edmontonians apr10

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T H E P E R S O N A L I T Y O F B U S I N E S S I N T H E C A P I T A L R E G I O N

2 EDMONTONIANS APRIL 2010


hen I close my eyesand reflect on theCelebrity Waitercompetition at the

Alzheimer Society Benefit Dinner ofNations fundraiser held last month, I callup quite the string of images: KrisBurkholder from CHED at the podiumscreeching out a perfect cougarimpersonation… Kyle Koch from theEdmonton Eskimos eating sorbet out ofAaron Fiacconi’s bellybutton or visaversa—I had to look away… KlondikeKate aka Deborah Lauren wrapped in afeather boa sitting on GregChristensen’s lap singing in his ear…and Minister of Employment andImmigration Thomas Lukaszuk withhis perfect hair up in Pippi Longstockingpigtails.

The celebrities were doing whateverthey could to earn tips from patrons inthe Chateau Lacombe ballroom. Thenight brought in over $75,000 for thecause. After the dust settled on the waitercontest, Thomas was the winner, andreceived his trophy from Jon Johnsonfrom Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, amajor sponsor. I was quite moved byThomas’ acceptance speech. He sharedhow his family dealt with an eldermember’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.After all the wild and fun times, he put itall in perspective with his personal story.Very touching.

with Mark & Marty

he 2010 Vancouver Olympicsare over, and they were quite ashow. Our Olympicsovercame the nasty sniping of

international media critics and providedmemories for the ages. In the end, ourathletes, particularly our men’s andwomen’s hockey teams, saved Canadafrom a collective national depression.

The Olympics also provided hugelearning opportunities for the varioussports. Curlers glimpsed the potential thatexists to repackage curling—a sportpreviously in demographic decline—intoan exciting mainstream attraction. Thenew figure skating judging systemshowcased the skaters’ amazingathleticism and sparking individuality,and garnered millions of new fans aroundthe world.

Yet hockey—both women’s andmen’s—was the sport seeing the greatestopportunities for positive change andgrowth. The games between the Canadianand American women showcased the fullpotential of women’s hockey as agripping spectator sport. Fast paced,hard-hitting, and saturated with skill, thegames between the archrivals rivetedviewers to their seats.

What about games between Canada’swomen and the other teams? Did theyhave the same impact? All too often theywere boring blowouts that turnedspectators off. The challenge forwomen’s hockey is to fast-track the skilldevelopment of these teams. There is atremendous opportunity for Albertauniversities to play a key role as talentincubators for women from othercountries playing high-calibre hockey.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournamentengaged the entire country and setnational and international viewing

records. People who don’t botherwatching the regular-season NHLofferings avidly watched the Olympichockey games. The speed, finesse andcontrolled aggression captured theirinterest.

Will these new fans now flock to NHLarenas to watch the game as currentlyplayed? Will the endless and pointlessscrums raise them from their seats? Howabout the sight of two thugs poundingaway at each other, or the sight of aplayer carted off the ice on a stretcherafter a check to the head? Not very likely.

It’s time for the game to lose the PiedPipers of Cro-Magnon hockey—the DonCherrys, Mike Milburys and their ilk.Potential fans currently turned off bythug hockey far outnumber the fanslusting for blood on the ice. Afterwatching Zach Parise, Drew Doughty andSydney Crosby work their magic playingunder Olympic rules, why would youwant to pay good money to watchknuckledraggers like the Oilers’ ZackStortini or Calgary’s Brian McGrattan?

The success of high-quality hockeyplayed under international rules hasmajor implications for cities hostingNHL teams. Too many NHL teams inplaces like Memphis and Tampa Bayaren’t drawing fans to the game asplayed, which puts a huge strain on theleague. Those with a solid fan base aresupporting the walking dead. The tenuousstate of many teams in the league makesit increasingly difficult to find credible,deep-pocketed owners with the resourcesrequired to operate a franchise. Yet theNHL establishment takes mere babysteps toward reform—what took so longto penalize blindside headshots?—butignores the market’s larger danger signs,religiously disregarding calls for the

greater refurbishing of the current game.There’s also a lesson for Edmon-

tonians coming out of the VancouverOlympics, given the NHL’s futuredirection has direct implications for us.Our city is considering a massivedowntown redevelopment in partnershipwith the ownership of the EdmontonOilers. This proposal would require amassive public investment.

The NHL’s involvement in urbanredevelopment in places like Phoenix andNashville is worth careful attention.Public investment in any city is at risk ifthe NHL continues to peddle the sameold product.

A new, publicly-funded arenaanchoring a massive downtownredevelopment requires very carefulconsideration, particularly when themajor tenant’s league has a cloudy future.Taxpayers might be wise to thinkcarefully before investing public dollarssupporting the current NHL structure.

The problem is not the game itself.Vancouver’s Olympics showcased thebeauty of Canada’s game. Played underinternational rules, it’s a game of speedand skill and courage, and elevates thetepid existing NHL product to a newlevel. Yet, if the hockeyestablishment doesn’t learnthe Olympic lessons, ourgreat game—and possiblyEdmonton taxpayers—willbe the poorer. √

Les Brost is the head of Southern StarCommunications, a member of theUniversity of Alberta Senate, andEdmontonians Transformer, and a keenobserver of the world around [email protected]

TT

ot a n i n n o c e n tBYSTANDERN

By Les Brost WW

Thomas Lukaszuk

EDMONTONIANS APRIL 2010 3


The next fundraiser for the AlzheimerSociety is the Memory Walk on June 19th.Contact the Alzheimer Society for moredetails: 780.488.2266

I finally got to see MerleHaggard—fantastic. In early March, Icaught his first show at the River CreeResort and Casino. The sound wasexcellent, considering it was in a tent. Infact, as much as I would like to seea permanentstructure toreplace theVenue, thestructure ispretty darnnice. The folksat the River Creeput on a firstclass show. Itwould be nice tohave a few tur-lets—as ArchieBunker used tosay—under the bigtop.

One note: It wastoo bad that Merle’sson could notperform with his dadin the Casino. Becausehe’s under age, hewound up playing liveinto the show from oneof the tour buses. Nottoo sure of the details,but the powers-that-be shouldhave made an exception.Besides, I thought you weren’tsupposed to leave your kid inyour vehicle when you wentinto a casino? Great show…sorry I didn’t have tickets forthe second one.

Hurry and get your ticketsor you may miss out. Theannual Spirit of SpringFashion Show and Luncheonsold out last year. The runwayextravaganza takes place on Sunday,April 18th at Hall D at the Shaw. Seethe latest fashions and guest modelsfrom all walks of life, and supportMcDougall House. Edmontonians PollStation columnist Linda Banister isamong the ladies who will grace the catwalk. Go [email protected] or call780.498.6216.

Speaking of fashion, Edmonton’sFashion Week is now called the WesternCanada Fashion Week. This innovativeevent is eight days of runway shows,featuring local, Canadian andinternational designers, plus a multitudeof professionals, buyers and mediachecking out the collections. There alsoare performers, musicians and visualartists. This fusion of talent truly createsan event that goes beyond the runway.

You will see the return of designerssuch as native Edmontonian MichaelKaye of New York, Jason Matlo ofVancouver and Joeffer Caoc of Torontodoing showcases. Take in the emergingdesigner, stylist, fantasy hair andmakeup contests, and the SalonShowcase. The events run until April8th. Details are available atedmontonfashionweek.com

Brand new event to check out...Spring is upon us and with it, comesparades, fun runs, golf tourneys andbiking events. Latest into thefundraising fray is JTMF West, an arts-centric group raising funds for HIVEdmonton. The first event, 2010 Artistsfor Life: Edmonton, is coming up onApril 17th at the Catalyst Theatre. What

I like about thisevent is that, whiletheir mandate is toraise money forHIV/AIDS, theydo so bycelebrating theincredible talentof localperforming andvisual artists. Itwill be hostedby the belovedand colourfulMichaelPhair, andfeature areading of

Addition: An UnconventionalLove Story by up-and-comingplaywright Justen Bennett. The silentauction will showcase several artists,including a piece created specifically forthis event by painter CaitlinCrawshaw, and original works by localphotographers Kevin Van Tassel andRay Rasmussen.

I am particularly looking forward tothe 2010 Artists for Life: Edmontonbecause we are reuniting the BigBreakfast Boogie Band for that onenight only. It will be great to get theband back together again and play sometunes. As the headliners, we’re lookingforward to a packed dance floor.

