Kruse Group Ltd companies provide glass & construction solutions in auto, residential & commercial construction markets in Canada and United States. My responsibilities are a mixed bag ... build sales tools, build marketig tools, build advertising tools, photo and video shooter, digital design, hire sales staff, train, hunt for new customers, develop sales strategies and kiss derrier across 2 provinces and 2 countries. Typical stuff...... ten hats on one balding head.

"120 years old and confusing to customers" describes my start with Kruse Glass. When I learnt Kruse wasn't awarded a project simply because the GC didn't believe that Kruse had the experience ... I knew there was lots of work ahead of me to get the sales tools ready ...

A lazy project of mine where a slogan like "the lighter side of marketing" suits a ridiculously named company like Squirrel Nuts Marketing. Aiming for cheeky humor, the goal is to merge the gap between entertainment and advertising for any business that has the guts to be better. The goal is to offer a subscription based service focused on fresh sales strategies, videos, commercials, gifs, memes, and branding blah blah blah ..... "People want good deals, good product and something to smile about. Business wants money. “Why not just make it fun and combine the two?"

Ground Werx Coatings is an asphalt maintenance company in central Alberta's commercial, industrial & residential market. At the time, this was my biggest personal venture and admittedly I was a mess of nerves during our startup. After the market testing proved positive, I decided to launch in 2008. What a fun time! I was buying and building new equipment, sourcing new materials, building a brand, gathering staff, advertising, diversifying, & meeting new clients every day while a decade was quickly passing by!! And then suddenly, out of the blue something happened ... We were bought out! That venture was so much fun! “I'm proud that I built something so successful when nay-sayers were busy boo-hooing about everything in Canada's economy. I say, just adapt to the times and keep having fun."

I was a hired gun, contracted to boost sales for an industrial supplier and construction equipment dealer in central Alberta. From territorial sales twit who drove around with little more than a sharp tongue and shiny decals on a truck, to middle management desk jockey who helped customers, ordered equipment, managed inventory, and guided a sales team, I did everything possible to diversify my skills further. Co-workers, family and friends insisted that I had the right skills and ambition to organize a successful business of my own. That encouragement changed my life forever, and I'll be forever thankful for their guidance and support. They gave me the confidence I needed to completely break free and grow my new company.

Powersport is so much fun! :) And to be honest, my dealership journey was a meandering mess. I went to college for technical training, worked as a service department manager, moved over to sales & financing, and lastly, I completed my grease monkey certificate. I couldn’t have done that in a more backwards fashion if I tried. Aside from a few scars, tales of inappropriate behavior (not mine of course), and a personal agenda to ride motorcycles as much as possible; I’ve also kept my enjoyment of creative writing alive. Perhaps it was a momentary lapse in good judgement by magazine editors, or maybe they misplaced all the good submissions by proper wordsmiths, but somehow they’ve allowed a few of my contributions to be published in Cycle Canada, Dirt Rider and Motorcyclist. I also enjoyed being a regular contributor for the now defunct, monthly gearhead publication titled, Thru the Windshield.