DR. ROBERTA MCKAY

the Heart

Nadia WilliamsoN & YaYa WaNgNaTioNal CRaNE: EYEs oN THE sKYWaRNER iNdUsTRiEs: PRECioUs FREigHT

LIVING WELL IN SASKATCHEWAN SPRING 2015

WORKINGA VISION For Entrepreneurs

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As the opening video began to play, the room hushed. A story began to play out of warring dogs, dueling dance offs, cross room glares and finally the family photo. This is the story of family and working throughout the ages – the clash of the clans, the forgers, the fighters, the persevering who somehow, come together to live and fight another day.

Design entrepreneur Sara Armstrong’s fourth self-named collection, presented at Vancouver Fashion Week on March 18, is a tribute to her family, brought to life by a team of young entrepreneurs including Diana Klonek, photographer, Kerry Chambers, videographer, and Chelsea Grimm, musician. “I could not have created this collection and hosted a pop-up shop without their help.”

Her 27 piece collection took the runway, clad in hand-worked alpaca fleece, heavy Melton wools, stiff cotton twills and raw dupioni silks. The collection is cutting, yet romantic in warm winter white, blacks and greys.

Informed by an earnest pride in her family’s Scottish lineage, Saskatchewan born Sara Armstrong’s FW 2015 collection is “the communion of past, present and future”, where the legacies and influence of the family clan came to life on the runway.

“There is a lot of pride in my family name. Since I began sewing, my dad has always been asking me to make him a kilt. Instead, I’ve made him a collection.”

woRkING: A FAmIly

tRAdItIoN

12

Be seen.SKY Publishers Ltd. 700F 4400 4th Avenue Regina, Saskatchewan M - 306.581.0715 | O - 306.546.3873publisher@skymagazine.co

skymagazine @sky_magazine

www.skymagazine.co

I find work interesting. It can define us, fulfill us, and make a difference in the lives of others. Work can be about purpose. I have sold investments, worked for a crane company, and driven a school bus through university. In the corporate world, as a corporate planner I was close to the vision and plan. I found purpose in my work, and wanted everyone to see what I could see so they would find purpose in their work too. Now in the entrepreneurial world of private enterprise as an independent working publisher, I seek out good businesses because at the helm, driving the bus, I know I will find a true leader. It is a great honour to share their stories and promote their businesses. I hope you enjoy getting to know these people as I have.

Cover PhotoNadia Williamson and Yaya Wang are photographed at the historic Hotel Saskatchewan in the Royal Suite. Hair by Laflamous. Makeup by Blush Beauty Bar. Styling by NWL Contemporary Dresses and Tori and Taz Jewelry.

Publisher/editor Lynn Armstrong, BA, BAJC Design Amber Moon Photography Greg HuszarPrinting PrintWestDistribution Canada Post

Sky Magazine is a quarterly publication distributed to 32,000 homes in Regina, Saskatoon,Moose Jaw, Lumsden, Craven, Weyburn and Estevan. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Lynn Armstrong 01 working: a Family traDition 06 naDia williamson / yaya wang on BriDging the leaDershiP gaP12 larry koch, owner oF national crane is keePing his eye on the sky10 graham warner, owner oF warner inDustries talks school Buses

Contents

01

10features

06SKY iS WorKing

Publisher’s VIEW

LIVING WELL IN SASKATCHEWAN JANUARY 1, 2015 - DECEMBER 31, 2015

media kit|15

To request a Media Kit, visit our website at

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Whether you are already a business owner or thinking about becoming one, the decisions you make will have far-reaching implications – not only for your business, but also for yourself and your family.

These decisions can often be influenced by your business life cycle. In the early stages, you may have little resources or time to give to retirement planning. When you’re established, you may have more time and resources. However, the best time to plan is as soon as possible.

