 3 draw tourists to Saskatoon, filling hotel rooms and increasing spending at venues, local shops and hangout spots around the city. The

economic impact from these events, which garner national and international attention, is significant for numerous industries in our community. The Industry Development department at Tourism Saskatoon works closely with member businesses to ensure Saskatoon is not only competitive in attracting visitors, but takes full advantage of opportunities to further develop our destination. One area that has further been developed thanks to those efforts is in our craft drink industry, something that is of growing interest to those visiting our city. Recently one of the travel media that Tourism Saskatoon’s media department hosted wrote an article in the Globe & Mail titled ‘The wild brew yonder’, talking excitedly about the burgeoning craft breweries, distilleries and cidery in and around Saskatoon. As a writer who has travelled around the world, he was impressed with our culinary and craft drink scene in Saskatoon which continues to garner press across Canada in publications like Vogue, ELLE Canada and the Toronto Star, attracting more tourists to come explore different facets of the city. Taking advantage of the increased spending in this area, a recent collaboration among the provincial craft breweries and distilleries, with tourism’s support, resulted in the launch of saskdrinks.com, an interactive map showcasing the industry. Being named the 4th best destination in June by USA Today has helped put Saskatoon even more in the spotlight. The prestige that comes with this title is a tool our conventions and sporting departments can use to entice more events to our city, and one that also draws more interest from leisure travellers. Tourism in Saskatoon is growing, thanks in large part to local leaders who work closely with our departments to show off what our destination has to offer. The benefits are many, as new attractions, businesses and events develop, boosting our local economy, in which we at Tourism Saskatoon are all very proud to play a part. For more information please visit us at www.tourismsaskatoon.com

Member Announcements

Saskatoon-based YasTech Developments introduces YasTech Golf for the golf industry The team at YasTech Developments, based out of Saskatoon, is proud to present YasTech Golf. Building off of the strong growth of award-winning YasTech Developments, YasTech Golf will focus exclusively on the Golf Industry, providing modern web design, custom software development and dedicated support to our Golf Industry clients. With technology constantly evolving, YasTech Golf stays on top of current trends and ensures golf industry websites are not only mobile friendly, but fully compatible with existing Industry vendors, specifically all leading Tee Time Booking providers.

“Over the last couple of years, we have built some strong Golf Industry relationships and, based on our client’s feedback, feel we needed to introduce a dedicated Golf Division. As a Preferred Partner with the PGA of Canada, and a Golfmax Supplier with the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA), YasTech Golf is able to offer attractive pricing and unlimited options for the Golf Industry”, states YasTech Golf President, Michael Yasieniuk. Parent company YasTech Developments has been providing web design services for over 10 years, and in 2014 launched the awardwinning Let’s Camp campground booking software which has quickly become Canada’s top online campground booking software. YasTech Golf’s core product offerings are designed to allow clients the option of selecting specific products to complement their website, effectively growing their bottom

line. These core products include: • Website Design & Development • Lesson Booking • Event Registration • Fully Integrated Online Store • Golf Course Apps • Email Marketing • Social Media Marketing YasTech Golf’s team, led by President Michael Yasieniuk, includes certified programmers and graphic designers, along with two former PGA of Canada Professionals with over 20 years of industry experience, Scott Allan and Travis Robinson. Visit YasTech Golf on the web at www. yastechgolf.com. Sample the YasTech Golf Products and Services at www.rockyhills. yastechgolf.com. For more information, contact YasTech Golf at (306)249-9609 / team@yastechgolf.com

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 9

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BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

Contributions

Three insights I learned from Kent Smith-Windsor By Andrea Hansen Business Advisor, Sutton Financial Group I recently had the pleasure of attending Kent-Smith Windsor’s retirement party from the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy: 21 years of dedicated service and a vast influence that goes far beyond the Saskatoon Chamber. He was also an integral part of the Raj Manek Mentorship Program and Leadership Saskatoon, and the list goes on. My connection with Kent goes back over 13 years when I became one of the advisors for the Chambers Group Insurance Plan. As I was reflecting on my relationship with Kent over the years, three insights came to mind that I learned from him. I share these in the hope that you can apply them to your own life and business.

analogy with me and relating it to business competition. Purebred horses are trained to race and win, and they always run faster with another horse breathing in their ear. What does that mean for a business owner? Don’t be afraid of your competition – let their innovations drive you to keep just a nose ahead!

