Bernie Slogotski and Thedra Hunt establish entrepreneurship centre at USask – News

“Thanks to Bernie and Thedra’s generous and visionary gift, this new centre will play a transformational role in connecting and uniting entrepreneurial initiatives across USask and within the Saskatchewan entrepreneurial community,” said Peter Stoicheff, USask president and vice-chancellor. “The Slogotski Hunt Centre for Entrepreneurship will serve as a catalyst for economic growth with the potential to significantly contribute to the overall prosperity of our local economy.”

After graduating from the College of Commerce (now the Edwards School of Business) in 1967, Slogotski went on to become a Chartered Accountant. He articled with Touche Ross in Saskatoon, Sask., before shifting from public practice to a small startup management company. There, he was involved with the deal to acquire the historic Bessborough hotel from Canadian National Railway.

“That was one of my career highlights and it got me in the sphere of doing business deals. Our business grew quickly, and I opened the Calgary office of Management Associates in 1972,” he explained.

Slogotski’s work initially involved serving as a consultant on behalf of clients, but he soon had an opportunity to join an industrial development company (also in Calgary), that grew from six to 100 people in just a few years.

“I was the CFO and played a major role in that growth curve,” said Slogotski. “And I was lucky, because it was a great time in the Calgary economy.”

Slogotski was quick to acknowledge that he was able to take risks only because his wife, Thedra, was holding a steady career as a social worker.

“One of her proudest accomplishments was going back to school after the birth of our son to complete her master’s in social work. She was a supportive partner through it all and in those early days, she took care of the day-to-day while I was travelling, often every week.”

Now 80, Slogotski’s advice for those looking to thrive as an entrepreneur is much like his career, in that variation is key.

“Surround yourself with the right kind of people. Some of my first successes came from teaming up with people of complementary talents, like business and engineering,” he said. “And if this new centre can bring together those talents from across campus and expose them to entrepreneurship and provide some encouragement, you’ll see a high rate of achievement from the students who pass through.”

Celina Clarke, a fourth-year student at Edwards School of Business and aspiring entrepreneur, is hoping to be one of those high achievers.

“For me, the Slogotski Hunt Centre for Entrepreneurship symbolizes opportunity and reminds us that innovation thrives when people come together,” said Clarke. “Grounded in mentorship, community, and knowledge-sharing, it will inspire interdisciplinary collaboration that prepares us to meet the needs of our changing world. I am deeply grateful to Bernie Slogotski and Thedra Hunt, whose commitment makes this vision possible and empowers students like me to contribute to Saskatchewan’s future and beyond.”