Frank Dottori grew up milking cows on a dairy farm near Timmins and went on to found Tembec, a $4 billion forest products empire with operations around the world. In this video, Frank tells us about how as a young engineer he finessed the purchase of a pulp mill in Temiskaming, Quebec, that its American owners had decided to shut down.
Relying on a formula of profit sharing, employee engagement, creativity, research and diversification, he succeeded in transforming Tembec into an international forest products company with operations in Europe, South America and across Canada and the United States.
In his early 80s at the time of this interview, Frank was still actively involved in the forest products industry as part owner of lumber mills in White River and Hornepayne. He also spearheaded the development of a $50 million Cross Laminated Timber operation in St.Thomas, Ontario, in December 2020, pioneering the commercialization of an engineered wood product that is ideal for the construction of tall wood buildings.
Lamenting the sell off of companies like Inco, Alcan and Falconbridge, not to mention Tembec itself following his retirement in 2006, Frank shares valuable advice about the importance of growing and preserving Canadian-based enterprises.
He extols the importance of working with First Nations and operating forestry enterprises in accordance with environmentally sustainable practices, making the point that cutting down trees for lumber and planting new ones to replace them is an ideal carbon capture strategy.
Noting the shortage of housing and the related challenge of attracting workers to fill some 20 to 30 vacancies in White River due to the reluctance of banks to approve mortgages in small, one industry towns, Frank urges government to step in with loan guarantees.
Above all, Frank tells us, Northern Ontario needs entrepreneurs: “Get out there, work hard, persevere and the results will blow you away. I’m an example. I’m a guy who grew up milking cows and look what I’ve done.”