Learning to Excel

We yearn for excellence. If I believe nothing else, I believe that. As individuals, we aspire to become better human beings. As a society, we are evolving upwardly. As businesses, we emulate those that have reached a higher level of success.

And that is why programs like our Business Person of the Year continue to command such attention. It identifies those among us who are operating at peak performance and affords the opportunity to examine their principles of excellence in depth. I freely acknowledge that there is a proliferation of such awards but I don’t see that as a bad thing. Surrounding ourselves with positive role models should be deemed a necessity.

You would have to look far and wide to find a more positive role model than this year’s recipient of the Business Person of the Year award, NAIT’s president Sam Shaw. And I mean positive in all its connotations. His pro­cesses have proved stunningly positive for NAIT’s reputation and bottom line. And he is by disposition the most upbeat and optimistic person I’ve ever met. The choice of a president of a not-for-profit organization to be Alberta’s Business Person of the Year may seem contra-indicated. But Sam’s outstanding record of achievement at NAIT, his ability to lead his team in pursuit of new opportunity, his substantive contributions to the broader community and his personal commitment to excellence left our judging panel nodding their heads in agreement: he may run a not-for-profit but he exemplifies business excellence in every way.

I’d like to thank our panel: Harry Buddle of Capital City Savings, Martin Lambert from Bennett Jones, Drew Thomson of the CMAs, Fred Filthaut from CFRN TV and Doug Thomson of Lacent Technologies. They gave up a day to deliberate over the many nominations and their insight is truly appreciated. I’d also like to invite interested readers to attend the Business Person of the Year luncheon on Jan. 12. Sam will be offering actionable advice from his own experience on how to bring passion into the workplace. Go online at www.albertaventure.com to purchase your ticket.

Turning my attention from awards for business leaders, I’d like to point out that Alberta Venture, in conjunction with our sponsors BDO Dunwoody, Chartered Accountants of Alberta, Grant MacEwan College and Syncrude Canada, is running our Enterprising Employees Awards, for the eighth year. Business success requires good leaders, but it is also imperative to have engaged, enthusiastic employees who go beyond the straight job description to deliver exceptional performance. If you are fortunate to harbour one of those in your workplace, run – don’t walk – to our website and download a nomination package. Close date for nominations is Dec. 10, 2004.

With the end of the year rushing towards us, I encourage you to pause for a brief reflection on your victories to date and a contemplation of your future possibilities. In my case, I know neither of those would exist for Venture without the commitment of our team, the assistance of our suppliers, the partnership with our advertisers and the involvement of our readers. For each and every one who has touched Venture in this past year, thank you and here’s to a 2005 filled with prosperity and satisfaction.

Ruth Kelly
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

A Tolerant Society?

Over the years that I have been publishing this magazine, the most common refrain that I have heard is that Alberta has a shortage of qualified and quality workers.
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The Passionate “I”

I’ve had cause to contemplate the nature of passion recently. Two events converged to provoke that reflection. In September, I attended the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM in Calgary. Over two and a half days, the oft-times fiery debates on policy demonstrated the depth of passion held by the delegates for the business of Canada. Views were exchanged, members defended policies without regard for personal benefit, voices shook with conviction. It was all very invigorating. >

Seasonal Changes

I don’t know if you find this, but for me change seems inextricably linked to the month of September. Perhaps I’m still tied to the rhythms of the school year, despite the many, many years that have passed since I lasted attended classes. >

Scoping the Competition

“Vancouverite Roberta Staley took her very first WestJet flight in the process of covering this story. As it turned out, not even she could fight off the urge to get excited about the culture at WestJet.” >

Awakening the Giant

“Grande Cache sits atop a sleeping giant of opportunity. The problem may be that there is real fear of awakening it.” >

Compare and Contrast

Money talks, farming walks, but innovation and education are getting short-changed >

Taking a Bow

“Imagine, for a moment, that you had an opportunity to address a crowd of esteemed colleagues, to reflect upon past years of work and those with whom you had collaborated. Could you put your finger on the secret of your personal success?” >

In Search of Great Ideas

“Perhaps your best idea came to you 35,000 feet above ground, while racking up some frequent flyer points. At any rate, that’s where Ashif Mawji was at the moment he conceived of Upside Software Inc., Alberta’s Fastest Growing Company for 2004.” >

Brick by Brick

“Alberta’s Business Person of the Year, Bill Comrie, downplays the influence of life’s events when speaking of the reasons for his success.” >