Beyond Design

Say hello to Tyra Bleau, Product Designer!

Tyra makes up one-third of the design team at Grassland Ventures and has been a key part of our organization for over three years. Not only does she create stunning designs and contribute to nearly every project we take on, but she's also a fitness instructor, leading barre and Pilates classes with the same energy and focus she brings to her work.

With a degree from the University of Regina and a background in marketing, Tyra's unmatched drive and ambition keeps our team delivering exceptional results time and time again. From problem-solving for clients to contributing to our design approach, Tyra truly is a force to be reckoned with!

Tyra comes from a family of entrepreneurs and brings that spirit to her work and everyday life. As a natural-born leader, Tyra’s passion for design extends far beyond her role at work and we love watching her grow her fitness practice. The energy that shines through in her classes makes its way to her work with Grassland (quite literally, as she has held a few classes for the team!).

What’s one accomplishment you’ve achieved here that makes you do a little victory dance?

A GV win for me personally was owning the design for the FCL Fleet project, designing for the first time on a payment terminal device for the company and being able to explore different ways to handle the UI that best fit the device.

If you could bottle up the best part of working on this team, what would it be, and why is it so awesome?

The laid-back and comfortable nature of our team is really special and not something that can be found at a lot of companies, and the way we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s cool to see how great our results can be while still having a good time.

What is one thing you can’t live without?

I can’t live without movement — leading fitness classes on the side has been a great way to bring balance to my day-to-day. I’m able to work creatively in my design role with GV as well as when I’m planning fitness classes.

What’s your favourite type of food or cuisine?

My favourite cuisine would be Mexican — tacos, churros, and a spicy margarita always sounds like a good idea.

Balancing Backend and Teenagers

Meet Aaron, a Principal Software Developer and amazing dad of three (one dog included).

If there’s one thing you should know about Aaron, it’s that he’s not only a deeply committed backend developer, but also a devoted dad.

From early mornings spent making breakfast for his wife and two teenage sons, to getting the boys ready for school and practice, Aaron balances it all with incredible dedication. We’re fortunate to have him as part of the Grassland team.

While Aaron is an avid Maple Leafs fan (we won’t fault him for that, there are others too), he’s also a fitness fanatic who hasn’t missed a day of 300 pushups for over 15 years. Yes, you read that right. From airport lounges to business hotels, he never misses his pushups. 

Aaron began his career after graduating from Saskatchewan Polytechnic (previously the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology) and has been with Grassland Ventures for over five years. His steady calm, positivity, and deep technical expertise have consistently guided us through challenges. Aaron’s unwavering commitment shines through in everything he does, and he’s always there when we need him.

What’s been your proudest moment here, and how did it shape your journey with us?

Being employee #1, I've seen tremendous growth at Grassland Ventures over the past five years. I have had the opportunity to work on many exciting projects as well as seen the number of employees nearly triple from seven to 20.

All that said, I would have to say my proudest moment at Grassland Ventures to date has been the launch of the new mobile apps for FCL. This was a huge multi-year project for us and seeing the apps launch in the fall of 2023 was a big accomplishment.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on, and how did it inspire your growth?

The most exciting project I've worked on at Grassland Ventures was the HomeTeam live project. Being a parent of young athletes it was exciting for me to be able to build a broadcast-quality streaming platform that focused on youth sports, allowing parents, family, coaches, athletes, fans, and scouts the ability to tune in and watch the event from anywhere in the world.

What’s one challenge you’ve tackled that made you realize you’re rocking it here?

That’s a great question! It’s tough, there’s been a few. There is one that stands out though.

I have always only ever been a backend .NET developer (primarily C#) who dabbled in other languages once every other blue moon. The FCL project required the backend services to be written in Sprint Boot (essentially Java). Having never written a line of code in this language proved to be both challenging and exciting. With plenty of support from my Grassland team, I was able to pick up the new language quickly and build robust backend APIs that are being used in the Co-op mobile apps all across western Canada.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in your field?

Haha, I'm not sure. Building software is not something I ever imagined I would be doing at this point in my life. I've always been a detail-oriented problem solver but growing up I was much more interested in sports and always thought I would get into something sports-related.

After high school, and before going to college I re-took a few of my high school math classes to raise my grades in an attempt to improve my odds of getting accepted into my field of choice. It turns out I did well in those math classes and found I enjoyed both math and problem-solving. That summer I had a talk with my dad who suggested I look at a career in software development. I enrolled at SIAST in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan that fall and the rest is history. I've been building software now for over 20 years.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?

Again, tough question. I guess maybe the ability to be in multiple places at the same time.

Having two children in multiple sports (often at the same time) requires me to be driving to various activities, often needing me to leave the office in the middle of the afternoon to pick up a kid from school to do those dreaded 4:30pm practices. I'm extremely fortunate to have a flexible working arrangement with Grassland Ventures where I can do this and make up the time after normal working hours (usually in my car outside a hockey rink).

Constantly Tackling New Challenges

print(“Hello Kale!”)

As a founding member of Grassland Ventures and VP of Development, Kale has been with us since day one. As our go-to development expert, he’s involved in every project we take on. Hand Kale any technical challenge, and before you’ve finished explaining it, he’s likely to have already figured out the solution.

When he’s not writing flawless code or advising on technical challenges, you’ll find Kale practicing for his next marathon or exploring new hiking spots. Whether he's on an adventure with his dog Artemis or crushing a 26km solo run, Kale is always seeking out the next challenge.

With prior experience at iQMetrix and a Degree in Computer Science from the University of Regina, Kale’s development expertise goes beyond just getting the job done. He masters whatever he’s working on, consistently translating his skills into beautifully crafted products.

Kale is also an incredible guitarist and can sometimes be found at open mic nights. The same patience and attention to detail it takes to play the guitar is what he brings to the table every day at Grassland.

What do you think makes our company culture unique?

I find our company culture to be simple and authentic. Everyone is very down-to-earth, and what you see is what you get. Whether we are in a small private meeting or meeting new clients for the first time, we are never "putting on an act." Everyone can feel free to be themselves.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?

I would love to visit Iceland someday. It seems peaceful and the landscapes look beautiful.

Who’s your favourite musician and why?

Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish guitarist in the late 1800s. He was a very influential composer for the late Romantic period. Some of his most famous works include Capricho Arabe, Recuerdos de la Alhambra, and most notably Gran Vals, which was eventually used by Nokia for their famous ringtone.

At Grassland Ventures, our people are what makes us special. We're excited to not only showcase their work but to share the stories behind the talent. Whether it's crafting innovative strategies, conducting in-depth research, or building seamless designs and cutting-edge development, our team brings 100% dedication and passion to every project.

Stay tuned to meet more of our great team at Grassland Ventures – experts in strategy, design, and development in upcoming posts.