Leadership

Rick Riess is the Chief Executive Officer and fourth generation descendent of George Henry Young, the founder of GHY International. As a visionary leader and acclaimed professional in the business community and customs industry, he has been steering the company towards success and market leadership for 3 decades. Rick is renowned for his hands-on leadership style and commitment to business excellence without compromise for all GHY stakeholders and partners.

Rick holds a BA in Business and Finance from the University of Manitoba, in addition to a Professional Customs Broker certification. He joined the company in 1983 as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development following a successful career in real estate and financial services. He has contributed to shaping the future of the customs and trade services environment through this role as a National Director in the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers.

Chris has led GHY International since 2017. During that time, the company has enjoyed significant US expansion, consistent growth in Canada and the successful launch of two innovative business models serving casual and e-commerce importers.  Chris believes success is an outworking of caring leaders committed to developing others, and proudly serves a team of caring Associates who work each day to be good stewards of a 123-year-old, multi-generational family legacy.

Alan serves as the Executive Vice President of Client Services and Regulatory Affairs at GHY International. He joined the company in 1982 and has progressively and successfully worked his way from operations to his current role. He works closely with the executive, leadership, and management teams and manages the service function of the One Border, One Broker initiative. Through this challenging role, Alan focuses on meeting the changing demands of the industry while growing the business and meeting the needs of both clients and regulatory bodies.

Alan is a certified Trade Compliance Specialist and holds a Professional Customs Broker title. He received his Certificate of Management (Honours) and P. Mgr. designations through the University of Manitoba and is an accomplished leader, with exceptional knowledge of the Customs industry and
GHY’s clients. Alan has held the National Director position for the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB) since 2012, where he served in various roles in the Executive Committee including, Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary Treasurer. Al also currently serves as one of the Directors of the CSCB Board.

Vicki is the Executive Vice President of GHY International’s Corporate Services, where her role is focused on managing special projects across the organization. She has been with the company since 1984, and has served a myriad of roles in accounting and administration, operations, business development, and IT.

Vicki received her Certificate of Management (Honours) and P. Mgr. designations from the University of Manitoba. She continuously inspires others with her work ethics, commitment to excellence, exceptional organizational skills, and ability to create and implement client solutions that meet and exceed expectations.

Roger joined GHY International in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer, with an impressive track record in driving efficiency, enhancing productivity, and improving business processes across organizations. Within his capacity, Roger oversees all financial and auditing processes, identifies risks and opportunities, and manages over 150 million dollars in duties, taxes, and commissions each year.

Roger is a certified Management Accountant with a focus on analyzing financial reports to forecast financial position. As an active leader, he’s always there to guide and support his team. Whether he’s leading from the front or the back of the room, he constantly practices a calming demeanor and ensures that any written or verbal messages are communicated clearly and understood thoroughly.

Carrie is Vice President of GHY USA Inc., overseeing the company’s U.S. operations since 2012. She joined GHY International in 1998 and has since assumed various roles within the organization, from customs release to administration and operations. Incredibly organized and results-driven, Carrie is fluent in priority management and experienced in leading teams to achieve success.

Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of St. Scholastica. She relentlessly works to lead and maintain a healthy, human-centric culture at GHY. A people person by nature, she is passionate about sharing insights and perspective while developing respect and building lasting relationships with everyone she interacts with.

Bruno is the Vice President of Canadian Operations at GHY International. With extensive experience in customs, Bruno joined the company in 2016 and managed special projects and trade solutions before assuming his current role. His work focuses on the day-to-day operations on the Canadian side of the border, ensuring everything is in place and on time.

Bruno’s career in this industry began in 1996, when he pursued a Diploma of Law & Justice in Customs Administration at Sir Sanford Fleming College. He received his Customs Professional Designation from the Canada Borders Services Agency (CBSA) in 2002 and is a certified Customs Specialist for both Canada and the U.S. and a certified Trade Compliance Specialist in Canada.

Bob serves as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at GHY International. One of the longest serving associates, he joined the company in 1972 and was mentored by the previous generation of GHY leaders. He is also one one of the most accomplished experts in the garment and textile trade in Canada, with extensive knowledge of customs regulations and customer requirements.

Known to everyone as Bob, Robert works closely with GHY International’s Canadian and U.S. clients and account management teams to streamline processes and reduce complexities related to customs regulations. He is well-renowned in the Manitoba region for his skill, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to solving problems with creative and effective solutions.

As the Director of Human Resources, Vanessa Nelson has been working to shape the company’s people strategy since joining GHY International in 2022. Her leadership philosophy is centered around the belief that people are the most valuable asset of any organization. Known for her supportive, engaging, leadership style, Vanessa is focused on developing a workplace where enjoyment and productivity go hand in hand.

Vanessa holds a Diploma in Human Resources Management from the University of Winnipeg and brings over 15 years of progressive experience in HR. In her current role, she oversees all aspects of human resources– from recruiting fresh talents to developing them into future leaders, and everything in between. She’s a firm believer in the power of a good laugh and a listening ear, making her approach to HR as human as it gets. Her initiatives aren’t just about ticking boxes; they’re about building a community at work where everyone feels valued and ready to thrive.