When I asked Yvonne Tollens what her advice is
to young people she replied "Dick my advice is simple, do work
that you are passionate about because you will be living and
breathing it. Do some planning, get out and get at it. Then review
your success, modify the plan, and get back at it. Dream big, be
brave and have fun" Once you read of her achievements you will
know that she followed her own advice.
Raised on a ranch near Merritt BC. She
obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of
British Columbia. Upon graduation she set out to change the method
of cattle recording through the use of software. Until then cattle
recording left a paper trail a mile long. With her husband Ralph
they moved to Okotos Alberta and launched their company Computer Aid
Professional Services. That was twenty years ago. Today with a staff
of ten they track, through electronic devices implanted in each
animal’s ear, everything from lineage to feeding habits to medical
treatments. It’s all done with sophisticated computer software
programs many they have developed and trade marked. . They track
herds of as few as a dozen animals to 100,000. Their clients are
spread out across North America, even Russia.
It’s no wonder she laughed when I told her how I was raised on a
farm near Morinville Alberta. We thought we had reached the epitome
of modern farming when we finally acquired a battery operated cattle
prod. [High tech were words still years away]
As busy as she is running the company. She still makes time for an
active community service life, and plays a leading role in the
cattle industry bringing leaders together from around the world to
discuss key issues in the livestock industry.
She explains the reason for her company’s success. "I have an
incredible team. We are frequently going where people have not gone
before. We formulate a solution, begin implementation, and then
modify as unforeseen challenges arise. This results in us succeeding
where other fail"
Now you will understand why Yvonne Tollens won an RBC 2006 Canadian
Women Entrepreneur Award. And this recognition as another Canadian
Achiever.
Read more about Yvonne Tollens at
www.canadianachievers.com
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