brca september 2015
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SEPTEMBER 2015WWW.BUSINESSREVIEWCANADA.CA
TOP 10 BUSINESS CELEBRITIES
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Packers Plus Oil and Gas on the Cutting Edge
C O M P A N Y O F T H E M O N T H
LAWYERLINX The tech tool every executive needs to know
DA R E T O T R Y S O M E T H I N G N E W James Cameron once said, “If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.” The idea is rather appropriate, given that the September issue of Business Review Canada centers around the notion of taking risks on new opportunities when searching for success.
Our cover features Cameron, one of the top 10 business celebrities in the entertainment industry born and raised in Canada. While you may not be surprised to discover who ranked as number one, you may be interested in learning how these 10 individuals combined a range of talents and marketing techniques to not only create a brand, but also become leaders of their own careers.
Next up, we’ve got an exclusive Q&A with Edyta Kowaleswka, the founder of LawyerLinx—a Canadian legal matching website. Kowaleswka shares with us what it means to be a tech leader in the business world today, as well as the various qualities one must obtain in order to reach success.
Lastly, in our leadership sector, we’ve got an exciting article contributed by Marsha Friedman, founder and CEO of Event Management Services, Inc. Friedman gives us her views on what it takes to build a business with her tips that she refers to as the “5 C’s.”
E N J OY T H E I S S U E !
Cutter [email protected]
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E D I T O R ’ S L E T T E R
FEATURES
CONTENTS
LEADERSHIP How to build a successful business
TechnologyQ&A: Edyta Kowaleswka of LawyerLinx.com
5
Top 10 business celebrities in the entertainment industry
TOP 10
6
12
MANUFACTURING
30 Packers Plus
MINING
38 Primero Mining
COMPANY PROFILES
20
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HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS Marsha Friedman, founder and CEO of Event Management Services, Inc., explains how five “C’s” can help to ensure you achieve your goals.
W R ITTE N BY: M A R S H A F R I E D M A N
LEADERSHIP
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HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS Marsha Friedman, founder and CEO of Event Management Services, Inc., explains how five “C’s” can help to ensure you achieve your goals.
W R ITTE N BY: M A R S H A F R I E D M A N
8 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5Always hire competent people who can be trusted
LEADERSHIP
H O W T O B U I L D A S U C C E S S F U L B U S I N E S S
9
SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE made a huge recovery since the
economic crash in 2008, and that’s
good news for everyone in the
industry. Since the industry accounts
for 63 per cent of new jobs, our
success puts people back to work—
and that, in turn, helps us even more,
as people with paychecks buy stuff
and help boost the economy.
And here’s more good news: The
number of new businesses launching
has increased year-over-year since
hitting a low in 2009; in fact, just this
year alone, one report estimates
540,000 new businesses were opened
in one month.
Hoping to contribute in my own
small way, I would like to share my “5
C’s” for building a business. These
are the guiding principles I’ve learned
in the 24 years since I first founded
EMSI Public Relations. Through the
ups, downs and many mistakes, I’ve
learned that by keeping my compass
set on these 5 C’s, the company – and
I – always make it through to smoother
waters.
What are the C’s? Caring It starts with caring enough about
yourself and your dreams to stay
committed to achieving your goals.
Giving up is never a good option! You
have to care enough about yourself
to firmly believe that you deserve
success and the good things that
come with it.
It’s just as important to care about
your staff and to create a positive
work environment for them. Protect
their sanity from the clients who want
to chew them up, as well as from
new hires who don’t fit in and hurt
morale. Be supportive when stressful
situations arise in their lives outside
of work. And ensure everyone has the
knowledge and tools they need to be
successful.
None of us gets far at all if we don’t
care about our customers. Give them
the best exchange possible for their
money; define expectations so that
they understand the end product you
are delivering and for which they are
paying. Always be willing to listen to
their concerns, take responsibility for
mistakes, and correct them.
Courage Thirty years ago, I would never have
said it takes courage to lead a small
business. Now, I assure you that
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without courage, you’ll fail. There
are dragons and quicksand and
dark woods all around. You’ll find
them in the day-to-day problems,
the obstacles you didn’t see lying in
wait, the risks you must take and the
stresses involved with honoring your
obligations to everyone working with
and for you.
Trust me: your courage will grow
every time you push your fear behind
you and deal with what frightens
you—which will also help you build
confidence.
Confidence Think of the many challenges you’ve
faced in your life and the many
times you’ve overcome them. Bring
that confidence to your business.
Believing that you can reach for and
achieve your short- and long-term
goals is essential to getting you there.
Competence Competence comes from knowledge
and experience. Hone it by staying up
on the trends and disruptions in your
industry. One of the most important
roles for a CEO is the visionary for
his or her company. That means not
taking on jobs within your company for
which you’re not qualified. You’ll make
yourself miserable and your business
will suffer. Hire an accountant to
handle the financials. Get marketing
help if that’s not your thing.
