Trio to be inducted into Manitoba Business Hall of Fame

Leaders of NFI Group Inc., Wellington-Altus Financial and Mazergroup are the newest inductees to the Manitoba Business Hall of Fame.

JA Manitoba, the non-profit behind the honours, announced its picks on Friday: Paul Soubry, president of bus and motorcoach manufacturer NFI Group; Charlie Spiring, founder and chair of Wellington-Altus wealth management firm; and Bob Mazer (1950-2025), who founded Mazergroup, an agricultural equipment supplier.

“You’d be hard pressed to find three people in Manitoba that could equal what Paul, Charlie and the late Bob Mazer have done,” said Greg Leipsic, JA Manitoba’s executive director.

“Just fantastic business leaders, entrepreneurs, obviously, and quite incredible philanthropic endeavours on their part.”

Soubry’s career has been “remarkable,” Leipsic said — the businessman has grown both StandardAero and NFI Group “quite significantly.”

Soubry joined NFI Group in 2009. He was named the Financial Post’s CEO of the Year in 2016 and was called one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2003.

Spiring has also had massive success with two companies, Leipsic said. Spiring founded Wellington West Holdings, which became Canada’s largest independent private wealth firm.

National Bank bought the company for $333 million in 2011.

Last month, Wellington-Altus Financial announced it had sold a 25 per cent stake of itself, bringing its total valuation above $1.5 billion. The firm has more than 1,000 employees.

“I feel a little bit nervous, because I work in a team business and I’m getting an individual award, so it feels a little bit unfair,” Spiring said on Friday. “It’s a great honour, I couldn’t be more excited.”

The induction doesn’t mean retirement is near, he added: “It’s really back to work and back to building.”

Mazer grew Mazergroup into the largest privately owned New Holland dealer complex in North America.

It counts 18 locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The inductions will occur during JA Manitoba’s gala on April 14. The event marks JA Manitoba’s 12th year of inductees.

JA Manitoba may make a speaker series for high school students next spring, drawing from its pool of 42 honourees, Leipsic said.

Its business education programs reach more than 200 Manitoba schools annually, a JA Manitoba news release reads.

Gala tickets cost $300. There are 550 seats for the dinner, to be held at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in Winnipeg.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com