For info and tickets, go tojtmfwest.com. Tickets are $50 and $100for the exclusive VIP treatment or, ifyou just want to come for the band, it’sonly $20. Tax receipts… and a goodtime, too. √

Mark Scholz, owner of MESCommunications Inc. offers a variety ofservices including production, creative andentertainment. For more information or tosuggest a story idea, [email protected]

know there are still a lot ofnaysayers about using Twitter, butI have to say it was amazing to beon Twitter during the earthquake/

tsunami problems last month. Withinminutes of the danger being announced, aspecial #hawaiiemergency site was set up sopeople could communicate in the moment.

Ditto NHL trade day: Although the eventwas not an emergency, a Twitter siteallowed followers to monitor thehappenings.

Suffice to say, social media was wellahead of traditional media and is quicklybecoming the norm.

I too thought Twitter was for kids (I didn’treally care what kind of sandwich you wereeating). Now, following businesses andpeople of interest opens up the world to me.As does Huffingtonpost.com (which wasstreaming live video from Waikiki Beach…amazing). Other sites on my list are Westjet,Edmontonians, the New York Times, bothEdmonton dailies, several key media peoplearound North America, and TV/radiostations, among others. I simply don’t missanything—no matter where in the world Iam.

Check it out… it’s worth it.

This month’s salute to people I respect:Kudo’s to 630 CHED’s Bob Layton for alifetime achievement award from thebroadcast industry.

He joined the station in 1971 and, in1994, became director of 630 CHED, iNews880, CISN Country and JOE FM. A winnerof three national RTNDA awards foreditorials, Bob is best known for takingstrong positions on family, goodgovernment, and law and order. Under hisleadership, his newsroom has also wonawards for best documentary, best newscastand best website.

In 2005, then Premier Ralph Kleinpresented Bob with a Centennial Medal forcommunity service. We can thank Bob forthe EPS Air One helicopter, too.

Next, I love Edmontonians SizzlingTwenty under 30 program that recognizesup-and-coming talent in our city. Itprompted me to look around for someonewho had impressed me lately.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with zagcreative group’s Alyson Hodson over thepast year and can tell you that she is one ofthe sharp minds in our city. This young risk-taker is doing some excellent work in theadvertising community and by donating hertalents to the not-for-profit sector.

I posed a few questions to Alyson.

First, how did you get interested in thefield of advertising and marketing?“It just kind of grew on me. It is an amazingfield… the more people that I met, the moreI realized how much I loved it. Clients,suppliers, and co-workers… I have beenso lucky to have met so many talented andamazing people throughout my career.

“zag creative group inc. was a visionamong like-minded individuals that felt asthough the advertising world had more tooffer us and vice versa. We came togetherwith our own client-focused approach tothe business of marketing and advertising.

“Smaller and more intimate agenciesare able to move quickly on their feet andadapt to an ever-changing landscape. Weare able to offer our clients increasedcollaboration and attention. Business ismoving back to quality, personalized

service and a strategic approach, and we areable to deliver.”

It’s safe to say that we’re in an advertisingslump with many companies rethinkingtheir marketing strategy at this time. Sohow big a risk is this for you?“I believe that now, more than ever,companies are realizing that they need anew marketing approach. When business isbooming, the focus is on taking care of thebusiness coming in. When business is hardto come by, it’s time to market.

“I believe that the companies that aresurviving this recession have stepped back,sized-up the economic situation and adaptedtheir business plans to set themselves up forsuccess.”

Your bio contains reference to givingback to the community… and that’s animportant business element in this city.What’s your philosophy on working withcharities/public service groups?“Edmonton has been good to us, and wewant to help the not-for-profit organizationsin this city capitalize on the experience thatwe have gained over the years. For example,The Jerry Forbes Centre for CommunitySpirit was one of our first accounts, and wewere thrilled to have had the chance to workon this project and be involved with anamazing not-for-profit vision.”

Being a young entrepreneur takes a greatdeal of hard work and courage. Whatdrives you to success? “My success is driven by the team I amfortunate enough to work with… and theamazing community that I am fortunateenough to work within. The clients inspireme, as their success means zag creativegroup inc. has done a great job.

“I never, for one second, thought that ourvision wouldn’t work. I believe that if youcare about what you do, are good at whatyou do and approach work in an ethicalmanner, you will find success in this world.Follow your dreams with like mindedpeople and you will find fulfillment.”

This is another “Born in Edmonton”success story. So I encourage local businessto support local business—especially onewith spirit and commitment to thecommunity.

And, if you know someone under the ageof 30 who deserves to be recognized,nominations are being accepted for the 2010Sizzlers. Go to edmontonians.com—thedeadline is May 15th. √

Marty Forbes is the recently retired VP andgeneral manager of The Bear, EZRock andThe TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. [email protected]

II

Merle Haggard

Michael Phair



FOUNDERDICK MacLEAN

APRIL 2010Vol. XXI

SHARON MacLEANPublisher and Advertising Director

Telephone: 780.482.7000Fax: 780.488.9317

e-mail: [email protected]

INSIDENOT AN INNOCENT BYSTANDERHockey/Brost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

VOX POPMark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3POLL STATIONChains/Banister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

SIZZLING IN EDMONTONRound Table/Rayner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

WOMEN IN BUSINESSSalute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Castellarin/Barlott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Armstrong/Barlott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Davis LLP/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9Hale/McPhee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Van Wyk/Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Millard/Barlott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Hansen/Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Gupta/Pullishy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

BARB DETERSEditor

[email protected]

COLUMNISTSLinda Banister

John BerryLinda BodoLes Brost

Marty ForbesBruce Hogle

David NorwoodErin RaynerMark Scholz

Walter SchwabeNizar J. Somji

FEATURE WRITERSCaroline BarlottCheryl Croucher

Barb DetersGreg GazinC. McPhee

Marg. Pullishy

PHOTOGRAPHERSTerry BourqueBruce Clarke

Cheryl CroucherRocco Macri

SPECIAL PROJECTSEdmontonians Transformers

Tom BradshawLes Brost

Steffany HanlenDr. Larry Ohlhauser

GRAPHIC PRODUCTIONRage Studios Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

The Women of theRound Table debatePhoto by Bruce Clarke

No. 4

2121YEARS

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUTTHE GROWING NUMBER OF CHAIN STORES?To begin the survey, we asked Edmontonians whether they wereconcerned with the growing number of chain stores in Edmonton. Onethird of respondents (33 percent) were concerned, while two-thirds (66percent) were not, and one percent were unsure. The most frequentlymentioned cause for concern was that smaller businesses can’t compete(39 percent), followed by chain or franchise outlets not beingCanadian-owned (21 percent), the belief that there are generally toomany chain stores (21 percent); 12 percent preferred supporting localbusiness.

DO YOU SHOP AT FRANCHISED STORES?WHY AND WHAT FOR? OR WHY NOT?Next, all respondents were asked how likely they are to shop at afranchised store. Approximately two-thirds (64 percent) reported theywere highly likely, followed by 20 percent that were moderately likely,and 15 percent that were unlikely to do their shopping at a chain store.

When asked to comment, respondents that were likely to shop at afranchise mentioned that they have the best prices or most fairly priceditems (45 percent), that they can be conveniently accessed near theirhomes (34 percent), that they carry necessities and have a goodselection (25 percent), and that most stores are a part of a chain,providing little alternative (14 percent).

Those respondents that were unlikely to shop at a chain store mostfrequently commented that they prefer to support local or Canadianbusinesses (40 percent), that the stores are too busy and crowded (13percent), that customer service is poor (13 percent), and that chainsundercut local and small businesses (13 percent).

Approximately half of respondents (47 percent) preferred to makeparticular purchase at stores that are part of a chain, while slightly morethan half (52 percent) did not express such a preference. Items theypreferred to purchase included food (21 percent), clothing (10 percent),electronics (eight percent), home or day-to-day items (five percent),and furniture and appliances (five percent).

IS SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT BUSINESSESIMPORTANT AND WHY?Next, respondents were asked a series of questions to determinetheir attitudes toward local independent businesses. To begin, theywere asked to rate how important it was to them to supportindependent business. Sixty-nine percent indicated supportinglocal business was highly important to them, followed by 22percent who felt it was moderately important, and seven percentthat attached only low levels of importance.

Of respondents that felt it was important to support localbusiness, 39 percent said independent stores help the localeconomy, while 15 percent simply preferred to help small orCanadian businesses, 15 percent believed local businesses helpcreate a unique neighbourhood feeling, and 10 percent indicatedthese stores are unique and sell a diversity of unique products (10percent).

