Our Award Winners

2021 Winner: Bob Pitzel

Bob Pitzel: Painter, Innovator Introduction:

Bob Pitzel, an accomplished Saskatchewan watercolour artist, depicts physical images of vanishing rural landscapes, transportation and farm implements, by using detail, colour and light and the contrast of geometric versus organic shapes, with great subtlety. Subjects include farmyards, aging machinery, vanishing railway stations, freight trains and "rolling stock," the latter being Pitzel's term for aging agricultural machinery and objects in rural settings. He also portrays outdated commercial structures, such as grain elevators and derelict country stores. Pitzel's painting conveys with astonishing and haunting intensity moments in time that often go unnoticed by passersby and in a stark realism that is quintessentially his own.

He says in his "artistic statement": "My subject matter is by necessity items and scenes which are familiar and that make a deep impression on me. I need to have an intimate knowledge of the region's people, their histories, their locales, their possessions, etc." Thus, the rural life of his home in Humboldt and its environs informs everything that he paints.

Background:

Pitzel is also known as a successful graphic artist and businessman, having opened Graphic Ad (GA), a design firm in Humboldt, in 1971, managing and prospering in it, until selling it to pursue other interests in 2004. He has more recently worked on branding and consulting for the air filtration and ventilation company, Failure Prevention Services (FPS; Watson, SK). With them, he is currently working on developing a co-generation energy project, designed to sell electrical power generation to a broad range of customers, including SaskPower. "This is FPS' current project," Pitzel adds. "New ones always start up."

Born in Humboldt in 1948 to parents of Hungarian and Dutch ancestry, Pitzel preferred drawing throughout his school years to the life of retail sales in the family's grocery store. He left the community at age 18 to study both fine and graphic art, at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary.

Pitzel says that while four years of big city life in Alberta was "good for a young person,...I came to feel that city life was not my preference for the future. I realized a smaller locale was more my style and offered just as many (and perhaps more) opportunities as a city." He met Maureen Doetzel in 1969, a teller in one of the town's banks who later became Loans' Manager. The two began a remarkable partnership in life, work and travel that has continued for nearly 50 years.

Pitzel stresses the importance of having had a strong partner in Doetzel. In the early days of GA, she never protested the 14 to 16 hour work days he invested, seven days a week, that were necessary to steer the business through its infancy (and particularly to generate enough work to keep employed the company's eventual staff of eight employees). Pitzel would often paint late at night, when youth allowed him a "second wind," before he went to bed.

In those years, Doetzel worked full-time, maintained their home and yard and was not surprised by their "not seeing much of each other." She knew from her father's life as an elevator agent and self-trained veterinarian that a new business "couldn't be built in the hours between nine and five." There was never any point in arguing, she notes, since Pitzel "would have walked away" from any dispute. Whatever the demands of his work, Doetzel recalls that he always returned to eat dinner with her and that they managed each year to take a five week holiday together in the late winter, no matter how meagre their finances. Then, they forgot their work and happily travelled the world.

Facing Adversity: Losing Family

As is the case with all prairie creatives, Pitzel's life has been no stranger to challenges. Through his early years, he received much support from his creative mother, Nell, herself a creative individual, who had studied under Saskatoon artists, such as Ernie Lindner, and whose work Pitzel regrets that he never saw during her lifetime. As an only child, Pitzel was fortunate to receive both of his parents' support for his career in art. But Pitzel found in his mother the "creative push" he needed to leave home and pursue a career in art. Such support was remarkable, during an era that offered few career prospects at all, much less in the Arts, in rural Saskatchewan. When he returned from Calgary, seeking the quieter, more reflective life of his small hometown, Pitzel unknowingly returned to the tight-knit community that would assist him and Doetzel in caring for his mother, during the final days of terminal liver cancer. She died in 1987. He was 39. Pitzel bore the difficulty of that loss by the unfailing support of partner Doetzel and the remarkable nature of the ties of his small but strong, rural community.

...And Facing Cancer:

In 2009, when cancer struck again, it was for Pitzel himself. Diagnosed in 2009 with aggressive Burkitt's Lymphoma in his small intestine, he spent four months at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, in cycles of 26 days of drug-based chemotherapy, followed by four or five brief days of reprieve and a subsequent return to treatment. If his white blood cell count was safe, the schedule afforded him enough freedom to share meals out, with close friends. Buoyed by that fellowship and by his own unflagging optimism, he began to recover.

