Lars Johnston Email & Phone Number

Calgary, Canada Area

Calgary Lock & Safe is the largest private security company in Alberta and third largest in Canada. Striving to provide the highest quality of service in the most ethical manner of business, the Company has a reputation that simply isn't matched within the industry.The Company's motto is simple: "Yes, we can do that". We work with our customers to help them achieve any of their security needs. We pride ourselves on being able to do whatever is necessary to satisfy our customer and in the rare case that we can't, we find someone that can.Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about our company. We are ALWAYS hiring good people and I welcome any chance to sit and discuss ways to better our business (or yours).

Vancouver, Canada Area

An idea is just an idea. Turning the concept in to a profit, that's where we sit.We typically work with two types of clients:1) Entrepreneurs looking to move their ideas to actionable business plans (from a napkin to a boardroom!); and2) Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) looking for lean, efficiency help (make more money doing the same work!) or in preparation for sale (putting lipstick on a balance sheet!).*EntrepreneursI primarily work with entrepreneurs in early stage development (validating market pain, product/market fit, scalability), mid-stage (debt/equity decision making, non-dilutive capital budgeting) and late stage (cost efficient IT solutions, taxation benefits, end-game prepping). My entrepreneurial consulting comes from 15 years experience as an entrepreneur and 22-month intensive MBA from the Most Innovative Business School in Canada (European CEO Magazine, 2009). *SMEsMy training comes from my years working with ABC (see experience section below) and includes non-traditional thinking to improve efficiency. I'm a promoter of "Aligned Incentive Leadership" which can greatly increase the profitability and enjoyability of a workplace (both of equal importance!). I'm also a strong believer in Bob Wiele's One Smart World and encourage clients to try outside-the-box ideas to promote a culture that can adapt in today's ever-changing world.The Number 1 waste of money in small business today is human capital followed closely by IT neglect. I personally believe that SMEs DO NOT need extensive IT systems and would encourage you to design a custom solution rather than spending thousands on an overvalued, under utilized standard IT system.

Toronto, On

Providing solutions for those in need of creativity, privacy and efficiency.

Calgary, Ab

Financial reporting and creating operational directives.

Brandon, Mb

PIT was my first company after obtaining my MBA. This business had incredible potential and I personally spent 8 months on the due diligence of PIT's multi-million dollar pharmacy acquisition in 2011. As sole proprietor, my valuation was the sole basis of the purchase as well as the framework for financing. Far from a "template valuation", I worked with a looming dark cloud overhead (pending legislative change) that had the possibility of crippling profitability by 60%. My experience with PIT was well beyond anything learned during my MBA or working as small business consultant. Skills Gained:*ABC'ingI hate clichés however they're clichés for a reason. Closing the deal rather than getting bogged down with details is the hardest step in any negotiation. I saw the potential in PIT and was able to get to an accepted letter of intent asap. When incredible opportunities arise, the confidence to make decisions "without all of the information" is imperative.*NegotiationOn a deal of this magnitude small digits make big differences however knowing what's important to the other side is what negotiation is all about. I've found that if you ask "why?" five times you are able to figure out the truth behind what the other side truthfully wants. A common mistake is thinking "cash money" is the most important thing to people when in fact that assumption can ruin deals faster than I thought.*High Pressure, No PanicHigh stakes means high pressure. As the pressure rises our natural reaction is to become more emotional than logical. There were dozens of times during the diligence process that emotions ran high but I studied strategies to keep my emotions under control which I believe was a huge factor in the successful outcome.*Uncertain Decision MakingUnlike the academic world, business is about making informed decisions based on incomplete information. I successfully made a life-altering decision based on my ability to evaluate risk and negotiate terms.

Halifax, Canada Area

Atlantic Business Consultants (ABC) is a multidisciplinary advisory firm that focuses on implementing cutting edge ‘technology tools and best practices’ to help clients optimize their current business practices. Our largest challenge was moving a 15,000 person, 5 dimensional, database from the "bricks and mortar" stage to a fully automated cloud based operational workflow. Within 3 months of adapting the process we were able to create a leaner, quicker turn-around which benefited both our clients and customers. This project helped me polish my personal skills in:** Relationship Building **We were able to forged a symbiotic relationship with several strategic partners to organically expand our business. This involved an ancient direct sales method (good ol' fashion talking on the phone!) during the "building stage", before moving to a new, automated, efficient version once trust was built.These relationships allowed us to execute features and solutions well beyond what one firm could do alone.** Leadership for Group Buy-in **Once we created the new cloud based system we needed to communicate the strategic benefits of the new system so that the entire company would "buy-in". Once in place, we led a team of 4 to deliver the needed end game.** The Art of Negotiation **We needed to negotiate the original contracts to allow us a greater margin without hurting our offered services. The downstream negotiations significantly increased our efficiency and greatly reduced the overhead costs (results are coming). Our upstream negotiations helped us garner a $250,000 CAD continuing contract with our largest clients.If you're reading this you probably know that the only thing that matters in the end is if you were successful. Since purchase our results were as follows:Top line revenue by +104%Profit margin +41% BOOM!

Halifax, Canada Area

Worked as a full-time associate coach for Dalhousie University's Women's Volleyball team while completing my MBA.After being a university athlete myself I felt as though my experience could benefit players today. Being analytical by nature, I found the role as associate coach quite challenging and entertaining as we worked as a unit to create and improve daily practice schedules and weekly game plans.I believe in social responsibility and feel that giving back to the sport that got me through my university years was only appropriate.

Halifax, Canada Area

During my corporate residency at Dalhousie University I worked as an analyst on the exploration team for new business development at ALC. The position was mostly as an analyst for yet-to-be-discovered markets and finding credible sources for critical decision making was imperative.

Wasagaming, Mb

My first significant entrepreneurial experience was starting a yard care and landscaping company in the resort town of Wasagaming, MB. Using what is now commonly known as the "lean start-up method", this company grew from a "summer job" to the second largest landscaping company in the area. I sold CLYC before moving to the coast to complete my MBA.Accomplishments:Increased revenues each of the 7 years I owned it by 15-50%.Overall customer satisfaction over 90%.Increased bottom line ROI each year using proprietary efficiency techniques.

Vancouver, Canada Area

In February of 2002 I had the idea of building a website that allowed friends to share picture, send messages, and meet people at their university. I built the site and by 2003 I had almost 500 members of the University of British Columbia.The site started to get traction and momentum and revenues began to come in albeit slowly. By October 2005 Facebook entered in to the Canadian marketplace and my membership dropped to almost zero overnight.This was a great business, and a great idea, just couldn't derail the now juggernaut Zuckerberg created.

Brandon, Mb

Personal and corporate staff tax accountant.Bookkeeping for several small businesses.

Mba, Business

Activities and Societies: Dalhousie International Business Society, Dalhousie Tigers Women's Volleyball Team Associate Coach for Dalhousie.

Bba, Business Administration

Activities and Societies: Students in Free Enterprise, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship

Bsc, Biology, Genetics

Activities and Societies: Delta Kappa Epsilon Restarted the Phi Alpha chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at UBC. Originally 8 members, DKE has.

High School, High School/Secondary Diplomas And Certificates