Some people are just meant to end up where they end up. Locally raised Sean Choo Foo has tried many different ventures in his career, but somehow he always seems to find his way back home. “I’m a local boy from Wawota and have moved away a few times but always happy when the path takes me back here.”
After getting his diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Sean enjoyed a lengthy career in hospitality and marketing. He often worked his way up to management positions, and always enjoyed the opportunity to work with the public and build successful ventures.
His list is impressive. From his days at the Kenosee Inn as Food and Beverage Manager to a Regina Chinese Food restaurant called Ho-lee Chow, then back to Kenosee Gardens and Bar-Bar as General Manager, he also spent many years in the casino business at both the Bear Claw Casino and at Sandy Hills Casino in Carberry. Along the way he was also an owner of a Brandon nightclub, a Pub and Grill in Whitewood, the Railway Station in Kipling, and a Steakhouse Pub in Moosomin.
I think it would be fair to say Sean is all about business and people. “Yes I have had many great learning experiences in my life. The Observer opportunity just brings me full circle.” With his extensive marketing and business savvy, Sean also understands what it takes to make a business successful, and the role of media. “I hear it all the time from people that newspapers are dying, but take a look at how many copies come out every week in Canada, and the role they play especially in smaller communities. We’ve survived radio, TV as well as the Internet and social media. In fact, we are much more like a media company with a printed product complimented with a digital platform and social media - a big part of what we do as well. We also can provide commercial printing to our customers. We are also about REAL news not fake.”
It was as a marketing manager where Sean became a big newspaper supporter especially when he saw how successful they were in getting his message out especially with Bear Claw. “It was during my time with the casino that I got to know Alison Dunning at the Observer. We just clicked and put together some great campaigns. When she announced she was leaving, the door nicely opened for me.”
With Alison now off to Medicine Hat, Sean moves into his new position as an advertising and marketing consultant. Home is still at Kenosee Lake and his mom still spends her summers here.
Yes big shoes to fill, but Sean also appreciates all the help and support Alison has provided him leading up to his starting next week. “Alison did such a great job here for many years. For me, I just find it awesome to re-connect with local businesses and be a part of the community again. I’ve already had a number of texts and emails welcoming me back. I even sold an ad on the golf course the other day and haven’t even started yet. I also just found out recently that I was starting during National Newspaper Week. How cool is that?”
Sean can be reached at 306-575-8577 or shoot him an email at foo_man00@hotmail.com.
