Tell me a bit about yourself and your background. 

I am hoping to be a third-generation entrepreneur myself. Both my grandparents owned and operated their own businesses. My parents then became entrepreneurs and did the same and now with myself, I consider myself to be following in their footsteps. Also, I was born and raised here in Saskatchewan and lived in Wakaw. 

How did your experience in the Entrepreneurship and Venture Development class (COMM447) continue to help you after graduating? 

COMM 447 provided me with the tools and building blocks to help strategically and more seamlessly start our business. Working in an environment that allowed me to get immediate feedback from my peers, run through various business scenarios, and do vital industry research, all while constructing the business plan was a truly unique, rewarding, and unmatched experience. This class at the Edwards School of Business was one of the many highlights from my time at the school. Working on and refining the business plan while going towards my school credits and final degree then allowed me to spend more time after graduating learning about the industry and working towards launching the business.  

What have you been doing since graduating? 

I graduated in 2019 from Edwards with a major in management. Shortly thereafter my family and I had a conversation at dinner one day where we brought up this idea of starting a distillery and we decided that it could be a great venture opportunity. After that I began to work in a liquor store and as a bartender specifically and strategically to position myself within the liquor industry just to learn more about it. 

Are there any lessons that you have learned along the way, or has anything surprised you? 

Muhammad Ali once famously said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” and you will get punched in the face multiple times in different ways. This quote pertains to different factors that are completely out of your control that will inevitably impact the course of your business's development, whether you like it or not. Whether it be Mother Nature causing delays to shipping routes, inflation driving up the costs on everything or unexpected costs within the business itself. The lesson here is be prepared for anything and everything and be ready to improvise and adapt. 

I understand that your company, Backroads Spirits Co. was recently recognized and awarded World's Best Pure Neutral Vodka at the 2023 World Vodka Awards. What did receiving this award mean to you? 

My family and I still cannot believe that we have won; the word that we all keep using is unbelievable. We still wake up every day and say to ourselves, “Is this real,” to be recognised on a platform in a stage like that where we are competing against micro distilleries and vodkas from around the world. It is truly special to win an award of this magnitude. It was and still is quite shocking and unbelievable that we won an award like this.  

Do you have any advice that you would like to share to young entrepreneurs? 

First and foremost, having a good team makes a world of a difference. I also think it is important to walk before you run and take everything one day at a time, focus on the product itself and make sure it is better than good.  

Is there anything else you would like to share? 

We recently celebrated our two-year anniversary, and we are beginning to slowly expand into the southern half of the province. Look for Alibi in a liquor store near you and follow us @backroadsspirits on our social medias. 

Learn more about Backroads Spirits Co. And Alibi Vodka and how you can support their business here. 

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