Providing strategic guidance and oversight to all Trace-related businesses.

Our Board of Directors is comprised of our two co-founders, Darrell Haight and Rhonda Smith. In addition to their operational roles at Trace Associates Inc. (Trace), Darrell and Rhonda provide strategic guidance and oversight to all Trace-related businesses and ensure we remain true to our purpose of helping you (our clients, our people, our suppliers, and anyone our work touches) have a great life. As Board Members, our strategy has been to gain input from a diverse background of strategic advisors outside of Trace and combine it with thoughts and ideas from our people, clients, and project stakeholders, using what we call the “Trace Win for All Model,” which is a key ingredient in the Trace “secret sauce.”

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RHONDA SMITH, B.Sc., ICD.D

Co-founder and Executive Chair

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I remember learning the definition of “entrepreneur” in Grade Two when I was awarded “Most likely to become an Entrepreneur” for selling the most brown rice in my community. I always knew I wanted to run my own business in some capacity. In 2006, with a willingness to take a risk, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to do just that. I was determined to shape my own destiny and create something I felt proud of. My goal was, and continues to be, to bring other passionate people together and build a truly service‑focused, collaborative, and caring company.

I am a founding Board Member for Trace, and have sat on for-profit, not-for-profit, and industry association boards. In 2022 I achieved my ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Directors Education Program, through the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. After 20 years of Board service, my passion for business and entrepreneurial success is stronger than ever. My role with Trace is providing strategic influence and impact, helping to expand Trace’s network, and leading our Board to ensure it fulfills its governance responsibilities to our employee shareholders.

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DARRELL HAIGHT, B.Sc., P.Ag.

Co-founder and CEO

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My entrepreneurial journey started in elementary school when I convinced my mom to let me push a lawn mower around the neighborhood to earn a little spending money. I loved the freedom it gave me and even then, I knew I wanted to build a successful business of some kind.

Today, one of the things I’m most proud of is bringing great people together to build a company where people feel appreciated, valued, and connected to something special. I’m also proud of our employee-ownership model, where you can own a part of the company, and if you want, you can get involved in the business side of things. As a founding Board Member, I hope to inspire other entrepreneurs to incorporate employee-ownership into their business – ensuring all shareholders can benefit from the success of the business and help build a healthy culture that they are all proud of.

what our clients are saying

“We like Trace. We like Ron, we like Nick, and we like the relationships we’ve built on our projects with them. They have a suite of services that cover the ecological and environmental, and they have demonstrated that they understand what needs to be done, aren’t doing unnecessary work, and they make sure it gets done. Ron told me that the Trace motto is to 'consult better.' This motto is reflected in the service they provide.”

Clark | Qualico Communities

“I appreciate Trace’s candidness, honesty, and straightforwardness. The communication is strong, they are always professional, and they stay on point. They’re good at what they do and are always available when I need them.”

Confidential Client

“Trace provides a level of personal service that we don’t get from other companies. We get straightforward, open communication with Project Managers, including frequent touch-points. Trace always does what they say they are going to do.”

Neil Reid | Midstream Energy Client

“I choose Trace because of their expertise and clarity on what they will deliver, and my trust in them. We share similar values of honesty and communication. They’re very thoughtful in what they do and their expertise is very appreciated. Nothing they do or say leaves you scratching your head.”

Warn Franklin | works with Ron at Trace

“I value our relationship with Trace and can see it continuing into the future.  Having a third party come in to do environmental inspections is very helpful and gives added focus on areas that might otherwise be neglected due to the busy nature of the business. Trace's expertise in the Environmental Consultant field helps keep NorSask on a path of continuous improvement. We very much appreciate the proactive approach that Trace takes to meet our needs.”

Kelly | NorSask

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