During the early years and periods of growth, build retirement planning

into your decisions by diversifying and directing surplus assets to tax-advantaged plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans or Individual Pension Plans, and/or non-registered investments. Obtain professional tax advice to help maximize cash flow to these assets. You may also be able to split income with family members, which can be beneficial when you eventually sell the business. Build a comprehensive estate plan, including putting Wills and Powers of Attorney in place and keep them up to date as circumstances change.

Long-range planning may not be uppermost in your mind when faced with your current day-to-day business challenges, but a business succession plan can improve the overall value of your business and help maintain its strategic direction. Setting goals and timelines helps to keep you on track and forces you to think long-term. During the planning process you may also identify talented future leaders and others who could take on pivotal roles. You can then ensure they get the training and experience they’ll need when the time comes.

Whether you are still an active player in your business or approaching retirement, the strategies and advice in our Business Owner’s Guide to Wealth Management can help you save millions in missed tax, financial and estate planning opportunities.

Business Owner’s Guide to Wealth Management covers 10 key decisions you need to make – from start-up to wind-down, following the life cycle of a business and its owner. It explores a range of subjects unique to business owners, including consideration of the best structure for your business, development of a succession plan and your transition from the business into a well-planned and well-funded retirement. Planning ahead can protect the business you’ve worked so hard to build, help you achieve your business goals and ensure your future prosperity. Your professional legal, tax and investment advisors are there to help you make the critical decisions, wherever you happen to be in the challenging and rewarding journey through the life cycle of your business. Written by RBC Wealth Management specialists for our business owner clients, we’d like to send you a complimentary copy. Simply give March-Burwell Wealth Management a call at (306) 777-0543 or e-mail: barb.march-burwell@rbc.com.This article is sponsored by Barbara March-Burwell, an investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund). This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on the information in this article.

rBc Dominion securitiesBarbara march-Burwell, cFPinvestment advisort: regina 306.777.0543 | esterhazy 306.745.4764toll Free 800.667.8555 | Donna rogers 306.777.0504 e: barb.march-burwell@rbc.com | donna.m.rogers@rbc.com w: www.barbmarch-burwell.com

Key Decisions for Business Owners

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nadia williamson and yaya wang share a vision to build a bridge between new and established entrepreneurs and professionals.

Nadia Williamson is the newly appointed Chair of the Regina District Chamber of Commerce and owner of NWL Contemporary Dresses. Yaya Wang is the President of Saskatchewan Young Professional Entrepreneurs (SYPE), an executive board between the ages of 18 and 35, with a goal to connect, engage and inspire its membership of all ages.

l-r Yaya Wang, Nadia Williamson

What is your vision for 2015?

Nadia: I want to encourage more businesses to join the Chamber of Commerce for our member benefits. I am looking forward to meeting and talking with our present members and hearing their desires. Encouraging cultural diversity and women to be apart of the board is also an important part of my vision. I am excited about working on the small loans committee and seeing the new business plans and brainstorming and connecting with Campbell Collegiate business program and SYPE. Lastly we will be spending time with City Council to discuss our member needs.

Yaya: I want to raise awareness about the opportunities for our emerging professionals and entrepreneurs. By working with Nadia, we will hope to see more integration between our two organizations, and in turn, more mentorship and leadership in the business community to bridge the gap for the future.

How would you describe this community of entrepreneurs and independent business owners?

Nadia: There is a major growth in the mindset of wanting unique and local products and services. Regina’s economy is strong and growing, which is inspiring more confidence to pursue opening a business. Social media is having an impact on our ability to make connections and create relationships. 70% of the businesses registered as members of the Chamber of Commerce are small, with one to 10 employees. That’s a very big small business picture.

Yaya: Regina is growing and there is more opportunity here. In our case, small is good because there is a ½ a degree of separation between us and that leads to strong networks and connections. If I am going to buy a product or service from somebody, I like to support someone I know and trust. There is also a shift in the perception of job stability, job loyalty and values. The 18-35 year old generation is more likely to do something for themselves to create that stability. Many are not satisfied with working in jobs that are not inspiring. They don’t want to work for companies that don’t treat their employees well. They would rather have the freedom that they believe comes with entrepreneurship.

