Jeff Granberg of PD Group of Companies Inc. named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2017 Prairies

Annual awards gala celebrates daring local entrepreneurs

CALGARY, Oct. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Jeff Granberg, Owner and CEO of Park Derochie (PD) Group of Companies Inc., the largest privately-held industrial coating company in Canada, is this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Prairies winner.

"Jeff has proven that by being open to challenges from your best people, a business will find incredible success even in a down market," says Rob Jolley, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Program Director. "Operating with a conscience and being open to change isn't second nature to everyone but, when done right, it leads to 'best-in-class' results. With Jeff leading the way, PD Group of Companies Inc. is seeing unprecedented growth and is well on its way to doubling 2015 revenues by 2020."

While going to university to be a social worker, Jeff started working for PD to help pay for his education. After graduating, he went to work for Social Services in Calgary but eventually went back to PD fulltime where he applied his education in an unexpected way.

Jeff's social services background provided a unique understanding of people and how to help them achieve success which, in turn, elevated PD's performance. In 1997, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations where his ideas, dedication and commitment led to the success PD enjoys today. In 2007, Jeff bought the company and has been at the helm ever since.

Guided by their corporate compass, T.E.A.C.H., PD has set itself above the competition through exceeding expectations, maintaining high standards around quality and safety, encouraging respect for co-workers, creating a work environment that attracts quality and diversity and giving back to the community in which it operates.

"Jeff's ability to understand and foster his employees is setting PD up for continued growth," says Jolley. "For the direction he is taking his company, in recognition of him giving back to the community and for his natural leadership skills, we are proud to see Jeff take home this award."

What's next?
As the Prairies region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017, Jeff will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Pacific, Ontario, Atlantic and Quebec regions for the national honour of Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017, to be presented at a gala celebration on 30 November 2017 in Toronto. In June 2018, Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 will move to the world stage to compete with more than 50 country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.

This year, Canada took home the gold. Murad Al-Katib of AGT Food and Ingredients was named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 in Monaco this past June. Murad is a shining example of accelerating growth with purpose.

More information
Follow @EYCanada and #EOYPrairies on Twitter for the latest event updates.

Visit ey.com/ca/EOY for more program details and a complete list of category finalists and gala dates in other regions.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Prairies category award recipients:

Business-to-Business Products and Services
Brett-Young Seeds Ltd. | Winnipeg
Lloyd Dyck
www.brettyoung.com

Business-to-Consumer Products and Services
Dansons Inc. | Edmonton
Dan Thiessen, Jeff Thiessen, Jordan Thiessen
www.dansons.com

Cleantech and Environmental
Carbon Credit Solutions Inc. | Airdrie
Ed Alfke
www.carboncreditsolutions.ca

Emerging Entrepreneur
Bold Commerce | Winnipeg
Eric Boisjoli, Yvan Boisjoli, Stefan Maynard, Jason Myers
www.boldcommerce.com

Health and Wellness
priMED Medical Products | Edmonton
David Welsh
www.primed.ca

Manufacturing
IntraGrain Technologies Inc. | Regina
Kyle Folk
www.intragrain.com

Oil & Gas Services
STEP Energy Services | Calgary
Regan Davis, Bailey Epp, Steve Glanville
www.stepenergyservices.com (TSX: STEP)

Real Estate/Construction
PD Group of Companies Inc. | Edmonton
Jeff Granberg
www.parkderochie.com

Technology
Yardstick Testing & Training | Edmonton
Chris LaBossiere, Don Riep
www.getyardstick.com

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world's most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/ca/EOY

The 2017 Prairies independent judging panel consists of Laurie Goldberg, CEO, People Corporation; Tim Melton, Executive Chairman, Melcor Developments Ltd.; Kristi Cawthorn, President, Startec Compression & Process Ltd.; Prabha Mitchell, CEO, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.; Steven Kantowitz, Vice President-Energy, Warburg Pincus LLC; Steve King, President and CEO, Alaris Royalty Corp.; Allison Grafton, President, Rockwood Custom Homes; and Marcela Mandeville, CEO, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.

This year's program national sponsors are TEC Canada, La Presse, RDI, The TMX Group, The Globe and Mail Inc., Merrill Corporation, Kira Talent, Air Canada, SheEO, The Printing House Limited, Hillberg & Berk and MediaOne Creative.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY is proudly celebrating 150 years in Canada. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)