Sixty-two percent preferred to make certain purchases at anindependent business, including food (21 percent), clothing (16percent), jewelry (seven percent), gift items (six percent), books(five percent), home furnishings (four percent), and craft or hobbyitems (four percent). Approximately one-third (32 percent) did notprefer to make any particular purchases at an independentbusiness.

SHOULD THE CITY PROMOTEINDEPENDENT BUSINESSES?Finally, we asked respondents if the City of Edmonton should doanything to promote local independent businesses. Nearly one-quarter(23 percent) felt the City should offer tax breaks or rebates for localindependent businesses, while 21 percent indicated the City shouldadvertise them or provide signs for independent businesses. Seventeenpercent said nothing should be done by the City to promote localbusiness. √

Monthly Poll Station Online QuestionVisit www.edmontonians.com to register your opinion

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll?Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail

[email protected].

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner ofBanister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider ofmarket research and program evaluation services.Visit www.banister.ab.ca.

STATIONdmonton has more than its share of big box shopping outlets and chain stores,however, our city is also full of unique local businesses that add to the fabric of ourneighbourhoods and make districts like Whyte Avenue and 124th Street popular.For this Poll Station, we decided to ask Edmontonians about some of their shopping

habits and how they feel about independent businesses in Edmonton.

With Linda Banister

PollPoll

Perc

ent

EE

C E L E B R AT I N G

39%21% 21%

12%Are concerned

smaller buesinessescan’t compete.

Are concernedchains/franchisesare not Canadian-

owned

Are concerned thereare generally too

many chains/franchises

Prefer to supportlocal business rather

than the largerchains/franchise

Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of eachmonth at C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8. ©All rights reserved. No partof this publication may be reprinted or reproduced in anyform without written permission from the publisher.

Manuscripts: must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Edmontonians is not responsible forunsolicited manuscripts.

All stories Copyright ©Edmontonians

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40023292Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Circulation DepartmentC-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8Email: [email protected]



ne of my previous bosses once called me a feminist. We were discussing the proverbial glass ceiling and the expectations women place on themselves versusthose that are placed on them in the workplace. At the time, I inwardly cringed. I thought “feminist” was a dirty word. I envisioned bra burnings and protests—Iʼmnot keen on either. So, when it came time to write this monthʼs piece on women in business, I revisited the idea of feminism.

As a business owner, I have become very aware of some of the differences in the way men and women business owners operate. I have often been one of ahandful of women at a meeting or networking event and surveyed the room wondering where all the smart, determined, hard working women entrepreneurs

were, and if anyone besides me noticed the differences between the genders.After discussing my thoughts with Edmontonians publisher and accomplished entrepreneur Sharon MacLean, we decided I should host a round table to explore the gender

differences when it came to owning businesses, and what effect this recovering economy was having on women entrepreneurs. Five of us took part in the discussion:

By Erin Rayner

OO

Colleen Madsen, recently soldthe Sandler Sales Institute atthe end of “one of the worst

years ever”. For 13 years, sheoffered training and strategic

direction to sales teams. As webegan Colleen shared, “I feel asthough itʼs halftime in the game

and Iʼm looking forward tofiguring out what the second

half is going to look like.”

Pauline Perrault is the 29-year-old owner of Jump out of Bed, abusiness focused on increasingemployee engagement throughcoaching, mentoring and culture

consultation with employers.She opened 18 months ago—at the beginning of one of theroughest economic years in a

decade. “If Colleen is at halftimethen Iʼm still in the locker room!”

Jessie Radies is the mother oftwo school-aged children andpartners with her husband inthe Blue Pear restaurant. As

well, she is founder of OriginalFare, a non-profit organization

that promotes collaborationbetween local restaurants for

marketing campaigns and fooddistribution networks.

Tracey Scarlett, previously theowner of a construction companyand now CEO of Alberta Women

Entrepreneurs, a non-profitsupport organization, agreed toparticipate—and even provided

the venue and coffee. Shehelped me choose three other

owners at various stages of theirlives with businesses in variousindustries at different points in

their evolution.

Me: I started a charitable andcorporate marketing and eventplanning business three-and-a-half years ago. ED Marketingand Communications offers

charitable organizationscommittee support servicesand a grassroots marketing

perspective.

All in all, a diverse yet receptiveand sharing group of women.

Continued on page 14

www.sizzlinginedmonton.comwww.sizzlinginedmonton.com

Photos by Bruce Clarke

(from the left) Colleen Madsen,Erin Rayner, Pauline Perrault,Jessie Radies and TraceyScarlett



heir stories motivate... their dedicationinspires... their success energizes.

Through the pages of this issue,Edmontonians 5th Annual Salute toWomen in Business introduces readers

to a cross-section of 10 enthusiastic and determinedexecutives. Their corporate responsibilities andvolunteer activites are varied, but each woman displaysa strong work ethic and community spirit.

According to a multi-nation study of enterprise start-up and new firm creation, Canadian women are amongthe most entrepreneurial of the OECD-developednations. This year, the number of women entrepreneursin Canada is projected to reach a milestone—the one-million mark. Over the past several years, the number

of women-owned businesses has been increasing 60percent faster than those started by men. And, BDCestimates that “nearly half of Canadian small businessesare wholly or partially owned by women,” contributingapproximately $20 billion to our economy.

Alberta enjoys a long tradition of independent-minded women, particulary the Famous Five whochampioned the “persons’ case”. In addition, the localchapter of the Canadian Federation of UniversityWomen was formed in 1909, and embarked on its firstcharitable endeavour 100 years ago: $50 scholarships tofirst-year female students with high academicstandings.

Today, female enrolments in post-secondaryinstitutions consistently surpass those of males in many

faculties and fields of study. The number of women inexecutive and management positions in both the privateand public sectors is also increasing. Their presence insuch sectors as law, architecture, manufacturing,engineering, commerce and contruction is becomingcommonplace, as it has been in the traditional fields ofeducation, health care, visual and performing arts, foodservices and retailing.

Despite the downturn in the economy, GreaterEdmonton and northern Alberta continue to beconducive locations for women with an entrepreneurialspirit to start and grow businesses every year… toassume executive roles in corporations large andsmall… to become role models for emerging talent.

We salute them—one and all. √

TTWomen in BusinessWomen in Business

Salute to

5th Annual

ANGELA ARMSTRONGPrime Capital Consulting214-3132 Parsons Rd., Edmonton AB780.437.5193 x 320 [email protected]

KRISTA CASTELLARINOwner & Founder, Fabulous FurballsSchool Administrator, The Fur Institute2755 Broadmoor Blvd, Suite 116Sherwood Park, AB 780.416.8266366 Bulyea Rd., Edmonton, AB780.436.8266krista@fabulousfurballs.comwww.fabulousfurballs.comwww.thefurinstitute.comwww.fabulouskrista.com

KRISHNA GUPTAVice PresidentRohit Group of Companies9639 – 51st Ave., Edmonton AB780.436.9015 [email protected]

MONA HALECFO & Vice President FinanceEdmonton EconomicDevelopment Corporation World Trade Centre9090 Jasper Ave., Edmonton [email protected]

CYNTHIA HANSENVice President FinanceEnbridge Pipelines Inc.Enbridge Tower10201 Jasper Ave., Edmonton [email protected]

MICHELLE MILLARDPartnerOgilvie LLP14th Floor Canadian Western Bank Building10303 Jasper Ave., Edmonton [email protected]

ROBERTA VAN WYKGeneral ManagerALLWEST Commercial Furnishings14325 – 112 Ave., Edmonton AB780.452.8212roberta@allwestfurnishing.comwww.allwestfurnishing.com

Davis LLP1201 Scotia 2 Tower10060 Jasper Ave., Edmonton ABwww.davis.ca

WENDY-ANNE [email protected]

JENNIFER [email protected]

RACHEL [email protected]

Featuring:

Start a conversation at LinkedIn—Edmontonians Virtual Communities: Women in Business



ngela Armstrong is living her dream and continuing a family legacyof entrepreneurship. When she was eight-years-old, she told herGrandma that she wanted to own a business just like herGrandpa, who ran a successful Volkswagen dealership in

Montreal for many years. Now, Angela is the president of Prime Capital Consulting, a leasing firm

based in Edmonton. She entered the leasing business right after her graduation from college in

1986 and, since then, she has gone from being a sales representative to anentrepreneur with a passion for helping businesses succeed.

Her career began at a Winnipeg company that did equipment financing forbusinesses. After a few years—when she was only 25—Angela was offered akey position in Edmonton as a branch manager. “They felt I had a skill set,but it was still a huge stretch; I was going from being an accountrepresentative to running a branch in a [brand new] city,” she says. Despitesome initial trepidation, the young woman thrived in her role and saw thecompany grow… as did her knowledge and diverse range of skills.