As for employees, take the time to
hire competent people that you’ll trust
in their jobs—and then trust them!
Commitment Stay dedicated to your goals no
matter how difficult that becomes.
That may mean taking painful
measures, as it did for me after the
9/11 terrorist attacks put the brakes
on the economy. There came a
point for my business when all hope
looked lost. I had to make drastic
cuts, including letting go of beloved
employees. For more than a year,
I ramped up marketing efforts,
diversified our services and took
other steps to get the business out of
the red. In 2005, I succeeded—and
it has been upward and onward ever
since.
If you’ve recently launched a new
business, know that you’ll encounter
challenges. Don’t panic! Remember
the 5 C’s and forge ahead with caring,
courage, confidence, competence and
commitment.
LEADERSHIP
I N N O V AT I N G C O M P A N I E S A N D T H E I R P R O D U C T S
A key ingredient to having a successful business is courage
1 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
W R I T T E N BY: C U T T E R S L A G L E
Q&A: EDYTA KOWALESWKA OF LAWYERLINX.COM
An exclusive interview with the innovative lawyer who aims to provide legal services to all of Canada
TECHNOLOGY
1 3
W R I T T E N BY: C U T T E R SL AG L E
Q&A: EDYTA KOWALESWKA OF LAWYERLINX.COM
An exclusive interview with the innovative lawyer who aims to provide legal services to all of Canada
1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
thinking about hiring.
Equally pivotal was my recognition
that in comparison to various
consumer products and services
you can research and compare with
relative ease, legal services (which
carry significant financial costs and
produce long lasting consequences
for the client) lacked a centralized,
streamlined tool to allow a consumer
to obtain the information they require
to make informed decisions about
how, when and from whom they obtain
such legal services.
Many individuals and businesses
forgo obtaining legal advice altogether
due to a perceived difficulty involved
in finding and working with a lawyer.
The lack of accessibility to the legal
profession and lack of legal literacy are
all underlying issues which ultimately
effect access to justice. Using
technology, I set out to make the legal
profession, legal services and legal
literacy in Canada more accessible to
both individuals and businesses.
Through my experience as a lawyer,
I found the supply and demand sides
of the legal market misaligned and
disconnected. This inspired me to
create a platform that would provide
a user-friendly system to connect
WE LIVE IN a world where
technology rules—that’s pretty
obvious. Between the latest
smartphone, app, wearable device and
3- and 4-D formats, it’s all about tech!
And it goes without saying that
innovators and accelerators are key
to the continued advancement of
business: Without these forward-
thinkers, none of this is possible.
Among these visionaries is Edyta
Kowalewska, the Canadian-based
lawyer who developed Lawyerlinx.
com, a new website created to
provide easy access to justice and
credible information to help with all-
things legal.
We had the opportunity to gain
insight from Kowalewska regarding the
motivation behind this service, as well
as what it means to be a new leader in
the tech field.
BRCA: What originally gave you the inspiration to create LawyerLinx.com?
EK: The inspiration behind
LawyerLinx was an “A-Ha” moment
when I realized that you could access
much more information online about
a car or refrigerator you were planning
to buy versus a lawyer you were
TECHNOLOGY
1 5
consumers of legal services to the legal
profession. The result is an innovative
legal marketplace that does just that:
connects individuals and businesses
alike to great Canadian lawyers and legal
services.
BRCA: What are some of your day-
to-day activities or responsibilities?
EK: As a legal tech start-up, the
capabilities of our platform and
consumer experience are at the
forefront of everything we do. Ensuring
that the platform features are functioning
well, receiving and using user feedback
to continuously develop and improve the
platform means daily development meetings.
I also spend a lot of time staying on
top of news and developments in the
legal industry, technology sector and
consumer experience research. Some
other daily tasks include:
• Communications with lawyers,
consumers and organizations
• Content production
• Handling paperwork and accounting
• Troubleshooting, testing and
ongoing improvements
• Networking
• Strategy meetings
• Social media management
• Brainstorming and developing
additional features and services
E DYTA KO WA LE W S KA , TH E C R E ATO R O F LAWYE R LI N K
TECHNOLOGY
1 7
Q & A : E D Y TA K O W A L E S W K A O F L A W Y E R L I N X . C O M
BRCA: What are your thoughts on
what it means to be a tech leader?
What particular qualities does it take to
earn this title and how do you become
a leader in this industry?
EK: A technology leader is an
innovative and resourceful thinker who
has mastered the art of execution and
who either develops new technology or
creates new ways of applying existing
technology that answers or creates a
need or opportunity in the market.
