EY celebrates gravity-defying entrepreneurs at annual awards gala
CALGARY, Oct. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Bill McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of MEG Energy — a Canadian oilsands company focused on sustainable in situ development and production in the southern Athabasca oilsands region of Alberta — is this year's Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies winner.
Bill founded MEG Energy in 1999 during a difficult economic time of depressed oil prices. But where others in the industry saw risk and put a halt on land acquisition and development, Bill saw opportunity and began buying high-quality assets in the relatively undeveloped Christina Lake area.
"Leading entrepreneurs like Bill can see the future clearly — and what it takes to achieve success," says Rob Jolley, Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Program Director. "What really sets MEG apart is Bill's forward thinking ability to grow the company through the ups and downs of commodity price cycles."
MEG has grown from a zero-production start-up to more than 70,000 barrels per day today. Bill attributes the company's success to a corporate culture that promotes leadership development and encourages all employees to share innovative ideas. That culture is driving advancements in technology — particularly around sustainability — with the potential to transform the industry in Canada and abroad.
EY partnered with the World Economic Forum on a recent report, The Bold Ones: high-impact entrepreneurs who transform industries, to uncover the qualities that define high-impact entrepreneurs. The report found that high-impact entrepreneurs not only disrupt industry through innovative products and services. They also make a measurable difference on society.
"Bill's leadership extends beyond the boardroom," says Jolley. "He's taken a hands-on role in developing the company's community investment program. That's what really sets him apart from the crowd."
MEG Energy is committed to helping build healthy, productive communities by supporting charities and programs for children and youth, health and wellness and education.
"We're thrilled to recognize the achievements of Bill and MEG Energy," says Jolley. "He's shown that the risk can be well worth the reward. And that success is best shared with those in the communities around you. That's what makes him a truly gravity-defying entrepreneur."
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs around the world. The Canadian program is in its 21st year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies 2014 category award recipients:
Business-to-Business Products and Services
Al Side
Side Group of Companies | Grande Prairie, Alberta
northernmetalic.com
Core business interests involve property and land development, rail reload and transportation, wholesale industrial and oilfield distribution, vehicle rental, leasing and sales, as well as investment and finance.
Business-to-Consumer Products and Services
Brent Zettl
Prairie Plant Systems Inc. | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
prairieplant.com
Combines innovation and plant technologies into deliverable plant-based systems for emerging biopharmaceutical and agricultural market applications as well as pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.
Emerging Entrepreneur
Regan Davis, Bailey Epp, Stephen Glanville
STEP Energy Services Ltd. | Calgary, Alberta
stepenergyservices.com
A privately owned, technically focused, oilfield service company providing specialized coiled tubing units and associated pumping/support equipment to service the horizontal well market in Western Canada.
Energy Services
Quinn Holtby
Katch Kan Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta
katchkan.com
Designs and manufactures equipment that makes drilling rigs cleaner and safer for workers and reduces the environmental impact of drilling operations.
Manufacturing
Mike Fata
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods | Winnipeg, Manitoba
manitobaharvest.com
The world's largest hemp food manufacturer to grow, make and sell hemp foods.
Oil and Gas
Bill McCaffrey
MEG Energy | Calgary, Alberta
megenergy.com
Focuses on sustainable in situ development and production in the southern Athabasca oilsands region of Alberta.
Professional and Financial Services
Laurie Goldberg
People Corporation | Winnipeg, Manitoba
peoplecorporation.com
An employee benefit, pension and human resource consulting firm.
Real Estate and Construction
Radhe Gupta
Rohit Group of Companies | Edmonton, Alberta
rohitgroup.com
Residential and commercial real estate, land development and capital financing.
Technology and Communications
Jory Lamb
VistaVu Solutions Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
vistavusolutions.com
A leading business management software provider serving North American energy service and oilfield products manufacturing, distribution and rental companies.
Special Citation — Social Entrepreneur
Social entrepreneur is a unique special citation awarded to an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people's lives or quality of life.
Shaun Loney
BUILD and others | Winnipeg, Manitoba
buildinc.ca
A social enterprise, non-profit contractor and training program provider for people who face barriers to employment.
What's next?
As the Prairies region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014, Bill will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Pacific, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions for the national honour of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Canada 2014, to be presented at a gala celebration on 25 November 2014 in Toronto. In June 2015, Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 will move to the world stage to compete with more than 60 country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
The 2014 Prairies judging panel consists of Linda Hohol, Corporate Director, various boards; Darryl Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wynward Insurance Group; Ashif Mawji, CEO, NPO Zero Corp., and Entrepreneur Of The Year Emerging Entrepreneur category winner 2002, Prairies; Kelley Smith, Vice President, Business Development, UFA Co-operative Ltd.; Dale Wishewan, President and CEO, Booster Juice, and Entrepreneur Of The Year winner 2013, Prairies; and Stephanie Yong, Director, W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence
For more information on the program, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.
Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada: #EOYPrairies.
This year's national program sponsors are National Post, TEC Canada, RDI, La Presse, Merrill DataSite, Kira Talent, Pandora Jewellery and The Printing House Limited. In the Prairies, Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored by Business in Calgary and Business in Edmonton.
About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.
For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.
EY was recently named 2014 Professional Services Organization of the Year for Advancing Entrepreneurship by Startup Canada. The Startup Canada Awards celebrate and distinguish the individuals, communities and institutions in Canada that have demonstrated innovation, excellence, outstanding achievement and impact in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY is proudly celebrating 150 years in Canada. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.
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SOURCE: EY (Ernst & Young)
please contact: Erika Bennett, [email protected], 416 943 5497; Sarah Shields, [email protected], 604 648 3607, Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308
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