News Article

Man puts his education to work


3/1/2006 10:32:04 AM


Fred Dixon has built a successful career with his Business diploma from College of the North Atlantic and a lot of hard work.

Fred Dixon was 38 years old when he went to college. Before that, he had an interesting career working in a variety of industries and positions, most of them involving marketing. But he wanted something concrete.

“I had travelled to Japan, South America, the US and throughout Canada working for and marketing products for Newfoundland companies. I had also owned a video production business, and before that, spent a few years as a radio DJ – in the time of 45s!” he jokes.

“I went back to college,” he says, “because I had never had a piece of paper saying that I had a ‘proper’ education.”

Dixon graduated in 2003 from the three-year Business Management program at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Grand Falls-Windsor campus, specializing in the accounting stream. He says the adjustment of returning to school was considerable.

“I had to spend a lot of time studying (which I wasn't used to). And hanging out with students just out of high school was different as well,” he reveals.

“Also, I was a sponsored student, and I found it tough having to finish the program in April, find a summer job, and then return to school in September.”

Compounding the challenge, Dixon’s home was in Gander at the time, and he had to drive an hour each way to and from Grand Falls-Windsor. And the program he took also required extra work after class.

“It was difficult to stay late because of the drive.”

During his second year of the program, Dixon completed a work-term at Northco Ltd., a sawmill company in Baie Verte. Because of his previous experience, Dixon didn’t have much difficulty finding the placement.

“I had worked with a few manufacturers on developing and marketing value added products, and this is what they wanted to do,” he says.

“Well, I was there about a week when the office manager broke her ankle. I was asked to take over her position – doing payroll for 70 workers, and doing receivables and payables. It turned out to be a great learning experience!”

He stayed for the entire summer and while there, worked on a project to generate a use for wood waste created by the saw mill. He says he had heard about burning the waste to create heat energy for the plant and told the owners about the idea.

“They had me put together a proposal for ACOA, the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, and their local economic development board to see if we could find funding for such a project.”

The company was granted the money needed, and Dixon sent off a tender to some companies that sold wood waste combustion equipment. The winning company was one from Seattle, Washington, a distributor for Talbott’s – a manufacturer in England.

“While we were negotiating the deal, the Seattle representative looked at me and said that when I finish my course, he'd love for me to come work with him,” Dixon says.

“I naturally thought it was 'talk' and I'd never see him again.”

Well, a year later, when Dixon graduated from the program, the gentleman from Seattle showed up in Gander, provided him with an office and computer and had him operate from there. In November of 2003, they spent a month travelling around the US seeing customers. Just before Dixon was scheduled to come home, he was offered a position in Seattle working for the distributor.

Boxing Day 2003 he moved to Seattle, where he stayed until February of 2005. But he was missing his children, who lived in Gander, and decided to come back home.

Dixon’s reputation preceded him, though, and one day he received an email from the owner of Talbott’s inviting him to Las Vegas to help with a trade show.

“I accepted of course, and while we were there for the week, he asked if I would take over as North American Sales Manager for his company,” he shares.

“So, now I work for the company in England, but I have an office here in Gander, and live right across the street from my kids! It's pretty cool.”

Dixon is currently in the process of setting up new distributors and dealers throughout North America, and is selling equipment to customers throughout the continent. They are also looking at setting up a manufacturing facility somewhere in North America for the company in England.

“It's turning into a wild ride! And I know that none of this would have happened for me if I hadn't had the guts to go back to school at CNA,” he says.

“I thank God everyday and I appreciate everyone that helped me do so well.

Talbott’s Ltd. is the manufacturer of biomass and wood waste to energy systems. It is one of the leading UK bio-fuel specialists with over 4,000 working installations in over 20 countries. They exported over a third of the machines produced last year, mainly to the USA and to Canada.

For more information about CNA’s Business Management program, contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 227-6283

Or

Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928