Congratulations Bruce! and best wishes...
Congrats Bruce! I want to congratulate Bruce on his retirement. I didn’t think he would Bruce and I go way back ever retire. Bruce and I go back a lot of years. I had the opportunity when the company was called to hire Bruce twice. First, when he began his accounting career with National Auto League. Bruce PriceWaterhouseCoopers. I was never sure why he wanted to become an had just pioneered with accountant. He actually didn’t finish and get his accounting degree. The Nissan Canada the idea that second time was when he joined our company at the time, National Auto new, mainstream cars (not League, which was the predecessor to Sykes. Bruce was instrumental just luxury ones) should come in helping to build the company which resulted in the successful sale to with roadside assistance. Sykes. Bruce is an intense, committed individual with a strong discipline. Under Bruce’s leadership, the When he wants to do something, he does it with his whole heart. I am company grew to be the private not sure how he is going to survive retirement, but I am sure he will find label, roadside assistance something to keep him occupied. leader in Canada. He then leveraged the firm’s skills Bruce, I want to pass on my very best wishes to you and Judy for the into health care- and as they future. And if you want a job, we can make it three. say, the rest is history. Along the way, we worked Gerald Slemko together on new branding (Oracle) and a variety of Chief Executive Officer positioning, new product and Trudell Medical Limited acquisition support projects. Bruce is one of Bruce is one of the strongest the strongest leaders I have had the leaders I pleasure to work with. He have had the combines the attributes of pleasure to strong strategic focus with work with. curiosity for innovation plus a sense of fairness in dealing When he with staff and suppliers- my wants to do team always felt an integral something, part of the Sykes team. he does it with his One thing I am confident, Bruce whole heart. will never ‘retire’ so best wishes for your next life’s endeavour. Warmest regards, Bob Kincaide Principal Growth Strategy/Innovation EMPLOYEE SERVICE | AWARDS DINNER | 2018
Congrats Bruce! Dear Bruce, Talk to competitors, influencers, customers and Bruce, I wanted to offer a Congratulations on your retirement! It doesn’t stakeholders firsthand heartfelt congratulations on this seem that long ago you were giving your monthly I wish to thank you for the opportunities you momentous event. You should updates in the ‘ballroom’ of the 2nd floor on Pall have provided, which have shaped my career stand proud looking back at your Mall, taking the company from an auto club to and professional life. The trust and support to try amazing and successful journey an assistance firm, flipping paradigms and doing new things, balanced with tough questions and in spite of turning away from things that had not been done before. guidance provided a tremendous opportunity the light of the professional Throughout your journey leading an organization to grow, one I feel incredibly fortunate to have accounting field early in your through tremendous change and growth, you experienced. career! Your passion, energy and played a very influential role in my journey. Your drive in leading Sykes Canada’s example has inspired me to: As I continue to grow, I hope to give people the successes over the last two Look at challenges from many perspectives and same sense of appreciation, trust, challenge, and, decades are clearly evident in find new approaches to add value, differentiate, above all, the inspiration to make a difference both the business and amazing and apply all things Porter Value the people around to help people as you have done for me. people who worked with you. me and appreciate each person’s perspective - front line to the top Pursue lifelong learning, try new I wish you the best health and happiness in your I am sure those who know you ideas, and never get stuck on one viewpoint retirement. best will celebrate but then With true appreciation, miss your insatiable curiosity, inquisitive mind and unassuming approach to complex business Robyn Fulkerson issues. This thirst for looking at things from different angles Chief Operating Officer is sure to serve you well as you Tectonic Advisory Services Inc. embark on this next chapter in your life. All the best in this next journey for you deserve this most valued time for yourself. Chirag Shah Managing Partner/Southwestern Ontario PwC 53
