Regina
Saskatoon
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Who We Are
Our dedicated team members bring a wealth of expertise and experience in international trade and business development.
With a passion for supporting Saskatchewan exporters and promoting economic growth, our team is committed to providing outstanding services and programs to help businesses thrive in the global marketplace.
Get to know the individuals who make STEP’s mission a reality and discover the collaborative and innovative spirit that drives our organization forward.
Marlin Stangeland
CEO, Shercom Industries Inc. – Saskatoon
About Marlin
Board Chair
CEO – Shercom Industries Inc. – Saskatoon
Marlin Stangeland is the CEO for Shercom Industries Inc. Shercom recycles over 50 million pounds of used tires per year. Shercom is at the forefront of recycling technology through innovative tools, technologies, and processes. As the winner of two SABEX awards in 2020 (Business of the Year as well as for Growth and Expansion), Shercom is recognized as a world leader not only in recycling, but community involvement and support.
Prior to joining Shercom he worked in the private equity and venture capital industry with Westcap Mgt. Ltd., a leading private equity and venture capital Fund Manager having completed over $1 Billion in transactions in more than 200 companies. Mr. Stangeland holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA-CA) designation and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan. He has served on several corporate and not for profit boards.
Scott Sawatsky
Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Crestline Coach Ltd. – Saskatoon
About Scott
Board Member
Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Crestline Coach Ltd. – Saskatoon
Scott Sawatsky is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Crestline Coach Ltd. Crestline is a global leader in ambulance and specialty vehicle manufacturing and a Canadian distributor of small to mid-sized buses. Scott’s career in the specialty vehicle manufacturing industry spans over 25 years where he has served in a variety of capacities at Crestline in Operations, Customer Service and Business Development, with 13 years on the Senior Management team. Scott also worked for Enterprise Saskatchewan as Director of Investment Attraction for a brief period before taking over the Ambulance Sales Division at Crestline. In 2015, Scott was appointed Vice President of Sales & Marketing overseeing corporate wide sales, marketing and customer service related activities for both the Ambulance, Bus and Specialty Divisions at Crestline. Scott works closely with Crestline’s Board of Directors to measure the restructuring process of the go-to-market teams and strategic vision of the company. Scott has developed sales and service channels throughout Canada, USA and most recently in the Middle East and Northern Africa regions. Scott graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Comm and has completed numerous leadership and management courses.
Jodi Banks
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development – Regina
About Jodi
Board Member
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development – Regina
Jodi Banks is the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development.
Jodi has over 27 years of experience in the public sector. She has worked in the Livestock and Policy Branches of Saskatchewan Agriculture, as well as in the Canadian Intergovernmental Relations Branch of Intergovernmental Affairs, Saskatchewan Executive Council.
Jodi received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Regina in 1991 and a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy, University of Regina in 2006.
Rick Burton
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture – Regina
About Rick
Board Member
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture – Regina
Rick became Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Agriculture, effective July 1, 2016. Rick has been with the Ministry for over 25 years in various positions. Rick previously held the position of Policy ADM, since October of 2013, and Regulatory and Innovation ADM, from April 2008 to October 2013. Prior to joining the Deputy Minister’s Office in April 2008, Rick held various positions in the Ministry, including Director for the Crop Development Branch and the Director of Policy Branch. Rick has a BSA in Agriculture Economics from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Regina. Rick sits on the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors, the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan Board of Directors, and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership Board of Directors. Rick lives in Regina with his wife Anna and two sons (Hunter and Lane). Rick was born in Kipling, Sask., where he was raised on the family farm.
Mark Cooper
President & CEO, Prairie Clean Energy – Saskatoon
About Mark
Board Member
President & CEO, Prairie Clean Energy – Saskatoon
Mark Cooper is the President and CEO of Prairie Clean Energy, a Saskatchewan-headquartered bioenergy company that specializes in converting agricultural waste into bioenergy fuel pellets for the world market. Previously, Mark served as the President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Construction Association, where he represented Saskatchewan’s 9,000+ construction companies. He also served as Director of Policy and Communications for the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and worked for the governments of both Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Mark received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Regina and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Royal Roads University. He is a certified negotiator and mediator, a Project Management Professional, and recently concluded the Director’s Education Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors, achieving the ICD.D professional designation. Mark has a LEAN Yellow Belt and is a trained adult educator.
Mark currently sits on the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Board of Directors where he chairs the Audit and Finance committee. He is also a Board member of Prairie Clean Energy. He’s previously served on the boards of the Regina Food Bank, the Canadian Construction Association, the Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Government House Foundation and the Al Ritchie Community Association.
Mark and his wife Kimberley, a high school teacher, live in Regina raising their two-year-old daughter Isabella, and trying to keep up with their crazy golden-doodle dog Wallace.