Yet following the treatment, one of the prolonged effects of the blood transfusions from his treatment was an ongoing loss blood, for which he was prescribed Prednisone. After his treatment, his doctor allowed him to stop taking the drug altogether, prior to taking his and Doetzel's annual holiday in California in 2013. Once there, Pitzel grew more and more ill, developing text book symptoms of a heart attack. This resulted in a three day stay in a California trauma hospital.

Both the mistreatment involving prednisone and the ensuing cost of $65K for Pitzel to receive care in the US created a fresh round of challenges. But using characteristic common sense when others would have planned litigation, Pitzel accepted his portion of the responsibility for having travelled that year.

A final routine medical test in 2014 resulted in the diagnosis of a cancerous polyp: surgery was required to remove of a small portion of Pitzel's large intestine. He bore the ensuing multiple colonoscopies with characteristic strength and good humour that lesser people lack.

Pitzel's Philosophy:

Pitzel has from youth had the artist's philosophy that human life will be subverted in the end by nature, as demonstrated by the millennia of history: "As the human race, we fool ourselves that we're in control. But look at global warming, and history. At the end of the day, we're only spectators." While such a perspective might leave some angry or despairing, Pitzel instead views life as a challenge to embrace every day, for its own sake, finding value not only in the rural landscapes and equipment that he paints, but also in its people.

Saskatchewan business people, at their best, he says, are "innovators": Pitzel says that historically, so few people in Saskatchewan had knowledge and experience in business or art that "we had to help ourselves out of the corners our inexperience got us into. As a result, people here generally carry out their tasks with the attitude of 'how can I make this better, easier, quicker, etc. the next time?" It is a "rare attribute" and tremendous asset to approach life and business with this attitude of continuous learning and improvement, he says.

He views adversity as best seen as new opportunities for learning. Mistakes are inevitable parts of the learning process, not to be borne too heavily. He does acknowledge, however, that the "emotional challenge" of doing one's work is more intensive for creatives who turn inner thought and feeling into their daily bread.

Pitzel's early losses have yielded him a persistent "Carpe Diem" philosophy. He recalls a friend, Eileen LeJan, who endured terminal cancer five or six years prior to his and for whom stem cell science bought her time. While Bob has so far survived, she did not. Some of her last words reminded him that "we're both in the same condition – we are both past our expiry date! Modern technology has given us extra time, so enjoy the day!" He remembers her words and makes "every day count."

Pitzel rarely offers any literal advice to young entrepreneurs, whether under or over 40, other than to "stick with" their businesses, "even when you want to give up." Careers, especially in art, take time, but "if you love it and have a passion for it, do it!" he enthuses. He also emphasizes that "nothing replaces hard work. A strong partner [like Doetzel], planning, good economic conditions, etc. help, but you are still required to 'roll up your sleeves.'"

Pitzel says that his philosophy is more "lifeaholism" than workaholism. The long hours he invested were required, because any career requires continual learning: In-person networking with prospects enabled him to view many different businesses, good and bad, which taught him the importance of continually progressing, to make "each year better than the last one."

On the question of aging, Pitzel comments: "It's not that life gets more interesting over 40, because it's all been interesting. But you understand more, as you age." Life has become simpler with age, he adds: When one reaches retirement, one needs "fewer and fewer assets every year and shouldn't still accumulate [things]." He disapproves of the rampant materialism of younger generations, "38 year olds who consume and consume and consume, and so have $400K homes, two vehicles, a motorhome; all owned by the bank!" Excess consumption, he observes, leaves people with no thought or aspirations for what will come in mid-life and in old age.

Being Mentored:

Pitzel learned early in the business to save much of his income, as his greatest mentor, Humboldt's "old time banker," Jack Davidson taught him. Both Pitzel and Doetzel shared a professional and personal relationship with Davidson. He was Doetzel's supervisor at the bank, but also a friend and mentor to Pitzel, whom he mentored to build GA and to grow the couple's long-term savings. Starting with only $500 in a single term deposit, the result of that wise saving, Pitzel notes, has been a financially comfortable retirement. In true prairie style, mentor Davidson was also a willing carpenter, "pounding nails" when the couple renovated their country home, a former CN rail station, moved from Totzke, SK.

