Matias Marquez turned his electronic solution to gift giving into Buyatab, a company that benefits consumers, brands, and distributors, and catapulted his company to No. 3 overall on the 2016 PROFIT 500 list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies, earning him the title ‘Entrepreneur of the Year, Pacific, 2016.’

Businesses in various sectors have been forced to stretch resources as far as they can go. As an answer to this ever-present challenge, Facility Source’s software, maintenance and services are a complete package of next-level facility management solutions. The company’s facility management is used by some of the biggest brands in the world.

Just north of Houston is The Woodlands area of Texas, an area known for petrochemical corporations such as Chevron Phillips, Baker Hughes, and ExxonMobil. TETRA Technologies, Inc. is strategically headquartered here to serve oil and gas industries across the United States. Geographically diversified TETRA Technologies is focused on providing products and services for water management, selected offshore works, decommissioning, and more.

Sky Climber Renewables began in 1955 as a manufacturer of suspended access equipment to get people up the exterior of buildings to perform services. The Sky Climber family of businesses serves many work-at-height industries in the industrial and commercial markets. We spoke with Vice President of Sales and Business Development Chad DiFranco and General Manager Tom Warchol to find out more.

Last May, I spoke with Ontario’s largest solar provider, Grasshopper Solar of Mississauga. We discussed the residential market, the cost of solar and how the general public needs to be educated about the benefits of solar technologies. Now, we celebrate its tenth anniversary and look to President and Chief Executive Officer Azeem Qureshi for the latest developments in the solar industry and within the company itself.

BDA Partners is an investment bank which specializes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital raising, valuation and financial restructuring. BDA primarily executes in cross-border transactions involving Asia and specializes in deals with enterprise values of up to $1 billion USD.

Financial services company Pinnacle Wealth Brokers’ business model focuses on diligent research to provide attractive, unbiased, private investment opportunities for retail investors. Pinnacle has been a forerunner in the private placement of funds for Canadian clients and, as a result of its success, has been recognized as one of the top growth companies in Canada in 2013 by Profit Magazine as well as one of the Fast 50 Growth companies for both 2013 and 2014 by Alberta Venture Magazine.

Independent Financial Concepts Group is a Managing General Agency offering insurance and financial products from Canada’s leading providers, along with financial planning and guidance from highly trained advisors. Business in Focus spoke with CEO Gary Mandel and Eric Benchetrit, Director of Professional Development, to learn about how IFCG’s innovative approach to leadership in the financial services and insurance industry.

The Usand Group is a capital firm headquartered in Manitoba, Canada that works with First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations. By creating access to funding for economic development, housing and infrastructure projects, The Usand Group fosters long-term growth and stability. As its company states, “We understand how culture fits into vision, and take pride in weaving them together for a one-of-a-kind solution.”

After two years of planning everything from the type of marble for the floors to high-end brass finishings and even the most aesthetic placement of basil leaves on a Margherita pizza, Bottega Louie opened its doors on April 6, 2009 and was an immediate success.

In 2000, I began working in marketing for a software development company that was designing applications for the Palm™ handheld computing device that were set to revolutionize the consumer packaged goods industry. At the time, mobile phones were just used for making phones calls, and BlackBerrys® were the “cutting edge” device that allowed users to text…