Is there freedom that comes from entrepreneurship?

Nadia: Yes, there can be, but it is freedom with responsibility. The reality is that being in business is a business, and there is both time and money at stake – yours, your investors, and family’s money, so you need a business plan that is profitable in a reasonable amount of time or something has to change. Starting a business and being an entrepreneur can be a romantic notion, but I think people don’t realize how hard it is to be in business - the perseverance that is required to ride the ups and downs, and the ability to change on the move. We do get better at it with years and experience. We learn.

Yaya: Starting a business or being in business can be a vulnerable state. Taking risks is the nature of the entrepreneur’s business, but emerging professionals and entrepreneurs really need the support of the professionals to assist them.

Is age a factor in starting a business?

Nadia: Being an entrepreneur is not about age, nor is it a trend. I think it is a choice and a movement. It is about taking greater than normal financial risks in order to organize and operate a business or businesses. There are different perceptions about age, but the reality is, there is risk, regardless.

Yaya: When we are young, the stakes seem lower and we are fearless. But the reality is, young entrepreneurs need the support of their families, and organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and SYPE so they can access financial support and a community of experts.

Nadia: Many people are entering into entrepreneurial business ventures after deciding to leave their corporate lives. They are not retiring, but pursuing a life long passion or dream. This changes the way we look at work and life as a community. Closing the gap between the generations is happening. There is a generational shift in the thinking that we can be self – sustaining as opposed to graduating and getting a job for life. Campbell Collegiate, for example, has a business program where they learn how to use a business card, access funding, build business plans and test the concepts of entrepreneurship in a safe environment.

What are the attributes of the most successful entrepreneurs?

Nadia: Relentless. Creative. Inspiring. Scared. Resourceful. Intuitive. Connected. Connecting. Supportive. Free. The most successful business people are those who have good intentions and good actions. They are trusted and trustworthy. They are good leaders who genuinely care about people. They know how to take risks and persevere when the going gets tough. They know how to hang on and when to let go. They know how to change. A successful businessperson cares about the community and makes a difference through their actions.

Yaya: Young entrepreneurs come to the realization that life is short, and we don’t want to spend our time in someone else’s vision. We are the people who want to share a vision and be leaders. We want to create opportunity, break down barriers and have an impact.

What would you say to someone who wants to start a business?

Nadia: I would say, be prepared to work harder than you have ever worked in your life, live on the least amount of money that you ever have, and have a plan.

Yaya: It’s very expensive to start a business. There is the financial investment, and the expenses needed to run the business. But our community has great resources to mentor emerging professionals and entrepreneurs.

How do we support business?

Nadia: We need to be aware of what we are buying and from whom. As consumers, we need to make a conscious choice to choose businesses that are locally owned.

Yaya: We need to be continue to create opportunities for the new and emerging professionals and entrepreneurs.

An IntervIew wIth nAdIA And YAYA:

On Working, Leadership, and Bridging the Business Gap

By Lynn Armstrong

Cover FeATUre

Entrepreneur and financial planner Zena Amundsen knows first hand the power of a money story and the path to independence.

“The money story is the first memory of money that we have. Sometimes it is a traumatic memory – which can lead to a fear of scarcity, and sometimes it is a positive memory – which can lead to a belief of abundance and possibility. The good news is, with proper strategy, it is possible to move to a possibility mindset, which leads to greater rewards.”

“A money story is very personal. When I was 30, I found myself in a life circumstance where I had no identity. I couldn’t even get a telephone because I had no financial identity. As a mother of two daughters, I decided that I had to become self sufficient.”

Zena has been a financial advisor since 2008. In 2012, she completed her certified financial planner designation.

“I had to learn how to think from a perspective of possibility and abundance, instead of one of fear and scarcity. This is the basis of my practice. My clients are people from all walks of life and all stages of life, from starting out to retirement. I have a special passion for helping women achieve financial independence.”

