native of Bathurst , New Brunswick , Steel Plus Network President Colleen Doucette spent considerable time outdoors as a child . Her creativity , compassion , and critical thinking have been nurtured in nature . Colleen enjoyed countless hours with friends and family making snow forts , visiting loved ones on New Brunswick ’ s Acadian Peninsula , and cooking with her mother .
In fact , Colleen credits her late parents , Jed and Leah Blackmore , and specifically her mother , as being the biggest inspiration in her life . “ I have seven older brothers and an older sister . Mom was always in the kitchen . I pretended I was Julia Child when I was younger , and I would experiment . My mother was my inspiration for everything .”
Despite being the youngest of nine , Colleen never felt the need to impress anyone but herself . “ I have high expectations . I ’ ve never had to exceed anyone ’ s expectations , except for mine .”
The president sets the bar high .
She works alongside her sister , Judith Gray , Steel Plus Network ’ s Operations Administrator . Judith is Colleen ’ s best friend and confidante . They text upwards of 100 times daily .
“ Judith started at Steel Plus Newtork in 2017 and I needed someone to do rebate spreadsheets . It takes a special person to put these detailed documents together , and Judith is able to take on challenging projects and does a great job of managing them . I don ’ t have to worry about those as I know they are in very capable hands . She ’ s also my biggest fan .”
It is clearly a two-way street .
Family remains a priority for Colleen : her immediate loved ones , and a secondary family she has created within Steel Plus Network . “ Some of our members have been with us from the beginning . We have become one big family .”
Aside from relationship building , Colleen ’ s also passionate about lifelong learning . Over the past two decades , the president has continuously studied online , at university level , tackling a variety of business-related courses , French , and psychology . “ I have seen the evolution of learning . This is my inspiration . I am constantly on the cusp of seeing what ’ s new in communication , from a technology standpoint .”
The president likes a challenge — at home , at work , and during her leisure time . Colleen is currently studying wine and all that it entails , from tasting to pairing . Her love of learning , food , and entertaining began in northern New Brunswick .
“ At the end of the day , I am a very caring person because of my upbringing . I care about what happens . I care about where things happen . I think about how my actions will affect others . I ’ m very conscious of that , and I know that comes from my mom .”
Colleen has even started volunteering at the local Legion in her current hometown of Truro , Nova Scotia . She gives back as an homage to her mother , who was a long-time ladies auxiliary member in Bathurst . “ I feel a sense of community when I ’ m there . I feel a connection with my mom . It makes me feel good to help .”
Compassion , in and out of business , has been key , especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic . Strategies are evolving across industries , including steel . Colleen remains firmly at the helm of Steel Plus Network ( SPN ) where she is using innovation and technology to manoeuvre the company and its members though a challenging chapter .
The members come first for Colleen . Located across North America , SPN members represent small and large steel suppliers and fabricators . “ In seven years , our 52 shareholders have collectively purchased over one point five billion dollars worth of products relevant to the structural steel industry .” A true testament to having strength in numbers .
The Steel Plus Network collective is spread over a vast geographic area , meaning that during the pandemic , resiliency and resourcefulness were critical . To balance instability , Colleen has started using podcasts , videos , online education , business forums , and group
AT THE END OF THE DAY , I AM A VERY CARING PERSON BECAUSE OF MY UPBRINGING .
panel discussions related to the steel industry — whatever the latest technology allows — to connect the growing membership .
“ The company is trending in a direction that ’ s embracing technology , online business , and online communication . We are working on a Steel Plus Network app for our members in addition to adding a new rebate management software to our pool of programs . These tools allow us to have a deeper reach for current and potential members .”
Once a person joins Steel Plus Network , all the above are available to them , as are rebates , issued annually . “ The number one reason we are developing this app is to focus on key performance indicators . When a fabricator logs in , they will have a chance to see what their potential rebate is at that moment in time . The amount can evolve , based on their engagement levels . The member can also see our upcoming events and networking opportunities . The app is a brand new feature that will create even higher engagement within the membership .”
Colleen is a forward-thinking advocate for both the members and the steel industry .
“ I look for opportunity for growth , not to keep outdated things bogging us down . At this juncture , where you have a lot of people conscious of the expenditures of their individual organizations and wanting to save money , receiving rebates is crucial . There hasn ’ t been as much collective purchasing , so that means less rebates for members . What we ’ ve had to do is really shift our thinking . We ask , ‘ Where can we bring value to the network in this particular pandemic time ?’ Where
STEELPLUS . COM RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
7