Competition is essential for individuals and businesses to thrive.

Nothing “rocks” forever.

It brings a smile to my face when I recall Kent sharing his thoroughbred horse racing

You can’t do it all yourself. Leadership means looking for the potential in others and then building into them so that they have the confidence and support to pursue their vision. At Kent’s retirement party, they referred to him as the “Mentor of Leaders”, which I thought was a perfect reference as Kent is a leader that supported and served others.

You need to listen to your clients and understand your market. Yes, some initiatives, products or services were awesome at a

point in time and served a need, but you have to know when it’s time to innovate and move forward. Sure, you can be grateful for the time it did “rock”, but move on. If you are not moving forward, you are moving backward and no business should ever count on something rocking forever, right! Anyone want to buy a fidget spinner? Mark Nepo said: “To listen is to lean in softly with the willingness to be changed by what we hear.” – Listen willingly the next time a respected leader is sharing a story. There just might be a mindset-altering lesson to be learned and a new perspective gained. Thank you to Kent Smith-Windsor and here’s to Horses, Rocks and not riding Alone! Watch for next; "3 Insights I Learned from Monica Kreuger". Andrea Hansen is a Business Advisor, Educator and Creator of the SFG Approach for Business. She can be reached at 306934-5540.

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BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 11

Member News

Crestline Coach adds new international recruits to leadership team Image: Grant Romancia

Crestline Coach Ltd., a Saskatoonbased global leader in ambulance and specialty vehicle manufacturing, recently welcomed Gordon McLean, Director of Engineering, and Richard Valenti, Vice President of Operations, to the company’s Senior Management Team. Crestline’s continued growth projections, geographic market expansion and the pace of product innovation created an opportunity to strengthen core functions supporting their business strategy and to effectively meet the growing demands of the industry. Director of Engineering, Gordon McLean, joins Crestline from Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), where he spent the better part of his career as Director of Engineering (Whole Vehicle) for Britain’s leading bus and coach manufacturer with 2,000 employees

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BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

at facilities in the UK, continental Asia and North America. McLean’s formal education was acquired at the Strathclyde UniversityGlasgow in Scotland, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degrees in Manufacturing Sciences and Engineering. “Gordon’s proven ability to effectively bring to market next generation specialty vehicles will further elevate Crestline’s role in meeting the needs of the evolving specialty vehicle industry. His dynamic approach will ensure we continue to lead innovation through adoption and integration of key technologies and materials while ensuring design strategies which support manufacturing efficiencies,” says Steve Hoffrogge, President and CEO, Crestline Coach. Richard Valenti, Vice President of Operations, joins Crestline from New Orleans,

Louisiana, USA, after a successful 30+ year career with Textron Marine & Land Systems, a manufacturer of specialty marine craft and armored vehicles to U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard, and a variety of International customers with sales of over $500 million and 1,000 employees in various locations. Beyond Valenti’s vast experience, his credentials include a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of New Orleans and Executive Leadership training from Duke University and Thunderbird International School of Management. “Richard joins at a time when we are seeing significant increases in our vehicle manufacturing activities. Our growth and our aggressive product innovation agenda requires that we broaden our manufacturing capabilities and enhance our supply chain strategies while maintaining our focus on achieving industry leading operational efficiencies,” explains Hoffrogge. “Richard’s background in effectively leading similar organizations through the process of scaling manufacturing operations, while delivering cost efficiencies, will provide us with key insights and strategies in these areas as he works collaboratively with our entire management team to meet these challenges.” “I, along with the entire management team, look forward to working with Gordon and Richard as we execute our product innovation plans and continue our journey of achieving operational excellence in all that we do”. Both international recruits are based at Crestline’s headquarters, in Saskatoon, SK. To learn more about Crestline’s Senior Leadership Team or the products they offer, please visit www.crestlinecoach.com.