The same enterprising self-motivation that saw Pitzel networking throughout Saskatchewan to find customers for GA, also saw him seek out Punnichy based painter, Ernest Luthi. Luthi had attended art school in Switzerland and was a pioneer of watercolour on the Prairies, painting fine art for a living at a time when no one else did. Luthi devoted his life to the art, trading many of his remarkable (now highly valuable) landscape paintings for his day to day survival. Pitzel sought out Luthi and received the elder man's critique of his work, learning technique and strategy for his own watercolour painting.

Mentoring Others:

Pitzel says he has been significantly mentored by others, as well. One particular case began through a painters' group in the 1970s, who met every few months to honestly critique each others' work. When a show they had prepared for was unsuccessful due to poor management by a Regina gallery, they improvised to create Humboldt's first ever art show, "Long Shadows, in November 1979," which "blew [their] most optimistic expectations out of the water." The phenomenal success reflected the community's interest and the quality of the exhibit, which continued with other participants for the next 20 years. In addition to benefiting from peers' mentoring and building a network for his art, Pitzel met and encouraged many young artists who met him and his peers after attending this show.

He also mentored many youth at GA, between its inception in 1971 and sale in 2004. He recalls laughingly the "NHL Draft" work he orchestrated, signing three adolescent brothers in Humboldt to the shop. They learned the structure, order and organization of the work at GA, but two of them also took Pitzel's advice to leave the province for a time, to broaden their horizons. All ended up with professional careers on the Prairies.

Pitzel says that "these people later said that working at GA gave them the tools that helped them become successful with what they did and to get on with their careers."

He creates a fine example for protégés and friends: he laughs to recall the words of a 21year old cancer patient whom he befriended in hospital in 2009. The younger man had been encouraged by Pitzel's courage, so that the fellow told his mother: "If that old guy can make it through his treatment, so can I!"

Pitzel is known for his bigheartedness, for graciously speaking with even the most graceless or contrary new entrepreneur. He has informally and formally mentored dozens of new entrepreneurs through the Raj Manek Business Mentorship Program (RMMP), since 1998. He views this not as generosity so much as "payback" for those like Davidson, Luthi and many others, who earlier mentored him in business or fine art.

The Painting Process:

Pitzel's visual way of perceiving the world is evident in his artistic space and process. His studio, located adjacent to his house, is an immaculate, bright and orderly space, designed to maximize incoming natural light.

Pitzel works from photos or slides, often taking as many as 50 to 75 per project, to recreate the three-dimensional vision that he remembers from first sight. Using photography "as a reference tool allows [him] to record potential ideas, scenes and details" to use later. He writes in his artist's "biography" that "changes in composition, tone, mood, etc. can, and often do, take place between the original photographic reference and subsequent sketches, studies, and major paintings." His creative process of "incorporating sketches and studies prior to executing a major work" often brings "changes in composition, lighting, colour and in [some] cases, elimination of irrelevant elements." He uses a very specific, "deeply personal" palette of colours to evoke "the colours of the prairies" that he loves and "the variations created by the seasons."

Pitzel writes about his work that "In general, the usual settings for my work are nature's, with elements such as buildings and implements used by man in an effort to tame, control, or simply co-exist with Mother Nature. And the effect that seasons have on the world of those who live with or through them."

He explains that he has felt compelled to work in watercolour, because, when starting out, he needed to learn its discipline to properly plan and structure his painting. Prior to that, when using acryllics, he was unable to sufficiently think through his strategy and technique, which resulted alterations that made "messes" out of his work.

He writes further that "during the pre-painting through and planning process, I begin to emphasize some elements of a proposed work while suppressing others, always being intensely aware of the light as well as the contrasts in the composition. At this [early] stage I focus on eliminating extraneous subject matter and giving more attention to the mood of the piece. I feel there are no shortcuts in the planning process, since once the painting itself is started, there is no opportunity for 'going back.'"

Because watercolour cannot be altered, Pitzel observes that it requires an "Oriental" kind of nature of "80% contemplation and 20% execution."

Pitzel and Doetzel continue to time their annual holiday to California in the last weeks of winter, so as to provide relief when nature's light has faded and winter darkness still dominates.

Formal Exhibits:

Pitzel's works have been exhibited throughout Saskatchewan and Canada and have been purchased by individuals and corporations throughout Canada, the US and Europe.

After the success of creating "Long Shadows" in 1979 in Humboldt, Pitzel has participated in a wide number and type of exhibits, with an extensive listing appearing on his website at www.bpitzel.com.