In my opinion, the focus of a tech
leader is not the technology itself,
but the benefit or value it brings to
its users. I think this is the only way
to have truly innovative ideas. Not
necessarily focusing on the “how” of
your vision, but starting with and being
guided by what you are working to
create and why. To me, a tech leader is
a visionary with a purpose.
As a tech leader, I have a clear
long-term vision of how the company
will use technology to bring value
to consumers of legal services.
However, my vision and goals are
agile and flexible enough to listen to
and adapt to feedback, as well as
the ever changing market needs and
opportunities.
In terms of qualities required
to succeed in this industry, you
certainly have to be unrelenting and
unstoppable. You have to have a clear
vision of not only what you are striving
to create but also why. Taking risks,
being comfortable with uncertainty
as well as anticipating, noticing and
seizing opportunities as they arise are
essential.
We live in a world where technology
rules—that’s pretty obvious. Between
the latest smartphone, app, wearable
device and 3- and 4-D formats, it’s all
about tech!
And it goes without saying that
innovators and accelerators are key
to the continued advancement of
business: Without these forward-
thinkers, none of this is possible.
Among these visionaries is Edyta
Kowalewska, the Canadian-based
lawyer who developed Lawyerlinx.
com, a new website created to provide
easy access to justice and credible
information to help with all-things legal.
We had the opportunity to gain
insight from Kowalewska regarding the
motivation behind this service, as well
as what it means to be a new leader in
the tech field.
BRCA: What originally gave you the
1 8 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
how, when and from whom they obtain
such legal services.
Many individuals and businesses
forgo obtaining legal advice altogether
due to a perceived difficulty involved
in finding and working with a lawyer.
The lack of accessibility to the legal
profession and lack of legal literacy are
all underlying issues which ultimately
effect access to justice. Using
technology, I set out to make the legal
profession, legal services and legal
literacy in Canada more accessible to
both individuals and businesses.
Through my experience as a lawyer,
I found the supply and demand sides
of the legal market misaligned and
disconnected. This inspired me to
create a platform that would provide
a user-friendly system to connect
consumers of legal services to the
legal profession. The result is an
innovative legal marketplace that does
just that: connects individuals and
businesses alike to great Canadian
lawyers and legal services.
BRCA: What are some of your day-
to-day activities or responsibilities?
EK: As a legal tech start-up,
the capabilities of our platform
and consumer experience are at
the forefront of everything we do.
inspiration to create LawyerLinx.com?
EK: The inspiration behind
LawyerLinx was an “A-Ha” moment
when I realized that you could access
much more information online about a
car or refrigerator you were planning to
buy versus a lawyer you were thinking
about hiring.
Equally pivotal was my recognition
that in comparison to various
consumer products and services
you can research and compare with
relative ease, legal services (which
carry significant financial costs and
produce long lasting consequences
for the client) lacked a centralized,
streamlined tool to allow a consumer
to obtain the information they require
to make informed decisions about
TECHNOLOGY
Q & A : E D Y TA K O W A L E S W K A O F L A W Y E R L I N X . C O M
1 9
Ensuring that the platform features are
functioning well, receiving and using
user feedback to continuously develop
and improve the platform means daily
development meetings.
I also spend a lot of time staying on
top of news and developments in the
legal industry, technology sector and
consumer experience research. Some
other daily tasks include:
• Communications with lawyers,
consumers and organizations
• Content production
• Handling paperwork and accounting
• Troubleshooting, testing and
ongoing improvements
• Networking
• Strategy meetings
• Social media management
• Brainstorming and developing
additional features and services
BRCA: What are your thoughts on
what it means to be a tech leader?
What particular qualities does it take to
earn this title and how do you become
a leader in this industry?
EK: A technology leader is an
innovative and resourceful thinker who
has mastered the art of execution and
who either develops new technology
or creates new ways of applying
existing technology that answers or
creates a need or opportunity in the
market.
In my opinion, the focus of a tech
leader is not the technology itself,
but the benefit or value it brings to
its users. I think this is the only way
to have truly innovative ideas. Not
necessarily focusing on the “how” of
your vision, but starting with and being
guided by what you are working to
create and why. To me, a tech leader is
a visionary with a purpose.
As a tech leader, I have a clear
long-term vision of how the company
will use technology to bring value
to consumers of legal services.
However, my vision and goals are
agile and flexible enough to listen to
and adapt to feedback, as well as
the ever changing market needs and
opportunities.
In terms of qualities required
to succeed in this industry, you
certainly have to be unrelenting and
unstoppable. You have to have a clear
vision of not only what you are striving
to create but also why. Taking risks,
being comfortable with uncertainty
as well as anticipating, noticing and
seizing opportunities as they arise are
essential.
