In April 1963, shortly after returning to Montreal from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, I joined the family business

The first few years were spent in the warehouse, where I managed my first responsibility – the broom!  After years of effort and dedication to the job, my brother, Stan, and I gradually took over the responsibility of managing the enterprise.  The family business consisted of several facilities dedicated to designing, manufacturing and selling jeans, cotton pants and work clothing.

My interest in economics and government relations resulted in industry association leadership.  I served as president of the Apparel Manufacturers Institute of Quebec and the Canadian Apparel Federation.

During the period of intense international trade negotiations of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the NAFTA, and the World Trade Organization Agreement, I served as Chairman of the Sectoral Advisory Group on International trade from 1989 until 1995.

I am the proud husband of 46 years of Linda (Nueman) and the father of Gary (wife Sari Shaicovitch), Dan, Josh and Sharon and grandfather of Emma and Leah.

I am an avid downhill skier – putting in between 40 and 60 days annually, and a hard-working (if ineffective) gardener of perennial flowers.  (It has been said that I have a unique gift allowing me to plant my perennials annually!)

March 2007

Jack Kivenko