Senior Associate
Education
- BEd, University of Alberta - 1983
- BComm (AD), University of Alberta - 1985
- Chartered Accountant -1996
In 2004, John became a founding partner with St. Arnaud Pinsent
Steman Chartered Accountants "SPS" following a distinguished
ten-year career with Ernst and Young LLP as an Assurance Senior
Manager and their Director of Technology, Communication and
Entertainment (TCE) assurance services for Northern Alberta. At
SPS, John specializes in the provision of accounting, audit, tax
and business advisory services for owner-managed businesses. John
has a particular passion for assisting early stage technology and
biotechnology companies and has been an active angel investor and
mentor to organizations in this space. During his many years in
public practice, John has built a strong network of contacts from
various industries and he regularly uses this support network to
assist his clients and investee companies build value for the their
enterprises.
After completing his Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of
Commerce (AD) degrees at the University of Alberta, John began
articling with Ernst & Young LLP (then known as Clarkson Gordon
Chartered Accountants). He left public practice in 1986 to pursue
experience in industry and became the Controller and Vice President
Finance of an Alberta based retail organization with annual sales
in excess of $10 million. During this time, John also acted as
Managing Director of the company's consumer finance division.
Returning to public practice with Ernst & Young in 1994, John
received his Chartered Accountants designation in 1996.
John has a well-earned reputation for being a strong supporter
of knowledge based businesses. From 1999 to 2004, John served as
the Steering Committee Chairman and co-author of Ernst &
Young's annual Alberta Technology Report. He remains active in a
number of information, communication and technology (ICT)
initiatives within the Province and serves on the Board of the
Alberta Chamber of Technologies Society.
In 2006, John was awarded the Institute of Chartered Accountants
of Alberta ("ICAA") Distinguished Service Award for his support of
the Province's high technology community. Previously, he was the
recipient of the ICAA Early Achievement Award in 2001 for his South
American refugee support work and the 2002 Economic Development
Edmonton Ambassador Award for his formation work on the Greater
Edmonton Competitiveness Strategy including the creation of
Edmonton's Deal Generator angel network. He has previously or
currently serves as a director on a number of boards including
InfoTech Alberta (Treasurer and Chairman), the audit committees of
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and the ICAA
Education Foundation and the Steering Committee of Economic
Development Edmonton's Deal Generator initiative. John currently
sits on the board of directors of a number of emerging private and
public technology companies including Optimum Communication
Services Inc., Liberty Mines Inc. (TSX), Hyduke Energy Services
(TSX) Synodon Inc.(TSX.V) Innovotech Inc.(TSX.V), Picomole
Instruments Inc. and Fastrainer LLP. He has also played an active
role in the creation of various financing forum initiatives across
Alberta including the Banff Venture Forum, Alberta's Innovation and
Investment Week, various BioFinance and Agrifinance events and
currently serves as a Director of the Alberta Venture Channel and
is a member of AVAC Ltd.
John understands the need to always give back to the greater
community and has been actively involved in a number of local
charities including Special Olympics Alberta (currently Chairman of
the Board), Catholic Socials Services' Sign of Hope campaign, The
Arthritis Society, The Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, The Sombrilla
Refugee Support Society and Junior Achievement of Northern
Alberta.
John has three children (Chantal, Jonathan and Robert) who keep
him young and active! He also freely admits that his love for golf
far exceeds his ability to play it.