TOP 10 BUSINESS CELEBRITIES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRYThese Canadian entertainers have combined talent, marketing techniques and hard work to reach an impressive level of success
Written by: Cutter Slagle
TOP 10
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T O P 1 0 B U S I N E S S C E L E B R I T I E S I N T H E E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N D U S T R Y TOP 10
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Believe it or not, the entertain-ment industry is a business, a rather tough business where success is never guaranteed. For example, consider this thought: Julia Roberts may be a house-hold name, but how many people are familiar with her brother, Eric Roberts?
According to the Loop, the following celebrities are the wealthiest in the entertainment industry to hail from Canada.
10 Avril Lavigne—BWR Public Relations
• Worth: $45 million • From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Make-A-Wish Foundation, YouthAIDS, Amnesty International
Uniquely known as a “skater punk” or “pop punk princess,” Avril Lavigne has been able to stand out amongst the vast majority of other blonde female pop singers because of her style and image to go on and sell a total of 30 million albums, as well as 50 million singles worldwide. When it comes to marketing, Lavigne has a heavy social media presence—both Facebook and Twitter—for which she handles mostly herself.
In other avenues of business, Lavigne seems to have a knack for clothing. In 2008, she launched Abbey Dawn clothing, partnering with Kohl’s. She’s since started an e-commerce store and has two different fragrances: Black Star and Forbidden Rose. Much of her success has been attributed to the fact that when she emerged on the scene in 2002, she didn’t possess typical, bubblegum pop star qualities.
9 Chad Kroger—The Agency Group • Worth: $60 million
• From: Alberta, Canada • Charities supported: Obakki Avrile Lavigne
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Foundation, STOMP Out Bullying
Famously known for being the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Nickelback, Chad Kroger has been able to stand out from the majority of male musicians mainly due to the fact that he often collaborates with others in the industry. He has contributed to both the production and songwriting sides of the business, proving that he is more than just a blonde who can sing—he has talents in a range of areas.
Specifically, Kroger has helped Nickleback become one of the most successful bands to have ever emerged from Canada due to licensing, merchandising and product placement agreements.
Furthermore, Kroger co-owns a record company which has released tops hits from other artists.
8 Michael J. Fox—Representation Undisclosed • Worth: $65 million • From: Alberta, Canada • Charities supported: Celebrity Fight Night Foundation, Kids Wish Network, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center
Michael J. Fox first entered the entertainment business as a child actor, appearing in the TV show Family Ties and the popular Back to the Future trilogy. Because of his involvement with these two projects, as well as the film Teen Wolf, Fox became a “teen idol,” which helped him become a household name, earning fame and fortune. This status helped him to become well known in the industry and considered for various acting roles.
However, in 1991, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he later revealed
Chad Kroger
T O P 1 0 B U S I N E S S C E L E B R I T I E S I N T H E E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N D U S T R Y TOP 10
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to the public in 1998. While he does still do some mild acting and voice work, he’s since rebranded himself to also become an author and advocate. Fox has released three books including Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, as well as started the Michael J. Fox foundation to help advance every promising research path to curing Parkinson’s disease.
7 William Shatner—Glass Onyon Public Relations
• Worth: $100 million • From: Quebec, Canada • Charities supported: Aid Still Required, Clothes Off Our Back, Starlight Children’s Foundation
Programs: Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration, Doctor of Philosophy
With over eight on-campus Research Centres, McGill Univer-sity students are given an inside look into the business world and what to expect after graduation. Furthermore, a variety of public business seminars and custom executive education and coaching for all levels of management are available for students.
6 Jim Carrey—Representation Undisclosed
• Worth: $150 million • From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Comic Relief, Generation Rescue, Toy Mountain Campaign
Jim Carrey has made a successful career out of making people laugh. His brand is all about humor—at
Michael J. Fox
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Justin Bieber is a perfect exam-ple of how social media can build your brand and your business. Originally discovered on You Tube by manager Scooter Braun, Bieber went on to sign with Island Records and eventually released his first full-length studio album in 2010.
Famous R&B singer-songwriter User is credited with helping Bieber to create a brand, which when first on the scene consisted of baseball caps, hooded sweat-shirts, dog chains and flash sneak-ers to establish a “streetwise look.” In doing so, Bieber appeared in several teen magazines and gained the status of “teen heart-throb.” It’s this status that has led to Bieber becoming popular
any expense. Though he originally began his career as a stand-up comedian, he quickly made a trans-mission into acting. Starring in the Duck Factory and several films throughout the 80’s allowed him to become well known in the entertain-ment industry.
In 1994, Carrey became a house-hold name due to his starring role in Ace Venture: Pet Detective. However, he only agreed to act in the film if he was allowed to rewrite the script, proving that in order to find success in the business, it’s sometimes necessary to wear multi-ple hats. Therefore, due to Carry’s abilities to act, write, impersonate and produce, he has been able to continue his achievements, show-ing how having a quality like “being funny” can lead to a prosperous career in the entertainment industry.
