NEWS RELEASE - VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 12, 2022

In order to register for this year's ELO Forums,

please visit our ticketing site

ELO is pleased to announce that Mark and Steve Chipman will be speakers at this year’s ELO Forum Winnipeg on November 1st at The Fort Garry Hotel.

Dr. Richard (Rick) J. Goossen, Chair, ELO Network noted that “we are pleased to have Mark and Steve Chipman join us for our Forum as they are significant members of the Winnipeg and Manitoba business community whose family has reflected a long-term, values-driven approach dating back to 1963.”

Mark and Steve will engage in an extended Q & A session, facilitated by Dr. Goossen, covering family business, the automotive industry, the Winnipeg Jets, community involvement, and business values. Mark and Steve will share their family story about long-term commitment and the lessons they have learned along the way.

The Chipman Family has been part of the Manitoba business community for decades. It started with their father, Robert (Bob) Chipman, who passed away in 2013. He was a Winnipeg business leader, community contributor, and philanthropist. He was a pillar upon which many of the principles of the business are founded, including family, honesty, integrity, and hard work—which is being continued and built upon by Steve and Mark.

Steve Chipman is President & CEO of Birchwood Automotive Group. He is a lawyer by profession and a highly experienced business leader. He has attended past ELO Forums in Winnipeg and is a past participant in the ELO Leadership Program at the University of Oxford.

Under Steve’s leadership, Birchwood, starting over 55 years ago, has grown to become one of Manitoba’s largest automotive dealership groups. Birchwood is a values-driven organization, recognized as a top employer in Canada and currently employing over 1,100 people.

Birchwood is based on four key company values, as outlined on their website. The first is personal leadership. “Individual responsibility, commitment, and accountability from each of our team members fosters personal leadership.”

Second, there is trust and respect. “Respect for the uniqueness of every individual creates strong, trusting working relationships with team members, customers, and business partners.”

Third, there is continuous improvement: “sustained success depends upon our ability to continually strive to improve each and every aspect of what we do and who we are.”

Fourth, there is generosity. Birchwood realizes that “gifts of time, talent, and resources strengthen our communities, our teams, and our team members.”

In the community, Birchwood has been a dedicated supporter and contributor to the United Way for over 25 years. Team members have contributed over $7 million to the annual campaign over the years.

Mark Chipman is the Executive Chairman of the Board of True North Sports + Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club. In addition, he serves as the Governor of the Winnipeg Jets on the NHL’s Board of Governors and is Chairman of the True North Youth Foundation.

Mark entered the business of professional hockey in 1996 through the acquisition and relocation of the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Minnesota Moose to Winnipeg. As President of the Manitoba Moose Hockey Club, he led the initiative that resulted in the acceptance of six IHL teams into the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2001. For the following 10 seasons, Mark was an active member of the AHL’s Executive Committee during which time he developed True North’s vision and eventually the opportunity for the return of NHL hockey to Manitoba.

Together with business partner David Thomson, Mark led the team that developed Canada Life Centre, Bell MTS Iceplex, and ultimately the acquisition and relocation of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. The club was re-named the Winnipeg Jets at the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Mark has been the recipient of several awards including the AHL’s James C. Hendy and Thomas Ebright awards as well as the Order of Manitoba and the University of North Dakota’s Sioux Award. In addition to his business and hockey interests, Mark is actively involved in many Winnipeg community efforts. He and his wife Patti have both played major roles with the True North Youth Foundation since its inception in 1996.