In 2004, the Interior of British Columbia experienced devastating forests fires that severely impacted many communities. This is when Shelley Stewart decided that it would be time to fulfill her childhood dream and become a log truck owner. Becoming involved with the forestry sector at just 19 years of age, she signed her name to a "new to her" Western Star and the rest is history. By December 2005, she had a new truck custom ordered to start the fleet of trucks that would eventually follow. "That truck remains in the fleet, and is known as the back bone to my company! It would be pretty hard to part with her!", says Shelley.
SRS Trucking Ltd. is a registered business owned and operated by Shelley Stewart of Merritt, British Columbia. SRS Trucking Ltd. has been operating in the Nicola Valley since 2009. Shelley is the primary owner of the business and has been involved with the logging industry since 2004, mainly as a log hauling contractor. She is an ambitious business woman from the Upper Nicola Band, and is continually seeking opportunities of business growth and development. SRS Trucking evolved from her former company, Bar S Trucking (est. 2004). She is also the owner/operator of Bar S Ventures, a proprietorship established in 2009. In 2015, Bar S Ventures became a full phase log harvesting operation, which includes road building and low-bedding services. Bar S Ventures currently employs 20 full time employees, which combined with SRS Trucking Ltd., is a total of 30 employees. Shelley takes great pride in providing sustainable fulfilling employment throughout the Nicola Valley.
"I grew up in the logging world. My dad has been a skidder-man for over 40 years. Its bred into me! Maybe I just don't know anything different", she jokes. "I'm just lucky my mom has been in the accounting world for just as long as my dad has been in logging. That way I can balance the love of logging with the love of the financial game!"
In 3 short years, Shelley had grown SRS Trucking Ltd significantly from 3 trucks in 2011, to an astonishing 10 truck operation by mid 2014. At 33 years of age, Shelley is a very well accomplished young lady who takes tremendous pride in the company she has built. She has stated that her success came with a lot of continued hard work, determination and support of her husband (Rob), two children (James & Sadie), Logging Supervisor (Cork Reese), family, and friends.
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Shelley Stewart / SRS Trucking Ltd. was recognized by All Nations Trust as the 2012 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Following her success, she was also presented by the BC Achievement Foundation in 2012 as the 2012 Young Entrepreneur Recipient at the BC Aboriginal Awards Ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia. Most recent (Oct 2017), Shelley was recognized by the BC Achievement Foundation during the BC Aboriginal Business Awards as an Outstanding Business Achiever - in the 10 or more Enterprise Category.