Dave Brereton

Rick Goossen presenting an award in a picture frame to Dave Brereton on stage

 

Dave Brereton joins a distinguished group of Entrepreneurial Leaders Award recipients, recognized for exemplary entrepreneurial leadership grounded in integrity, purpose, and a Christian worldview. With more than four decades of experience in the technology sector, Dave has demonstrated visionary leadership, business excellence, and deep commitment to global impact.

Business Leadership

Dave is the Founder and Executive Chairman of TECSYS Inc., where he led the company from a small Canadian startup to a global provider of supply chain execution software serving multinational organizations around the world.

His leadership achievements include:

  • Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 honouree at age 39

  • One of Canada’s 50 Best-Managed Private Companies (pre-IPO, recognized by The Financial Post and Arthur Andersen & Co.)

His strategic investments—in companies such as Silanis Inc., Inventure LLC, and AlayaCare—have contributed to their significant growth and sector influence.

Ministry Leadership & Youth Impact

Beyond the business sphere, Dave serves as President of Youth for Christ International, guiding a global ministry dedicated to empowering young people and developing emerging leaders.

In 1995, he founded a fully accredited high school in Montréal designed to support and equip marginalized youth, providing access to education, stability, and long-term opportunity.

Entrepreneur, Investor, Mentor, Servant-Leader

Dave’s leadership reflects both entrepreneurial capability and a heart for service. His work spans:

  • Building and advising mission-driven businesses

  • Strengthening nonprofit organizations

  • Mentoring leaders across multiple sectors

  • Promoting ethical, purpose-driven decision making

Dave and his wife, Katy, have embodied a remarkable commitment to hospitality and care. Since 1983, they have fostered more than twenty children, ten of whom became part of their family long-term, including three adoptions. Today, their growing family includes several adults, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Connection to ELO

Dave has been a long-time friend and supporter of the ELO Network. His contributions include:

  • Speaking at multiple ELO Forums—most recently, Toronto 2023 on
    “Leadership Lessons from Entrepreneurial Startups to Running a 60,000-Person Global Organization.”

  • Participating in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program five times, earning “Iron Man” status.

Recognition

Dave Brereton’s career represents the qualities at the heart of the Entrepreneurial Leaders Award: entrepreneurial excellence, long-term influence, community impact, faith-driven integrity, and exemplary leadership.

ELO is honoured to recognize Dave Brereton as the recipient of the 2025 Entrepreneurial Leaders Award.