By 2000, Angela was married with two little girls and was about toexperience a big career change. The company was changing direction, sowhen one of her clients suggested she look after accounts on a contractbasis, she saw an opportunity—and took it. She negotiated a relationshipwith her employer whereby she could be its agent, free to do business in herown style. As a result, Prime Capital Consulting was born.

The successful business woman is passionate about “creating innovationand something new out of what a client already has—synthesizingsomething new and exciting from different things.” Along with financialsolutions, Prime Capital Consulting brings knowledge from cross industrieslike agriculture, agri-food, manufacturing, fabrication and the oilfield to itsclients. By studying these companies, Angela offers start-up businessescreative finance options that fit their specific industries. Depending onneeds, Prime Capital Consulting can provide leases for anything fromportable buildings to office equipment.

Angela is confident she can help many companies, particularly duringdifficult economic times. She says leasing provides corporations with morediversification: Instead of relying on collateral to cover borrowed money orresources, a piece of leased equipment is “financing thatʼs secured by thatasset.”

A newly-appointed member of the Canadian Financing and LeasingAssociationʼs board of directors, Angela also volunteers to do peer trainingfor an on-line education series and is dedicated to increasing education andprofessionalism in her field.

Angela acknowledges the challenge of balancing work and home life. Infact, as the mother of two young children, she goes so far as to say, itʼsimpossible to balance the two on a day-to-day basis. Expecting that you can“satisfy every aspect of your business and home life every day is a sure wayto feel like youʼre constantly failing.” She suggests that instead of trying toconstantly control your environment, you just have to adapt.

A few years ago, she learned this lesson herself when her stress levelswere so high that she nearly gave up her business. A good friend told hershe had two options: to walk away from her company or to just walk awayfrom the parts of her life that werenʼt a priority at that specific time. Angelare-evaluated her priorities and realized cutting back on her volunteer andboard activities would free up more time for her to spend with her family andon her business.

“It was a real turning pointfor me. I gave myselfpermission to scaleback and simplify…Within that year, thebusiness grew andwe hit our firstmillion-dollarmark. We havenʼtlooked backsince,” she sayswith pride. √

abulous is a word which describes many aspects of Krista Castellarinʼs life.The feisty entrepreneur moved from Las Vegas to Sherwood Park

in 2006 to marry Dwayne, the man she calls her ʻPrince Charmingʼ. Within a week of her arrival, Krista was disappointed and

perplexed at the lack of quality pet paraphernalia for her belovedYorkie. While honeymooning in Hawaii, she suggested to Dwayne thatEdmontonians deserved first-rate pet boutiques. With his encouragement,the idea for Fabulous Furballs, a pet grooming and accessories business,was born. Upon their return, Krista set about turning her vision into a reality.Now well-established, the business has grown to include a second locationin Edmonton.

As part of her due diligence, she also discovered that groomers did notrequire any formal training. “If you want to cut my hair, you [need] formaltraining and a license, but anyone with kitchen scissors can give my belovedYorkie a haircut,” she says. Again, Krista took action: She purchased agrooming school in Leduc, re-named it The Fur Institute, and re-locatedclasses to the Fabulous Furballs salon. “The school is just like beauty schoolfor people. I call it: beauty school for the four-legged set.” Along with offering12-week classes to aspiring groomers, it provides continuing education forthe duration of the groomerʼs career.

In keeping with her flamboyant, out-of-the-ordinary style, Krista starred inAnimal Planetʼs reality television series, Groomer Has It 2, a couple of yearsago. Whiling away tedious hours on the Hollywood set between filmings, shehad another idea: Fabulous Krista, a clothing line for groomers, featuringglitzy, crystal be-jewelled tee-shirts, smocks and tank tops—emblazonedwith cheeky sayings like Yo Quiero Mi Chihuahua—was launched shortlyafter her return.

With an insatiable sense of adventure, Krista is a true entrepreneur, takingrisks in all areas of her life—from expanding her Fabulous businesses toskydiving, driving motorcycles and getting her pilotʼs license. A strong senseof community is also very important and Krista enjoys donating her time andservices to the Edmonton Humane Society… something she has built intothe curriculum for her students, as well.

But, at the end of her work day, Krista is eager to join her two little girlsand Dwayne for some well-deserved quality time. She says being a momhas been an amazing experience, which has provided her with moreperspective. “A lot of people shake their heads when they hear I have doneall of this while having two babies, but it never occurred to me that being a[mom] should stop me from achieving my dreams.”

Over the past few years, Krista has made some huge changes in her life.She went from working in the financial field in Las Vegas to running a petgrooming business in Sherwood Park. When she cashed out her retirementplan to start Fabulous Furballs, her financial advisor was against the idea;he feared the profits would not be worth the risk. Little did he know hiswife—and hundreds of other clients—would seek out Krista for groomingservices, tips and unique pet products.

According to Krista, who is relishing ever-increasing success, itʼs not thenumbers that are important, itʼs the passion. “Do what you love and thepositive energy you have for your business will draw people to you.”

With her characteristic enthusiasm, she readily admits, “I am more fulfilledand content surrounded by dog collars and dirty hair today than I ever wasbehind my desk in Las Vegas.” √

Business Sense

Krista Castellarin and NachoPhoto by Justin GambinKrista Castellarin and NachoPhoto by Justin Gambin

FF

FabulousBy Caroline Barlott

a newlease on life

a newlease on life

AA

Angela ArmstrongPhoto by Terry Bourque

By Caroline Barlott



Rachel Hamilton, Jennifer Clealland Wendy-Anne BerkenboschPhotos by Bruce Clarke

ExcExc



he four “e-words” in the headline come tomind after spending more than 30 secondsin the company of Jennifer Cleall, RachelHamilton and Wendy-Anne Berkenbosch.

These dynamic women were recentlymade partners in the law firm of Davis LLP. And, youngas they are—thirty-something—theyʼve already madetheir mark on the legal scene.

Jennifer is immersed in the new area of climatechange law, Rachel is focused on bio solutions, andWendy-Anne is carving her niche as a litigation analyst.

Now, as partners in this international law firm, theyhave taken on the responsibilities that go along withbeing business owners and managers. As Jenniferobserves, “You share in the ups and downs and thefortunes and misfortunes. Itʼs a challenge, but I thinkweʼve all worked very hard to get here… itʼs arecognition to us of the value that we bring to the firm.”

Considering the total number of partners in theEdmonton office is now 11, their appointments makethem a significant contingent at the management level.

It quickly becomes apparent thereʼs a uniquerelationship between the three women that goesbeyond having been made partners at the same time.They graduated from the University of Alberta LawSchool at the same time, in 1999. They were called tothe bar at the same time, in 2000. They took differentroutes, but they converged at Davis LLP. They live inthe same neighbourhood, raising their children—or, inthe case of Wendy-Anne, the pooch she refers to as“nine pounds of fury”. They even finish each otherʼssentences.

What comes to mind? The Three Amigos? CharlieʼsAngels? The references elicit gales of laughter. But itʼsalso a recognition this trio is a force that cannot beignored.

They are fiercely enthusiastic about their firm. They

thrive on the high profile files, the mentorship, and thebroad range of expertise and fields of practice within thefirm.

Davis LLP dates back to 1892 when Edward PeaseDavis hung out his shingle in Vancouver. A century later,the firm began expanding across Canada. TheEdmonton office was created when Davis merged withLucas Bowker & White, established in 1948 and wellknown locally. There are now offices in Calgary, Toronto,Montreal, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Tokyo.

The Tokyo connection is an interesting one. It began inthe 1930s when a Davis lawyer, Sherwood Lett,belonged to the Japan Society. In the years followingWorld War II, the firm championed the cause ofJapanese-Canadians who had lost their property duringforced resettlement. In 1957, Davis hired a Japanese-Canadian student when no one else would, enabling it toprovide legal services to most of the Japanesecompanies doing business in BC. The opening of theTokyo office made Davis LLP the only Canadian law firmwith an office in Japan.

According to Jennifer, “We have two partners in Tokyowho practice Canadian law and act for a number of highprofile Japanese trading companies. We also act forthose same companies in Alberta and in Canada.”

The list of specialties Davis LLP now boasts is long,ranging from climate change to video gaming. Rachelpoints out, “One of our partners in Vancouver has a keeninterest in intellectual property and the video gameindustry, becoming one of the leading experts in that fieldin North America. He is a regular blogger, putting outnews releases and blogs on interesting developmentswithin this field. This is another practice area that makesDavis unique.”

