Member Spotlight | Liana Frenette, CEO at TBT Engineering
Please provide a summary of your business, who you serve and how you serve them
TBT Engineering Limited is an Engineering Consulting Firm providing a vast range of Engineering Services, Environmental Services, Building Science Services, Legal and Engineering Surveys and other Technical and Professional Services around Earth sciences. The company serves all levels of government, First Nations, Industrial, Commercial and Institutional, Mining, Forestry and Energy throughout Northern Ontario employing 150 people.
What were key elements of your personal and professional journey that lead you to where you are today?
A key element both personally and professionally that led me to where I am today was the idea that the experts could come from the “North”. Often, we see “professionals” coming from outside the region and telling us what is best for our communities, when we have or can build the resources and local and historical knowledge to know what is best for our own communities right here in the North. Local businesses are the heart of the community and doing things right will never do you wrong. When you are a local business, you have to live and work in the community so your decisions will always reflect on improving the places you live, work and play.
What motivates you the most to keep going?
We made a strategic decision years ago that retirement and transition would look a little different than what most of our competitors have done. Rather than sell to the large multi-national or national engineering companies, we decided to keep the company local and sell to our employees. We currently have 25% of our employees as owners and are looking forward to continuing to mentor the next generation of leadership at TBT Engineering Limited.
What is one important lesson that entrepreneurship has taught you that has impacted you the most?
One valuable lesson that entrepreneurship has taught me is the positive impact we can have on our communities, and the importance for entrepreneurs and business leaders to give back by whatever means possible to the communities that support them. Through individual and collective initiatives, businesses, and the entrepreneurs that fuel business growth and success, inspire change and growth in communities that various levels of government can not achieve. In my capacity as a business leader, I believe I have helped to guide, inspire, mentor and support many individuals and initiatives to succeed.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What do you still have left to accomplish?
Ten years from now I hope to be less involved in the day-to-day operations of TBT Engineering Limited. I will still be around as a mentor, and I hope to spend more time in community service.
Why did you join The Elleiance Network, why do you think it is important to have a support network and what do you love most about being a part of Elleiance?
I joined the Elleiance Network because it is nice to have opportunities to network with like minded individuals and also to mentor and learn from others in business.
Notes from Erin
I am so excited to introduce the lady who needs no introduction, Liana Frenette. Liana and her husband have built a Thunder Bay Icon business with TBT Engineering Limited. The community reputation this leadership team has built over the years is second to none and can be a course in flawless branding for all of us to learn from. Behind their backs (I am sure to their face too) TBT and Liana and Rob are talked about as great leaders, great bosses, community givers, mentors, volunteers, and so much more, We are so honoured to have Liana as an Elleiance member.