5 Justin Bieber—Def Jam Music Group • Worth: $160 million
• From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Alzheimer’s Association, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, It Gets Better Project
Justin Beiber
T O P 1 0 B U S I N E S S C E L E B R I T I E S I N T H E E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N D U S T R Y TOP 10
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amongst teenage girls, resulting in him selling millions of albums, headlining world tours and starring in films and television shows.
However, much of Bieber’s appeal comes from his social media presence. He has a You Tube channel where he personally uploads videos, as well as a Twitter account where he regularly inter-acts with his six million followers.
to become members and hold positions in various organizations, giving them an inside look at what responsibilities they may hold after graduation.
4 Mike Myers—Slate Public Relations • Worth: $175 million
• From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Make Poverty History, Stand Up to Cancer, Wounded Warrior Project
Mike Myers has found success in the entertainment industry by pursuing the similar paths of William Shatner and Jim Carrey: he’s a character actor and he’s funny. He originally began his career on Saturday Night Live, and later become a household name
due to films roles in Wayne’s World and its sequel, the Austin Powers franchise and the animated Shrek movies.
Known as having a “unique style of comedy,” Myers has been able to stand out from other comedians and create a brand for himself by actually becoming his famed characters. For example, Myers doesn’t just act as a particular character on the set of the film, but can also be seen in television shows, music videos and doing stand-up comedy as these various personas, which has ultimately exposed him to different markets. He also has experience producing and screenwriting, proving that more skills can result in a higher level of success. Mike Myers
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Shania Twain
3 Shania Twain—Representation Undisclosed
• Worth: $350 million • From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Opportunity Village, Red Cross, United Service Organization
When Shania Twain first came onto the music scene, she was solely a country musician. However, she later become one of the first female artists to cross country and pop genres, which earned her the title “Queen of Country Pop.” In explor-ing this new brand of country pop, Twain became one of world’s best-selling artist of all time, as well as the best selling female artist in the history of country music.
Twain came to prominence before the explosion of social media. In order to get recognized and differ-entiate herself from other female singers, she used music videos to help create a following. The fact that Twain and her ex-husband wrote and produced all of her own music also resulted in higher profits, as did world tours and international expo-
sure. Twain proved she was more than just a pretty face, but a woman who could sing, write, dance and market herself.
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2 Celine Dion—Feeling Productions Inc.
• Worth: $400 million • From: Quebec, Canada • Charities supported: Treatment Action Campaign, EB Medical Research Foundation, Artists Against Racism. Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Celine Dion has become one of the most successful artists in pop music history, mostly due to the fact that she has been known to combine musical genres, and
can sing in multiple languages. For example, before she sang the award-winning theme song to the blockbuster film Titanic, she released several French albums which allowed her to build fan base all over the world. Celine Dion has cemented her success status by becoming more than just a singer, but also a brand by endorsing perfumes, owning her own artist management company, starting a restaurant franchise and purchasing both a night club and golf club. In a word, Dion is an entrepreneur who has marketed herself as a business woman. But just in the enter-tainment industry, she has the distinction of being the best-selling Canadian artist in history, a feat that has led to a thriving Las Vegas residency.
1 James Cameron—Representation Undisclosed
• Worth: $700 million • From: Ontario, Canada • Charities supported: Community
Celine Dion
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Inspiring Today’s Youth, Global Green, Earth Day Network
James Cameron has the distinction of directing the two highest-grossing films of all time—Titanic and Avatar. The fact that Cameron has experience and knowledge in writing, producing and designing has no doubt led to his massive amount of success.
Cameron’s visual approach to action scenes, use of special effects and 3D, as well as his ability to handle all behind the
scenes aspects of a film has branded him as being an icon in the entertainment industry.
As an inventor, Cameron co-developed the digital 3D fusion Camera System, leaving some critics to describe him as part scientist and part artist. It is because of his passion for science and skills in filmmaking that he has not only been able to become so successful, but also influence several peers in the business.
James Cameron
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Packers PlusOil and Gas on the Cutting EdgeWith a focus on growth and innovation, Packers Plus looks to stay ahead of the industry curve.Written by: Sasha Orman Produced by: Mike Becker
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PACKERS PLUS
We started our company with three core values: first being innovation,
second being operational excellence, and third being customer intimacy,” says Dan Themig, President and CEO at Packers Plus. When that company was formed in 2000, it was a small startup. Today it is one of the largest companies in its industry, with nearly a thousand employees and a strong reputation for creative and progressive tooling in the oil and gas industry.
“If you ask most people about Packers Plus and what we’re known for, it’s bringing real game changing
innovation to the industry,” says Themig. “One of the reasons that North America now has a plentiful supply of natural gas, as well as a plentiful supply of oil, is because of some of the innovations our company has brought forward.”
With further growth in the works and new territories to work with, Packers Plus has plans to keep bringing that innovation to the industry it supports.
