The Green Team

Larry Dyck

Larry Dyck is the president and a partner in Jade. A couple of his favourite Bible verses, which he's tried to pattern his life after, are found in Proverbs 3:5,6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Larry started at Jade on a full-time basis right out of high school. This was in 1975. Before that he'd helped his dad grease and wash trucks since he was about 12 years old. He's always loved getting into the truck-the sound, the motion, even the smell-he loves it all. In some ways it's like a form of art: becoming part of the machine by making it run smoothly through the gears, transporting liquids in tankers without baffles, and arriving safely and efficiently at the destination. He also sees the trucks as a canvas in their own right and enjoys creating and implementing designs together with his two sons and some of the drivers.

His main jobs these days are coaching the various team leaders, procuring equipment, quoting rates, and supervising various projects. Over the past 32 years he's done quite a variety of trucking jobs, including hauling tanker, hopper, reefer, livestock, and flatdeck loads. He's trucked all across Canada and has traveled to or through all fifty states, including Alaska, which was one of the highlights of his career.

He also likes building custom trucks and competing at truck shows around the continent, especially when his wife, Kim, comes along to supervise and help polish. He really enjoys meeting people at the shows and has made many friends along the way. When he is not at Jade, Larry spends his time traveling with his family, relaxing at the cabin, hanging out with friends, and cruising in the 'Missing Linc', a 1940 Ford with a Lincoln engine. During the winter he likes snowmobiling a lot-the deeper the powder the happier he is. He also enjoys driving bus for his church, which he has done for over 30 years.

Greg Arndt

Greg Arndt is the Vice-President and a partner in Jade Transport. His career at Jade started 31 years ago when he hauled bunker fuel and asphalt for Jake Dyck, the company's founder. After two years at Jade he moved on to operate the heavy equipment for his in-laws' business, Birds Hill Gravel and Stone Ltd. In 1986 Greg and a partner started Birds Hill Transport by purchasing two new tractors and semi-dump trailers. Also in '86 Greg joined his high school friend, Larry, as a partner in Jade Transport. In total Greg has worked at Jade for more than 22 years. Now most of Greg's energy is focused on managing Jade's assets to achieve profitability while creating a work environment where integrity and fair play are valued.

Greg is committed to the trucking industry and loves the challenges that it presents. When asked about what education he received that is relevant to his career, he says that most of what he learned was by the seat of his pants. Although he did do many night school accounting classes he attributes much of his success to the perseverance, endurance, and self confidence that he gained after 5 years in Navy Cadets and the Canadian Navy Reserve.

Growing up Greg loved trucks and large machines and wanted to become a farmer. Meeting Larry in high school re-awakened his interest in trucks and all things mechanical. This interest turned into a job at Arnold Bros. Transport when Greg began working for his wife's uncle, Gerry Arnold. This experience, combined with marrying into a family with a quarry operation, had a significant influence on Greg's career and helped steer him into the business of trucking.

If Greg isn't in his office, he may be seen cruising with the top down in his Mustang Cobra convertible. When not driving, he spends much of his time keeping informed on current issues and following politics. Greg is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys his time fishing and hunting and doing almost every activity imaginable outdoors, be it boating, snowmobiling, hiking, or landscaping-he likes it all.

Kim Dyck

Kim Dyck started invoicing part-time for her soon to be in-laws, Jake and Amy Dyck, in 1976. At that time the Jade shop was Jake's personal garage and the office was the house's kitchen. In the early 1980's Kim began working at the newly acquired Jade shop. She changed hats on a regular basis throughout these early days; dispatching, invoicing, answering phones, paying bills, and dealing with customers. In 1984 Kim and Larry purchased Jade Transport and, 31 years after starting at Jade, She has returned to doing the invoicing.

Kim started working in a small family owned grocery store in the mid '70's. It was here that she learned how to wear the many different hats that small business requires. After graduating from high school she took a job as a telecommunications operator for the stock exchange at Richardson Securities. In two years Kim was promoted to become a personal secretary to two gentlemen on executive row. Kim and Larry decided to start a family so Kim took a less stressful part-time job as a receptionist at a doctor's office and worked there for seven years while continuing to work at Jade and raising three kids.

Kim's interest in trucks began when a young fellow who loved trucks started showing an interest in her. She says that the old adage 'if you can't beat them, you might as well join them' applies to how she viewed trucks. It just so happens that she is also extremely competitive-which becomes evident when she and Larry travel to truck shows with their 1987 Peterbilt. It is also apparent when she passes you at 100 mph on her snowmobile.

Kim loves traveling so much that she says it is the reason she married a truck driver. When she actually stays at home Kim enjoys cooking for family and friends and entertaining guests whenever possible.

Ernie Friesen

Ernie joined Jade 18 years ago as a mechanic. After 11 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Safety Systems Tech, he brought discipline and organization to the Jade shop. These skills did not go unnoticed and Ernie was soon promoted to shop foreman. In addition to the day to day operations of running the 'Big Green Shop' he is also heavily involved in Jade's ISO certification process. Ernie is committed to keeping the trucks and trailers of Jade rolling smoothly.

It was a 1966 "B" model Mack that sparked Ernie's interest in trucks. Learning to navigate the 5 & 2 transmission led to a love affair that has been going on ever since. Now he is occupied with progressing Jade's fleet with disk brakes and alternative fuels.

Some say Ernie never takes a break, yet he still manages to go camping every summer, with his wife, Penny, and two grandsons, Micah and Deacon.

Henry Lemky

Henry Lemky came to Jade as a driver but it didn't take long before he found his way into the office. As the operations manager, Henry describes his job as "making the impossible happen…most of the time!" Hank's time is broken down to servicing customers and matching loads to drivers while keeping everyone in compliance with all the industry's regulations. Before coming to Jade, Henry hauled farm equipment and drove truck for Cordite Chemicals pulling hopper and livestock trailers. For almost eighteen years, Henry has been satisfied with solving problems and keeping things smooth from the dispatch seat.

