Town & Country

BY WENDY KING S ometimes running a small- to mid- size business is like trying to find your way on an unmarked freeway system. You might be driving way under the speed limit without a clue which way to turn, and the next exit is starting to look good. Siere is a Brandon management consultancy firm that specializes in mapping out a strategy to keep you away from the exit ramp, drive your business forward and get you to your destination: a thriving business with some time for more than just business. "We develop company-specific strategies, and then we work with those companies to implement them," says Cathy Snelgrove, one of Siere's founders. She says one of the challenges of running a business is making the right choices. "When you run your own business, you have so many different options and things to do," she says. "Some of them make you money and some of them don't." Snelgrove and Siere co-founder Jeff Roziere grew their own company out of a shared work experience, varied professional portfolios and good business chemistry. The company name combines the 's' from Snelgrove and 'iere' from Roziere. "We eventually found there was a niche with the small- to medium-sized business owner and many had never used an expert advisory service," she says. "They were slogging every day and we knew there was a good chance it could be easier." They recognized that slog from their own experience — something that puts them on the same page with their clients. "We started 10 years ago, and I'd love to tell you that we'd planned to do advisory services for small businesses when we started, but we probably didn't find our footing around that until about year five," she says. "One of the advantages we have is that we've been where most of our clients are, having made our share of mistakes," she adds. "And I think sometimes with small businesses, they need to go out and make some mistakes because they need to prove out some ideas so they can understand what works and what doesn't." She cites one example of how an advisory service can help. "We have a smaller client who was running about $125,000 a year, was barely paying himself and wasn't sure if he was going to go back to school or go back to a job," she says. "He started with us and in about seven months he doubled his revenue and he now pays himself very well." That success has extended to his life outside of the business as well. "He became engaged and is able to take a trip where he could leave his business," she says. "He's running a very comfortable business and continuing to work with us and continuing to plan to expand." Snelgrove and Roziere also understand that thriving small- to mid-size businesses are a cornerstone of a thriving local economy — and that provides other opportunities to serve. "Both of us take an active role in our community," says Snelgrove, who sits on the Chamber of Commerce board. Along with helping to sponsor the Westman Entrepreneur Boot Camp, they've both mentored young entrepreneurs with Futurpreneur, and they offer a low-cost seminar series for start-ups. "We look at it as getting as much information out there as we can." To that end, the partners have also written a pair of books, both available on Amazon: It Is What It Is, Or Is It … All About Business and You Couldn't Have Told Me This Before I Started My Business? "It doesn't matter how big or small, we just want to see business grow, and whether we're a fit or not, we try to direct people to the resources that will help them," says Snelgrove. "We're vested in them growing." 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2017 S I E R E Hamiota Hotel Ph (204) 764-2426 Open 7 Days a Week ✸ 7 Rooms with WiFi ✸ Beverage Room and Cafe Brandon 204-725-8580 Rivers 204-328-5325 Kenton 204-838-2326 Hamiota 204-764-2259 Minnedosa 204-867-2679 Neepawa 204-476-2301 Carberry 204-834-3356 Souris 204-483-3249 Hartney 204-858-2038 Virden 204-748-1122 Shoal Lake 204-759-2029 - Mobil Lubes - Full Line Herbicide - Seeds - Liquid Fertilizers - Granular Fertilizers - NH3 Fertilizers - Crop Input Consulting - Custom Application - GPS Soil Testing www.redferns.ca Professionals Providing Products, Service, Equipment, and Expertise. • Stronger • Warmer • Cheaper • Local Block Package Discounts Box 86, Cromer, MB R0M 0J0 PHONE 204-748-5560 • FAX 204-556-2220 INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS SALES & INSTALLATION CROMER VALLEY CONSTRUCTION www.AdamsSupply.com Industrial • Construction • Safety Machinist Supplies and more.... • Abrasives & Lubricants • Pferd & Walter • Cutting Tools • Seco, WIDIA, Dormer/Pramet, Greenfield, Niagara, M.A Ford,SGS • Milwaukee Power Tools • Unbrako Socket Products •Workholding Solutions-Jergens 879 Wall Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2T9 Tel: 204-786-7481 Fax: 204-772-8131 Manitoba: 1-800-224-0377 A.ADAMS SUPPLY (1969) LTD. GLADSTONE BAKERY & EATERY