Among his most influential and accomplished exhibits include the "International Artists in Watercolour" competition, where he was named one of top 25 Canadian entries (August, 1981).

Nationally, his work appeared at the influential Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Juried Show in 2008 (Toronto) and in 2009 (Calgary).

Provincially, he exhibited works in Watrous in April 2005, at the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts' Councils (OSAC) Development Weekend and Provincial Exhibition.

Most recently, in the 2015 Prince Albert Winter Festival Juried Show, one of two of Pitzel's pieces won the watercolour award at the city's Mann Gallery.

He regularly has paintings on display, including 10 that will be on tour throughout the province for the next two years, in a two man OSAC exhibition with Bryce Ericksen.

"Did you Say 'Retirement?'"

Pitzel jokes that he in fact retired in 1971 when he opened GA, because he has since woken most mornings, happy "to do what I love doing." Doetzel may describe his perspective best: "Bob never lets the moss grow under his feet. He keeps life exciting."

Elizabeth Shih is a freelance writer and editor, based in Saskatoon. You can read more about her services at www.elizabethshih.com

2020 Winner: Gordon and Maureen Haddock

Gordon and Maureen Haddock have enjoyed a life of entrepreneurship that began developing when they were teenagers. Both Gord and Maureen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, Gord with a Commerce degree and Maureen with a Bachelor of Education. The Haddocks remain very involved with the University. They began giving an annual scholarship in Edwards School of Business in 1997 and in the College of Education in 2009. The first presentation in the Gordon and Maureen Haddock Entrepreneurial Speaker Series was held in 2007. The Haddocks try to attend U of S events and enjoy keeping up with the exciting changes in both colleges.

Gord’s entrepreneurial spirit led the couple into many business ventures, including an advertising agency, music store, drug stores, card and gift stores, businesses involving land development, fast food, clothing, tourism, bath and skin care products, entertainment, and publishing. Their businesses have been both franchise and self-started. For the Haddocks, the line between work and play was always gently blurred. While their daughters were young, the family enjoyed working together, during promotions and events. Maureen enjoyed the communications and training role, while Gord looked after other business details.

Trek 2000 Corporation, a holding company, was formed in 1986, when Gordon and Maureen brought The Body Shop franchise to Saskatchewan. For twenty years, they grew The Body Shop Saskatchewan, until eventually there were four stores, and a home party division that they pioneered in Saskatchewan for the international company. Toward the end of this time, the Haddocks brought lululemon to Saskatchewan. Overlapping these businesses were several other businesses including a Roots franchise, a souvenir company, and The Belly Button Buddies™.

By 2010, Gord and Maureen were no longer in retail and developed new business relationships and projects involving land development, construction, a television production truck, and the rental of mobile offices and storage units. Their business philosophy is simple; work hard, have fun, make money, and do good things.

Maureen has written three books, writes a column for Prairies North Magazine, and has been a blogger since 2013. Her first two books, Get a Bigger Wagon and Get an Even Bigger Wagon, contain true stories about Gord’s misadventures growing up on the prairies during the 1950s and 60s. The entrepreneurial truths he learned during these adventures remain with him to this day. In 2018, these stories provided the motivation for the Get a Bigger Wagon Young Entrepreneur Awards for kids from 7 to 18, sponsored by the Haddocks in affiliation with the Haddock Entrepreneurial Speaker Series and Edwards School of Business. The Haddocks enjoy keeping up with their scholarship winners and young entrepreneur award recipients. They willingly mentor young people and share their business experiences with anyone interested in entrepreneurship.

Gord has believed, for decades, that a major in entrepreneurship would be a natural development for the Edwards School of Business. Maureen believes that programming available to students at the College of Education could be expanded to include corporate training, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Gord and Maureen enjoy being involved in discussions pertaining to new initiatives for their alma maters.

For more information visit www.trek2000corporation.com or www.getabiggerwagon.com.

2019 Winner: Dale Lemke

Dale has been on the board of just about every business association in Saskatchewan, mentored many people, invested in many start-up companies, and is the President at Display System International, Inc. and Co-Founder at ClientLinkt Solutions Ltd.

Immediately after graduation from UND in 1976, Mr. Lemke was employed by the Aviation Department of UND to write computer programs to analyze radar weather data to determine the results of cloud seeding programs in the prevention of hailstorms. One year later, Dale moved to Saskatoon where S.E.D. Systems, a space engineering company.

