Larry McIntosh, President and CEO

Key To Success?

Key To Success?

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"The most important thing that you can consider in this position is being ethical, honest and straight-forward.

"Ethics is key to this position and it's key to long-term success."

The Buck Stops Here

The Buck Stops Here

As President and CEO, I oversee every aspect of the company and I'm personally responsible for marketing, public relations and doing media interviews.

Each major department in the organization has its own Vice President who takes care of the day to day things, but I'm ultimately responsible for the entire operation.

The buck stops here I guess you could say.

Great Work Environment

Great Work Environment

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"The work environment's great here. We have a lot of fun. I mean, we sell vegetables; we can't take ourselves too seriously here.

"So we have a lot of fun. We work hard and we have high expectations and high goals but we can have some fun while we're doing it."

Travel a Must

Travel a Must

I travel a fair bit in this job. I'm on the road probably 10 days a month. Our buying offices are in Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix and Toronto for starters.

Since most of our customers are located outside of Manitoba and because I deal with them quite a bit from a relationship-building aspect, it's important that I travel to meet with them when I can.

Where I Work

Where I Work

Peak of the Market is a non-profit organization owned by 65 Manitoba vegetable growers who grow over 120 different types of vegetables.

We do the sales, marketing and transportation for them and sell their products all over the world.

We have everything from asparagus to zucchini, or A to Z as we like to say, but our main crops are potatoes, carrots and onions.

Pass Along the Profits

Pass Along the Profits

As a non-profit, we actually budget to break even on an annual basis. Some years we do better than others but for the most part we're there to break even and to pass on all the profits to the growers.

Selling through us gives them a larger world market and greater revenue than they'd be able to earn on their own.

We also participate in the fight against hunger by getting involved with charitable organizations like Winnipeg Harvest.

One Great Province

One Great Province

Manitoba's one of the best places in Canada to live and I've travelled all across Canada. It's affordable to live here and it's small enough yet big enough, I often say.

You have sports, the ballet and the symphony and all those kinds of things to choose from.

But of course, most of all it's the people who really make the province great.

Family Affair

Family Affair

My daughter's 10 years old and she's grown up with the produce business. Some of her first words were rutabagas and turnips, so she certainly knows the business.

My partner also works with me on a day-to-day basis so she pretty much lives the job 24 hours a day too.

It means a lot to me that my family is interested and involved in my work.

Balancing It All

Balancing It All

Balancing home life and work life is not easy because the job is fairly demanding and I have high expectations of myself.

When I am home I try to spend quality time with my daughter. Finding that time is an ongoing challenge.

One Great City

One Great City

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I certainly took the job with Peak to get back to Manitoba because I think it's the greatest province. And Winnipeg's the greatest city to live in. So I really wanted to get back here."

Busy Schedule

Busy Schedule

A typical day is hard to define because each one is different. I usually have a heavy appointment schedule and travel enters into it too.

There are challenges and issues that come up every day, whether in sales or logistics or in some other area so you learn to prioritize the tasks and keep things in perspective.

The bottom line is you have to do what's right for your customers and ensure that the operation works efficiently.

Customer Relationships

Customer Relationships

I work hard to develop good relationships with our customers.

I don't do the sales day-to-day but I meet with their VPs or the directors of the produce department and try to build relationships.

We talk about long-term strategies and try and work closely with the customers at the senior management level.

Paperwork

Paperwork

There is quite a bit of paperwork involved in my job. There are reports to write and to analyze, financials and sales reports to go over on a regular basis, though our VPs often do the actual analyzing of it first and then we sit down together to review it.

A lot of the research we do is on the Internet now so that makes it somewhat easier. But the paperwork part takes probably 10 to 15 percent of my time every day.

Keep Moving

Keep Moving

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"The position is a fast-paced job. I mean, you have to keep moving. You have to be flexible and you have to be willing to change your day as things develop.

"It's the only way I'd have it. I would be bored in a job where you're waiting for a customer to come up or something. That wouldn't be for me. It's fast-paced and makes the day go fast and I love it."

Employee Relationships

Employee Relationships

In my position it's important to be able to work with other people as best you can and to recognize that everybody is an individual.

That's what makes the organization great. We have 43 people with 43 different ideas and personalities.

But it's finding a way to make sure that everybody can work together and share their ideas to make the company better that's essential.

Proud of

Proud of

I'm proud of many things I've done here, though most of them are a result of team work.

In my nine years here we've more than doubled our sales and the last eight years have been the best in our 61-year history. That's created more jobs and allowed us to reinvest in better equipment for our staff.

I like to believe that we have developed a good reputation in the community for our charitable efforts and in the industry for supplying consistently high-quality products.

Different Pressures

Different Pressures

Pressure is what you put onto yourself as much as anything. When sales are going bad, certainly I'll feel the pressure.

But the pressure to get better every day is the pressure that I feel most. And frankly, there's pressure knowing that if you make a wrong decision, it will impact the 43 people working for you, and their families, down the road.

So that's another kind of pressure that you keep in the back of your mind.

Management Styles

Management Styles

There are different types of presidents and CEO's out there.