Chamber News

Chamber Board Member Jason Aebig recipient of 2017 Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award In June, Leadership Saskatoon presented the inaugural “Don Ravis – Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award” to Jason Aebig. Leadership Saskatoon is formally celebrating one of its alumni who has embraced the concept of community leadership and has practiced it since he graduated from Leadership Saskatoon’s first class in 2001. Jason’s vast and continued community involvement speaks volumes about his character and commitment to community leadership which aligns with the deep values of Leadership Saskatoon making him a very deserving winner. In presenting the award, Giselle Howard, Leadership Saskatoon Board Chairperson said, “Excellence in community leadership is something worth celebrating and the contributions of our alumni to this community have helped make Saskatoon one of the best places to live and work”. This year, 32 participants from the private, public, and not for profit sectors graduated

Image: Grant Romancia

from Leadership Saskatoon. Howard states, “Participants from a wide range of backgrounds, experience and organizations participate in Leadership Saskatoon. We like to think that our program inspires its participants to embrace the importance of community leadership and to apply the principles in every aspect of their lives”. Jason Aebig is a Partner at Creative Fire in Saskatoon. He has served as a volunteer with numerous organizations and boards, including Family Service Saskatoon, Broadway

Theatre, Albert Community Centre, and Leadership Saskatoon. He has served as a member of the University's Board of Governors, University Senate, and President of the U of S Alumni Association. He was the first elected President & Chair of Remai Modern, overseeing the completion of the gallery's final plan and design of the $21 million capital campaign. He is a former Chair of Saskatoon's United Way where he worked on advancing Saskatchewan's “2-1-1” initiative and the implementation of United Way’s new community investment model. Jason is currently serving a two-year term as a Director on of the Great Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Board. Leadership Saskatoon is a community leadership training and development organization with programming designed to support emerging leaders, especially community ones. Check out www.leadershipsaskatoon.com for more information.

THANK YOU

to the more than 1,800 businesses and community partners who have provided our students with authentic career and work education experiences. Your support is inspiring our young people to pursue a career path, reach their potential and become active, contributing members of our community.

Respect • Excellence • Joy • Responsibility

Saskatoon Public Schools Inspiring Learning If you are interested in supporting Career and Work Education programs please call 306-683-8208 or visit saskatoonpublicschools.ca

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 13

Chamber News

Saskatoon meets Nashville at ACCE Convention By Kevin Meldrum Marketing Director, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce that Chambers of Commerce are so important to building communities that they are found in virtually every jurisdiction across the planet. Some unexpected places still have functioning Chambers including Iraq, Somalia, and even North Korea! Business leaders everywhere see the value in working together to build their community through a Chamber of Commerce, even in the most challenging conditions.

Nashville skyline, courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

In July, representatives from Chambers of Commerce from around the world descended upon “Music City” - Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the annual Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) conference. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, and also the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce were in attendance, joined by counterparts from across Canada. The event brought together over 1,100 Chamber professionals from organizations of all sizes from across the U.S., Europe, Australia, South America, and Canada. The days were filled with workshops and educational seminars to help Chamber executives learn best practices, strategies, and tactics from their peers to improve their operations and deliver better value to their members. In addition to the programming was an annual awards show, honouring the top Chambers in various sizes and categories. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce was recognized for being in the top 10 for our membership size in overall membership retention for the third year in a row, and our counterparts at the provincial level, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, were finalists for the ACCE “State/Province Chamber of the Year” award. While ultimately the Georgia Chamber of Commerce went home with the prize, Saskatoon and Saskatchewan were well represented on this international stage. 14

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

While in attendance at the conference, I noted several key themes kept coming up that Chambers from communities across the world have in common: Chambers are (Still) Influential The first Chamber of Commerce formed in 1599 in Marseilles, France when traders and merchants banded together to improve regional trade relations and advocate with a united voice to influence change to reduce red tape that was stagnating growth. While this core function of collaboration for influence hasn’t changed, Chambers today continue to grow and adapt to meet the evolving needs of business in their community. While some still think of Chambers as stuffy meetings around dim board rooms, Chambers are constantly reinventing themselves to meet the realities of 21st century business models. They are developing innovative membership models, bringing brand new and long-time business owners together, and creating stronger connections amongst members and the community at-large every day. Chambers Connect and Build Communities One of the main reasons businesses join a Chamber is to connect with others who share their vision. Chambers create a sense of shared ownership amongst their membership and this camaraderie is built, grown, and cultivated by the membership for the benefit of the entire community. One ACCE session presenter pointed out

