History is repeating at Ontario Swine Improvement Inc.
It was in the 1990s, not long after the company took over
genetic improvement programs from the federal and Ontario governments, that it
ran into severe financial difficulty, not unlike the situation today.
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| Henry deWolde |
Henry deWolde, owner of Bra-Ma-Rod Farm at Ashburn, was the chairman
of the board, elected to represent purebred breeders. Other directors
represented commercial producers, the Ontario government and pork packers.
DeWolde took on the job of general manager, working out of
an office at Guelph. He cut costs.
Rod deWolde, his son who took over the purebred herd, is
chairman of the board now. He has also moved in as general manager. He is
cutting costs.
Henry saved OSI, but in the process transformed the
business. He closed a test station between New Dundee and New Hamburg, moved to
the current facility near Innerkip, closed the Guelph office and moved that to
Innerkip, and energized the semen-marketing business.
Rod and the current board of directors have hired Strive!
consultants, led by Ralph Kikkert, to figure out what to do now.
Those who need the company hope Rod will prove to be as good
a corporate saviour as his father, who died in December, 2011.