Jennifer is also a blogger. “We have a blog here atDavis called the Climate Change Blog which I contributeto regularly. That helps keep me focused on how climatechange and its legal ramifications may affect our clients.”

She works primarily in the areas of energy,environment and natural resources. “I think climatechange is arguably one of the most important topicsweʼre going to face in our lifetime, certainly ourgeneration. It permeates everything.”

She goes on to say that “governments, particularly inNorth America, are beginning to understand itʼs not just

climate change, itʼs really about clean energy and theadvancement of new technology to address thechallenges we face in light of climate change.”

Last December, Jennifer traveled to Copenhagen for aUnited Nations conference on climate change. “I wasthere to watch the process unfold. And then I went toTokyo to talk to some of our clients and prospectiveclients with respect to climate change. So itʼs been anamazing opportunity.”

She also provides legal advice to Albertaʼs ClimateChange Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC).This is the arms length corporation set up to administerthe money collected from greenhouse gas emitters.

“Alberta is the first jurisdiction in North America to haveany sort of regulatory framework which requires emittersto reduce their emissions or face consequences,” sheexplains. “There are three options: You can reduce youremissions. You can purchase Alberta-based offsets. Oryou can pay $15 per tonne that you are over yourthreshold into whatʼs called the Climate ChangeEmissions Management Fund. This currently sits atabout $125 million and is expected to generate about$80 million per year.”

Jennifer advises clients looking for investmentopportunities in new technology to produce clean energy,thereby reducing global carbon emissions. She alsocounsels two corporations focused on energy,environment and bio solutions that were formed underthe restructured Alberta research and innovation system.

It is bio-solutions that has captured Rachelʼs attention.“I recently got back from the United States, where Iprovide advice to an American company that isdeveloping a biomass-to-energy facility in DraytonValleyʼs Bio Mile. It will convert biomass in wood waste toclean electricity with the ultimate goal of developing cleantransportation fuels.”

Rachelʼs extensive background in commercial law

and real estate transactions makes her a valuableresource for international clients looking to set up shopand invest in Albertaʼs progressive economy.

She also practices in the area of pension andbenefit law, something she calls a hot topic. “Somepension plans have run into issues with theirinvestments, making pensions more forefront inpeopleʼs minds. Subsequently, we have beenworking with plans on reorganizing theirinvestments and setting up relationships with newinvestment managers.”

The human element is a focus for Wendy-Annewho has developed expertise in labour andemployment law. She elaborates, “We have anumber of very sophisticated clients who work inan industrial setting and many of those settingsare unionized environments. Many are highlysafety sensitive. So that leads to a number ofdifficult issues. One of the issues that has beenin the forefront for a few years and is starting tofade to some extent is the whole concept ofalcohol and drug testing in the workplace.”

Wendy-Anne is currently pushing thedevelopment of her expertise in a moreatypical role. “Iʼve managed to identify thatthereʼs significant value in high level analysisand strategic planning, and Iʼve beenfortunate that Davis also recognizes theextraordinary value of that as well.”

She enjoys the background research andpreparation that goes on before going tocourt. “A lot of litigators want to be in thecourthouse and making arguments. I really enjoy theanalysis that happens before then in terms ofidentifying complex arguments and crafting solutionsgoing forward.”

While Wendy-Anne cannot speak to specifics, it isher behind-the-scenes handiwork that is supportingthe defence in a high profile environmental prosecutionthat is currently before the courts.

“Obviously, thatʼs a controversial file. And itʼs a veryimportant file because itʼs one that is highly publicizedand has significant implications going forward. Weʼvebeen very fortunate to have the trust of the client interms of defending that file. What weʼve done is put

together a team to identify virtually every argumentand concern that may arise in the trial and identify astrategy for dealing with that going forward.”

Outside of the office, these incredibly bright womenlead equally demanding lives. Jennifer is expecting hersecond child very soon, after which she is lookingforward to resuming the sports she loves so much:running, tennis and soccer, something that gives awhole new meaning to the term ʻSoccer Momʼ. Shealso sits on the boards of Kids Up Front, The SupportNetwork and the Edmonton-Glenora PC Association.

Rachel is busy with her children and their widerange of activities, from music to sports, and herhusband Tylerʼs singing career keeps her in touch withthe cultural scene. Sheʼs also been involved as adirector with the Cornerstone Counselling Society ofAlberta.

Wendy-Anne bounces around that ʻnine pounds offuryʼ, bikes through the river valley with her husband,and supports the kid-centred events of her friends, likethe Spring Zinger for the community league daycare.She was a director of the Edmonton Inner CityHousing Society for three years and is now lookingforward to her new involvement with the University ofAlberta Law School Alumni and Friends Association.

Where do they find the time or energy for theirpersonal commitments?

Rachel gives the credit to their firm. “Not only do weget to work with great lawyers and clients who areworld class, but weʼre able to develop our careers inan environment that allows us to have time to giveback to the community and be with our families. Weʼreable to achieve balance in our lives.”

Thereʼs one more addition that Rachel, Jennifer andWendy-Anne would make to the list of “e-words” thatdefine their lives: Edmonton. All three are big timeboosters.

Speaking for her colleagues and friends, Rachelconcludes, “We could practice law in many other places,but Edmonton is really a fantastic city to both live andwork in.”

And they all love the river valley. √

Cheryl Croucher hosts Innovation Anthology which isbroadcast on CKUA Radio at 7:58 am and 4:58 pmTuesdays and Thursday. Or download the podcasts atwww.innovationanthologyy.com

TT

xcitement... Enthusiasm...ENERGY... ELECTRICITY

xcitement... Enthusiasm...ENERGY... ELECTRICITY

By Cheryl Croucher

Wendy, Jennifer and Rachel



onʼt let her petite frame fool you. Mona Hale never backs down from a challenge. In fact, sheʼll tell you a challenge is what drives her the most. Herreputation for defining, implementing and communicating visions and strategies made her an attractive catch for Edmonton EconomicDevelopment Corporation (EEDC). After an impressive career spanning two decades in the corporate sector and serving on a number of non-profitboards, Mona joined EEDC as CFO and VP of Finance in April 2008.

To say she has shaken things up at EEDC would be an understatement, but her fresh insight was more than welcomed by staff and senior management. “Iʼvelearned to never accept the status quo,” Mona says from her brightly-lit office in Edmontonʼs World Trade Centre. “Having diversity in thought and ideas isalways beneficial to an organization.” Whether EEDC is updating internal processes, streamlining corporate governance or planning for future growth, she islikely the person driving it.

Committed to life-long learning, Mona not only encourages her staff to learn from her she also wants to learn from them. “I understand the power ofmentorship first-hand and I hope to give that back to others.” This explains her enthusiasm for the Womenʼs Leadership Foundation (WLF), which she co-founded in 2005. WLF is an organization dedicated to the professional leadership development of women.

“We wanted to create a learning and development experience that was fun, motivating and engaging,” Mona reflects. “The WLF conducted forums whichemphasized the importance of critical thinking, but also reminds women to not forget the importance of self reflection and laughter.”Itʼs about encouraging others to create the life they want in both their career and in the community.

Discovering Mona has an adventurous side to her personality isnʼt surprising, but one still canʼt help but admire hergusto. “Life is a journey and I try to live it with no regrets,” she says. “I made a promise to myself that I would trysomething new each year.” Whether itʼs a heli-hiking trip with friends, a trip to Africa with a non-profit group orexpanding her career experiences, there is no doubt Mona lives her life to the fullest.

Mona hasnʼt always taken the safe route in her career. At one point, this accountant led an operational teamfor a large national organization. “I wasnʼt an expert in the various fields of discipline in the group; butapplying sound business principles and good communication skills enable success no matter what therole.

“Early in my life, I decided no-one could define my success but me,” Mona says. “I realized the power ofauthentic leadership and how important it was to always be me.” She encourages this same level ofauthenticity and openness in her staff, and knows they expect no less from her. “The best leaders arepassionate about the environment they create, and thatʼs something you cannot fake. With hard work anda team that is constructive and self-assured, I know we can accomplish anything.”

These genuine and hard-working qualities are applied not only to Monaʼs career and personal life, but tothe community as well. She is passionate about corporate social responsibility and supporting thecommunity we live in. She is a member of the Edmonton Capital Region United Way Board and was delightedwhen EEDCʼs United Way committee beat its own records and doubled the amount raised in the organizationin 2009.