Reaching A New Generation One of the biggest questions people were asking themselves was, “How do we engage young business owners, startups, and a new generation in the Chamber?” Younger business owners are seeking a different value proposition from organizational membership than previous generations. Chambers are adapting to this by offering more experiential-based engagement and turning the concept of networking on its head. Group outings and activities have all but replaced old fashioned wine and cheese mixers, and t-shirts and jeans are just as common as suits and ties. Fostering startup growth is important as startups account for a majority of job creation in a community. If Chambers can help create a community that is welcoming, supportive, and gives startups access to resources they need, then more are apt to come. It’s a net win for everyone. Wrapping up We learned a lot during our time at ACCE, and are looking forward to incorporating a lot of this knowledge into the Chamber going forward. In the meantime, feel free to drop me a line and let us know what we could be doing to ensure that you, the member, are getting the most value out of your membership. Email me at marketing@ saskatoonchamber.com with any thoughts or feedback – we look forward to hearing from you! Kevin Meldrum is the Marketing Director for the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce

Five Minutes for Business

The explosive debate around minimum wage By Hendrik Brakel Senior Director, Economic, Financial & Tax Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Big increases to minimum wage are becoming fashionable in Canada: first Alberta (from $12.20 currently to $15 in October 2018), then B.C. (from $10.35 to $11.35 in September 2017) and now Ontario (from $11.40 to $15.00 in January 2019, a 30% hike in 18 months). Are workers better off or does it mean fewer jobs? The debate has been ferocious because economists don’t agree, but let’s look at the fundamentals. The government accepts that carbon taxes are effective at reducing emissions because if you make something more expensive, people will use less of it. We agree, but the same logic must apply to wages. And, actually, a business owner faced with the rising cost of an input (labour) has three options: 1) Absorb the added cost out of her profit margin 2) Raise prices 3) Reduce use of labour by substituting in more capital or simply making do with less work. Let’s take these in order. Some businesses are so spectacularly profitable that owners can just absorb rising labour costs. But Apple and Microsoft don’t use minimum wage labour. If we look at profit margin by industry, the biggest users of minimum wage labour are in retail and food service,

with razor thin (below 3%) margins. There is very little room to absorb these costs, and if a business is not profitable, there is not much point in keeping it going. What about raising prices? The critical ingredient in business success is getting the right price point for your market. One restauranteur told us that the lunch menu in her neighborhood has to be $5-$8, any higher means flirting with disaster. In retail, the competition is with online giants, like Amazon. Often, there is no room to raise prices without driving away customers. The third option to cope with rising wages is making do with less staff. This is controversial because many studies show that minimum wage can be increased without a corresponding rise in unemployment. That’s why the recent Seattle study produced such a bombshell. Washington state collects detailed data on hours worked and it shows how part-time workers with irregular schedules are cut back. Seattle’s minimum wage hike reduced the total hours worked by the low-wage workforce by about 9% while raising their wages by only about 3%. The net loss to workers was an average of $125 a month. This is a big, immediate hit to the most vulnerable workers.

In the long-term, minimum wage hikes can also drive labour-saving capital investment. The former CEO of McDonald’s told Forbes, “demands for a much higher minimum wage would force businesses with small profit margins to replace full-service employees with costly investments in self-service alternatives.” At the time, labour groups accused business owners of crying wolf. McDonald’s is now rolling out touchscreen self-service kiosks across Canada and the U.S. There is some evidence that modest increases in minimum wage can be done without disrupting labour markets, but governments have to be cautious about hurting competitiveness. Previously, I had said there are three options to deal with rising costs, but there is actually a fourth and a fifth option: shut down or move to a different jurisdiction. For more information, please contact: Hendrik Brakel, Senior Director, Economic, Financial & Tax Policy hbrakel@chamber.ca. (Reprinted with permission)

5 Minutes for Business

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 15

The Federal Budget and Business: Maybe They’re Just Not That into You?

Laddie James

General Manager, Hairstyle Inn Salons

Group BeneďŹ ts with a Difference.

Simple. Stable. Smart.

SASKATOON REGION ECONOMIC DASHBOARD

SREDA’S ECONOMIC RATING

C+“

Q2 2017

“

FOR THE SASKATOON REGION

Stabilized consumer and business confidence define the past quarter, demonstrated by consistent year-to-date increases in provincial wholesale trade, new car sales, and retail sales. While Saskatoon Region growth continues to be moderate, some ongoing uncertainty in the housing and construction sectors limited greater improvements. Key indicators display signs of economic security, with GDP exhibiting a higher growth rate than in Q1. Overall, recovery has evolved into stability in Q2, and we expect the Saskatoon Region economy to gain continued balance throughout the remainder of 2017.

