RBC Royal Bank salutes women entrepreneurs across Canada.

From providing strategic communications or accounting services to manufacturing wood products, women are running businesses in diverse fields and finding the financing and advice they need to grow from RBC Royal Bank. We are proud of our clients and introduce you to four of them here....

Barb Carle-Thiesson, FCA, Partner

Firm: Tyce Carle-Thiesson Chartered Accountants, Nanaimo, BC 250-740-0040 [e-mail]

Description: A public accounting firm with 10 employees, which includes two CAs (Barb and her partner) and three CGAs. This specialty practice focuses on the professionals market, providing comprehensive tax planning and tax minimization strategies for doctors and dentists.

Growth: Since becoming a chartered accountant in January 1982, Barb has operated as a sole proprietor and in partnership -- first in Alberta and then in Nanaimo -- for the past 12 years. "Women were just starting to get into this business in the mid '70s, but I've always preferred the flexibility and independence of private practice rather than working for a large firm." explains Barb, who is also the 2nd Vice President for the B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants. Starting their current practice last fall, Barb and her partner outgrew their space within a month and doubled their staff within eight months.

Unique Feature: An expert in the professionals market since 1992, Barb provides complete accounting services to her clients as well as advanced strategies through seminars and newsletters. "In this way, we help them become more successful and enhance our own reputation in the field."

Growth Tip: "You have to be committed, which sometimes means working when you would rather not and making certain sacrifices. But, if it's the right decision for you, don't beat yourself up about the other things you may have to give up in the process. Commitment and a professional attitude will get you to where you want to be."

Future Plans: "To buy our own building and get established in a permanent location. I also hope to maintain staff continuity by retaining good people like our women CGAs while they have their families."

How RBC Royal Bank Helps: "I've had excellent and very supportive account managers in my 12 years with the bank. They've always believed in me."

Jane Eyzenga, President

Company: R. A. Warner Building Supplies Ltd., Lyndhurst, ON 613-928-2828 [e-mail] www.timbr.com

Description: This full-service building material supply operation, under the franchise name of TIM-BR Mart, services both contractors and the general public. Providing a wide variety of products--"anything needed for home maintenance, renovation and construction from the ground up" -- it is best known for its pressure-treated lumber.

Growth: A bookkeeper by training, Jane (along with a partner) bought the company in 1984, seeing it as a good business opportunity. "I was pretty green about this industry and had to learn it from scratch." Since then, she has purchased all shares and re-built the original 600 square-foot store, destroyed by a fire in 1998, into a 4,000-square-foot operation, doubling sales in the process.

Unique Feature: Jane has established her business as the number one building material supplier in her area through her ongoing commitment to bring high-quality products at affordable prices combined with exceptional service. "The store is big, very clean and well-organized, and my customers appreciate that."

Growth Tip: "Know where you want to go and stay focused. You need a good staff behind you -- people who are reliable and trustworthy -- because you can't do it alone. And be sure to keep profits in the business in order to expand."

Future Plans: "I would like to erect another outside building so that all the lumber can be under one roof."

How RBC Royal Bank Helps: "When I first approached RBC Royal Bank to borrow money, they saw my potential and dealt with me as a business person first, rather than focusing on my gender. They were very professional and that impressed me. I continue to find negotiating with them easy and straightforward."

Isabelle Legare, Vice President

Company: Legare Group, St-Raymond, PQ 418-337-2286 [e-mail] www.legareindustries.com

Description: Legare Group includes two companies: Legare Industries Ltd. manufactures utility wood products and treats them for preservation -- e.g. poles for telephone wires and pressure-treated lumber, timber for bridges, guard rail posts and pilings. Dynastie Wood Turnings Ltd. produces pre-fabricated parts for furniture manufacturers -- legs for chairs and tables and other turned wood and detail parts.

Background: With academic credentials in finance, international business, a thesis on family enterprises, an MBA and fluency in French, English and Spanish, Isabelle Legare has been working in the family business since 1999, right out of university. After barely a year, her father, who had founded the firms in 1977 and 1983, retired. A true visionary, she's been at the helm now for close to five years, and successfully so in a field where to this day women are the exception.

Unique Feature: "We are very cutting-edge. We know about the latest products and technologies and are always the first in the market." Legare Industries was the first in eastern North America to use DOT, a borates treatment that's easy on the environment, non-toxic to mammals, resistant to decay by fungi and voracious insects, and slows thermal and photosynthetic break-down. "That's my baby," Ms Legare says with pride.

Growth Tip: "Don't be afraid to go for it and surround yourself with competent people. If you're taking over a family enterprise, use the help of an industrial psychologist who specializes in family enterprise. It was well worth it for us."

Future Plans: "We want to always be at the forefront in our industry. And we want to grow - in the States and in Europe first, and later beyond that."

How RBC Royal Bank Helps: "RBC Royal Bank has always excelled at being a true business partner. There is lots of personal contact. The bank is interested and knows what we are doing. It's a partnership we count on for the future."

June Perry, President & CEO 

Company: Perry & Butland Communications Ltd., St. John's, NF 709-753-0794 [e-mail]

Description: A communications and marketing firm providing a full range of services from business strategy to product development for both public and private sector clients. The company's philosophy is to work only with clients who value marketing and communications and understand what that means to their overall business strategy and bottom line. P&BC positions itself as an internal marketing and communications division for its key clients.

Growth: Starting as a home-based business nine years ago, June moved into commercial space in 1999, took on a business partner with good marketing skills in 2001 and increased employees from two to seven. With a Masters in Communication and a background in health care administration, June took a bird's eye view of all the changes and chaos in health care across Canada and saw a great need for strategic communications in that field, where the firm initially focused. Today, its client base spans across other sectors -- from retail to natural resources -- and is evolving its services from marketing and communications strategy into business strategy.

Unique Feature: The firm is very relationship driven, viewing itself as partners with its clients. "We go in at the ground level, develop and implement strategies, and help drive good communication practices into the organization from the top down."

Growth Tip: "The success of any business has to do with cash flow. Truly understand the implications of cash flow as you expand and seek the advice of people who've been through start-up and profitable growth."

Future Plans: "What is more important to me than being very large is to be a profitable and financially sound company that continues to grow by creating great value for a select client group."

How RBC Royal Bank Helps: "I have a long history with the bank that goes back to being a child in rural Newfoundland; that transitioned into a close relationship with my account manager when I went into business. I've been loyal ...and the bank has helped me whenever I needed it, whether that be providing a line of credit or advice on issues like outsourced accounting."