Growing in Houston “One thing we believe in is being close to our customer base,” says Marlon Leggott, Chief Production
Packers Plus employee uses a manual assembling tool
M A N U F A C T U R I N G G L O B A L
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PACKERS PLUS
Automated assembly in Packers Plus manufacturing facility in Edmonton
Officer at Packers Plus. This explains the company’s large presence in Alberta, close to Canada’s natural gas and oil fields, as well as its satellite operations in critical regions from Saskatchewan and Williston to Dubai. It also explains the new larger Packers Plus facility that is currently under construction in Houston, Texas. Featuring an engineering and manufacturing campus on site, Packers Plus is confident that the new facility will help the company provide its southern clients with significant added value on a level that it is currently able to provide in Canada.
“What we believe is that it’s going to allow us to bring a quicker design and manufacturing capability to the end user, as we can have our product on location in a much quicker time frame,” says Leggott. “It allows us to bring in
“We tend to anticipate customers’ needs before they’re asking for it…we don’t sit and analyze our competitors at any length, because if you’re just watching your competitors you tend to be a follower instead of a leader”– Dan Themig, President and CEO
PACKERS PLUS
some new innovation, so we believe from that standpoint it’s going to be a big benefit for our client base.”
According to Leggott, this added agility will also help Packers Plus differentiate itself in the competitive oil industry throughout Texas and beyond. “We can come in, design a product, and get it to our customers in a very quick and nimble way—most of the larger guys have a difficult time doing that—and this is also going to allow us to support some of the other areas of the
world over the short term in a much quicker fashion just from a logistics standpoint alone,” he explains. With a stronger hub, the new Houston facility could open up major possibilities not just in the United States, but also abroad.
Anticipating the industry’s needs In a competitive field like oil and gas, staying on top means not worrying about what the competition is doing, but focusing on the innovations
Special Metals Canada supplies competitively priced products that meet or exceed our
customers’ requirements.
TEL. 780-490-1167 | FAX. 780-490-1157www.specialmtls.com
6655 59 StreetEdmonton, Alber ta
[email protected] -762- 6655
Our focus is our customer. Meeting customer requirements is our mission.
Oilfield machining is our business. Leading the field is how our business helps your business.
www.amcomanufacturing.com | 780.469.1587 | 4719 68 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
2014 Shipping StatisticsTotal Parts Delivered: 27135
NCR Rate 0.71%On Time Delivery Rate 98.48%
Oilfield Machining
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PACKERS PLUS
that only you can provide. At Packers Plus, this philosophy is paramount and a strong predicator of the company’s success.
“One of the reasons we’re really known as an innovative company is that we tend to anticipate customers’ needs before they’re asking for it,” says Themig. “We don’t sit and analyze our competitors at any length, because if you’re just watching your competitors you tend to be a follower instead of a leader. Our goal and objective is to intimately know our customers so that we are able to respond when they have technology needs, and really to anticipate their needs.”
Packers Plus applies this focus on forward-thinking innovation not just to the products it manufactures, but also to its shop floor processes, from manufacturing improvements to full traceability through state-of-the-art ERP software. Even in 2009 when the industry was in a downturn, Packers Plus was preparing to the future, investing in robotics and automation to enhance its manufacturing capabilities for when the industry recovered. “This allowed us to lead the industry into hydraulic fracturing of shales and the open hole technology area once we came out of that downturn—it really was a boon for us,” says Leggott.
A forward thinking culture Such a business model requires a lot of calculated thinking, but that kind of consideration is second nature to Packers Plus.
Packers Plus fielnd
hand prepares the
completion system
before installation
“The value proposition for our customers is that all this excellence in manufacturing gives them reliability and repeatability”
– Ian Bryant, COO
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PACKERS PLUS
“It’s really ingrained in our culture—it’s a very entrepreneurial mindset,” says Themig. “Our view is that the world moves pretty fast—for us to remain leaders in innovation in the industry, and to maintain that reputation, we have to be able to anticipate the needs of the industry, engineering in a fraction of the time compared to our big competitors, and we have to be able to work in conjunction with our customers.”
By succeeding in those goals, the company culture of Packers Plus has played a vital role in propelling the company toward success. “It’s really given us a unique reputation in the industry,” says Themig. “That’s a massive accomplishment for a company been in business for just over 14 years.”
The necessity of quality The tagline for Packers Plus is simple: “do it once, and do it right.” This could be a strong mantra for myriad businesses in any given field. But for an operation like Packers Plus, operating in the particular parameters of oil and gas, it’s especially critical.