Growing up Henry was actually not overly interested in trucks. This is surprising for a guy who has worked his whole career in the industry. When he was younger he wanted to become a commercial pilot but unfortunately could not afford all the training involved, so once he graduated from high school Henry started driving trucks and he still loves getting behind the wheel of one.

Henry occupies himself away from Jade by watching sports and movies, going to concerts and just spending time with his family. Although he hasn't done as much lately, he still enjoys going hunting and fishing.

Ken Shandroski

Ken Shandroski came to Jade from the Manitoba Department of Highways and Transportation where he was an assistant work supervisor. When he wasn't working on the highways he would drive for Jade hauling locomotive diesel fuel to the railway. This part-time driving started in 1986 and now Ken is the Archer Daniels Midland Station Manager, which is a food grade terminal run by Jade. Ken oversees the operation which involves ordering and transferring liquid sugar from railcars to trucks and maintaining the high health standards that go along with food grade work. The paperwork involved with Ken's current position is a far cry from when he started at Jade where the only thing he had to fill in was a scribbler nailed to the wall.

Ken is a John Deere paraphernalia collector, but he says he started liking trucks when, as a young boy, he would watch the TV show Canon Ball. Even though the show isn't on anymore Ken still likes trucks, but he likes spending his summers cutting the grass on his farm with a John Deere 316 even more.

Ruth Bodnarchuk

Ruth Bodnarchuk took a receptionist job at Jade Transport 15 years ago. As the company has grown Ruth's position has evolved and she now handles payroll administration and some aspects of human resources. Although Ruth dismisses it as "just pushing papers" her days are spent keeping the trucks licensed and the people paid. Before coming to Jade she had the opportunity to work in medical, construction and retail industries and claims it is the people that keep her here.

Ruth does not consider herself a diehard semi fan, although she does enjoy the occasional trip around the block in the new ones when they come in. More than trucks, Ruth likes reading, making crafts, and going out for coffee with her girlfriends.

Len Kork

Len Kork came to drive long-haul at Jade 12 years ago. He has since come off the road and taken on the role of dispatcher. As a former driver, Len has the understanding of someone who has done the job which helps him in dispatching almost sixty trucks throughout North America. Most of Len's time is spent working with customers and communicating with drivers, however, he is also the initiator behind Jade's Hollywood Days! Hollywood Days is the annual trailer polishing day where everyone, who wants to comes in on their day off to polish tankers while the boss BBQ's lunch.

Len fell in love with trucks when he was knee high to a grasshopper. His dad drove truck and it has been in his blood ever since. In Len's words the Jade trucks are "lean green money-making machines, what's not to like?" On his days off, when he is not volunteering his time to polish tankers, Len is spending time with his daughter and son. He is a true Canadian who loves watching hockey and C.F.L. Football.

Mark Letkeman

Mark Letkeman is the shop lead hand. He started at Jade when he was 18 and has been here for over 13 years now. Over the course of this time Mark has done pretty much everything there is to do in the shop. He is a real people person and takes a big brother approach to supervising and organizing the shop crew.

Being raised on a farm, Mark says that he has always enjoyed playing with trucks. Fortunately for us, he still hasn't grown out of that. He started out after high school selling Interstate Batteries but then moved on to become a Journeyman Truck/Transport mechanic while working in the Jade shop.

Mark is a busy guy who is involved with his church, on hockey and baseball teams, and when he takes the occasional holiday, he takes his family quading at the lake.

Shawn Shearer

Shawn Shearer started at Jade 8 years ago as a company driver. After a few years of driving the company trucks, he decided it was time to own his own and purchased an '89 Kenworth Cab-over K100 e. In that same year Shawn was given the opportunity to become a dispatcher and once he settled into the new position he sold his Kenworth to another Jade driver. In 2005, after taking several dispatching courses through the Canadian Trucking Human Resource Council, Shawn became Jade's asphalt division operations manager. Having hauled both gravel and asphalt, Shawn has the firsthand experience of what is necessary when operating under such seasonal conditions.

Once Shawn has dispatched all the drivers, he heads for his cabin where, regardless of the season, he enjoys spending time relaxing with his wife and kids. He occupies his free time curling or playing baseball and, weather permitting, snowmobiling.

John Wettstein

John Wettstein is more affectionately known as Johnny Parts and the name says it all. John was recruited by Jade for his innate ability to remember part numbers and quantities. He has been with Jade for 9 years now and manages the parts department and shop invoicing. Prior to Jade, John worked in parts, sales, and management for Sutherland supply, a plumbing and heating company, for 22 years.

John uses his free time to work on his house and on a 1956 Ford half-ton truck which he has completely rebuilt. When he started the project John promised he would take everyone for ice cream when the pickup was finished, however, he failed to mention that with custom trucks the project is never quite done.

Terry Sadowski

Terry Sadowski began his working career at Dominion Bridge as an invoicing clerk. He moved on from there to receive his certificate in Business Accounting from Red River Community College, a certificate in Advance Accounting from the University of Manitoba Continuing Education, and then completed the 5 year prerequisite of the CMA program. He has held various positions within the accounting field such as accountant and chief accountant, and has now been with Jade for over 3 years as the controller. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the accounting information systems, Terry also assists in leading the ISO program at Jade.

Accountant stereotypes do not apply to Terry, who used to be a rugby player. Although he no longer plays rugby, he occupies himself playing hockey, badminton, and golf. Apart from playing sports himself, he coaches his 10 year old daughter's soccer team and teaches a grade 5 religion class at his church.