The Rainmaker Story

During years of working with government trade offices and economic development organizations, Clark Grue saw a need to bridge a gap between expanding companies and their proposed expansion markets. He saw that traditional organizations, be they government or not, only provided companies with general information on the market(s) they represented, but did not actually provide the much needed introductions and facilities. They sold the market but were unable to provide custom market entry assistance.

Based on this realization Clark began searching for a solution, a way to provide market entry assistance at a reduced cost with better results. After all, the financial investment for such an undertaking can run from hundreds of thousands of dollars into the millions and success is not guaranteed.

After years of study and observation, Clark identified three points that greatly increased a company’s odds of successful entry. He saw that the majority of expanding companies lacked business specific market and cultural information; local, relevant business and government connections; and effective local representation. To put it simply, they did not have the relationships in their expansion market they needed to succeed.

Based on this information, a model that addresses all of these needs at greatly reduced entry costs was born. The model included a team of trusted, local representatives that work on behalf of the company in the market. They use their combined, extensive networks to introduce and build relevant business relationships, and they secure and provide market information that is customized to each of their clients’ needs. In essence, the Rainmaker model provides companies with a local address; well connected, local talent; and all the information they need to successfully establish themselves in their expansion market.

With the Rainmaker model in hand, Clark started by getting the right people for the Rainmaker team. Himself a successful and well connected businessman, Clark pulled together a shortlist of people he knew and wanted in Rainmaker. He approached them, one-by-one. And, one-by-one, each of the people Clark approached committed themselves to his vision. “It wasn’t a difficult decision,” said Tim Kozmyk, Rainmakers chairman of the board, “Clark has the unique combination of passion, wisdom, ability and experience that I knew would make Rainmaker successful.”

Tim Kozmyk, a successful Calgary-based executive who co-founded BlackRock Ventures was the first member of the Rainmaker team. Lois Mitchell, an established entrepreneur and consultant joined shortly after Tim as a director of the board and senior advisor. Lois’ addition to the team was followed by Blaire Lancaster whose experience in assisting companies moving to new markets and promoting Calgary on the international business stage was the perfect fit for the director of client services position.

With the initial team in place and financing secured, Rainmaker obtained corporate office space and moved to their first large project. As part of its model, Rainmaker needed to acquire a fully functional environment where clients could conduct business when visiting their expansion market. They found their solution in Office Network’s business centre which they purchased in September of 2007.

The team was further expanded with Ian Kydd and Chad Molleken, who currently head-up our London Office. Ian is a career diplomat who served as a British Consul General in Moscow and Vancouver and held numerous other high-ranking positions with the British government. Ian brings his experience and high-level connections in many of the world’s markets to his role as director of the board. Chad Molleken brings to Rainmaker his reputation of building successful and mutually beneficial government, industry and business relationships in many of the world’s communities. Having worked for the British Trade Office in Calgary, Chad’s move into the managing director position in London was welcome.

With every aspect of the model in place, Rainmaker was introduced to the world on November 28th, 2007.