2026 FBA Awards of Excellence Luncheon - Founders of Today, Foundations for Tomorrow

Brightwood Golf and Country Club, 222 School Street, Dartmouth, Canada

FBA Awards and Fireside Chat -

Founders of Today, Foundations for Tomorrow

Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating the heart and soul of family business in Atlantic Canada!

Join us at this year’s Awards of Excellence Luncheon, where we’ll shine a well-deserved spotlight on two visionary female founders who are redefining leadership roles ,and dive deep into the stories behind their success. Not only are they shaping successful enterprises, but also laying the foundations for a future built on family business and community.

The year we look forward to an insightful fireside chat, moderated by FBA Director Jill Murray, featuring this year’s honourees — Colleen Cole of Permacrete Systems Ltd. and Roxanne Tate of Tate Engineering. Our recipients will share their experiences on founding and leading businesses in engineering and concrete - industries grounded in strength, precision, and long-term impact.

Reserve your seat today and be part of this inspiring celebration of family business excellence!

MEET OUR PARTICIPANTS:

Permacrete Systems Ltd. (PERMA-DRY) is a family-run business that was founded in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1978 by Colleen and her husband Bill Cole. Working with a team of chemists and engineers, they successfully formulated PERMA-SEAL, PERMA-DRY’s first unique, proprietary product, which allows cracked and leaking concrete to be permanently repaired from the inside, in any weather. Since then, PERMA-DRY has continued to expand and diversify. Now it offers a broad range of products and services to private home owners, industry and government, which range from waterproofing and concrete repair todecorative concrete finishes and underpinning.

Due to its widespread success, Permacrete recognized the need to expand its business in order to offer its proprietary products and systems to a larger area. Permacrete did this by franchising its business model to independently owned and operated businesses. Permacrete started franchising in 1990 and its original Cape Breton franchisee is still with the company.

After Bill passed away in 2009 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Colleen stepped into the roles of president and CEO of the business. After losing their trademarked name “Permacrete” to the United States, one of Colleen’s largest projects was rebranding the company to PERMA-DRY which was supported by her franchisee partners.

Permacrete Systems Ltd. remains a family business today, with all three of Colleen and Bill’s children having worked in the business at one time, with their oldest son Danny still in his roles today as COO and Vice President of the company.

Tate Engineering began in 2012, rooted in a simple need. Flexibility for a young family. At the time, Roxanne and her husband Murray were juggling demanding careers, frequent travel, and raising three young children. When an anticipated move fell through and Roxanne had already resigned from her job, the family decided to take a chance and build something of their own. What started as a practical decision quickly became a long-term vision.

Roxanne launched the company with a focus on energy management, guided by a trusted industry mentor who encouraged her to develop her own systems, processes, and approach. Within a year, her work was being recognized for its rigor and innovation. As projects grew, so did the opportunity to expand service offerings into construction and project management. In 2013, Murray joined the business full-time, bringing deep experience from major projects earning Tate a contract on the Halifax Convention Centre development. Together, they built a company grounded in technical excellence and values-driven decision-making.

As a family business, Tate Engineering balances professional ambition with real-life dynamics. Roxanne and Murray have been intentional in creating a sustainable company built on systems, processes, and a strong team not dependency on the founders. Their children have grown up hearing conversations about business,
integrity, problem-solving, and opportunity. Unlike Roxanne’s own upbringing, their kids now see what is possible for them and where their own paths might lead, whether inside or outside the business.

In its 15th year in business, Tate Engineering stands as a reflection of resilience, integrity, and purpose. What began as a necessity for one family has evolved into a respected company that supports its employees, contributes to its community, and builds projects that matter across Atlantic Canada.

THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR:

PARTCIPATING SPONSORS:

Interested in becoming a part of our Awards sponsorship program? You can view our Presenting, Supporting and Participating sponsorship packages by hovering and clicking over each!

Please note: when registering for one of our events, you are agreeing to be a part of our general email list. We never publish, rent or sell our list and you can unsubscribe anytime by following the instructions at the bottom of any email from us. Purchased tickets can be issued a refund given 72 hours of notice. If you have any questions, please contact: info@familybusinessatlantic.ca

FBA Member Individual Seats

Public

$75 plus HST - includes a buffet lunch

CAD85.50

FBA Non-Member Individual Seats

Public

$100 plus HST - includes a buffet lunch

CAD114

FBA Member Table of 8

Public

$575 plus HST - includes a buffet lunch

CAD655.50

FBA Non-Member Table of 8

Public

$750 plus HST - includes a buffet lunch

CAD855

2026 FBA Awards of Excellence Luncheon - Founders of Today, Foundations for Tomorrow Address

Brightwood Golf and Country Club, 222 School Street, Dartmouth, Canada Get Directions

Thursday, 07 May 2026 11:30 - 13:30
(America/Halifax)

28 Participants

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