In 1980, Dale moved back to Grand Forks, North Dakota to open the first Computerland store in North Dakota with his brother, Kevin Lemke. Computerland was a franchise computer store that sold some of the first microcomputers such as the Apple II and the IBM personal computer to consumers and small business. One year later, in 1981, Dale moved to Fargo to open their second Computerland store in North Dakota.

Back in Saskatoon in 1983, Dale founded his own company called Display Systems International. He designed and developed the first product called a character generator, which was software that was burned into a cartridge, which turned the Atari game computer into a cable TV advertising and information display system. DSI continues to develop software products compatible with Windows Operating Systems that are used by the cable and private cable TV industry for advertising channels, community events and program listings.

Mr. Lemke also co-founded Terminal Systems International in 1997, with his partner Mr. David Reid of Saskatoon. TSI has developed software products that are used by airports to display flight information in the terminal. TSI has over 30 installations in airports around the world, in countries such as the US, Mexico, Taiwan, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Canada. One of the company’s latest installations is at the new Bismarck Airport in North Dakota. TSI is currently in negotiations for contracts for airports in Chile and Peru. The company is negotiating with Air Canada to handle their flight information needs for across Canada.

2018 Winner: Lester Laford

Mr. Lafond has served the First Nation Governments in the field of property taxation by helping them build and maintain fair and efficient First Nation property tax regimes to ensure the First Nations communities and their taxpayers receive the maximum benefit from those systems.

As past Chairman of the FSIN, Mr. Lafond reviewed and recommended funding strategic and planning proposals by First Nations and tribal councils throughout the Saskatchewan Region.

In 2006, Mr. Lafond was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for contributing to the social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents. The award recognizes individuals who have made their mark in such areas as business and industry, community leadership, public service, research, and volunteer service.

As former TLE Coordinator, Mr. Lafond provided services to TLE activities for Muskeg Lake. He provided direction and negotiations for the services, infrastructure financing and development for Aspen Developments, a wholly owned company of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Mr. Lafond assisted in obtaining financing for Muskeg Lake and the Saskatoon Tribal Council for their three office complexes. He also coordinated and negotiated the development of the Petro Canada Service Station and successfully negotiated leases to commercial office buildings into the Industrial Park.

Mr. Lafond has served on several organizations, he is:

Past/Chairperson - Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) Aboriginal Committee
To promote new aboriginal business enterprises into Saskatoon area. Also, to promote Aboriginal training programs to meet the needs of the business community.

Past-President - Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
A member of their Aboriginal Committee, Chairperson of the Aboriginal Committee. Board & Executive Member of the Chamber organization.

Former Board Member - Indian Taxation Advisory Board
A board member for three-year term 1990-93

Chairperson FSIN/INAC - PRC Committee

- Review and recommend for funding strategic & planning proposals by First Nations and tribal Councils throughout the Saskatchewan Region.

Former Board member - Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority

As a Board Member to promote new business to locate in
the Saskatoon Business area. Sat on board for 8 years

2017 Winner: Paul J. Hill

2016 Winner: Silvia Martini

Silvia L. Martini, C.Dir. EBAC, BAC
Silvia is the Principal of Martini Consulting, wherein her services are sought by those seeking expertise in strategy, governance, executive mentorship and leadership. Her company specializes in a select group of clienteles to whom she dedicates her expertise, and who are ready to embrace positive change
and/or growth.

She is a Charter Director with The Directors College (2017), through the DeGroote School of Business (McMaster University) and the Conference Board of Canada. She also holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Board Governance (2014) with the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto). She is a member in good standing of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Silvia passionately focuses on efficiently and effectively aligning strategy to successful outcomes and toward effective and meaningful governance, for her businesses, her clients, as well as a diverse volunteer community.

Following almost four decades of success and commitment, Silvia’s extensive knowledge, experience and
successful outcomes in business and leadership have been recognized with awards such as the Raj Manek
Mentorship Above & Beyond Award (2016), the Dr. Brooke Dobni Excellence Award for “Most Distinguished
EBAC Graduate” (2014); the Chamber of Commerce “President’s Award for Outstanding Work” (2013), and
induction in The International Golden Key Honour Society. Recognized as a Trail Blazer, she was featured in the June 2019 issue of “Refined” Magazine and is a past finalist for the ATHENA Award.