While her accomplishments to date are impressive, Mona is looking forward to the challenges around thecorner. She is excited about Edmontonʼs potential and is committed to making EEDCʼs vision ofEdmonton becoming one of the worldʼs top mid-sized cities by 2030 a reality. √

DDBy C. McPhee

LIVE ITLife is a JourneyLife is a Journey Mona Hale



Dr. Sholina Kherani received her DDS degree from the Universityof Alberta in 1985. Her practice focus is Aesthetic, Restorative

and Neuromuscular Dentistry. She is a published columnist, amentor to other dentists and participates in study groups

on Pain Management and neuromuscular dentistry. She is committed to providing the Art and Science of

Beautiful Smiles in a relaxed, personalizedatmosphere. Dr. Kherani’s passion is changing

people’s lives by improving their healthand smiles using the principles of

neuromuscular dentistry.

My grandmother’s dentures spent most of their time in a glass of water beside her bed.This is because they did not fit properly and she did not like to wear them.

Today, we understand the importance of keeping our teeth, and with the advances indentistry, we can keep our teeth for a lifetime.

However, if you are missing teeth, what can you do? Keep the foundation, the underlyingbone and have implants or denture-supported implants placed.

If you lose a tooth, you also lose its root. When you lose the root, the supporting bonehas no function and is resorbed by the body. If you lose enough teeth, your nose

and chin move closer together, prematurely aging your looks.

Dental implants replace the root of your natural teeth and convince thebody that there is a root that needs to be supported. Knowing that ithas a function, the bone will remain in place. Now you have a solidfoundation on which to build a beautiful smile and great dentalhealth using crowns or, if necessary, implant-supported dentures.

If my grandmother were alive today, she would be smiling all thetime. After all, a woman who raised 9 boys is pretty amazing anddeserves to have her beauty appreciated and recognized.

Implant-Supported Dentures

lthough her feet are firmly planted on the Earth, Roberta Van Wyk has always beenfascinated by NASAʼs space program. Part of her interest in space exploration is thedetermination and perseverance that characterized the pioneers of space flight. Sheexplains that “the space program continued because people had a dream and a visionand believed it could happen.”

Roberta strives to exhibit these same qualities in her capacity as Allwest CommercialFurnishingsʼ general manager, a position she has held for the past 17 years. Despite her successat Allwest, her career trajectory was not laid out from the outset. “I never expected that my careerwould lead to the position I have today,” says the interior design graduate from Mount RoyalCollege, class of ʼ76. “My background was in design and sales; I had no management training.”

Roberta began her career in the 1970s as a young woman in contract window coverings,navigating the predominantly male world of construction. Her initial intimidation gave way to adetermination to overcome the outdated stereotypes of the day. Rather than fight the status quo,Roberta adapted to the world of construction; unwilling to accept preferential treatment, she soughtto be recognized solely on the merits of her work. She discovered that the “old guys” in theconstruction world were tough but fair, and Roberta developed a deep respect for their strong workethic and pride in their work.

Roberta was brought on board the Allwest team by George Smith, president and owner, todevelop a window coverings division to complement the companyʼs growing contract office

furniture business. He fueled her drive to succeed by inspiring her creativity. He constantly offeredher new challenges and, in 1993, he brought up the subject of promotion. Although Roberta admitsthat her immediate thought was, “He canʼt possibly suggest that I can take on a general managerrole in his company,” she accepted the position, encouraged by Georgeʼs confidence in herabilities.

Despite her trepidation, Roberta excelled in the managerial role. “I love my job. We donʼt justsupply office furnishings: Through a combination of furniture, re-locatable walls and windowcoverings, we transform an organizationʼs work environment, making a difference in a companyʼsimage and in the health and productivity of its employees by providing the best ergonomicsolutions available. The industry itself is also very dynamic, and every day presents newchallenges and opportunities.”

One such challenge arose when Allwest expanded and renovated its offices and showroom. Inaddition to her usual management obligations, Roberta was given the task of overseeing the entireproject, and leading the process of becoming LEED CI (Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign- Commercial Interiors) certified. She applied the experience she had gathered working onconstruction projects to meet the challenge, orchestrating the five-year transition to a green-friendlyworkplace. Today, Allwest is in the final stages of the LEED approval process.

Roberta spends her days at Allwest building relationships with clients and staff by mentoring,listening, and coaching—as well as fighting the occasional fire—but she confesses that herfavourite aspect of the job is watching employees grow as professionals. “We encourage them,and provide a foundation for them to succeed.” No doubt the manner in which she nurtures herstaff is a reflection of the support she received from George during the past 27 years, and shemakes a special effort to pay that support forward by helping women in the workplace to reachtheir potential.

Roberta credits her success to her teams, in the office and in the field, who make possibleAllwestʼs success, as well as her mentor, George Smith. She also admits to a wee bit ofserendipity,“The sun, moon and stars were all lined up.” √

AA

By Greg GazinDeterminedDetermined



ichelle Millard dreamt about being a lawyer when she was inelementary school. She attended the University of Alberta inthe field of commerce, and entered law school upon thecompletion of her first degree—bringing her childhood dream

closer to reality. Even in university, she had a passion for helping thecommunity—as a law student, she participated in the criminal division ofStudent Legal Services, assisting people who didn’t have the means to hire alawyer.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Laws in 1994 and then commenced herarticles with Ogilvie LLP, an Edmonton firm, started in 1920. She was attractedto the entrepreneurial spirit of the knowledgeable lawyers in the medium-sizefirm. She is now a partner enjoying that same spirit: She has been able todevelop a split practice that continues to provide her with interesting work.Firstly, she counsels a wide variety of large and small corporate clients whoare looking to buy or sell assets, land or shares, to finance these transactions,and to set up workable corporate structures. Secondly, she provides adviceand direction to individual clients to meet their estate planning needs,including preparing related documents and family trusts, and helpingadminister the estates of their next of kin.

Michelle’s goal is to look after her clients needs—whether business orpersonal—by presenting them with innovative options that address thoseneeds. “When I ask the right questions and find out the key issues that areimportant to my clients, then I can give them effective solutions,” she says. Apractice which involves personal situations—like drafting a will—andcorporate aspects—such as helping clients set up a company or close adeal—gives her professional life balance.

And, according to Michelle, it is also important to have a balance of workthat both pays the bills and also feeds one’s passions—though, of course, thetwo are not always mutually exclusive. “[If] you like to be creative and problemsolve, then this is a fantastic profession. And that is probably what has mademe stay with it. I continue to find it to be a stimulating career.”

Michelle’s professional career has been enriched by many volunteeractivities outside of her typical work day. Currently, she’s on the board for theFamily Centre Foundation. She served as president of the Estate PlanningCouncil of Edmonton, chaired various sections of the Canadian BarAssociation, and was involved with the Junior Chamber and JuniorAchievement. From 2001 to 2005, Michelle also was an instructor for the legalassistant program at Grant MacEwan College, which prompted her toconsider different aspects of law from the perspective of her enthusiasticstudents. “I came out with many [fascinating] questions [and new ideas] that Ihadn’t even considered before,”she explains.

But, as the wife of Steve, and the mother of Kieran and Tristan, aged eightand nine, Michelle again stresses the need for balance—this time in regard topersonal and professional obligations. “I’m very careful about trying to be inthe moment wherever I am. So when I’m spending time with my husband andboys, it is quality time.”

Her hands-on attitude is evident in how she actively participates in herchildren’s lives: Michelle enjoys helping them with homework, cheering themon at hockey games, and joining them for skiing, biking and tennis. Shesmiles when she admits that, at this stage of her life, “I’d like to spend moretime in the hockey rink and less time in the boardroom.”

Like many leaders, Michelle has the gift of foresight and is looking ahead tothe next phase of her career. Her strong work ethic, ability to achieve balance,and passionate drive are all apparent in the way she conducts herselfpersonally and professionally. As a partner, her vision includes mentoring andcoaching associates at Ogilvie LLP to help them develop their own practices.Michelle also expresses gratitude to her colleagues in the partnership formentoring her over the years—and now she’s excited about sharing her ownknowledge and experiences. √

MM

Michelle MillardPhoto by Terry BourqueMichelle MillardPhoto by Terry Bourque

L e s s o n s f r o m a L a w y e rL e s s o n s f r o m a L a w y e rBy Caroline Barlott

ipelines donʼt always run in straight lines—neither do lifeʼs paths. For Cynthia Hansen whose career took a non-traditional route,

she couldnʼt have ended up at a better destination.Since beginning in the Enbridge Pipelines Inc. controllerʼs group

11 years ago, Cynthia moved through the ranks into financial managementthen operations, rising to the position of Director of Operations Services. InMarch 2007, she was appointed Vice President Finance. She is responsiblefor accounting, financial reporting, strategic planning, regulatorycompliance, and numerous related functions.

