About | Catchfire Group

Who We Are

With more than 50 years of combined transaction and strategic advisory experience, we are the architects of transformative success, guiding our clients through the intricacies of change with a spectrum of services tailored to your place in the M&A journey.

Our Approach

It sounds cliché, but your success is our success. We work collaboratively with our clients in order to understanding their unique aspirations and generate results that meet and exceed expectations.

Our boutique size ensures a personalized touch and allows us to be agile, responsive, and wholly dedicated to the success of every engagement. Our founding principles include:

All team members have had extensive hands-on operational experience.
Partners are directly involved in every file
All searches – either buy-side or sell-side – are conducted in absolute anonymity. The other side never knows the name of our client until we decide it’s time

Gary became an entrepreneur at 12 when he wanted his first pair of designer jeans, and his parents wouldn’t give him the money. He figured out how to generate his own income and get the jeans. He later attended graduate school in business, because of a bet, and graduated from the Ivey School of Business as an MBA. Since then, he has been involved in managing businesses through periods of rapid growth, helping restructure businesses that ran into challenges while trying to grow, and helping owner-operators manage growth both organically and through acquisitions.

Gary has supported owner-operators in manufacturing, technology, import/export, business services, and foodservice/hospitality in several countries. Recognizing an under-serviced segment, he founded Catchfire in 2015 with the aim of providing professional services to mid-market companies, and since then has focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions, and capacity-building of owner-operators.

Gary Brownstone

Partner

204.918.4747

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Derek is a seasoned M&A and Strategic Operations professional with more than 20 years of national and international experience. Specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, Derek has successfully guided clients through complex transactions, consistently delivering value and strategic insights Throughout his career, Derek has demonstrated a keen understanding of market dynamics, financial structures, and negotiating strategies. His expertise lies in facilitating seamless transactions, supporting and or conducting thorough due diligence, and optimizing deal structures to meet each client’s unique objectives.

Whether guiding entrepreneurs through their first transaction or assisting well established buyers in their strategic acquisitions, Derek is dedicated to providing tailored advice to maximize the value for his clients. His commitment to the intricacies of M&A positions him as a trusted advisor for clients seeking expertise and results in navigating the complexities of the M&A journey.

Derek holds Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Public Accountant designation in Canada and US respectively and is well versed in the legal and financial intricacies of M&A

Derek Penner

Partner

204.771.6577

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Quinn has held several operational leadership roles in a broad range of companies in B2B, B2C, and B2G fields. His skill as a researcher for Catchfire lies in his tenacity – Quinn will research a company until he feels he has complete knowledge and understanding of the pertinent information. Quinn oversees our research efforts, gathering business intelligence, and identifying suitable targets on behalf of our clients. He is also leading the development of our small business group.

Quinn has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Winnipeg and has a strong entrepreneurial track record.

Quinn O'Neill

Manager, Business Intelligence & Research

204.801.1855

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Audrey provides organization and assistance to the working team and clientele alike, helping everyone to advance in their journey with Catchfire. She provides company coordination by managing databases, client contracts, and other tasks behind the scenes – trying to live up to the unofficial title of “chaos coordinator”.

Audrey has most recently completed a Certificate in Administration and Management through the University of Manitoba, with degrees in Psychology and Recreational Therapy contributing to the skill set she uses daily.

Audrey Sawatzky

Administrative Assistant

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Why Catchfire?

Choosing Catchfire means choosing a partner committed to your growth journey. We may be a small firm, but our impact is mighty. With a focus on personalized service, strategic insight, and unwavering dedication, we are here to guide you towards a future of unparalleled success. Discover the Catchfire advantage – where M&A advisory, consulting, and leadership support converge to shape a future of transformative excellence.

More Team Members

Donovan Fowke

Marketing

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Donovan Fowke brings a wealth of strategic marketing acumen to organizations seeking to achieve marketing excellence and drive business growth. With a distinguished career spanning 20+ years, Donovan has consistently delivered game-changing results.

He has a successful track record of bringing a creative and visionary approach to marketing and brings his knowledge in analyzing market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitive landscapes to the benefit of clients. Developing and implementing strategy forms the cornerstone of Donovan’s success. His strategies have propelled brands to the forefront of their industries, yielding increased market share and sales revenue.

Chris Yaren

Finance & Accounting

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Chris Yaren is a finance and accounting professional specializing in improving processes that support and fund a company’s mission. He helps companies by transferring proven Fortune 500 quality business processes to organizations of any size.

He has helped meet opportunities arising from: business growth; communication challenges; untapped processes; and financial technology (FINTECH) changes. He always looks to connect Finance with both Operations and Sales and Marketing so that leaders across the company are enabled with the best information to make decisions. He is excited to teach others what he has learned and provides company leadership with the skills and knowledge they need to be confident when managing the finance and accounting function.

Scott Donald

Sales

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Scott Donald has worked extensively with sales professionals in Canada and the United States from organizations such as Friesens Corporation, the North Dakota Petroleum Council, StaffMax, the Association of Consulting Engineers (Saskatchewan and Maritimes chapters) and HUB Technology Solutions.

His years in sales and sales management allows him to build sales systems and capacity in businesses. Scott helps businesses create and improving repeatable sales processes, develop sales skills and performance improvement, and create metrics to monitor key sales performance indicators.

James Blase

Associate

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James is a performance driven leader with over 25 years of management and operational experience in Canada and in Europe. He has an extensive background with SMEs and high-growth businesses.

He has taken companies into international markets, has structured numerous companies’ operations to improve efficiency and consulted with dozens of businesses to drive growth. He works with clients to scale their businesses for growth and adapt their systems as they evolve using a practical hands-on approach. James helps clients to stop 'fighting the same fires', to improve their operations and ultimately improve their bottom line.