BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVES
AEG is an independent, not for profit organization governed by a board of directors, funded by activities and members. Alberta Enterprise Group Board of Directors:
HERVE FAUCHER – CHAIR
PRESIDENT GMS AGGREGATES
Mr. Faucher is an entrepreneur with diverse business interests. He is President of GMS Aggregates Inc., an aggregate business located north of Fort McMurray in the heart of the oil sands deposits. GMS Aggregates is the sole owner of the Glacier Outwash gravel deposit. GMS Aggregates is also the owner of gravel deposits in Peace River, Westlock, and Clyde, Alberta.
Mr. Faucher was appointed as a director of the Company as of 2012.
SHANE WENZEL – BOARD MEMBER
PRESIDENT SHANE HOMES GROUP OF COMPANIES
Shane Wenzel followed his father into the home building industry at a young age, learning the inner workings of the company with a hands-on perspective at job sites. He moved into sales and marketing, ultimately taking on the role as senior vice-president of sales and marketing.
Shane is hard-wired into new technologies, and has crafted a high profile for the company on social media and online as well as introduced leading edge innovations to the Shane Homes Group of Companies product line based on customer input. In 2010, he became the company’s president, sharing Cal’s passion of putting customers first, with honesty and integrity. Shane serves on the board of directors of BILD Calgary Region.
TERRY O’FLYNN – PAST CHAIR OF THE BOARD
PRESIDENT PRISM FLOW PRODUCTS
Mr. O’Flynn is President and Co-owner of Prism Flow Products Inc. Prism is a wholesale valve manufacturers’ representative since 1995. Mr. O’Flynn has served on several boards and fundraising initiatives. He has served as the Chairman of Alberta Alpine Ski Association, as a board member of Alpine Canada Alpin (Canadian National Ski Team), and on the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
Mr. O’Flynn currently serves on the Boards of the Edmonton Eskimos, and the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit. Mr. O’Flynn is the long-time Co-Chair of the Mustard Seed golf tournament, the charity’s largest annual fundraiser. Mr. O’Flynn is active in the community of Beaumont, Alberta where he has been a resident for 32 years.
TIM SHIPTON – BOARD VICE CHAIR
SR. VICE PRESIDENT – OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Tim Shipton is the Vice President of Corporate Communications & Government Relations for the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), the parent company of the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. OEG is focused on expanding a broad range of sports and entertainment offerings, delivering outstanding fan experiences, securing major new sponsorships and events, and operating the new home of the Edmonton Oilers, Rogers Place. Tim has a wealth of experience that spans the private, government and not-for-profit sectors.
In his role at Oilers Entertainment Group, Tim oversees all aspect of external relations for the company including public relations, media, community and government relations. Tim also acts as the lead liaison with Canadian news media on behalf of OEG.
Tim also works closely with the Katz Group on planning and communications related to the Ice District, Canada’s largest mixed use development. A native of Oil Country, Tim is known for his highly entrepreneurial and collaborative leadership style and has successfully led teams to deliver results. His work in telling the Alberta story across Canada and around the world has earned him Top 40 Under 40 honours from Avenue Magazine and he was named a Rising Star by Oilweek Magazine.
STEVEN KIM – BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
VICE PRESIDENT & PORTFOLIO MANAGER, RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Steven is an Investment Advisor with RBC Wealth Management, Dominion Securities. Mr. Kim is a graduate of the University of Alberta, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a major in Finance. A firm believer in ongoing education, he has acquired the advanced industry designations of Financial Management Advisor (FMA), Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI).
Mr. Kim harnesses his knowledge and 19 years of experience to develop comprehensive wealth management solutions for his clients.
BRANkO CULO – BOARD MEMBER
VICE PRESIDENT
Specialized Recruiting Group
Express Employment Professionals
Branko Culo began a career in Oil & Gas, that led to gaining valuable experience in the areas of team and project management. Following a desire to pursue entrepreneurism, he became a partner at Express Employment Professionals and the Specialized Recruiting group in 2008. In his role with EEP; SRG he is responsible for overseeing recruiting divisions in Office/Administration, Accounting/Finance, Technical Search, Executive Search & Contract Placement (Engineering/Skilled Trades/Manufacturing/Construction Leadership/Management/Sales, IT, etc.), that support 400+ individual Albertan companies annually.
