For more than three decades, the Allard Chair in Business, in partnership with the Allard Foundation, has upheld Dr. Charles Allard’s vision to recognize a distinguished businessperson and community leader, and to provide students and faculty members an opportunity to meet an inspiring role model.
Individuals selected for this honour possess exemplary business acumen, demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and have made significant contributions to the community.
Announcing the 38th Allard Chair in Business
Angela Santiago
MacEwan University welcomes Angela Santiago, co-founder and CEO of The Little Potato Company Ltd., as the university’s 38th Allard Chair in Business. Individuals selected for this honorary position possess exemplary business acumen, demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and have made significant contributions to the community.
“Angela has the vision and belief in the wider community that is so important to see in today’s entrepreneurs,” says Dr. Annette Trimbee, president and vice-chancellor. “She holds dear the belief that everyone deserves healthy, nutritious food. And, not surprisingly as a leader in agriculture, innovation and sustainability are vitally important to her as well. MacEwan is proud to welcome Angela to this position and we look forward to the year ahead.”
During her year-long appointment, Santiago will meet with students and faculty members during classroom visits, lectures and special events so that she can share her expertise and experiences with a wide audience.
“What a thrill and honour it is to be named the 38th Allard Chair in Business by MacEwan University,” says Santiago. “I am so grateful for this acknowledgement and the opportunity to share my experiences with students, to engage with the community and I'm excited to connect with the next generation of business leaders.”
Past Allard Chairs include leaders such as: Kristina Botelho, Cam Naqvi, Bill Comrie, Simon O'Byrne, Teresa Spinelli, Irv Kipnes, Naseem Bashir and John Cameron. Each chair is an exceptional member of the Edmonton community and has brought something unique and personal to MacEwan during their time as chair.
Angela Santiago co-founded The Little Potato Company Ltd. with her father, Jacob Vander Schaaf, a Dutch immigrant who longed for the tasty ‘little potatoes’ of his youth.
After graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Santiago was intrigued when her entrepreneurial father asked her to help bring his idea of little potatoes to fruition. In 1996, the two began with a one-acre plot of little potatoes which were grown, washed by hand and then sold at local farmers’ markets. Local chefs, consumers and retailers loved the potatoes so much that the little company soon grew. Today, partnered with family farms across North America, The Little Potato Company potatoes are sold in more than 20,000 stores across Canada, the USA and Mexico.
The belief that everyone, everywhere deserves healthy, flavorful and nutritious food drives Santiago and her team to focus on developing efficient and sustainable ways to grow their potatoes. It also guides innovation as they strive to constantly improve all details of the product, from breeding new varietals to packaging. Her quest for new potato varieties takes her to regions of the world where potato roots run deep, with breeding programs in South America, Europe and Canada. The results are demonstrated by providing consumers with unique and proprietary potatoes in an array of colors and flavors.
Santiago has earned honors from a number of organizations, including: Top Produce Person of the Year (Ontario Provincial Marketing Association); Top Forty Under Forty in Canada (2011); Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young, 2012); Business in Edmonton Leader (2015); Alberta’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2016); Top 10 Produce Women in Canada (2021); Top Women in Grocery Award (Progressive Grocer, 2021); King’s University Distinguished Alumni Award (2021); and Canada’s Best Private Boards (2024).
Allard Chairs in Business since 1985
The Chair in Business program connects the business leaders of today with our students. MacEwan University School of Business has had the privilege to welcome these outstanding business leaders into our classrooms to inspire and ignite passion for careers in business.
- John Cameron, 2023
- Kristina Botelho, 2022
- Cameron Naqvi, 2021
- Naseem Bashir, 2020
- Tom Redl, 2019
- Teresa Spinelli, 2018
- Dr. Ray Muzyka, 2017
- Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, 2016
- Simon O’Byrne, 2015
- Dave Mowat, 2014
- Dale Wishewan, 2013
- Bill Comrie, 2012
- Irv Kipnes, 2011
- Liz O’Neill, 2010
- Art Meyer, 2009
- Diane Brickner, 2008
- Robert Rosen, 2006-07
- Ruth Kelly, 2005-06
- Harry Buddle, 2004
- Larry E. Anderson, 2002-03
- Nizar J. Somji, 2001-02
- Hon. Jim Edwards, 2000-01
- Cheryl Knebel, 1999-00
- Audrey Luft, 1998-99
- Gary Ford, 1997-98
- Gary Elliott, 1996-97
- Laural Manegre, 1995-96
- Martin Connell, 1994-95
- Margot Franssen, 1993-94
- Stanley A. Brown, 1992-93
- Sherry Ruteck-Orr, 1991-92
- John R. McDougall, 1990-91
- Barbara Rae, 1989-90
- Donald Stanley, 1988-89
- Mark Blumes, 1987-88
- Jerry Goodis, 1986-87
- Hugh Hardie, 1985-86
Get to know our Allard Chairs
About Dr. Allard and the Allard Chair program
Dr. Charles Alexander Allard (1919-1991) demonstrated tremendous vision throughout his professional career as both a doctor and businessman. He carried his vision through diverse experiences, including radio and television broadcasting and as one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers when they were part of the World Hockey Association. As a philanthropist, innovator, and entrepreneur, Dr. Allard made major contributions to the medical and business fields – and to the Edmonton community as a whole.
Dr. Allard created Allarco Developments, a public conglomerate, which included Northwest Trust, Crosstown Motor City and International Jet Air. He founded the Northwest International Bank and co-founded The Canadian Western Bank. In 1965, he became involved in broadcasting, establishing the first independent television station in western Canada, CITV. His company, Allarcom Limited, drew worldwide attention to Alberta, through the Celebrity Concert series and SCTV comedy television series.
Dr. Allard left an indelible mark on his community and continues to do so with a legacy of caring. In 1985, he established the Chair in Business honorary award in MacEwan’s School of Business to recognize a distinguished business and community leader and give students and faculty an opportunity to meet one-on-one with an inspiring role model. The Chair in Business program continues to be supported through the Allard Foundation.
This opportunity/event is eligible for your Student Experience Record (SER). Find out more and create your SER in the MacEwanLife portal.