Steve Petrovic - radio interview

Interview with Steve Petrovic, Country Manager (Croatia) Pedersen & Partners Executive Search.

Steve Petrovic is an inspiring man in career motion. He graduated with a degree in science and became a government scientist working on environmental issues. He went back to school to earn his MBA specializing in IT. That led to a few years in IT consulting.

A frank discussion with his dad and uncle encouraged him to start and run his own business in metal fabricating.

Later an interest in exploring opportunities in his family’s homeland of Croatia led him to accept the role as country manager for an international executive recuiting firm. That led to an opportunity to join a modernized 100 year-old steal mill.

Steve Petrovic’s story is inspiring and full of important insights.

Listen to the radio interview with Steve Petrovic

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George Torok is the host of Business in Motion

Murray Hogarth, Pioneer gas stations

Interview with Murray Hogarth, Executive Chairman of Pioneer Petroleums, President and CEO of the Pioneer Group

Murray Hogarth launched the first Pioneer gas station in 1956. Today there are more than 150 Pioneer gas stations across Ontario.

Pioneer donates 1% of profits – not revenue to charity.

Murray Hogarth was instrumental in the formation of CAFE – the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises.

Pioneer is the largest independant gas station chain.

Murray Hogarth was voted the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Burlington Economic
Development Corporation for 2010.
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Insights from this interview:

“We wanted to beat the major oil companies at their game.”

“In the existing model, the customer was an interruption and the employee approached the customer with a bad attitude.”

“We introduced the first loyalty program – bonus bucks.”

“Where do you get innovative ideas? Listen to what your customer wants.”

“You have to have drive and a vision.”

“Insulate yourself from the risk.”

Listen to this radio interview

George Torok

Host of Business in Motion

Canadian Business Speaker

Mike Pley, COM DEV, Interview

Interview with Mike Pley, COO of COM DEV International.

Space – the final frontier!

COM DEV produces electronics for satellites. A Canadian company and world leader in satellite technology, based in Cambridge, Ontario and employing over 1,000 people.
Mike Pley is an Engineering graduate of McMaster University.
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Insights & exceprts from this interview with Mike Pley.

We have to build something that will be super dependable for 15 years.

You can’t make repair calls in space.

Our equipment is on 80% of the over 650 satellites up there.

We don’t go after the low cost world where price is king.

We want to encourage the next generation to become astronauts and engineers.

The next big project we are working on is the James Webb Telescope which is scheduled to launch in 2014. It will see far more than the Hubble. The James Webb Telescope is seeking to see first light – the beginning of galaxies.

Listen to the radio interview with Mike Pley

George Torok
Host of Business in Motion
Business Speaker

It’s your responsibility to vote in a democracy

Re: Right to vote

Do you really believe in democracy?

The results of municipal elections would suggest that most people don’t support a democracy.
In a democracy, the majority rules. Yet only 30 to 38 per cent typically vote in municipal elections. The majority is voting against the election. Maybe they want a dictatorship.
In a democracy, all voters have the right to express their opinion at the ballot box.

In a democracy, you also have the responsibility to participate and contribute.

The right to vote is one of very few rights that we have. We have few rights and voting is one of them. We have more privileges than rights. Some folks seem to misinterpret privileges as rights. You earn your privileges. Someone else granted you your rights.

Both rights and privileges are directly dependant on responsibilities. If you want the right or privilege you must first embrace the responsibility.

The municipal election is coming. It’s no excuse to say that you don’t like the choices because democracy allows you to create new choices.

You are responsible for the government that you elect by your action or inaction. Not voting is a vote.

Do you believe in democracy? Prove it.

George Torok, Burlington


As published in Letters to the Editor in the Hamilton Spectator, Monday October 4, 2010.

Walter Booth Radio Interview

Audio interview with Walter Booth, Chairman of The Timberland Group

Walter Booth started at Timberland as a young Project Engineer more than 40 years ago. He rose to the rank of President, bought the company, sold the company and is now Chairman. He is an engineering graduate of McMaster University. He has donated at least $3 Million to the Faculty of Engineering.

The Timberland Group grew signifcantly during those years. Originally a company that manufactured winches for the logging industry, they now provide special winches and hoists for mining, power distribution, underwater exploration and off-shore oil.
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Insights from this 30-minute interview with Walter Booth:

“The business still excites me after 40 years.”

“They hired me because I had experience in the ski lift business.”

“Buying the company – we worked on that deal for at least a year. You want it to move faster
but it just took longer.”

“My boss encouraged me to join the Young Presidents Organization. I got to hang around successful business owners.”

“As chairman my chief role is mentoring and developing the new owners.”

"You have to bend the rules if you want success.”


Listen to the radio interview with Walter Booth


George Torok
Host of Business in Motion
Canadian Business Speaker

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