b'AdvertorialSteve Williams Director of Business Development Steve Williams and Kelsey Somerville launched Big Foot Business Development (BFBD) in 2019, inspired by what Steve describes as a necessity to assist industrial construction companies to save money through a shared cost model for multiple businesses, and to work in alignment with Indigenous in creating financial independence and prosperity through local project opportunities or impact benefit agreements. Headquartered in Kitimat, B.C., BFBD consultants bring over 20 years of construction, maintenance and EPC industry experience to provide sustainable growth, development, strategy and Indigenous relation efforts across Western Canada.As co-owners and directors, Steve and Kelsey work with Leanne Enns, Business Development Strategist Manager, to facilitate relationships that are beneficial to project owners, construction companies and to the Indigenous communities themselves. Work is also facilitated through a Toronto based office. Its a lot of Kelsey Somervillelistening, Steve says. Every Nation has different requirements, different needs. Director of Business DevelopmentKelsey adds that much of what they do involves aligning relevant construction opportunities with both industrial companies and Indigenous communities. We go in and figure out what [the communitys] needs are, whether its employment, training, revenue sharing, or some of them might want a community hall, and we relay that information back to the companies we work with, she says.Steve also emphasizes the importance of aligning community members with training and employment opportunities on major projects. [Nation members] are able to go to work, provide for their family, do well, he says. I think all the [Indigenous] people that I meet, thats all they want, just a chance to go and have a fair shot.Additionally, all services are pro bono for Indigenous communities. We dont work to get paid by any Nationswe want to work with companies who are looking to Leanne Ennsengage with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way, Kelsey says. Business Development Strategist ManagerTo date, BFBD has been successfully bringing economic prosperity to various Indigenous throughout British Columbia including opportunities with companies on Canadas Largest Industrial Energy Project. Steve says BFBD has been able to facilitate over $300 million worth of contracts with Indigenous wholly owned and partnered companies in Western Canada.bigfootbds.com As for the future, Kelsey says that a big focus for BFBD will be looking toward green initiatives. Were looking at the future, we want to obviously do whats best long term for the Nation and are excited about our work in Ontario, she says. We want (587) 988-4638to ensure that when we are talking to companies and trying to bring opportunities [to Indigenous communities], that it suits their long-term environmental goals for (780) 991-3009 their Nation.'