Over 25 years later, along with a promotion to senior business analyst, Greg has had a hand in disbursing $31M in loans to small businesses within our region.
But it isn’t the money lent and granted that has him continuing to do what he does. It’s seeing the possibility for those who, day after day, work towards something they’ve carefully and thoughtfully planned for themselves.
“I like everything about my position with Community Futures — the client, and co-worker, interactions and generally assisting people. We still try to figure out ways to help people, and we get to treat them like people. We’re good at speaking on a number of different levels and staying honest,” says Greg.
Along with supporting aspiring or current adult entrepreneurs, Greg has been a part of the Rotary Alberta Entrepreneurship Youth Camp since his start with Community Futures in 1997.
The one-week camp immerses youth into the world of business ownership — how to plan from the beginning, take out loans, create the product, and sell the product for a profit to then pay back the loan and take home some money. Greg says the heightened confidence and skills the campers obtain, in the short seven-day period, is noticed and celebrated.
“They work hard, and working with the kids and seeing them grow from day one to day seven, seeing how happy they are when they pull it all together and make a few bucks at the end of the week, the whole experience is good,” says Greg.
The camp has grown immensely from year one, to where there is now a waiting list every year, and campers who attended 20 years ago still return to volunteer.
Purpose is what brings Greg to work everyday, and the welcoming work environment he’s been lucky to experience for 25 years. There are many success stories, and as Greg scrolls the list on his computer while being interviewed, he can’t help but share those stories in the moment with pure happiness for the owners he speaks about.
“I’ve been lending and dealing with people for years — it’s helping people, that’s what I like. We ask for the whole story, and we help to set them up for success,” says Greg.
