Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kevin serves as the Founder and President of Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG). He holds the distinction of being the innovator behind the groundbreaking Illuminated School Bus Sign and Fully Illuminated Stop Arm, both of which have found extensive use on school buses throughout North America. Kevin plays a pivotal role in managing operations in Canada, the United States, Vietnam, and China. His impressive business acumen and unwavering commitment to the company are reflected in his ability to cultivate positive and mutually beneficial relationships with valued customers, implement strategic approaches to foster product growth, and empower individuals within the organization to consistently deliver their utmost efforts.

Cam, Vice President of Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG), plays a pivotal role in the operation’s behind-the-scenes activities. As an accomplished, award-winning performer, Cam is recognized for her exemplary customer service, innovation, sales achievements, leadership abilities, and strong teamwork skills in multinational organizations. A strong believer in a positive culture and diverse workforce, she is experienced in leading continuous improvement initiatives in a variety of diverse sectors including transportation, manufacturing, food processing, industrial, aerospace, mining, and government. With an MBA under her belt, she is responsible for leading and inspiring world class teams in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and human resources.

With over 20 years of experience, Michael is an innovative, out-of-the-box thinker that holds numerous design patents. Michael is a well rounded, strategic thinker that rose through the ranks and now leads our Mechanical Engineering team. The safety of children and the success of the SMG team is what motivates Michael.  During his down time Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends.

With over 15 years of accounting and financial expertise in various leadership roles, Matt heads up our Finance department. His is a strategic thinker and true problem solver that is motivated by the success of his team. With a can-do attitude, he’s continuously looking for opportunities for improvement in SMG’s fast-paced environment. During his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children and volunteering.

Monique, aka Niq, is passionate about PEOPLE! She is a true believer and champion in creating a culture that is positive, fun and engaging. Niq excels at building our team with top talent and creating strategies for growth and retention.  Often energetic and enthusiastic, she is at her peak performance when she is making a difference in the lives of those around her – be it family, co-workers or friends.

Jovan brings a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years in the supply chain industry.  Having worked in a variety of different capacities in supply chain, he focuses on ensuring material is delivered on schedule and within budget.  Jovan seeks to build strong supplier relationships to assist in achieving organizational cost savings goals. His motivation comes from his family and the desire to do meaningful work at SMG.

Born and raised in the tight-knit community of Greenville, TX, Stephen Climer has always valued strong family bonds and a solid work ethic. Joining First Light Safety Products (a subsidiary of SMG) in 2020 as a Regional Account Executive, he brought a fresh perspective and a strong background in education and finance. Stephen expanded the market presence of First Light Safety Products nationwide and built key relationships with major public education organizations. Holding a Finance degree from Texas A&M University, he has earned numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to sales, driven by his dedication to family, client safety, and team success. Stephen is an active member of professional organizations such as Texas Association of Pupil Transportation, and Florida Association of Pupil Transportation and is now taking on a new role joining the Smartrend Management team as the Category Sales Manager & OEM Account Executive.

Born in Burnaby, BC, but residing in Winnipeg for most of her life, Hope grew up making friends wherever she went and always expressed a genuine interest in meeting new people. When she was older, she realized she could turn that into a full-time career! Hope thrives on talking to new people, cultivating relationships, and helping others problem-solve. In 2021, she joined First Light Safety Products, a subsidiary of SMG, and now she has the exciting opportunity to work with Smartrend Manufacturing (SMG) as an Inside Sales Representative. Here, she continues to leverage her interpersonal skills to create new connections and drive meaningful collaboration.