Bradley Farquhar and Joe Power
The next great wave of entrepreneurs is benefiting from the advice and expertise of three top Canadian business leaders joining the Sobey School of Business through the new Sobey Executive-In-Residence and Alumni-In-Residence programs.
Ian D. Smith
Ian D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, and Purple Cow Internet Co-founders and Saint Mary’s University alumni, Bradley Farquhar BComm’08 and Joe Power BComm’11 are the inaugural class of executives taking part in the new in-residence programs presented by the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network. The network hosts in-residence programs, such as Executive-In-Residence (EIR) and Alumni-In-Residence (AIF), giving students access to some of Canada's and Nova Scotia’s top business leaders. They are selected based on their passion for entrepreneurship and their ability to provide students with a breadth of advice and information.
“The Sobey School of Business is proud to welcome Ian, Bradley, and Joe as our inaugural business leaders taking part in the new Sobey Executive-In-Residence and Alumni-In-Residence programs,” says Mohammad Rahaman, Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement at the Sobey School of Business. “They bring with them knowledge and expertise from which our students will greatly benefit. I appreciate their commitment to joining with us as we prepare the next generation of great Canadian entrepreneurs for success."
Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry. Prior to joining Clearwater, Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China. Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.
Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy, including the Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation. He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.
Bradley Farquhar graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a double major in finance and marketing. Farquhar is a native of Nova Scotia, aspiring astronaut, and co-founder of Purple Cow Internet. Future business goals include the building of space habitats that orbit the Earth to serve paying customers offering a once in a lifetime view of our blue marble. Passions include endurance challenges with notable accomplishments of swimming the English Channel, summiting Denali, running 250 miles across the Sahara Desert, and most recently racing 14 dogs a thousand miles across Alaska in the Iditarod race.
Joe Power grew up in Nova Scotia and graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2011. In 2013, Power moved to the United States of America to chase his entrepreneurial goals in the green energy space. Since then, he has collected significant accolades such as receiving the INC 5000 fastest growing US business award three years in a row and the top Energy Reduction Company award for California five years running. Power loves playing hockey, IronMan triathlons, travel and time with family and friends. In 2019, Power decided to do something different. Power partnered with SMU grad, friend, and successful entrepreneur Brad Farquhar to co-found Purple Cow Internet. The goal was simple, drive change and cost for internet access in Nova Scotia.
The term for the EIR and AIR programs is one year, and the executives begin their time with the Sobey School the start of November 2021.