Among her many accomplishments over the years Silvia includes her appointment by the Government of
Saskatchewan for its Crown, SaskWater Corporation. This follows her one-year appointment as its Vice-Chair of the Board, her two-year Board appointed Chair position of its Governance Committee, her appointment as Chair of the Committee on Business Development Review, and Chair of ToR Committee Review and Update.

She is past President of the Board for The Word On The Street Saskatoon and was co-Chair of the 2017 Word On The Street Festival, leading a restructuring and new platform for the organization and its festival.

She has served the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce as a Director of the Board and Chair of the
Governance Committee. She was Chair of the Governance Policies’ Development Committee and led the Board
through the transition phase of adoption and integration. She was also Board appointed Chair of its Brand
Assessment Committee.

She is a charter Director of the Board for The Princess Shop and led the development as Chair of its Governance
Development Committee. She is Past President of this Board and assisted the organization in its platform
development for long-term success, and in its strategic planning. The organization continues to thrive amidst
increasing competition.

She is a past Board member and long-time business mentor with the Raj Manek Mentorship Program, and a roster mentor with the Betty Ann Heggie Womentorship Program at the University of Saskatchewan. An entrepreneur and market developer, Silvia’s career spans over 35 years with successful market development initiatives provincially, nationally and internationally. As a passionate business professional, she is best known for her work in strategy, of challenging status quo, and of having and supporting decisions with integrity, robust consideration and discussions. She sets the bar with quality expectations and within innovative frameworks. Her
work is transformational, recognized by her academic and community recognition and by the success of her clients. She has enjoyed celebrating many great accomplishments with her teams, appreciating that leadership is about creating and supporting the environment for greatness to unfold.

She is also the Vice President of Interlink Research Inc., which she founded in 1993 with her husband and business partner, Rick Olmstead. IRI has outperformed the market since 1993. Their commitment to customer service, target focus, quality deliverables and product are a testament to Silvia’s often-quoted adage: Success = Quality Effort over Dedicated Time.

As a serial entrepreneur, Silvia continued her journey in Saskatoon from a thriving career in national event planning in her home city of Toronto, Ontario. She joined her business partner and husband Rick in 1982. Together they were instrumental in the product development and market positioning of a new industry and revolutionary product, the vanEE Heat Recovery Ventilators. Recognized for their export success, CES, Inc.,
was the proud recipient of the Government of Saskatchewan Tough Enough Export Award, and finalist for the ABEX Awards. Their company, Conservation Energy Systems, Inc. (CES, Inc.) was sold in 1993, and its trademark and brand continue to be respected today.

She is a member in good standing of the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan. She is married to her business partner and the proud mother of two daughters, Nicole and the late Alison Martini-Olmstead.

Silvia can be conveniently contacted at: martini.interlink@sasktel.net. 306.281-9019, or found on LinkedIn.

Please see her LinkedIn profile here for recommendations and testimonials.

2015 Winner: Doug Gillespie

Saskatoon and Saskatchewan lost a special person last year with the passing of Doug Gillespie. Doug was a long-time supporter of the Raj Manek program. He served his community and this organization as a board director of 4 years, a donor, a mentor, and a lifelong learner.

Wherever he went or whatever he did, he epitomized the pay-it-forward mentality. He quietly lent a hand where needed, donating more printing, prizes, time and money than a firm his size should have. He offered a thoughtful word of support at just the right moment, if one may have been hurting. His smile often brought a ray of sunshine to one’s day.

However, it was in the world of business that most of us came to know Doug. His magnetic personality made him a remarkable salesperson – first in the printing business in Regina, then in the advertising agency business and finally, as owner of his own enterprise in Saskatoon, FastPrint. His contribution to the local business community was even recognized as he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2012.

He also had an insatiable appetite to learn, participating as an active member of business peer groups in Saskatoon and internationally. Equalling his desire to improve himself was the desire to help others improve. He shared his knowledge as a mentor to four different protégés, while promoting the ideals of entrepreneurship and the role of the entrepreneur in building a better, more vibrant community.

His concern for others was further evidenced by his willingness to remain on the Board of Directors of Saskatoon’s FastPrint after its sale. Despite his progressing illness, he wanted to assure a smooth transition for the employees, clients and new owners.

Saskatchewan lost a bright light when Doug passed away last September, but his spirit lives among us all as businesspeople, as protégés and as a community.