John Cote
Owner & Founder, Black Fox Farm & Distillery – Saskatoon
About John
Board Member
Owner & Founder, Black Fox Farm & Distillery – Saskatoon
John Cote, together with his wife Barbara, operate a unique farming operation in the prairie region. Black Fox Farm and Distillery focuses on the creation of high-quality whisky and gin and using their knowledge of agriculture to produce many of the ingredients they use. With their companies focus on the export market, John is keenly aware of the importance of creating linkages between the various industries in the province to create opportunities in the wider world.
John is a Professional Agrologist as well as a Nuffield Scholar and has worked and studied in the agriculture industry in many parts of the world. He is happiest either creating new things or fixing old ones and spending time with his family cooking.
Kristy Ehman
CEO, Hyon Software Inc. – Saskatoon
About Kristy
Board Member
CEO, Hyon Software Inc. – Saskatoon
As CEO and Founder of HYON Software Inc., Kristy Ehman leads a team on a mission to reinvent the re-commerce industry. Her love of a good deal took her from shopping garage sales to running consignment events—but when she realized tech could solve some of the headaches of selling secondhand goods, HYON was born.
In whatever she’s doing, Kristy always has visions of a better world. What else would you expect from someone who is the idea chaperone for a Saskatchewan-based technology company creating an industry-changing platform? But others must share (at least some of) Kristy’s visions. HYON won CoLaunch 2018 and has participated in numerous technology incubators including CoLabs, Cultivator, NEXT Canada and Fierce Founders at Communitech. The HYON story has attracted an incredibly talented team from across the country.
Kristy’s “help others” radar extends past business ventures and into serving her community. She has been a past board member with Saskatchewan Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs, Regina Women’s Network and Regina Newcomers Club, and is ready to apply her energy, imagination, and enthusiasm to the STEP Board. She looks forward to helping put Saskatchewan’s tech sector on the global map, and help non-tech companies embrace the ways technology can help further their industries.
Rhonda Ekstrom
Board Member, STEP – Regina
About Rhonda
Board Member, STEP – Regina
Rhonda Ekstrom is a Senior Business Consultant assisting start-ups and mature organizations plan for the future and address management challenges in growth, productivity, innovation and globalization. She brings over 30 years’ experience in business strategy, operations, governance, international trade, marketing and information technology within agriculture, value-added, technology and transportation industries to STEP.
Rhonda has served as the Vice-President of Business Development for the Global Transportation Hub as well as the Vice President of Hewett Packard in Saskatchewan, where she was responsible for an annual multi-million-dollar business portfolio, 100+ staff, delivering client contracts, and achieving a client service excellence rating for nine consecutive years. She currently resides on the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as well as governance for other private sector companies.
Kevin France
Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development, Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development – Regina
About Kevin
Board Member
Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development, Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development – Regina
Kevin France is the Assistant Deputy Minister of International Engagement at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development responsible for oversight of Saskatchewan’s international engagement strategy including management of the Saskatchewan International Trade and Investment office network.
Kevin has worked in the Government of Saskatchewan for 10 years and 8 years with the Government of Alberta. In addition to Assistant Deputy Minister, he has been the Vice President of Agriculture and Economic Development with the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. He has also served as Executive Director of Regional Services with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Kevin has a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Natural Resource Science degree from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Kurtis Hinz
CEO, TAM International LP – Saskatoon
About Kurtis
Board Member
CEO, TAM International LP – Saskatoon
Kurtis Hinz is the CEO of TAM International LP, an International Nuclear Logistics firm with its headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. One of the founding members of the company, Mr. Hinz has been with TAM since 2005. Mr. Hinz was named President of the company in 2011 and CEO of TAM International LP following the strategic partnership established with PFM Capital in 2019. Mr. Hinz brings nearly 20 years of experience in International Nuclear logistics and high consequence transports. He has represented TAM International in organizations such as the World Nuclear Association (WNA), the World Nuclear Transport Institute, the Canadian Nuclear Association along with other global logistic organizations as both an industry participant and speaker. In 2019, he was named Chairman of the World Nuclear Association Transport Working Group. In his role at the WNA, he continues to work collaboratively with various nuclear industry professionals to address and mediate various issues in the transportation of nuclear material.
Mike Popowich
Vice President, TA Foods Ltd. – Yorkton
About Mike
Board Member
Vice President, TA Foods Ltd. – Yorkton
Mike grew up in Yorkton, SK and obtained a Civil Engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He was a past Director nationally at the Flax Council of Canada, served as a Director on the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce board for a number of years and served as President of the Yorkton Chamber in 2018, and still currently serves on the City of Yorkton Planning & Infrastructure Committee and as a Director at STEP (Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership) since 2018. Mike is President and owner of Texas Tea Oil Ltd. which owns a Great Canadian Oil Change franchise in Yorkton, but spends most of his time as Vice President of TA Foods Ltd. which specializes in flax, hemp, and camelina seed processing (cleaning, milling, oil production, as well as co-packing retail packages (pouches and bottling). TA Foods exports products around the world with regular customers in the USA, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Columbia, Italy, Thailand, and more. Mike will strive to effectively represent the value-added agriculture sector as well as rural export businesses in Saskatchewan. He lives in Yorkton with his wife Lana, daughter Eden, and sons Logan and Laken.