”

Alex Fallon, President & CEO, SREDA GDP & POPULATION GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

CMA POPULATION

SASKATCHEWAN POPULATION

$17.3B

305,700

1,137,670

0.4% Change from Q1 2017

0.9% Change from Q1 2017

1.0% Change from Q1 2017

EMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

EMPLOYMENT RATE

LABOUR FORCE

PARTICIPATION RATE

8.2%

64.6%

184,300

70.3%

0.8% Change from Q1 2017

-0.5% Change from Q1 2017

0.6% Change from Q1 2017

0.1% Change from Q1 2017

HOUSING HOUSING STARTS (YTD)

BUILDING PERMITS (YTD)

EXISTING HOME SALES (YTD)

AVERAGE HOME PRICE

745

$291.9M

1,055

$355,313

-18.3% Change from 2016

-24.2% Change from 2016

-3.3% Change from 2016

1.4% Change from 2016

OTHER INDICATORS - Saskatoon “The Chamber’s recent ‘Health Vision 20/20 Conference’ NEW BUSINESS LICENCES (Q2)

385 10.3% Change from Q2 2016

YXE PASSENGER TRAFFIC (Q2 YTD)

0.723M

0.2% Change from Q2 2016

Saskatchewan (May YTD)

demonstrated a lot of business growth in the theindustrial innovation and the “We now have three consecutive quarters within and office sectors to illustrate vacancy rates either technology sectors in Saskatoon. Thehave commitment from the stabilized or decreased. Retail vacancy as of Q2 2017 sits at provincial government to fostering innovation indicates that these only 3% and demand remains strong. Repurposing of the sectors continue to play an important role in the economy. Saskatoon Police Station to office use, commencement of city’s the River Landing project and the that construction We are looking forward toannouncement supporting continued growth and new will begin on World Trade Centre this fall illustrates confidence business startups in these sectors in the near future.” that the Saskatoon office market has turned the corner. Although the sale of industrial and residential townhouse remains anemic, there is a healthy Darla Lindbjerg, President andland CEO demand for investment in other sectors of commercial real estate from both The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce owner occupants and investors.” Barry Stuart, Managing Partner Senior Sales Associate, ICR

WEEKLY EARNINGS (APR YTD)

WHOLESALE TRADE

NEW CAR SALES

RETAIL SALES

$1,007

$11.02B

$1.00B

$8.4B

2.0% Change from 2016

8.9% Change from 2016

17.8% Change from 2016

5.0% Change from 2016

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 17

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                                                                                    

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                                                                                              

*Price reflects double occupancy - Add $500 for single occupancy - Add $6,000 to fly Business Class Everything on itinerary included - Add $200 for optional Terra-Cotta Warriors Itinerary – Additional optional Tours are available Valid passport and visa required - Free Business Conference option

Plan now to join fellow Chambers from around Saskatchewan and travel with business leaders and friends for this once in a lifetime China Adventure! Space is limited. For details and forms contact the Saskatoon Chamber Office at 306-244-2151 or email us at chamber@saskatoonchamber.com 



New Members

New electronics repair shop, uBreakiFix, opens in Saskatoon

Dropped your iPhone? A new Saskatoon tech repair business can help you out. uBreakiFix, located in Stonebridge, provides same-day repair service of all electronics, from smartphones and tablets, to drones and hoverboards. In addition to repair service, the aptly named store is also using its platform to directly

benefit the community it calls home. To celebrate its grand opening, the store ran a two-week giveback initiative benefitting the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. This is just the beginning for store owner and Saskatchewan native, Eric Urzada, who says that supporting the local community has always been a top priority for the store. “As a business, our support for the community goes well beyond tech repair,” Urzada said. “These are our friends and neighbors. The causes they care about matter to us, too. We’re excited for the opportunity to serve the Saskatoon community with more than reliable tech repair through future nonprofit partnerships.” uBreakiFix was founded in 2009 by

Source Locally. Hire Globally. Would you like to recruit newcomers? BOOK YOUR BOOTH NOW!