“I have seen that financial planning really begins with knowing the stories that we tell ourselves about money. When we understand the things that can hold us back, we can begin to address them so we can move forward.”

Zena continues to move forward, making the decision to launch Astra Financial, rightfully located in an abundantly refurbished historic building on 2310 College Avenue.

“This space is the perfect place to inspire people that old stories can be replaced with new stories.

Zena Amundsen: A story of memories, money and independence

“La Fla Mous means beautiful woman, hidden gem. Our vision is to create a full pampering experience, where women could come to rediscover that part of themselves.” – Chasity Serbu, Esthetician and Owner of La Fla Mous

“I believe in the art and integrity of good hair and using products that are paraben free and ammonia free. Beautiful hair means healthy hair. Hair styling is intuitive and about getting to know my clients.” – Johanne Thorimbert, Hairstylist.

Six years ago in June, Chasity Serbu opened La Fla Mous Salon & Esthetics to help women rediscover their natural beauty. In 2014, the young entrepreneur expanded her business, opening a warehouse chic space in Regina’s Warehouse District. The salon features bright white walls, tiffany blue accents, crystal chandeliers, hits of black and white damask, and exposed brick. Hair styling and esthetic spaces are modern and at the same time soothing for manicures, pedicures, sugaring and Glykopeel skin rejuvenation from Biojouvance, exclusive in Regina. In 2015, hair stylist and artist Johanne Thorimbert joined La Fla Mous to build on the transformative experience of the salon.

The La Fla Mous experience, from esthetics to hair embodies their ‘beautiful woman, hidden gem’ philosophy.

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LEFT Chasity Serbu, Johanne Elise Thorimbert

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COVER FEATURE

They are out there every day in all weather, the big yellow buses safely moving the people that we care about most in the world. Being a bus driver is one of the most important jobs there is, and it takes special people to safely and efficiently drive the children to and from school.

“The people behind the wheel piloting our buses have a steady patience, the ability to remain focused in traffic, and the charisma to lead up to 72 children on board, all in an amicable way,” says Graham Warner, owner of Warner Transportation Ltd.

“And let’s be honest here folks, possessing a good sense of humor at work is a really great advantage to have no matter how many children you have on board!”

Graham Warner has a great sense of humour. He is also the owner of a group of Top 100 Saskatchewan performing companies known as Warner Industries Group of Companies. They are a diversified group of companies operating in the people transportation industries and commercial vehicle supply industries throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Warner Transportation Ltd. maintains the contract for public school transportation in the Regina area and they move over 6,300 students to and from school each day. You can believe that Graham takes two things very seriously: transportation and safety.

A mission statement that hangs on the walls and guides how all his companies treat their customers, which include both clients and employees is: “To Delight Every Internal and External Customer, Everyday, Every time, Without fail, No Exceptions.”

Also, they are a leader in the Mission Zero campaign, which is a vision to see every employee return home safe and sound after every shift.

Helping manage the Regina Board of Education contract

Precious Freight

By Lynn Armstrong

is Andy Schwindt.

Andy has made a career in the business of moving people, working for organizations including Greyhound, Saskatchewan Transportation Company, and other school business companies in Regina.

“This is the kind of business where you really have to like people – and you have to like children. Our drivers are great people that we train to become skilled operators of the school bus. They are exceptional at managing multiple situations and staying focused on their job – which is to get the children home safe and sound.”

Andy manages a fleet of 119 buses and 137 drivers. He also oversees the operations of the bus barn including maintenance, hiring, training, and traffic flow in the yard; 87 buses are kept indoors and 32 buses are

“Our drivers earn $18.65/hr (inclusive) doing what most parents do for free.”GRAHAM WARNeR

WArNer INDUsTrIes

outdoors. During the winter months, Andy’s team starts the buses so that they are ready to go.

“When the driver is ready to leave, he or she completes a pre-trip inspection called a circle check to make sure the vehicle is in perfect working condition.”

