UNB alumnus Jason Campeau compares his success in the business world to winning a national championship with the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds hockey team.

“Winning a championship is no different than hitting goals in the corporate world,” he says.

Campeau was a part of the Varsity Reds when they won their first CIS title in Saskatoon in 1998.

“Getting to be on the hockey team taught me how to be disciplined and was a big part of my success,” Campeau says.

Campeau has stayed loyal to his hockey roots since graduating from UNB: he is the co-founder of the Maplesoft Hawks, an AAA spring hockey organization.  There are 17 teams in the league: eight girls teams and nine boys teams. Campeau coaches a team himself.

The Maplesoft Hawks are a non-profit organization for elite hockey players in the Ottawa community; Maplesoft pays for uniforms and team insurance to off-set costs for parents.

In addition, Campeau is part-owner of CMG sports, a professional sports agency based in Missouri. CMG Sports represents 245 clients, including 80 NHL players.

Earlier this year, Campeau received a Top 40 Under 40 award from the Ottawa Business Journal.

He describes this as a great honour, and something that he has been able to achieve through his hard work.

A group with integrity

Along with his hockey commitments, Campeau is Chief Operating Officer of Maplesoft Group, a global systems integration company. The company has deep roots in consulting: it began as a consulting firm to the federal government in Ottawa.

Maplesoft began in 1996 and now has six Canadian offices and as well as offices in the United States and Dubai.  Campeau got involved in the company eight years ago.

“I liked the possibilities it provided,” he says.  ”I wanted to have more power to make a difference.”

Campeau works alongside his brother Jody, president and CEO of the company, and says that working as part of a team reminds him of his hockey days.

“We’ve had a tremendous amount of growth in the past few years, and I’ve been surrounded with great people,” he says.  ”But it’s just like hockey – there are some challenges but you learn how to adapt.”

Campeau says that the culture at Maplesoft defines it as a company.  It counts its success on what it calls its greatest asset – the people at Maplesoft.

“We’re a phenomenal service-based company,” he says. “Even with the huge amount of growth we’ve had, we’ve been able to sustain it and continue with integrity.”

This year, the company gave back to the national capital region in a big way: Maplesoft Centre, Ottawa’s first centre for cancer survivors was opened and named in recognition of Maplesoft Group’s $1.8M donation.

“It’s important to give back,” Campeau explains.

In recognition of the donation and other work that Maplesoft has done in the community, the company was awarded the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

A proud alumnus

Campeau says that his time spent at UNB has been invaluable in his career.

“I had a great time there, some of the best years of my life,” he says.  ”But I also learned a tremendous amount.”

Balancing the Varsity Reds and his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree taught Campeau some of the best lessons that have helped him with his career.

“I really had to learn how to manage my time properly,” he says.  ”And that has really paid off for me.  It’s the key to success in the business world.”

Maplesoft will soon be opening an office in Halifax.  Campeau says he’s glad to have a branch on the east coast and hopes that UNB grads will see it as an opportunity.

“I’m very proud to be an alumnus of UNB,” he says.  ”I’d really like to work with the university and encourage graduates to work with Maplesoft.”

Campeau personally hired two of his friends and fellow UNB alumni to work with him at Maplesoft: Toby Burkitt (BA ’96) and Damien Bloye (BA ’99) hold executive positions with the company.

“Playing a sport in university and committing to an education gave me a great work ethic,” he says.

For UNB graduates interested in employment with Maplesoft Group, please contact Beth Rivard at beth.rivard@maplesoftgroup.com.

Contributed by Alanah Duffy, UNB Communications & Marketing. This story made possible thanks to the support of the UNB Associated Alumni.