millennial duo Justin Wetherill and David Reiff. The pair later partnered with Eddie Trujillo to transition their Internet-based brand to a brick-and-mortar tech repair alternative that was quick, affordable and provided a quality customer experience. Since its inception, the company has grown organically without debt, investors or consultants. “We know that a broken device can ruin someone’s day,” Urzada said. “At uBreakiFix, part of our mission is to change the face of repair by providing an exceptional customer experience. We want to take someone’s bad day and turn it around with friendly employees, top quality parts and labor, and a painless process.” uBreakiFix Stonebridge is located at 160-3020 Preston Ave. S., Saskatoon, SK S7T 0V2 and can be reached at: (844) 8884349. For more information and to view a service menu, visit ubreakifix.com.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE SEPT 5th

Our October 5th job fair is taking place at

weconnect@sods.sk.ca

306-653-4464

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 19

1-888-265-4117

Payment Solutions Right for your Business

Payment Terminals

Payment Terminals

Integrated POS Solutions

Online Solutions

Mobile & Tablet Solutions

Loyalty Solutions & Merchant Cash Advance

Tailored Solutions to grow and manage your business one transaction at a time.

FIRST DATA’S CHAMBER OFFER

Earn a $1,000 MasterCard® gift card1 if First Data cannot beat your current payment processing fees. To get started, all we need is a copy of your current statement. EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS Speak with one of our

Visit chambermerchantservices.ca

Business Consultants today

for more information about our

at 1-888-265-4117.

program and services.

1 Some conditions apply. Merchant processing cost comparison based on all merchant services processing charges shown on most recent processor merchant statement, excluding 3rd party fees, compliance fees and equipment costs. Limit one gift card per merchant. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive for your MasterCard® gift card. This exclusive offer is valid to new contract merchants only. Offer is valid until December 31, 2017.

© 2017 First Data Canada Ltd. is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Canadian Branch, Toronto, ON, Canada. All trademarks, service marks and trade names used in this material are the property of their respective owners. 21958 2017

Golf Tournament

28th Annual President’s Golf Classic The 28th Annual President’s Golf Classic was held on June 6th, 2017 at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club. This event honours the Chamber President and

provides an informal networking opportunity for participants. Thank you to our sponsors and prize donors for your support and contributions

that helped to make our event a great success. We look forward to seeing you at the 29th Annual President’s Golf Classic at The Willows in 2018!

Thank you to our sponsors Saskatoon

Independently Owned and Operated

Sheri Willick

REALTOR® SRES®

Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

Troy Davies

Ward 4 City Councillor, City of Saskatoon

SECURITY

Thank you to our prize donors 96.3 Cruz FM Action Office Interiors Adecco Employment Services Ltd. Affinity Credit Union - Commercial Service AODBT Architecture Interior Design Associated Engineering Bazaar Novelty BHP Billiton Bon Temps Café Braid Flooring & Window Fashions Brunsdon Junor Johnson Appraisals Ltd. Business Development Bank of Canada Cameco Corporation Canadian Western Bank Canadian Western Bank and Trust Canpotex Cave, The The Centre CIBC Cut Casual Steak House Delta Bessborough DirectWest Driverseat Earls Restaurant

Elk Ridge Resort Edward Jones EY ERCO Worldwide Fabmar Communications Global Saskatoon Golder Associates Golf’s Carwash Inc. Hilton Garden Inn Horizon Computers Intact Solutions James Hotel, The Ken Cheveldayoff - MLA Saskatoon Silver Springs KPMG MacPherson, Leslie & Tyerman LLP McDougall Gauley LLP Mano’s Maximum Training Meewasin Valley Authority Midtown Plaza MisterPrint - PrintWest MLT Aikins MNP LLP Nordic Industries (1979) Ltd. North Ridge Development Corp.

