A homegrown champion. ([e-mail]).

When it comes to being a 'champion of Saskatchewan,' there's likely no better person for the job than Ron Waldman, the man behind the World Champion beers brewed at Saskatoon's Great Western Brewing Company. Waldman, who took over the helm as president and CEO of the regional brewery in 1994, has an undeniable dedication not only to the corporation he leads, but also to his community and province.

And if he's anywhere near as successful at leading Saskatoon and Saskatchewan as he's been at directing Great Western Brewing, the future of these respective jurisdictions looks - to borrow from Great Western's motto - truly great.

Deflecting the praise to those around him, particularly brewmaster Jim Fitzpatrick and his brewing team, Waldman proudly declares that Great Western Brewing has earned its place among the best regional breweries anywhere in the world.

"We feel that we are in the top percentile in the world in terms of the quality of our beers," Waldman says. And he has the credentials to back his statement up, including two gold medals earned in Lisbon, Portugal at the Monde Selection, a prestigious international product quality competition. Western Premium Lager and Western Premium Light, the company's trademark beverages, each earned the top spot in their respective categories. These honors come on the heels of Western Premium Light earning a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup in 2000 at New York City.

"These acknowledgements affirm the extreme commitment of all of our employees to brewing world-class product," Waldman says.

Great Western came to be when Carling O'Keefe Brewery announced it was closing down its 68-year-old plant in Saskatoon. Some of the workers, instead of simply accepting their layoffs and going off into the sunset, rallied around by purchasing the brewery and beginning their own company. Many of those shareholders remain with the company today.

As for Waldman, he joined the company in its fifth year, during which time it had hit a bit of a stagnant period following its relatively strong start-up. This era proved to be a crucial time of restructuring for the company, as it needed to take new direction or join the multitude of other businesses that end in failure.

Waldman, who had established a solid track record and reputation as the president and CEO of Beverage Central Inc., a Saskatchewan-based and largely province-wide Coca-Cola/Canada Dry bottling franchise, would prove to be just the tonic needed to establish Great Western as a world-class regional brewer.

Born in Moose Jaw and educated at the University of Western Ontario, Waldman credits his upbringing, education and professional development as key factors in creating the formula for success.

He nurtured his love for business as a protege in a management development program with the Coca Cola Company. From there Waldman joined his father's business, Beverage Central Inc., which was relocated to Saskatoon in 1979. He credits his father's astuteness by training both himself and older brother Gerald in entrylevel positions, which in turn gave them a true appreciation for both the inner workings of the company, and a strong work ethic that remains with them today.

Making a mark for himself in a sales and marketing capacity, the youngest Waidman worked his way up the corporate ladder based on abilities and results, not family heritage.

"I continued to work my way through the system to eventually become appointed president and CEO of that company in 1987," says Waldman, who says this appointment became expedited drastically due to tragic circumstances.

"Prior to that situation, on July 5, 1985, my father passed away unexpectedly at the age of 61, a very young man, Waldman says. "Although he prepared my brother and myself for eventual succession, it was through his wisdom and vision that he ensured that he surrounded us with a very capable, well thought-out business plan and terrific products."

Those valuable business lessons have stayed with Waldman as he continued the progressive development of Beverage Central Inc. following his father's passing. It was after his family decided to sell their interest in Beverage Central Inc. that Waldman was looking for the next opportunity. Along came Great Western Brewing, and it's been nothing but a match made in heaven ever since.

Despite his hectic workload, Waldman still finds time for family, which includes wife, Shannon, H. Zachary (nine), Molly (six) and Maxwell (five). He credits Shannon for her dedication in keeping family time and values as top priority for everyone.

It is this commitment to family that they credit for their decision to remain in Saskatchewan, despite obvious incentives to go elsewhere.

"Together, Shannon and I are raising our children very proudly in Saskatchewan' Waldman says. "Shannon is very actively involved in the children's lives and the community."

"With regard to community service, we have worked together to establish some mutual priorities," he continues. "We believe in our province having an effective health care system and we have volunteered our time to this cause, among others."

"We think for example, that two people alone as individuals can only make a certain contribution, but collectively we can work to make a difference."

Waidman marvels at the province's forefathers, including his and Shannon's grandparents, who in his words, "took that Prairie gamble," by coming here to make a life for themselves. In these times of out migration, Waldman says it's now our turn to take up the challenge.

"Like many of your readers we have lived in Saskatchewan a long time. We are part of generations of those making a living in and a commitment to Saskatchewan," Waldman says. "With that comes a real dedication to the province, but also a determination to make it a better place - not just for our own families, but for the greater community."

Words spoken like a true champion.