Congrats Bruce! My experience with the company began • Acquisition of the Clinidata business. … something like that. on Valentine’s Day 1994… a long time ago Learning how to blend business and Health. when I was young and had a much better You probably catch my drift that we were memory. When I joined, the company was • Sykes acquisition … Sarbanes-Oxley. Nothing not always on the same page. What I didn’t under some stress and was transitioning else to add. realize back then was that ‘resistance is Bruce in as President. He was in the futile’ and how all of these experiences beginning stages of implementing lots of • Telehealth Ontario and the tremendous would benefit me in the future. changes. My first introduction to Bruce was growth to the business. Expansions outside high energy yet brief. It went something like of London. Every once in a while, I touch base with this: “Hi Lawrence, welcome aboard. Fasten Bruce to discuss the Leafs or I get a top-up your seatbelt. This is going to be a fun ride. Any • Budapest … the FISH philosophy … the on advice. For the most part, I can rely on questions? Good. Talk to ya later.” He kind of budashelf. Nothing else to add. Ibid. NDA. my memories of what I learned while at scared me. Sykes. I have also developed a taste for I have chosen to remember the best studying the ‘flavor of the month’ trends I decided to scribble down some of the moments from all of these events. The to pick and choose good ideas. I am a firm major events that I remember and that many funny stories that we told … as time believer that change management is the should bring a smile to Mr. Woods. They went on they got more exaggerated and key to improving performance, culture and come with really long stories … most of funnier… in our opinion. morale. Not everyone on my team agrees which I can’t share due to an impending with that …. They try to resist … silly humans. Presidential NDA. The inaccurate sequence • Over the course of my tenure, there was of major events as I recollect is: always so much growth to the business that Congratulations Bruce for your amazing I often felt underwater and was sometimes accomplishments with the organization. • A change in the management team. We (not often) resistant to some of Bruce’s Thank you for your sage advice over the were all so young and eager then. plans. For example: years, for the great memories and for speeding back from Toronto to share a few • The reengineering project. Bruce • I did not want to fall victim to the ‘flavor pops with me on my last Friday with Sykes introduced the project in a graduation of the month’ revolving door concepts. (Ibid NDA). gown. (long story) Bruce, on the other hand, loved to keep up with trends and pick and choose BTW… I still have my seatbelt on! • The mainframe system change and new PCs good ideas. He never attended a senior for everyone. management meeting without reading at Lawrence Martel least two books on whatever topic was to be • The profit sharing plan. A great motivator discussed. Books were learning tools … pre- FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, and a great excuse to party. Covered under internet. I nicknamed him the education ACCOUNTING & FINANCE NDA. president … always reading … always Sykes Assistance Services Corporation studying and always encouraging folks to • Team building exercises … Whitewater invest profit share into schooling. rafting. Staples. “SKIPPER!” Nothing that I will admit to. • I hated the changing of my roles and wanted stability so that I could feel comfortable • The tremendous growth to our Roadside and get caught up. Bruce’s mindset is model. more congruent with the concept that change management is fundamental to • Sprint … Jack B. Nothing else to add. Ibid. improving performance, culture and morale NDA. EMPLOYEE SERVICE | AWARDS DINNER | 2018
Congrats Bruce! Dear Bruce, I remember as if it were yesterday, our first call together back in 1990 to discuss this emerging client opportunity called Chrysler. A client that we both somehow have held onto for almost 30 years. Woodsy, congratulations on attaining this milestone and the very You quickly did the math (as you best wishes on the next adventure that life has in store for you. It has do so well) and jumped onboard been a singular pleasure working as your legal counsel over the past immediately. From there our 21 years. I have always enjoyed and marveled at your analytical mind partnership grew has been seamless and acerbic wit, no matter how challenging the situation. It is with with me oftentimes in a position the deepest affection and respect now that I tell you how much you where I knew I could speak to a will be missed from your current role. I hope that we continue to keep client on behalf of Sykes, without in touch and that this is not goodbye. Best regards, Bob (or, in your having to pick up a phone. (Okay, parlance, Roberto!) I probably should have called Robert M. Stewart PARTNER - MILLER THOMSON LLP you first on TomTom). But your partnership, business acumen, commitments, insight. willingness to talk things through and most importantly your friendship, truly helped us navigate through all of these years in this market we call Roadside. You are a class act and I am proud to know you, to have worked with you and truly thank you for all you have done both for me personally and for Agero. I truly enjoy and look forward to your continued text jabs during future Patriots games and I wish you much happiness and relaxation in your well-deserved retirement. Sincerely and with maximum respect, BOB ELSASSER 55 Vice President, Sales Agero
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