Original Joes Park Town Hotel Peace Hills Trust Co. Percy H. Davis Limited Persephone Theatre PotashCorp Radisson Hotel Saskatoon Robertson Stromberg LLP Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse Club Saskatoon Airport Authority Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club Ltd. Saskatoon Club, The Saskatoon Folkfest Incorporated Saskatoon Inn Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation Saskatoon Soccer Centre Shakespeare On The Sask Festival Inc. Sheraton Cavalier Hotel - Saskatoon Sutherland Hotel Taverna Italian Restaurant TCU Place Tourism Saskatoon Winston’s English Pub & Grill Yard and Flagon Pub

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 21

Advertising Opportunities

December/January 2014/15

February /March 2015

Protecting What Matters

Since 1945, Cherry Insurance has helped get families and businesses back on their feet when disaster strikes

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Advertising with the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Get Your Brand in Front of Saskatoon Business Decision Makers BusinessView Saskatoon is published five times each year, with 9,000 copies distributed across the city to all Chamber of Commerce members, all Saskatoon listed business addresses, and at the Saskatoon Airport.

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$1,750.00 / per issue

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$ 500.00 / per issue

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BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017

From the Board of Directors

Succession Planning means planning for success By Kelly Bode Partner, WMCZ Lawyers & 2017/18 Chair of the Saskatoon Chamber Board of Directors No organization, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, big or small, is immune from the issue of succession. However, as widespread an issue as this is, many business owners are too busy with the day-to-day to consider the longevity of the organization. Newsflash: casually assuming that your employees or kids will take over the business or frantically scrambling after a key person announces her departure are NOT succession plans. Proper succession planning requires Michael Bolton-scale time, love and tenderness. You need to give it deep consideration, a massage every now and again and never, EVER, neglect or disregard it. Here are some basic tips to get you on the path:

Communicate In order to formulate a plan that will work for your business, you need to communicate with the people who make the decisions, who will be impacted by the plan and who may have the knowledge to assist, such as your advisors. If you are the CEO, let your key people know your plans years in advance, if possible. You don’t have to know the date, but inform management (or your board) what your future or retirement plans are. If your organization is family-run, talk to your kids – you may have assumed that your son will take over your construction shop, but he may have plans to start a hang-gliding business in Brazil. If you don’t find this out until the 11th hour, will your only option be a fire sale because you didn’t have time to formulate a plan B? If internal succession is your hope, talk to management or other employees to gauge interest so that you can start the grooming process well in advance.

Write it down and Shore it up It is all well and good to have discussions, but what good are they if you don’t document them and no one can find them? The whole point of succession is for the plan to live and

breathe apart from the thoughts in any one individual’s head. Whether or not you have identified specific individuals who may desire to step into leadership roles, create a job description – write down what the role or roles require. Create measurable qualifications, competencies and standards for each. Create a list of individuals internal to the organization (or external, if known) who can take over the responsibilities. If you’re lucky enough to have employees that are interested in taking over the business, consider giving them skin in the game by way of a stock option plan or plan to sell your shares over time. Plans like these are great retention tools and allow top brass to pass on valuable knowledge while stepping away at their own pace. Just be sure that the proper agreements are in place to protect the parties during the transition. From the non-profit perspective, if there is a prospective #2, start grooming that individual and transfer some responsibilities so that the transition to the top spot is less jolting. If no internal options are available, are there people you can identify in the business community who could be approached, or will you plan to sell the business? There are many steps you can take in advance in these situations as well. Lastly, if your organization is governed by a board, make sure the board knows there is a plan in place, has seen it and that your chair knows where to find it.

market changed? Have timelines changed? An outdated plan is nearly as problematic as no plan at all.

Prepare for the Worst While I have stressed the importance of long-term planning, unexpected events do happen. If a key person fell ill or left in a hurry, would you be able to react quickly? A good emergency plan should have the input of the person currently in the role, and, if there is no clear #2, should divvy up responsibilities among several internal individuals for the short term until a replacement can be found. This brings us full circle back to communication – let these individuals know what their responsibilities would be in the event of an emergency, and ensure they have the information and access to be able to jump in head first. Organizations are, nearly without fail, the product of much hard work and while succession planning is rarely tops on the to-do list for busy business owners or management, it is of utmost importance. Being unprepared can be costly. Get a plan in place and take some preemptive steps to set the stage for smooth transitions and a long life for your organization. Kelly Bode is a partner with WMCZ Lawyers in Saskatoon, and Chair of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Don’t Neglect it If your organization has a succession plan in place, GOLD STAR! However, that doesn’t mean your work is done. Revisiting the plan must be a regular occurrence to ensure that it continues to be relevant. Are the individuals previously identified still around and interested? Has the

BUSINESS VIEW SASKATOON AUG/SEPT 2017 23

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