“The reason that’s important is that the technologies we’re talking about are run to the bottom of well bores,” says Packers Plus COO Ian Bryant. “It’s a bit like a space rocket—if you have a faulty component you generally can’t get up there to fix it, and once our equipment is run to the bottom of a hole, it’s very rare that we’re going to pull it out again. That’s why it has to function right the first time, and that’s why we’ve been so passionate
A Packers Plus coordinate measuring machine (CMM) during the QA/QC process
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PACKERS PLUS
in our discussion of quality. If it doesn’t work when it’s down there, that’s a problem.”
As Bryant explains, the importance of attention to traceability and quality within its innovation at Packers Plus—and the peace of mind this gives to clients—is clear. “The value proposition for our customers is that all this excellence in manufacturing gives them reliability and repeatability, when our tools get to the bottom of a hole and have to work right the first time.”
Always looking ahead “I’ve always been told throughout my career you’ve got quality, you’ve got deliverability, and you’ve got cost effectiveness but only ever have two of those three—you can never get all three,” says Leggott. “We don’t believe that, and as a matter of fact we’ve disproved that statement. We continually provide highest quality at the best delivery that’s also very cost effective. But we realize that, if we just stay where we’re at, that won’t be the case forever.”
This understanding keeps Packers Plus driving always toward new efficiencies and new innovations that will help move the industry forward. “So we continually look at our processes to make sure that we stay at that level and lead the industry into the next level,” says Leggott. “It’s just something that we don’t stop doing. It’s ingrained in our psyche here: if we’re standing still we’re going backward. So we will continue to move ahead in what we do.”
Company Information
I N D U S T RY
Oil and Gas
H E A D Q U A RT E R S
Bow Valley Square 2
Suite 2200, 205 5th
Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
Canada, T2P2V7
F O U N D E D
2000
E M P L O Y E E S
850
R E V E N U E
Not Disclosed
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Written by: Rebecca Castrejon, Editor
Produced by: Taybele Piven, Director of Operations at WDM Group-LATAM
Intervewee: Guillermo Adrian, CEO for Primero Compañia Minera
ADVANTAGE in the Extraction of Precious Metals
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Written by: Rebecca Castrejon, Editor
Produced by: Taybele Piven, Director of Operations at WDM Group-LATAM
Intervewee: Guillermo Adrian, CEO for Primero Compañia Minera
In less than a decade, Primero’s mining activities in North America delivered superior quality, standing out from its competition and producing high revenue
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PRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
Mala Noche Resources was conceived in 2007 as a prospecting company in Mexican territory. Three years later and
after the acquisition of the San Dimas mine, in the State of Durango, the venture’s commercial name became Primero Mining Corp.
In 2010 the company became public, as its stocks entered NYSE, and soon after these were also traded at the Toronto Stock Exchange. During the last four years, Primero has sustained growth both organically and through acquisitions, as it happened with the purchase of Cerro del Gallo mine in the State of Guanajuato, and expanding its operations into Canada, in Black Fox mine, located in Timmins, Ontario.
Primero currently holds a reputation as one of the main precious metal producers in North America. And even with setbacks, such as a delay from the Mexican government to grant authorization to export silver, the company maintains its projected production for the rest of 2015:
· Gold production: 220,000 oz. to 240,000 oz.· Silver production: 6.5 million oz. to 7.5 milion oz.
“We expect to be granted our silver exporting license soon enough. It’s not like we have lost any
The project Grey Fox
is currently under
exploration and
construction at Cerro
del Gallo.
L AT I N A M E R I C APRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
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silver, but this means we are experiencing a delay in selling, also,” expressed Guillermo Adrian, CEO of Primero Mining Corp. Adrian has a 25-year experience in the mining industry; his leadership at the forefront of Primero has been instrumental for the company when it went from a junior enterprise to become a mid-level company.
Operations in Mexico and Canada
Prime Mining Corp. prospecting and mining operations are based in three locations:
1. San Dimas mine: it contains some of Mexico’s most fruitful gold and silver deposits. The quality of this mine’s extractions is first class. San Dimas is an underground mine which relies in mechanical procedures for its operations.
Side view of Primero’s plant in Mexico
Key People Guillermo
AdrianCEO for Primero Compañia Minera
Venezuela-born Guillermo Adrian graduated from Simon Bolivar University (in Caracas), where he graduated as Metallurgical Engineer. Adrian’s experience spans for more than 25 years in aluminum and gold extraction in different companies in the continent. He is currently the CEO for Primero Mining Corp., a position he holds since 2013.
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COMPANY NAME
2. Black Fox complex: Canada’s richest gold deposits are located in this mine, near Timmins, Ontario. With its restructuring process finally over by 2010, this site is fit for both surface and underground mining. Black Fox provides a repair shop for heavy machinery, a laboratory, corporate offices, one water-extraction pump to combat fires and a spare building.
3. Cerro del Gallo project: 69.2 percent of Cerro del Gallo belongs to Cerro Resources NL since May 2013, the rest (30.8 percent) belongs to Goldcorp since December of that same year. After delivering a solution to permit issues in 2015, the project is ready for development and surface extraction of copper, gold and silver.
