2018 International Forest Industries IFI June July 2018 Digital | Page 71
that our business didn’t need it but
in the end she was right.” Fennell
Forestry continues to ensure it
has the proper infrastructure
and personnel to support the
growth. The company has its own
workshop, an operations manager
helping support both the logging
and transport side of the business,
a full time operator trainer and
a training room for classroom
sessions, as well as a large parts
success. “I think that’s what makes
it work so well,” says Wendy.
Work-life balance
On top of all Wendy’s work
responsibilities, she is a single
mother of two with eightyear- old,
Flynn and six-yearold, Hudson.
Her boys really enjoy watching
the equipment run but they have
other career aspirations at this
stage in their lives. Hudson wants
Fennell Forestry’s transport business
consists of seventeen B-Double Units
and one A-Double Unit.
warehouse with plenty of inventory.
Wendy and Barry make a great
team. “You can’t beat being in
business with family because you
know those core values are the
same.” Wendy acknowledges that
she and Barry are very different.
“I am more structured and he’s
got the random thoughts and
entrepreneurialism. I like to get in
and do things with structure and
see things out. Whereas Barry is
always moving forward, looking
for the next improvement.” The
balance in personalities definitely
contributes to the company’s
to own a pet store and Flynn wants
to be the next Shaun White (a
professional snowboarder).
Wendy enjoys family ski
vacations, recently visiting
Whistler, British Columbia and
New Zealand. “Flynn wanted to try
snowboarding, but you couldn’t
snowboard until you were eight,
so I had to go back when he was
eight, and that’s where we went
last year. The boys have been
hooked on the Winter Olympics,
telling me all about it when I get
home from work,” she says.
Wendy doesn’t mind working
A proud mom with her two boys, Flynn and Hudson.
FITNESS FEBRUARY
Wendy’s health craze kicked in when she was
in her early twenties and at the age of 43 she
still lives a very healthy lifestyle. For the month
of February, she implemented a program called
‘Fitness February’ to educate her crewmembers
on how to keep fit and reduce fatigue on the job.
Fresh fruit and healthy snack alternatives were
available in the lunchroom throughout the month
along with training sessions at a local gym. “I
actually had one of my employees send me a
picture last night of all the fruits and vegetables
he had cut up for the week. He was proud of his
meal prep and I love seeing that,” says Wendy.
“A healthy workforce is a productive one and
all employees are being encouraged to live a
healthier, more active lifestyle.”
as hard as she does. She always
makes sure she wakes up with
the boys and is there to put them
to bed. “It throws everything out
of whack, when I have to be away
at night,” she says. She keeps
it structured so the boys always
know when she will be home.
Wendy has managed to help
build a booming business, excel as
CEO and have a beautiful family –
proving you can do it all. “I love my
kids and my work. I have a great
team around me and I appreciate
them all. It’s never a dull moment,
that’s for sure.”
This article originally appeared in
Between the Branches, April 2018,
the official publication of Tigercat
Industries Inc.
International Forest Industries | JUNE / JULY 2018 67