IMPACT Story: Westcor x Stawowski McGill
Westcor Meets Stawowski McGill
In 2014, Bob Robinson, CEO of Westcor, found himself at a crossroads. His business was growing, and he sensed a need for stronger financial leadership, but wasn’t sure what that could, or should, look like.
“I was struggling with the idea of hiring a CFO,” Bob recalls, “and I didn’t know anything about how a fractional CFO operated or if that would work.”
At the time, Westcor’s financials were focused mainly on day-to-day management. “We were missing the strength of a CFO’s accounting skills,” Bob explains. “Monthly reporting wasn’t organized, and financial strategy was missing.”
The solution didn’t come through a formal pitch or a sales meeting, it came over a BBQ. At the HSBC annual Stampede BBQ, Bob happened to sit next to Dave Tadman and Stan Stawowski, Partners at Stawowski McGill, at a picnic table, and a casual conversation sparked something much bigger.
“The timing was perfect,” Bob says, remembering that day. “They talked to me about Fractional CFOs, and I was intrigued.”
That serendipitous meeting kicked off what would become an 11-year (and counting) relationship between Westcor and Stawowski McGill, one built on trust, strategy, and mutual accountability.
A Relationship That Grew with the Business
From the start, it was clear to Dave that Westcor wasn’t just looking for bookkeeping help. “They were driven by the need to bridge the gap between day-to-day accounting and forward-looking financial insight,” Dave explains. “They wanted to strengthen their relationships with the banks and create room to grow.”
Over the years, Dave has stood beside Bob and the Westcor team through big wins and tough losses. The relationship matured right alongside the business.
“Eventually,” Dave says, “they reached a level of financial sophistication where the conversations naturally shifted from financial strategy to leadership development and succession planning.”
As Bob puts it: “Dave is like a personal business coach, but with so many other things on the financial side. He helps us with emerging leaders, he challenges me, and he keeps me accountable.”
The Impact
For Dave, the relationship with Westcor feels deeply personal. “I consider that whole team to be my friends,” he says warmly. “Their office is like an extension of our office.”
Bob sees the value in the relationship just as clearly. “It’s the personal one-on-one time that I spend with Dave that brings value to me, but it affects the whole organization,” he shares. “I value the organic conversations, the big ‘aha’ moments we’ve uncovered. It’s the trust we’ve built. I trust him.”
The impact goes both ways.
“They’ve had as much impact on us as we’ve had on them,” Dave reflects. “They’re always pushing themselves to learn more, looking for ways to improve, and working to elevate their people. From being an ideal client to setting an amazing example through their community initiatives, Westcor inspires us to raise our own bar at Stawowski McGill.”
But course, no relationship is perfect.
“I just wish Dave wasn’t a Maple Leafs fan,” Bob jokes.