Delicious breads, cinnamon buns, donuts & pastries baked fresh daily! Hearty soups, sandwiches, wraps & salads! FRESH HOMEMADE GOODNESS! Ph: 204.385.2225 5 MORRIS AVENUE N., GLADSTONE, MB 90 4th Street South eaSt Portage la Prairie, MB Ph. 204-239-6149 POINT WEST ELECTRICAL SERVICES induStrial • CoMMerCial • reSidential • FarM eMail: gil@pointwestelectric.com certified fire alarm technician Getting a 'PEAS' OF THE ACTION ROQUETTE PLANT VENDOR AND JOB FAIRS IN THE WORKS BY ANDREA GEARY B usiness owners in Portage la Prairie and Manitoba's Central Region could realize an opportunity for new business later this year as construction begins on Roquette's $4-million pea protein manufacturing facility. "We know we are heading into a period of growth," says Portage Regional Economic Development executive director Vern May. Roquette, a global leader in innovative plant-based food ingredients, announced the location of its new manufacturing facility in January. The Portage plant will expand Roquette's pea-protein production capacity and meet the growing North American and international demand for plant-based proteins. Canada is the world's largest pea producer. According to Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, 165,000 acres of peas were grown in Manitoba in 2016. May says work to woo the French company to Portage started over five years ago. Roquette was considering 40 different sites in North America, then narrowed down the search to two locations — Portage and a site in Saskatchewan. As well as having a central location for transportation, Portage offers access to renewable resources and hydroelectric power. May says work done by people at various government levels helped to convince Roquette's owners that the site just southwest of Portage is the best location. "It wasn't just the bid we made. It came down to the relationships we have municipally and provincially." He credits officials from the City and Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie with working well together. "We need the industry and the jobs to attract the labour force, but we need to demonstrate a strong labour pool is already here to attract the business," he says. "In this case, knowing that hiring and training will be happening soon for an employer that is already looking at an investment for the next 50 years is a catalyst to help bring those two sides together for potentially further growth in the community as well." The company plans to start building this summer. May says Portage Regional Economic Development (PRED) and Roquette are hosting a vendor fair in mid-June, after they identify the products and services the company will need during the approximately two-year construction phase. Companies that will want to participate in the fair include those offering construction services, transportation, warehousing, and housing and food services for the estimated 300 people who will work to build the plant. "It's marrying the need with the providers," he says. While local businesses, such as restaurants, retailers and gas stations, might not be directly involved with the Roquette plant's construction, they could still benefit by serving the workers who are building the plant. "Sometimes the spin-off industries take on a life of their own," May says. Roquette's commitment to making the facility a zero- waste producer is exciting, he adds. It means there will be further economic benefit as by-products from pea protein manufacturing are used by other businesses. For example, broken peas can be used as a nutritious, plant-based chicken feed. Pea fibre will be processed for use in Neepawa's HyLife Foods pork processing plant, and pea starch can also be used in numerous ways. Roquette is anticipating that the Portage facility will begin production in 2019, providing jobs for about 150 people. May says this also has the potential to further strengthen Portage's economy, as it will provide jobs for some local residents. It could also trigger increased demand within the local real estate market, schools and day care facilities. "When you add 150 jobs to a population of 13,000, it's good," he says, adding there is already a positive buzz over the Roquette facility within the community. Since Portage is home to Simplot and McCain potato processing and the Can-Oat Milling plants, Red River College's local campus has provided training in advanced food processing. May believes some of the students who earn their certificate in this area might find employment with Roquette. "We will be hosting a hiring fair in the fall." Guiding Lights CONSULTANTS SPECIALIZE IN BUSINESSES Siere is a Brandon management consultancy firm that specializes in mapping out a strategy to keep you away from the exit ramp, drive your business forward and get you to your destination: a thriving business with some time for more than just business.

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