“Bob’s professional skills and passion intersect when developing new projects. This is exemplified by his ability to surround himself with experienced and competent people, then leading this cadre to complete projects with great speed and wonderful results.”
– Steve Dawkins,
rightwords.caApril 1992 to present
Founding President, Limit Up Investments Inc.
Barrie, Ontario
Limit Up Investments Inc. is a company owned and operated by Monteith. It seeks to identify new opportunities and stimulating projects to start or manage. He specializes in businesses that need excellent management and leadership to overcome previous problems and to get the business back on the “straight and narrow”.
Pre Limit Up Investments Inc. History
Ontario Hydro 1970 - 1977
Bob moved to Barrie in 1977 and was hired by Ontario Hydro as a “Lines Technian” He was involved with research and development of “underground cable” installations, recently introduced to Ontario Hydro at that time. He set up distribution for new customers, along with implementing usage analytics for hydro throughout northern Ontario. Knowledge gained from his work with Ontario Hydro during those seven years was instrumental later when conceiving and formalizing his patent. [discussed below]
Hospitality Industry 1977 - 1989
Shifting the focus of his entrepreneurial energy, Monteith owned and operated about twenty two restaurants [bars] and hotels throughout Ontario. Holiday Inn Orillia, [100 rooms] Best Western In Wallaceburg, [84 rooms] Sportsman Inn Victoria Harbour [165 rooms] over the course of a dozen years. He would buy “depressed” locations and “fix them up” - train new staff, manage the properties properly and eventually resell them. This “face-on” experience leading staff and dealing directly with customers contributed much to the acumen and perspective Bob brings to his projects today, especially his ability to spot a business that can be redeveloped and lead the process of making it profitable again.
When these Hospitality operations were in “full swing” Monteith had more than 600 employees working for him at any given time. He started the “Back Street Chevy’s” bars and developed them in both the Toronto and Barrie markets. These were bars designed for the younger crowd, featured a “sixties” theme and were very successful with several locations.
Chrysler Dealership 1989 - 1992
Bob shifted his energies once again, owning and operated a Chrysler franchise along with a very large car leasing portfolio for three years. The dealership, located in Midland Ontario, was a full-size operation with collision repair shop, large wholesale parts department, new and used car sales office, and a market-leading lease department which both retail and wholesale operations. The latter was particularly successful doing many millions of dollars in business annually, and managing a fleet network comprising hundreds of cars leased to many different types of businesses.
Various other ventures
Marina Business
Bob had a marina located on Penatanguishene Bay Ontario, Bay Marine, where he sold new and used boats that had been imported in from the USA. The marina had 367 slips some with full service [water and electricity] along with a full complement of accessories for all boats. He had a fully trained staff to handle the repairs – whether mechanical or fiberglass – required for most any make or model of boat.
Tree Farm Operation
Monteith owned a “Christmas Tree” operation where he grew different species of trees for distribution direct to the public and through wholesalers. He had three large farms to do this, [500,000 trees] and most of his wholesale channels markets were within Toronto and its surrounding area. He would start the trees from seedlings [Douglas fir, Spruce, Blue Spruce] and plant the trees in the early spring. They took about seven years before the first harvest and needed “pruning” each year to have the proper shape. He cut and wrapped the trees and transported them to the customers for the sale in November. Toronto Maple Leaf alumnus, Eddie Shack, was among Bob’s network of large and successful “Christmas Tree” lot operators for several years.
Air Filtration
Bob owned and operated an “air filtration” business in Barrie, Ontario. The primary business was renting specialized filtration equipment to bars and restaurants to reduce the smoke that was in the building. “We had locations all over southern Ontario and also distributors in other provinces”. This proved to be very lucrative because of the technology they had, and how it was presented to the customer. The equipment was never sold, only rented, so as to monetize the maintenance contracts with each establishment and write down the equipment within the company.
Commodities
Bob traded “commodities” for three years on his own account, specializing in the copper segment of that industry. He was trained in Chicago for this in 1992 and at that time he wrote a CF7 examination which would have allowed him to trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange had he pursued a wider career in that field. Bob also trades stock in the Canadian and US markets.
Extended Education
In 2003 Bob went back to university and got a degree from the University of Alberta and is presently a C.C.E.P. (Canadian Certified Environmental Practioner, specializing in “air and water”)
Proprietary Patent
Bob designed and holds a “water treatment patent”. This is a device which “preconditions hard water” to prevent scaling in piping systems mostly in commercial and industrial applications. Water when it has been heated starts to dispense minerals that are in the water from previous applications. Over a period of time the scale builds up and causes different problems. Higher costs of energy, restriction of water flow, etc. The patent device allows the water to retain the minerals while having high temperatures which prevents these problems.
Avocations
A past president of the Rotary Cub in Pentanguishene, actively involved with minor and junior hockey programs, Bob also plays “old timers” recreational hockey twice a week. His three grandsons take up the balance of his time.