Cutting-edge machinery for exploration
Inside the plant
S E C T O RCOMPANY NAME
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Also, Primero is engaged in prospecting projects in the Ventanas mining district, south of San Dimas; and in the Grey Fox gold prospecting project within the Black Fox complex.
Mexico’s Competitiveness
The San Dimas mine, managed by Primero, is one of Mexico’s mining landmarks. This Sierra Madre Occidental deposit is located between the states of Durango and Sinaloa. It was founded more than 300 years ago, and it maintains a high productivity level under current management.
“Our productivity is a distinguishing factor, since we’ve been successful at increasing
Every miner is properly trained in safety measures
“We are committed to become a mid-level
company in the
short term”– Guillermo Adrian,
CEO for Primero Compañia Minera
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PRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
extractions even with this mine’s narrow veins,” Adrian said.
San Dimas produces a daily average of 3,000 tons, with a monthly drifting of 1.24 miles (well above any similar sector’s parameters). To explain this, Adrian compared two of their projects: “The same developments that take a year for us to complete in the Canadian project, take a month around here,” the executive added about the 435 miles of regularly explored tunnels at San Dimas.
Human Resource Management
Primero is committed to improving the
Taking the steps from
being a junior enterprise
to a mid-level company
L AT I N A M E R I C APRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
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inhabitants’ quality of life at Tayoltita, Durango. The municipality’s conditions are below nationwide standards for wellbeing; this is why the mining company reaches out to help in providing its population’s access to education and other resources to improve socially and economically.
Primero’s academic support consists from basic literacy lessons to scholarships for postgraduate studies, meaning its staff’s development is not an afterthought for the company. “Some of our managers were machinery operators at one point, but their effort in obtaining an education paid off; Jose Varelas, our mine manager, started as a drilling operator in Primero,” Adrian shared.
High-level procedures
Joy is a trademark of Joy Global Inc. or one of its affiliates.© 2015 Joy Global Inc. or one of its affiliates.
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Servicing Mexico for more than 20 years.www.minerodiesel.com.mx
L AT I N A M E R I C A
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Primero has also displayed efforts to bring the gender gap closer by establishing integration programs, and afterwards developing technical training programs for Tayoltita’s housewives. Many female workers started also as drilling operators and earned promotions into higher positions such as mine planning. “Members of our female staff could continue with their education in programs we made available for them and once hired by Primero they could move upwards into better positions,” said the CEO.
Regarding safety, Primero has improved yearly in accident prevention as a result of providing its personnel of proper training in safety measures and operation of newer, safer equipment.
“Reducing accidents in 80 percent is no satisfactory feat for us; we keep striving to achieve improvements in this area not only through the latest technology, but also by educating and directing our staff toward a workplace safety culture,” Adrian stressed.
Commitment to the Environment
Primero’s efficient tailing disposal management is optimized by a filtering system able to eliminate any trace of humidity; this process forms a dry mass that can be compacted up to 90 percent.
“Without our workforce,
collaborators and employees, the mine would not exist. They
are our main concern not
just in terms of safety, wellbeing
and social programs, but
also in creating a pleasant working
environment”– Guillermo Adrian,
CEO for Primero Compañia Minera
PRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
Compared to other companies in the sector, Primero Mining’s cyanide emissions are well below average due to purifying procedures able to eliminate cyanide almost in its entirety, with help from sunlight to eradicate cyanide from the ground.
“This is a state of the art procedure for waste disposal in gold extraction, creating a distinguishing factor in our processes,” the CEO added.
Top-level procedures
L AT I N A M E R I C A
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PRIMERO EMPRESA MINERA, S .A . DE C .V.
Primero is supported by Amec Foster Wheeler in the mining company’s compliance of environmentally-friendly procedures; as the British company performs quarterly inspections of Primero’s deposits.
Projections: 2016 and the Next Five YearsThe San Dimas mine will be subject to a
62-mile per year exploration program. Cerro del Gallo’s facility will expand to make room for their leaching processes.The Ventanas mining complex, 12 miles from San Dimas, is still in exploration stages.
“We are committed to become a mid-level company in the short term,” stressed Adrian. To achieve this goal, Primero is in search of new properties for exploration and prospecting, providing existing operations of means to double current production, bringing organic growth to the corporation. “We are also on the lookout for possible opportunities such as acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures,” Adrian stated.
Company Information N A M E
Primero Empresa Minera,
S.A. De C.V.
I N D U S T RY
Mining
H E A D Q U A RT E R S
Tayoltita, Durango, Mexico
F O U N D E D
2007
E M P L O Y E E S
1.200
R E V E N U E
USD $275 million
W E B S I T E
www.primeromining.com
Revenue from gold and silver reserves and extraction