We are proud to salute a truly outstanding legacy by honoring Doug Gillespie’s memory with the Raj Manek Above and Beyond Award.

2014 Winner: Ken Achs

2013 Winner: Marion Ghiglione

2012 Winner: Monica Kreuger

2011 Winner: Gavin Semple

2010 Winner: John V. Cross

2009 Winner: Ray Ahenikew

2008 Winner: Kent Smith-Windsor

2007 Winner: Shirley Ryan

2021 Winner: Gilbert Kewistep

2020 Winner: Jeff Dyke

2019 Winner: Kendal Netmaker

2018 Winner: Katherine Reginer

2020 Marie Savostiniak

Since 1990, Marie has been working in the areas of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and access to financial capital.

At the Saskatchewan Research Council, Marie managed a program that assisted over 200 inventors each year to understand of the steps and considerations in developing and commercializing new products. In 1998, Marie became Regional Coordinator for the Canadian Technology Network – a federal government initiative that connected Canadian public and non-profit organizations in providing business and technical advisory services to entrepreneurs with the goal of providing better referrals, as well as timely and relevant expertise and assistance.

As a co-founder of the Saskatchewan Advanced Technology Association in 2002, Marie was an active Director and Chair of the organization’s Education Committee.

In 2004, Marie managed consultation efforts that lead to the establishment of Saskatchewan’s first angel investor network – SAINT. This network operated until 2011 when a new angel investor network was formed – the Saskatchewan Capital Network (SCN). As Executive Director of SCN, Marie grew investor membership, advised entrepreneurs seeking early-stage financing, and coordinated events to give investment-ready companies the opportunity to meet and present their business opportunities to potential investors.

In 2016, Marie joined the team at Tech West Canada to encourage and support Saskatchewan companies to effectively participate in international events as prime sales and business development vehicles.

As a co-founder of Seeds For Dreams, that began in 2017, Marie is an active volunteer in promotion and event planning. Seeds For Dreams provides early-stage funding through a unique quarterly pitch & vote event where four women-led businesses pitch to our group of +80 members who then vote for the pitch they liked best. The company receiving the most votes that evening receives $100 from each member to use toward building their business without equity or debt obligations. Since its inception, Seeds For Dreams members have provided over $100,000 to local companies.

2019 Winner: Andrea Hansen

Andrea Hansen is a recognized Educator, Writer, Speaker and Benefits Advisor, whom you may have seen in her recurring feature in The Business Advisor Magazine sharing “Stories You Should Know” about local entrepreneurs. With almost 20 years of experience, she helps build and manage customized, compelling employee benefit and pension strategies for growing businesses, helping them find the right combination of benefits to protect, support and optimize their employees’ health and wellbeing.

Andrea is the creator the Sutton Employee Engagement Wheel™ and she authored and facilitates Sutton's Maximize your Talent Strategy & Drive Performance workshops to educate employers about the essential components of a total rewards strategy. She is passionate about helping employers effectively allocate their resources, time and money into the right elements of their total rewards program and has helped hundreds of employers maximize and leverage their results.

Andrea is a partner of Sutton Benefits & Pension, and has been recognized for her community leadership as a past recipient of the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, the SYPE Young Professional of the Year Award and a two-time YWCA Women of Distinction nominee. Most recently, Andrea received the Kent Smith-Windsor Leadership Award which recognizes exemplary extraordinary commitment, creativity and effort to promote entrepreneurship in Saskatchewan. One of her many accomplishments is being the co-founder and host of Seeds for Dreams, which offers woman-owned Saskatchewan businesses seed capital through a unique pitch and vote event.

Originally from Raymore, Saskatchewan, Andrea graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan, and she holds a specialty designation focused on group benefits design and management (Group Benefits Associate), in addition to a Certified Financial Planner certification.

When Andrea is not working, she appreciates being a hockey mom, staying active and socializing with family and friends in all-seasons. Her husband, Tim, is also a partner of the firm. Together they have two children, Victoria and Broderick. Andrea enjoys watching her daughter play Comets hockey and train with Saskatoon Track and Field Club, and watching her son play hockey in the Redwing Zone and play guitar. She cherishes the time she spends together with her family at their cabin at Fishing Lake.

2018 Winner: Greg Sutton

Past Award Winners

Past Above and Beyond Award Winners