Barry Bernhard is a catalyst for change, a strategic thinker who brings an unparalleled breadth of experience to his role as SGP Chair.
Whether consulting for small business and not-for-profit organizations, holding executive positions with national, publicly held companies or serving as a senior provincial government executive, Barry has always acted as a facilitator of leadership development and organizational growth.
Barry’s entrepreneurial roots stem from his family-owned lumber and construction business, but over the years he has held executive roles in many sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, natural resources, and financial services.
As the Executive Vice President of a national publicly held financial services company, for many years his focus was strategic business development and strategic acquisitions. As a former deputy minister, Barry also served the Manitoba government in the treasury board and senior economic and social development roles.
Barry’s background gives him the ability to give practical advice to SGP group members facing day-to-day business challenges while he provides insight into the bigger business picture, from regulatory frameworks to long-term strategic outcomes.
In 1992, as one of a three person team running for the student council executive at his university, Jason was kicking off a presentation to a room full of 400 engineers, with his zipper, unknowingly, fully down. His response to learning this and the audience’s reaction taught him the power of making an emotional connection.
30 years later Jason brings a perspective around Strategic Storytelling that is rooted in learnings from working with companies like Disney, Warner Brothers, Electronic Arts, National Geographic, the CBC, Ogilvy & Mather and Sheridan College. His passion is sharing insights to help leaders and organizations stop wasting money and start increasing profits.
Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland, I immigrated to Canada in 1966 and settled in Calgary in 1974. Over the course of my varied career, I have worked as a golf caddy, lounge waiter, customs officer, nightclub pianist, church organist, radio news announcer, and a featured storyteller on CBC Radio One’s Daybreak Alberta – a popular program heard across the province.
As a newspaper and magazine journalist, I have written on a variety of topics including politics, business, theatre, contemporary music, medicine, education, and travel. I have served on the national boards of The Writers’ Union of Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists and the Canadian Theatre Critics Association.