“It only takes a few minutes, and it can prevent the driver from having a delay en route, and reduce the risk of accidents due to mechanical failure. The procedure is documented by SGI for each driver, so that we assure consistency among transportation professionals.”

Warner Industries guides new drivers through the process from beginning to end from helping them acquire the proper license, to training and finally getting on the road to have fun.

Bus drivers at Warner Industries are paid an inclusive $18.65/hour, which includes dental, health and disability benefits, regardless of full or part time status. Drivers are offered up to eight-hour shifts, and are paid for a minimum of four hours per day even though some shifts take far less than that to safely complete.

“This is the perfect job for people who are retired, stay-at-home moms, and students,” says Andy. “It’s very attractive to people who like variety in their day, like to work with people, especially children, and who take pride in providing the best customer service possible, because that’s what we are about.”

“We talk about our mission/vision statement in our management meetings and practice them in our daily operations. We live by those words and it makes this the best place to work!”

l-r Andy Schwindt and Graham Warner

Feature

By Lynn Armstrong

To see a crane in the sky is a sign of economic growth, but Larry Koch’s telephone is an indication of just how much is happening in a given moment. Larry is the owner of National Crane Services Inc. a multi million dollar family – run corporation with a reputation for being humble, reliable, personal and personable and family and community minded. His wife Cathy, and daughters Alexis Nelson, Neelie Thom and Kiana Koch each have

a role in running the business from office management to safety to driving pilot trucks.

Now in its 19th year of operation, his fleet includes boom trucks, mobile cranes and rough terrain cranes, and employs 21 people, 16 of whom are professionally certified crane operators who can lift and move anything that can be lifted and moved. The business moves like a well-oiled machine, with each person fully committed to not just the success of the business, but also the success of each and every lift.

A crane operator in his own right, Larry Koch, alongside Dennis Overs, his “right hand man since day one” run the taxi crane

company from the Regina shop at 368 Mill Street. When a call comes in, Larry or Dennis assess the situation and send a crane and operator out to do the lift.

“We need to know the distance horizontally and vertically and the weight of the load to be lifted. When the operator arrives at the site, he does the math, and performs the lift, making sure of his own safety and the safety of the crew, as well as everyone in the surrounding area on the job site.”

The highly skilled team at National Crane safely runs 23-ton cranes to 80-ton cranes with a boom height of 193 feet. On a given day, National Crane oversees between 20 and 30 lift

Keeping an Eye ON THE SKy

NATIoNAL CrANe

jobs. Larry tracks and responds to the calls himself – keeping his eye on each lift.

“We put up a scoreboard at the Brandt Centre, assisted with the installation of a furnace at Evraz Regina (formerly known as Ipsco), moved an 18,000 pound chiller through the 21st floor window of Tower #1 in Regina, and installed a vent pipe on the Boundary Dam Carbon Capture Project,” he says, naming a few noteworthy jobs. “To make sure that the job gets done our operators are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

In addition to a tireless work ethic, Larry embodies a value of giving back to the

community, donating untold dollars and time to organizations, fundraisers and community events. “We give back because that’s the way things get done in Saskatchewan,” he tells me while taking another call.

National Crane is a major sponsor of Farm Credit Canada “Drive Away Hunger”, the annual Laps for Life fundraiser for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and the Western Canada Truck and Tractor Pull. The company supports the creation of the Hospital Activity Book for Children, the Legion, the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Association, SOS Children’s Safety

Magazine, Fishing Tournaments and local recreational sports teams– to name a few.

On the day of the photo shoot, we stood out in his yard as he looked on watching his team moving equipment. “I watch over them to see how they problem solve. If I have to step in, I do.” I begin to understand what it is that makes National Crane one of the most highly sought out crane companies. I realize that in the crane business, good enough is not good enough, and close is too far away. And that, and who, is what makes National Crane the company to watch for when you look up and see a crane in the sky or when you need a lift.

“We give back because that’s the way things

get done in Saskatchewan.”

LARRY KOCH

Feature

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