Shane Olson is the president of Shercom Industries Inc., a company that recycles scrap tires into other products. Over 23 years, Shercom has recycled millions of pounds of tires, keeping them out of landfills. Olson believes the top skills for entrepreneurs are courage, kindness, and perseverance. He ensures Shercom remains innovative by empowering young staff to generate new ideas. Olson's goal is to set an example for business and serve others through Shercom.

1. | EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 201534
What’s your legacy?
S
hercom Industries Inc. recycles rubber
products. Over the course of 23 years,
President Shane Olson has converted
millions of pounds of scrap tires into valuable
products and continues to put them to beneficial
use while reducing the impact on the planet.
Are entrepreneurs born or made?
Both. Entrepreneurial strength lies in being born
with instincts and courage, made through finding
solutions to adversity.
What would you say are the top skills needed to
be a successful entrepreneur?
Courage, kindness and perseverance.
How are you reshaping the world?
Shercom is keeping 40–50 million pounds a year out of the landfills and turning
it back into usable, long-lasting products.
What have you done to ensure your company remains innovative and
entrepreneurial?
New ideas require energy and courage, both of which dwindle as we get older.
Empower young staff to swing away!
What was your most difficult career experience and what did you learn
from it?
After an initially difficult career experience, I learned three facts: the buck
stops here and I am responsible for the choices I made, be thankful for the jobs
I did not aspire to and if change is a possibility, then we have hope.
What book are you reading now?
A biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
My advice for entrepreneurs is to walk away from successes, not
failures. Your best is all you can give, and that is good enough to find
contentment. The long-term reward of success is measured by making
the world a better place where customers are better off and friends and
family relationships remain intact.
Shane Olson
Shercom Industries Inc.
Saskatoon
“To provide
an example to
my kids and
the business
community
of building a
business by
serving others,
offering respect
to competitors
and staff,
and to learn
contentment
in whatever
happens on a
given day.“
Agricultural and
Environmental Innovation
www.shercomindustries.com
1.888.SHERCOM
ShaneOlson,Founder&President
Landscapes Traffic Surfaces
RubberPlaygroundPour-In-Place
RubberMulch-Bark CurbRamps ResidentialRubberPaving
Weturnscraptiresintoamazing:
IwanttothankEYforacknowledgingusasaleaderintherecyclingindustry.
Itisanhonourandprivilegetobepartofthisaward.
Iamgratefultoourstaff,myfamily,andourbusinesscommunityfortheir
generoussupportandthebeliefthatwecanmakeadifference.Iparticularlywant
torecognizeandthankourcustomers.Shercomgetscreditforrecycling-we
changetheshapeoftires-ourcustomersarethetruerecyclerswhentheychoose
toinvestinShercomproducts.Thankyou.
ShaneOlson,Founder&President
We turn scrap tires into amazing:
www.shercomindustries.com
1.888.SHERCOM
I want to thank EY for acknowledging us as a leader in the recycling industry.
It is an honour and privilege to be part of this award.
I am grateful to our staff, my family, and our business community for their
generous support and the belief that we can make a difference. I particularly want
to recognize and thank our customers. Shercom gets credit for recycling - we
change the shape of tires - our customers are the true recyclers when they choose
to invest in Shercom products. Thank you.
Shane Olson, Founder & President
Landscapes Traffic Surfaces
Rubber Playground Pour-In-Place
Rubber Mulch - Bark Curb Ramps Residential Rubber Paving