The 'it's my way or the highway' kind of manager who wants to be called Mister is less common now because they never really have long-term success. Making people scared for their jobs isn't the way to run a business.

I strive to be a CEO who works with people, who gets them to contribute to the company and one who listens to them and works as part of a team.

A Good Fit

A Good Fit

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I think I fit well with the job in many respects. One is that I like people. I like dealing with people. I like working with them and helping them progress in their positions.

"And quite frankly, I like listening to them and learning a lot of ideas from them so that I can progress in my career as well."

Worked My Way Up

Worked My Way Up

I started working for a large retailer who I'd been working for part-time.

They had a management trainee position that I took and I progressed into assistant manager, then store manager. Then I became district manager and eventually Vice President of the company.

So I kind of learned what I needed to know as I moved up into the different positions.

Why Management?

Why Management?

I chose this line of work because I like working with people and I like supervising people.

I couldn't work with a machine or a computer all day. Obviously there's some of that involved but the majority of my time I'm talking with people and planning, and that's really what I get a kick out of; working with people and having them share their ideas and making it all work.

Advice

Advice

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I think that post-secondary education is key. Going to a good business school and taking business courses is key to getting into this position.

"I have taken a different route and I worked hard to get here but I think it really is a leg up for you on this position if you know how to read spreadsheets and understand all the areas, which you really get out of a university education."

Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills

There are certain skills you can take to any business, whether it's in retail, vegetables or whatever. You should have people skills, administrative skills, and know how to do financials.

Learning the individual businesses, such as clothing versus vegetables, you have to learn anywhere you go. But the rest of it, the foundation, is still there.

You can transfer that from business to business.

Rounded Knowledge

Rounded Knowledge

You need to understand the business as a whole and understand how the different pieces of the business fit into each other.

Knowing a little about every position is critical so that you make sure all departments are working together. Certainly working with word processing and spreadsheets and anything to do with computers is vital now too.

But the main thing is dealing with people more than dealing with machinery.

Evolving Technology

Evolving Technology

Technology is evolving very quickly.

Whether it's in the packaging area or maybe colour sorters, down the road technological advances are going to make it easier for us to improve and expand our business and we're going to have to keep investing in it to continue growing and staying ahead of our competitors.

Dispelling the Myth

Dispelling the Myth

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I think one of the biggest myths about someone who heads up a company, whether it's an owner or CEO, is that the only thing they're there for is to make as many dollars as possible.

"And I think, yes, most companies now are looking to make a profit, but they're also looking to give back to the community in creating jobs for their staff and making it a better place to work."

Healthy Future

Healthy Future

I think the produce industry as a whole has a great future. People are looking to eat more fruits and vegetables for a healthier diet and everyone, including children, understands the health benefits better too.

There are challenges in the industry but there's lots of room for growth and certainly with improvements in things like shipping containers and trucks the possibilities are huge.

So I think the industry's in great shape.

Possible Training

Possible Training

I don't have any immediate plans to go back to school at this point in time but if something comes up, whether it's computer related or some other aspect of our business that I'll need to learn, I'll definitely take it on.

At the moment though, there is just too much else to take care of.

Job Market Info

Job Market Info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official name for Larry's occupation is "Senior Manager - Trade" and its *NOC code is 0015.

Job Futures

Manitoba Labour Market Information
(Select Manitoba, the Area in Manitoba, NOC code 0015, then click Search)

Human Resources Development Canada

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupational Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Education

Not assessed for Useful High School Subjects in Job Futures.ca

Below are links to various programs and courses that will put you on the path to a career in Management.

University of Manitoba
Faculty of Management/Asper School of Business
Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics
Business Administration - Management Development Programs

University of Winnipeg
Administrative Studies
Continuing Education, Professional Studies Programs

Red River College
Full Time Day Programs
Then click on "Business Administration"
Distance Education Programs
Then click on "Business & Administrative Studies"

Collège Saint Boniface
Les Programmes techniques et professionnels

Brandon University
Business Administration

Assiniboine Community College - Brandon
All Programs
Choose from:
Business Administration - page 74
Business Administration, Parkland Campus - page 194
Agribusiness Program - page 57
Cont. Ed Management Skills Certificate - page 50
Cont. Ed Human Resources Certificate - page 50

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson
Business Administration
(see pages 22 & 23 of the pdf)

Industry Association

Industry Association

From french fry factories to fish markets; from fresh herbs to food-based pharmaceuticals, the Manitoba Food Processors Association - MFPA exists to support and promote Manitoba's food industry to the world.

The MFPA gives Manitoba's food producers a powerful voice in the global marketplace and ensures continuous health for our province's food industry, through ongoing training initiatives, networking, industry publications and sales promotions under the "Manitoba Made logo".

Related Careers

Related Careers

Some related careers from Human Resources Development Canada web sites:

Senior Managers - Goods Production (NOC 0016)

Human Resources Managers (NOC 0112)

Retail Trade Managers (NOC 0621)

Professional Associations

Professional Associations

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association web site provides a wide range of information about the industry from trade shows and new technology to health, nutrition and food safety.

The Canadian Horticultural Council works with growers to develop their industry and to provide a strong voice for human resource issues, foreign trade and government relations.