Cynthia says that sheʼs fortunate for the career opportunities sheʼs hadbut she learned, as a summer student, the value of showing good workoutput and the ability to contribute. That puts her in sync with thecharacteristics of Enbridge. The company is a major North American playerin the energy sector, managing 15,280 km of pipelines—the worldʼs longestliquids pipeline system. As a result of its Corporate Social Responsibilityinitiatives including those pertaining to the environment, health and safetyand the community, Enbridge has been ranked #1 in Canada—and 16thworldwide—on the Corporate Knight Global 100 Most SustainableCompanies report.

What makes Cynthiaʼs success impressive is that she has thrived in theenergy sector—not known for having women in leadership roles. Cynthiaadmits that Enbridge, with over 6,000 employees, doesnʼt have the genderdiversity it should.

“Numbers donʼt lie. Iʼm an accountant. Demographics say, based on thenumber of women in the workforce in Canada, we should have more womenin senior leadership.”

But, sheʼs optimistic about the Enbridge commitment to nurturing womenin its corporate structure. A new program, the Women@EnbridgeCommunity, creates business value through facilitation of the developmentand career advancement of women by offering active leadershipdevelopment, mentorship and peer coaching. Cynthia is the executivesponsor for the Edmonton area.

“Iʼm proud of the initiative. What it means to me is that we will harness theenergy and opportunities that women in management and leadershippositions can bring to Enbridge… an opportunity to help deliver a betterproduct at the end of the day.”

Cynthia is well versed in understanding processes, priorities and peopleplus being a woman thriving in a male-dominated arena.

After a seemingly traditional path, getting her Bachelor of Commercedegree from the University of Alberta in 1986, then articling and becoming aChartered Accountant, she joined Coopers & Lybrand financial advisoryservices, specializing in forensic investigations. As a Certified FraudExaminer, Cynthia was seconded to the RCMP as a civilian ForensicAccountant, a groundbreaking position, part of the Proceeds of Crime unit.There, she participated in a number of on-site searches, including a casethat resulted in one of the largest cash seizures at that time.

“Not as glamorous as on TV. Things that magically happen in 24 hoursactually take months.”

Despite being the only woman on the team, Cynthia never feltuncomfortable or apprehensive—nor was she a wallflower.

“If you have a rural background a few things stick with you. Growing up inan oilfield town, like Swan Hills, exposed me to a wide variety of thepopulation.” Back home, Cynthia had worked with her father as a welderʼshelper, and as a summer student in the BP Amoco field. Being a woman in amanʼs world presents interesting challenges: Cynthia smiles when sherecalls the need to plan “your water intake while working in the bush.”

Ultimately, her forensic experience taught her to conduct interviews andprepare material for presentation at court, and expanded her understandingof human nature. And, Cynthiaʼs forays into male-dominated territoriesillustrate the corporate value of embracing gender diversity.

Away from her busy work schedule, Cynthia finds satisfaction in givingback to the community through working with industry organizations,charities and not-for-profit boards.

“Iʼve personally had a lot of fun the last three years, in particularfundraising for The UnitedWay… an opportunity to workwith peers to deliver agreater good to thecommunity.” √

PP

By Greg Gazinto financials

From forensicsFrom forensics

Cynthia Hansen



heʼs a contradiction in terms. At first glance, sheʼs quietly unassuming, disconcertingly humble, and dignified beyond reproach. But spend a few minutes inconversation with Krishna Gupta, vice president of the Rohit Group of Companies, and you quickly realize that this is a woman who has incredible inner strength.Sheʼs learned how to handle the challenges life is so wont to toss our way.

A perfect example: her first solo journey in Toronto when she was just 21, married three weeks, barely off the plane from her homeland of India, and unable tospeak a word of English. She wanted to go out, and so she did—and got totally disoriented and lost.

Did she phone her new husband Radhe, explain her plight and ask for a rescue?No. She found herself in front of Cabbagetownʼs city hall, which had an extensive map of the transit routes for the city, and worked it out… a clear demonstration of her

determination and tenacity. Itʼs led her to expand her knowledge-base about home building, explore her inner creativity through design, andaccrue the credentials as a Master Builder, an industry designation bestowed by the Professional Home BuildersAssociation.

Armed with a degree in physics and math, and a natural affinity for all things design, Krishna and Radheestablished what is now known as the Rohit Group of Companies 24 years ago on a part time basis.

While Krishna came from a construction oriented family, she candidly admits that when Rohit began toexpand and diverge into land development, she recognized the need to diversify her skills to complementher changing role. Born with an inherent need to learn and improve, Krishna sees every success in life as amere stepping stone to deal with the next challenge. “I never really see problems as problems... I see themas a situation that needs a solution, and Iʼm good at finding solutions.”

An individual blessed with the ability to tap into both the right and left lobes of her brain, she found shehad an intuitive eye for what works, what makes a house a home from a design perspective. “I live, inmy mind, in every home I design, whether itʼs for a bachelor, a large family or people who live aluxurious lifestyle. I look at it from a womanʼs point of view; after all, weʼre the ones doing the laundryand cooking the meals. So, I look at it from a practical perspective, and think about what are the mostimportant elements and how they will work together.”

Krishna takes great pleasure in explaining that fundamental corporate values are very closely aligned to valuesadhered to by her entire family. “Of course, the business is important and, though the priorities often shiftbecause of certain situations, I always believe my family comes first, my friends come second and thebusiness is third.” She admits that, in her mind, she often thinks of the business as “my youngest child”.

That youngest child was recently honoured with the distinctive Builder of the Year award, along withnine other accolades that publicly acknowledge Rohitʼs high standing in the construction community.The awards are a thrill, though Krishna frankly acknowledges itʼs required a lot of hard work,dedication and commitment to a vision, inspiring her to strive to new heights in the future. “It made meimmediately raise the bar internally, gave me the feeling that we can deliver even better results for ourhome owners in the future.”

Under Krishnaʼs direction, Rohit Group established a charities division several years ago, involvingmany different organizations. One of the largest commitments is to the Stollery Childrenʼs Hospital asa diamond sponsor of the Snowflake Gala, and to a fellowship for heart research, established inmemory of the Guptasʼ first born who passed away in infancy.

Krishna has raised tens of thousands of dollars by shaving her head… setting an example thatencourages the Rohit team to volunteer. Among the beneficiaries are the Cancer Foundation,Under One Umbrella, Edmonton Food Bank, Christmas Bureau, Indo-Canadian WomenʼsAssociation, Kids in the Hall, and Childrenʼs Heart Society. Radhe has also been keen to giveback to his hometown of Jourra, India by building an outpatient clinic and an addition to the localschool.

Krishnaʼs advice to other women in business? “I would say: donʼt give up, be organized, befearless, donʼt be afraid to ask for help, and remember your failures. Thatʼs how you learn.” √

SS

Krishna GuptaPhoto by Terry Bourque

Raising the BarRaising the BarBy Marg. Pullishy



We began the discussion around what had encouragedus to take the leap from being employees toentrepreneurs.

Jessie recalled, “I was 32 when we bought therestaurant. Before, I worked at a large multi-nationalcompany [in the fast food industry] for a long time andwasnʼt satisfied with what it gave me. Their definition ofsuccess was different than how I defined it in mypersonal life… I had to compromise my standards andmake concessions that I knew I wouldnʼt have to do if Iwas the boss. [I] wanted to be true to myself—wanted myHR standards and practices to be in line with my values.Also, [I] now had an opportunity to work with myhusband. We were newly married at the time, and

[business ownership] offered us thelifestyle we were looking for.”

Pauline, the newest businessowner in the group, said “I felt a largedisconnect from being an employee ina large organization and what I wasdoing in my free time as a volunteer.The name ʻJump out of Bedʼ came fromthe idea about being excited to go towork instead of rolling out, sadlyunmotivated. Eventually, a fellowRotarian and mentor told me, ʻYou needto start your own business.ʼ And I took hisadvice.”

Colleen echoed some of Paulineʼscomments adding, “It seemed as thoughevery five years I had peaked at my job—Ino longer felt challenged. There are somany more limitations in large companiesand I just got bored. Truly though, I stumbledinto owning my own business and, in thebeginning, really had no idea what I wasgetting into.” I could relate.

Jessie elaborated, “[I thought] thereʼs 300people ahead of me on the promotion trail inthis company and most of them are 10 to15years older than me, and there is not a hope ofme getting to the place I want to be within thiscorporation.”