Branko, also, served as a consultant to Express’s international headquarters from November 2019-2022 as a member of their Innovations Committee to identify and experiment with turnkey and future based technology solutions that included Blockchain, AI/ML, Virtual Reality and Power BI data solutions. Believing in giving back to the community, Branko, served as a proud Rotarian from 2016-2022 and maintains a “Friends of Rotary” standing today.
BRUNO MULLER – BOARD MEMBER & PAST CHAIRMAN
PRESIDENT CARON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
Mr. Muller is President and Co-Owner of Caron Transportation Systems, Caron Transportation Systems USA and Interload Services Ltd. These three companies provide safe, dependable, trusted service to the mining, oilfield, petrochemical, pulp/paper, water treatment, manufacturing and construction industries.
The main Canadian service area covers a large portion of Western Canada.Recently the service area has grown to include Northwest and Southwest United States.The fleet includes over 350 tractors and 750 liquid tankers, aggregate, pneumatic and cryogenic trailers.
Mr. Muller is a Past Chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, a Past Board Member of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and a supporting member of several charitable organizations.
Mr. Muller was appointed as a director of the Company as of 2009.
PETER KISS – BOARD MEMBER
PRESIDENT OF MORGAN CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
Peter Kiss is the President and Chief Executive Office of Morgan Construction and Environmental Ltd. (“Morgan”), a heavy civil construction company that he has nurtured and grown for over 20 years. Morgan has had significant success as a major competitor in Western Canada, with over 700 employees, four branch offices, and plans for expansion when the time is right.
Peter served as Co-chairman (2015) and Chairman (2016) following directorship with the Canadian Energy Executive Association. In addition, Peter sat on the Board of YPO and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.
Peter is involved in a number of other businesses providing investment and advisory level support to privately held companies including: waste removal and transfer, timber and land clearing, and commercial and industrial demolition.
Mr. Kiss is new to the board of directors of the Company in of 2019.
TERRIS CHORNEY – BOARD MEMBER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT PIC INVESTMENT GROUP
Terris brings a strong business management track record to PIC. He has over twenty years of Executive experience, starting with more than a decade in senior Investment Banking roles – where he helped raise $17.5B in capital, and advised on $21.0B in completed M&A transactions.
More recently, he’s worked in operating business management and Board leadership – including serving as President of CanGas Propane (a propane distribution business with operations in 23 locations across western Canada, serving ~12,500 customers).
At PIC, he is mainly focused on working its Op-Co’s – helping them operate more efficiently and achieve their strategic goals. He is also responsible for transacting broader opportunities for PIC to acquire more businesses (new Op-Co’s), and chairs the Boards of both Panther Industries and CanGas Propane.
Prior to his time in finance and Management, Terris practiced as an Engineer (1993 – 2000) – and played football for the Edmonton Eskimos (1993 – 1995) and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (1988 – 1992). Terris earned his P.Eng (APEGA) as well as ICD.D (Rotman) designation, and holds an M.B.A. (University of Alberta) and B. Sc. – Civil Engineering (University of Nebraska).
Terris was born and raised in small-town Saskatchewan and now resides in Edmonton with his wife, Chana, and their four children.
Mr. Chorney is new to the board of directors of the Company in of 2024.
Website: https://picgroup.ca/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pic-investment-group/
CHRIS HEUBNER – BOARD MEMBER
LLOYD SADD
Chris Huebner came to Lloyd Sadd in 1995 as a recent graduate from the University of Alberta. Originally thinking this would be a stepping stone to another career, he became intrigued with insurance and risk management and has worked hard to become a partner and an integral member of the Lloyd Sadd team. In 2015, Chris was named President of Lloyd Sadd. He believes the success of Lloyd Sadd is based on their desire to support initiatives to enhance customer service at all levels and by providing an exciting work environment for employees.
Chris thrives on knowledge and continuous improvement and has achieved his Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional and Canadian Risk Management designations. He is very active with family, fitness, and volunteering for mental health and his kids’ sports. He is an active runner and cyclist and has competed in numerous triathlons and marathons. He is also a member of TEC Canada.
Mr. Huebner is new to the board of directors of the Company as of 2024.
Website: https://www.lloydsadd.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lloydsadd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lloydsaddinsurance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lloydsadd
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lloydsaddcanada
John Liston is the Managing Partner of Newcastle West Partners, a transition and transaction M&A advisory firm operating across Canada and the United States.
