Professional Background

John Quee MBA
Chief Executive Officer

John began his entertainment career in the early 60's as a professional musician. His first 'real' job was in Toronto working at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 60's. However, music was still his first love, and he left the CBC to tour with renowned Canadian recording artist 'Bobby Curtola'.

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Over the years, John performed with many of Canada's leading studio musicians, such as; Wally Koster, Jimmy Namaro, Guido Basso, Tommy Common, Rob McConnell, and with members from musical groups such as: The Ink Spots, The Platters, Edward Bear, Mashmakhan, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Ten Years After, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Eventually, John turned his back on a successful music career to establish and build a dynamic career in the world of business. 

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He selected the real estate industry as his transition launch vehicle. John built successful real estate practices in Toronto and Winnipeg. He quickly, and repeatedly, earned recognition as “Top Producer”, “Top Salesman”, “Top Listing Agent”, “Goal Achiever” and was ultimately promoted to “Sales Manager” by a National Real Estate Brokerage, for their failing Windsor Ontario operation during a devastating Canadian recession. Under John’s management the Branch flourished and received recognition as “The Most Improved Branch in Canada” by the national operator.   

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In 2002, John brought his extensive background in fast-track business development and change management to the Thomas FX Group, transforming the company from an on-set special effects fabricator to a legendary manufacturing operation with customers in 82 countries. Products invented by John have been showcased in hundreds of the world’s most notable, and successful, films and television productions. John was considered by the Motion Picture Academy for an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for his invention of his Patented biodegradable artificial snow effects.

Under John’s management Thomas FX has also been recognized as Business of the Year by the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce three times. With more than four decades of 'hands on' entertainment industry management expertise, John is well versed in all aspects of the leisure and entertainment industry and highly effective at enabling dramatic growth within dynamic organizations.

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Earlier in his career, at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, John reformed the Convention Centre’s negative public image through a series of effective marketing initiatives, public relations campaigns, and the successful production of numerous iconic, and profitable, festivals, concerts, and entertainment events. He also reversed an upwardly trending cycle of deficit financing through his proven ability to generate consistent profitability.

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Subsequently, working with the world-renowned IMAX Systems Corporation, he outfitted and launched the world's first "commercial" IMAX Theatre, establishing it as the first profitable IMAX Theatre in the world. In the process, he turned around a dramatically delayed construction project, smoothed troubled relationships with multiple Government partners, avoiding several threatened lawsuits, and struck a landmark deal on behalf all IMAX Corporate Theatres with a significant international corporate sponsor. From a standing start, John’s IMAX Theatre ultimately launched with 96+ % Top-Of-Mind Awareness in the community, two weeks ahead of schedule, and under budget. John’s IMAX Theatre went on to generate steady profits for the IMAX Corporation and its Government Partners for many years. He also assisted in the reopening of the Vancouver IMAX Theatre at Canada Place following its introduction at Expo ’86.

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John's management expertise earned numerous awards and has attracted frequent international media coverage. Recruited to turn around one of Canada’s largest flat floor exhibition and trade show facilities, John oversaw the restructuring of provincial horse racing operations and para mutual wagering at two Provincial racetracks, while also managing a revamp of casino operations. John received recognition from the American Bus Association for producing one of the "Top 100 Events in North America", for his Annual Provincial Summer Fair, with more than one million square feet of exhibits, two Arenas, and fourteen entertainment stages co-located on a ninety-six acre site. 

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In 2000, while Chief Executive Officer of a publicly traded multimedia software development corporation, financed by a group of elite Swiss banks, the Government of Canada invited John to represent Canada's high technology industry during the Canada Japan Free Trade Negotiations. In his role as Chief Executive Officer, John eliminated all outstanding debt, settled all pending lawsuits, and resolved all Y2K software issues with hundreds of North American television stations and their respective broadcast networks. 

During his tenure as CEO, he invented and developed unique new software designed to control and distribute multi-media content worldwide to a host of electronic playback devices, proved it viable and effective in Beta Testing, and obtained a new round of financing from International Shareholders that drove his company’s shares to a tenfold increase on the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Earning "Most Traded Stock of the Day" recognition from the VSX, John’s new software and accompanying global delivery medium attracted an e-World Nomination for Best New Software and Internet e-Commerce Application of the year.

Since joining Thomas FX, John has been the driving force behind the company's dramatic diversification and global expansion in overseeing new product development, online marketing initiatives, manufacturing, and retail operations. Orchestrating Thomas FX's corporate and international business expansion, John ensures that the company's effectiveness, and profitability, is optimized while maintaining focus on innovation, and the underlying fair-minded ethical business practices that have set Thomas FX apart from its local and global competitors for more than five decades.

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John Completed a five-year programme in Urban Studies at the University of Manitoba, earned a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (F.R.I) designation, holds an MBA Degree in International Business Management (with distinction) from the Asia Pacific International Graduate School of Management, and Membership in Mensa Canada.

Formerly, an active volunteer with the Vancouver Board of Trade, John was a member of the Community Affairs Committee, the Economic Development Committee, and the Vancouver Downtown Eastside Task Force. He was also Co-Chair of the Board's Annual Business & the Arts Awards Committee, Chair of the Tourism Leisure & Entertainment Committee, and Chair of the Board's 2010 Olympic Bid Support Task Force, an initiative that proved overwhelming support from Vancouver's business community for launching Vancouver's successful 2010 Olympic Bid.

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On a personal front, John completed all levels of The Pursuit of Excellence personal development courses, including all advanced graduate courses, and has volunteered as a Coach and Team Captain in nearly 60 programs, assisting hundreds of people to live more effective lives and move toward achievement of their long-term goals.

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John is committed to making a difference in the world, to creating a dynamic environment where ongoing innovation and business excellence can flourish, and to forging 'win-win' relationships with clients and strategic partners worldwide. John's book, From Skid Row to CEO : Against All Odds ©, promotes the notion that nothing is impossible, and empowers people to embrace their fullest potential while maintaining healthy core values and high levels of personal integrity.