2006 ALUMNI RECIPIENTS

Huw Williams, 39

Education: Brevet d’Études Françaises, Université de Tours (1990), Master of Business Administration, University of Ottawa (1997), Bachelor of Arts, Honours, University of Calgary, (1998)

Success Story: Huw founded Impact Public Affairs in 1998 to provide innovative, strategic advocacy and communications plans to private and public sector clients. Among Impact’s many successes to date, he feels his greatest achievement is represented by the firm’s work for the past 15 years with the car dealers of Canada. As a group, they impress him as the most solid, community minded business people with whom he has ever worked.

Best Advice Received: That the customer is the real boss. Sometimes small business owners can forget that they are not the boss, but it’s crucial to realize that it’s customers that make the business run. I try to remind our team that I am not the boss – our clients are in charge!

Inspiration: I have many sources, including several simple goals in life to which I constantly refer as a check for how I spend my time. The first two goals are to be a good father and good husband. The third goal is to contribute to the community. The fourth goal is to run a good business that makes the first three goals possible. So in a lot of ways my inspiration comes from family and community.

Greatest professional challenge: Juggling all the small challenges of growth and time management is an ongoing effort. The biggest challenge of any small firm is to make sure you deliver on your promises and that quality and that personal touch is maintained as the company grows.