Importance of teamwork: it works for family businesses as it does for achieving industry goals, says veteran grower and long-time association volunteer

摘要

John Valk has spent many years building his greenhouse business, while at the same time volunteering his ideas and enthusiasm to a variety of industry associations. It was the latter efforts that earned him the prestigious Cecil Delworth Foundation award last fall. The award recognizes a person's efforts "for the benefit of the total industry." In his acceptance speech, John said this "is a great industry to be in. You can be good friends with your competitors. I have received far more (from the industry) than I have given." He has been a member of the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation, Flowers Canada at the provincial and national levels, the F&V Energby Co-op, and the Delworth Foundation, the latter two as a charter member. The personable Grimsby potted flower grower manages a 130,000 square-foot operation just minutes off the Queen Elizabeth Highway and the Lake Ontario shoreline, and just shy of the Niagara Escarpment.