Age: 36
Birthplace: Guelph
Company: We provide energy advisory services for governments, utilities and the private sector.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
What we do Founded in 1989, Options Housing is a non-profit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in Ottawa. We focus on helping people get out of shelters, off
Giving Guide: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
What we do The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is Canada’s only charity dedicated to the protection of public land, freshwater and ocean with a strong national and regional presence
Education: Bachelor of science, University of Ottawa (2006); bachelor of engineering, Carleton University (2003)
Charitable involvement: Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
Biggest biz achievement: Being able to attract a team of incredibly bright and dedicated people, typically by offering fewer dollars and more risk than their other options.
Biggest obstacle: Getting Posterity Group moving from a total standstill. On day one, Alex Tiessen and I were a two-person consulting company with no clients, offering a combined 10 years of experience and operating from our spare bedrooms.
Biggest influence: There have been many, but I’ll go with David Oke, my grandfather. He encouraged me to experience the world more broadly: science, art, business, nature, everything. Shortly before he died, he sold his farm and gave his grandchildren a portion of the proceeds. My share was used as seed money for Posterity Group.
Biggest lesson learned: Treat people well, no matter the immediate situation or relationship. Arch-nemesis competitors become future colleagues; failed job applicants become future clients.
First job: Labourer on the family farm
Advice I’d give the younger me: Spend more time with the people who matter most to you.
What’s left to do: On the personal front, help my kids become strong, confident, kind adults. Make sure my career doesn’t get in the way. On the career front, Posterity Group has done lots of good work. However, we’re a nine-person operation in a $10-billion industry, simultaneously fighting climate change and giant multinational competitors, so pretty much everything is still “left to do.”
Favourite pastime: Visiting the dinosaurs at the Canadian Museum of Nature with my kids.
I’m currently reading: Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life by James William Daschuk
Favourite movie: Dr. Strangelove
Favourite song: I’m more of a podcast person these days, mostly about politics in the U.S. I’m trying to wean myself.
Favourite local pro sports team: Ottawa RedBlacks
Favourite local summer event: Ottawa Chamberfest
Preferred social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
Company Twitter handle: @PosterityGroup