Tracey recalled her time consulting start-ups in the bio-technology industry. “I came from a very traditional maleenvironment, science and technology, and I was alwaysthe only woman… and I never realized that wasnʼtnormal. It wasnʼt a barrier… I donʼt think I experiencedany gender issues as a result of that. I worked hard andwas good at what I did. What changed for me was that Iwent back to school to do an MBA because, in thatenvironment…if I wanted to run a company in thatindustry, I needed an MBA. It was actually that thatopened my eyes to ʻhold on here, I could actually go adifferent direction with thisʼ and thatʼs when I starteddoing consulting work.”

The common theme? We became entrepreneurs notout of a desire tomake millions orbecause we had aproduct we weredying to bring tomarket, but rather outof a sense of

boredom and

frustrationwith a lack ofchallenge and adisconnectbetween thecorporate andpersonaldefinitions of

success. Of course, it was only a matter

of time before gender differences was putforward. Personally, I often see a gender gap betweenmen and women in terms of sales tactics, priorities,

planning and financial strategies. But, a gap does notnecessarily mean weaknesses on either side.

The mood in that room was far from the “man bashing”one might expect from a table of strong, independent andbusiness-savvy women. On the contrary, we all agreedthat all entrepreneurs face the same challenges with afew key distinctions: the language men and women useto express themselves in business circles… and eachgenderʼs definition of success.

Tracey pointed out that “gender was never even on myradar until I took on this job. What changed for me wasthat I realized that, because I donʼt have children, Iʼvebeen living a career path that wasnʼt much different thanmen were living… I didnʼt have the same considerationsof wanting that family life, so it wasnʼt the same… Irealized Iʼm different than most of the women enteringinto business because [they are] trying to find a way to dowhat is meaningful and gives them the opportunity to beat the soccer game and volunteer at their kidsʼ schools…That is causing these women to leave mid career fromhighly paid positions to start their own businesses.”

Speaking on the definition of success and thedifferences between how women and men network,

Tracey shared “I think that women view theirgrowth differently and I think

thatʼs what doesnʼt appealto them about getting intothe old boyʼs club… Itdoesnʼt mean that womendo not want men in theirpeer group or mentorshipmodel. What theyʼre lookingfor is people with like-mindedbusiness practices and asocial responsibility modelwith a connection tocommunity.”

Colleen felt that maleentrepreneurs have the sameneed to contribute and build thecommunity. “Men think thesame thoughts [as women], butthey express it differently… Thelanguage is different—that maybe something that limits men.Women are not using effectivelythe empowerment and uniqueopportunity they have to ʻbethemselvesʼ and be expressive,sensitive, caring in business.”

I was intrigued by the definition ofsuccess around the table: What didthese women see as success?

Jessie defined success as “financialmeasures and goals balanced withfreedoms and family and time (that is)

equally important. The rest of it becomes a personalchallenge game… but you donʼt have to compromise forfinancial growth”

Colleen added “It depends on the stage of life youʼre in,too. I was a part of the old school that thought moneywas most important, [but] there is a difference betweensuccess and significance without compromise, and to beable to give back and give to your family. We default tohaving to balance or having an excuse not to succeed.You can have it all! Women need to be empowered [so]they can merge the two things in life.”

Continued from page 5

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Colleen and Erin

Colleen

Jessie and Tracey

“Does anyone besides menotice the differences

between the genders?”

“Does anyone besides menotice the differences

between the genders?”

“I had to compromisemy standards andmake concessions”

“ I just got bored”



Pauline responded “That is inspiring to hear because Iam at the beginning of that walk and trying to strategicallyplan. Iʼm asking questions like: What stage do I have tobe at in my business career to have kids? What is myfive-year plan?”

Colleen admitted that she had her doubts at times…that there were moments of fear and wondering how shecould juggle everything.

According to Tracey,. “Having a business plan thatreflects the realities of your personal life is an importantconsideration for any business owner. AWE can help youto identify and implement strategies that will prepare youfor this.”

Jessie says that entrepreneurs need to “decide whatis important to you. You may have to give up somethings. [You] canʼt run a business full time and be inaggressive growth mode and be a stay-at-home mom,but you can do a lot and have it all.”

I agree with what Jessie says. I grew up with womenshouting the mantra, “You can be and do anything andeverything.” Of course, it is empowering and whatevery child regardless of gender should hear. But Iwitnessed some intelligent, formidable women whothought they could do it all and be it all at the sametime actually burn out. Their children suffered, theirmarriages suffered and, in the end, their self-esteemwas no better. Thatʼs how it looked from my vantagepoint. Just because one can do anything doesnʼt meanone should do everything.

Recently, I received a Facebook message from aretail store owner I very much respect. After giving birthto twins three months ago, she continued to work ather store. With her lease coming up for renewal, shetook the opportunity to reflect and has decided thatbusiness ownership is not her favourite part of thefashion industry—her clients are. However, not eventhat realization—for her, for now—could compete withthe fact that being a mom is number one. I respect andadmire her ability to choose what her focus is, knowingthat it doesnʼt make her less successful, less valuableor less of a contributor to society.

It takes courage to be honest with yourself… to admityour limitations… to set priorities and to commit tothose priorities. Sometimes, stepping back can be aschallenging—and satisfying—as forging ahead.

The women around the table that afternoon arecommitted to fulfillment, personally and professionally.Based on Colleenʼs initial analogy, that means nomatter where they are at: be it in the locker room, athalf time, or momentarily on the sidelines, coaching thenext set of players to hit the field. √

Erin Rayner is president of ED Marketing andCommunications Inc. [email protected]

lberta Women Entrepreneurs—AWE—is dedicated helping women achievelong-term business success. Since1995, the not-for-profit organizationhas supported women in business

through business advising, business skillsdevelopment, financing, and providingnetworking opportunities.

AWE is funded by Western EconomicDiversification and provides free businessadvising services to women entrepreneursthroughout Alberta. It offers advice,information, references and resources for allareas of business management anddevelopment to women who are starting acompany or are expanding a current business.Repayable loans of up to $100,000 are availablebased on approval of business plans andviable futures.

The Alberta Women Entrepreneurs annualprofessional development conference.Innovative Approaches to Success will be heldat the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald from April21st to 23rd. It boasts an impressive line-up ofspeakers from start to finish.

The conference features two entrepreneurialsuccess stories. It kicks off with an openingpresentation from Manjit Minhas, founder ofMountain Crest Spirits and Minhas CreekBrewing Company, which had revenues inexcess of $11 million last year. She will shareher insights on strategic pricing and effectivemarketing. It closes with the insights of W.Brett Wilson, the nice-guy panelist andphilanthropist on the hit CBC show, DragonʼsDen. He is one of the founding partners ofFirstEnergy Capital Corp., an investment bankthat has brokered deals worth more that $150billion. Through his own Prairie Merchantinvestment bank, he has amassed holdings inthe energy, agriculture, real estate, sports andentertainment industries.

Between these headliners are two days filledwith marketing and branding strategy sessionsconducted by Dr. Fang Wan, Asper School ofBusiness instructor and author; and KenJurina, founder of Top Draw and Epiar, bothonline service firms. Profit panelists androundtable experts include: Eveline Charlesand Lina Heath of EvelineCharles Salons/Spas;and Jessie Radies of Blue Pear restaurant andOriginal Fare. Other roundtable experts areDoug Critchely of Displayco Canada; UshiJoshi of Government Services Canada; and2009 Edmontonians Sizzler Elisse Heine ofRedman Technologies and Divertido.ca.

For further information on AWE services andto register for the conference, visitawebusiness.com. √

Innovative approaches

TO SUCCESS

AA

Jessie and Tracey

Pauline

“Gender was not even on my radar until I took this job”“Gender was not even on my radar until I took this job”

“I felt a large disconnect”“I felt a large disconnect”

Randall C. Purvis, President and CEO of Waterloo Ford Lincoln,would like to congratulate Sara McNeill as she graduates fromthe international ECO INSTITUTION, which is a member ofGreen Business Certified and the Green Collar Association.

She and her colleagues will be assisting Waterloo Ford Lincolnin our quest for environmental stewardship as we set thestandard in sustainable environmental policies that will lead ourindustry. She will be responsible for the environmentalassessment of our current practices and for creating the policiesand procedures required as we make the changes needed toensure our planet is a better place to live for the next generationof Canadians. We are proud to have her and her colleagues aspart of the Waterloo Ford Lincoln team.

Waterloo Ford has been selling and servicing Ford andLincoln products in Edmonton since 1945.

Waterloo Ford Lincoln is proud to have participated in EARTHHOUR. To find out more about it visit www.wwf.ca/earthhour/



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