Newcastle West Partners specializes in business continuity, with a focus on ensuring smooth transitions for companies led by retiring baby boom entrepreneurs. The firm’s philosophy views continuity as an ongoing, forward-looking process, far broader than succession alone. Many succession plans falter due to insufficient long-term planning, and Newcastle West Partners works to address these gaps early, safeguarding the future of each business.
John’s passion for M&A was sparked in 1997 when he was part of the due diligence team for the $2.9 billion acquisition of a publicly traded company. After 25 years in middle management, he pivoted to coaching and consulting in 2013, supporting businesses across industries. Recognizing a growing demand for exit strategies, John joined forces with Chartered Financial Analyst Tony D’Andrea to guide clients through the complexities of sell-side M&A transactions.
From 2018 to 2022, John worked with the Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG), where he helped shape policies benefiting business owners. During this time, he collaborated with hundreds of leaders and politicians, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges of our dynamic business environment. John worked closely with Danielle Smith—now Premier of Alberta—together managing AEG through 2021 and 2022 before her return to politics. John is currently a member of the board of directors at AEG.
John is also a certified ValueBuilder®, leveraging principles from John Warrillow’s Built to Sell, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). Through these credentials, he helps business owners optimize the value of their companies by identifying and activating the eight key drivers that influence sale multiples.
CAL NICHOLS – CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
CHAIRMAN GASLAND/PARADISE ESTATES
Cal Nichols started his career in oil and gas as a commission agent for Esso and has spent most of his life in petroleum marketing and related industries as well as real estate development. In 1984, as a result of deregulation, Cal was a founding partner in Northridge Petroleum Marketing Inc. which was the first privately owned company in crude oil and gas marketing in Canada.
He created Gasland Oil Ltd. in 1985, which grew to over 50 branded independent petroleum outlets in Western Canada. Nichols is best known for spearheading a group of local investors in 1998 to purchase the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club and prevent them from leaving the City. Cal went on to serve as Chairman and NHL Governor for ten years.
Cal has been inducted into the Alberta Business Hall of Fame and has been recognized by many other organizations for his continued efforts in his community.
BRUCE PENNOCK – AUDITOR
PARTNER – PENNOCK ACHESON NIELSEN DEVANEY
Bruce has extensive experience in providing audit, accounting and business advisory services to large family-owned enterprises, private equity-backed organizations and publicly traded entities. In recent years, he has led several due diligence teams assisting clients with strategic business acquisitions. Prior to founding the Firm in 1995, Bruce was a partner with the international accounting firm of Deloitte, where he served as director for 15 years, served on three of the firms strategic planning committees and chaired the Canadian firms Consumer Products Committee.
As a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta, Bruce has sat on both the Canadian Institute’s Auditing Standards Committee and the Provincial institute’s committee dealing with financial reporting for Credit Unions. He is also very involved in the Edmonton community, having chaired the professional section of the United Way Collection Campaign, the Finance Committee of OLPH Catholic Parish, the Klondike Chuckwagon Derby Committee and the fundraising committee for an Alberta cabinet minister. Bruce currently is a Director of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and is a trustee for the Franciscan Friars of Western Canada.
JAMES RAJOTTE – PAST BOARD MEMBER
ALBERTA’S WASHINGTON ENVOY
Mr. Rajotte, recently stepped down from the AEG board to assume a key role as the senior representative for Alberta in Washington DC.Former Rogers Communications vice-president and former Edmonton MP Mr. Rajotte will play a key role, “The crisis in our energy industry underscores the need for Albertans to have strong relations with policy makers and business leaders in the United States,”Premier Jason Kenney said.
James Rajotte was a member of the House of Commons for 15 years.He was elected to the House of Commons in 2000 as the Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Southwest, and was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Leduc in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.
He served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance during the 40th and 41st Parliaments (2008-2015), and was Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry Science and Technology in the 39th Parliament (2006-08).
Congratulations James, and thank you for your work with Alberta Enterprise Group, and now serving Alberta and Canada in Washington.
SPIKE MARTENS – BOARD MEMBER
SPECIAL PROJECTS – KNELSEN SAND & GRAVEL
David Martens is a successful entrepreneur based in a Grande Prairie. David has a long history of business development and innovation in many sectors including construction, real estate and the beverage industry.
David is an engaged and vocal advocate for reducing unnecessary regulatory red-tape at the municipal, provincial and federal level and competitive tax rates for Alberta businesses. In their free time David and his wife Gert enjoy traveling, cycling and advocating for Alberta’s oil and gas industry.