Tuccaro recognized for business strength

David Tuccaro, from the Mikisew Cree First Nation, has been inducted into the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame for 2012.

“Awards are not the reason for achieving success in entrepreneurialism, but rather the idea is to work hard and give back to your community,” said Tuccaro.

Growing up in Fort Chipewyan, Tuccaro started out working in the oil sands industry, which contains one of the largest oil sands in the global market. He began working as a crane operator, but it was not long before his passion for business management and entrepreneurship guided his career.

In 1991, Tuccaro joined the Neegan Development Corporation as a general manager. He would take on an enormous challenge as the company was on the brink of financial destruction.  Tuccaro, accepting the challenge, reviewed the company’s operations and began negotiating long-term contracts that would create success within the organization.

Presently, Tuccaro is an influential business entrepreneur, president and CEO of five successful companies under the Tuccaro Group of Companies. He is also founder, president and CEO of Tuccaro Inc. He has forged a pathway in Alberta and Canada for other Aboriginal entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps.

Among his many accomplishments, Tuccaro is the founding president of the National Aboriginal Business Association and in 1995 took the lead on forming the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association.
“It is a great honour to be recognized as a leader within the Aboriginal business community,” said Tuccaro.

His hard work has brought him much recognition. In 1994/95 and 2003 he was nominated for the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a National Aboriginal Achievement Award; in 1994 he was honoured by his hometown of Fort Chipewyan as “Outstanding Business Person;” in 1995 he was awarded the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Award; in 1999 he received the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundations Business and Commerce Award and he has been named a laureate of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Recently, Tuccaro generously donated $50,000 to NAAF, which displays his strong belief in giving back to the community and ensuring the success of future generations of Aboriginal youth.

Tuccaro as an Aboriginal role model provided these words to the youth: “Never give up. So many young Aboriginal entrepreneurs have great business ideas, but end up giving up right before their big break happens. Positive thinking and attitude towards business is necessary for achieving success.”

Tuccaro was officially inducted into the 2012 Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame on Feb. 7 at Toronto’s 14th annual gala. He was joined by Gregory Koostachin of the Attawapiskat First Nation.

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business was founded in 1984 by a small group of business and community leaders.

This year marks the eighth year of the ABHF recognizing the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal business leaders across Canada.

Photo caption: The most recent inductees into Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame: David Tuccaro (right) and Gregory Koostachin.