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"He had a party and Peter's partner [Nelson Skalbania] was there," Steven recalls. We started talking and I told him I was born on a farm and found my career choice constraining. He told me to stay in touch. I thought,'Yeah, it's likely just cocktail party talk.' Then I called him and I went to his office. We went into his boardroom. He said,'How much do you want to be paid?' I said,'It doesn't matter.' I didn't know about these things. He asked again. I said much the same thing. He asked again and I had no idea what to say. I pulled the figure $3500 out of the air. He said,'I'll give you $4500' and that was when I started working for Peter Thomas and Nelson Skalbania.

"I remember meeting Peter and driving around in one of his cars, and I knew that there was something about this guy - that if he didn't want me around I was going to be very disappointed."

As it turns out, Steven didn't have to worry. One moment he was a resident in oral surgery, the next he was working for two fast-moving entrepreneurs whose entire approach to life was full of enthusiasm - and anything but 9 to 5.

"Those guys were amazing. I like to say I took my MBA and PhD with those guys," says Steven. "At first, I was just a Joe boy, really, and often in very over my head. These guys would just turn me loose. Peter will tell you how in my first month - because I had some experience with farming and land - I tied up a property and someone gave us a million more than we paid it for. Peter gave me accolades for that."

The experience Steven gained with Peter and Nelson was invaluable, he says. He particularly credits the time he spent with Peter to helping him shape his future. "I probably ran around the six-mile sea wall in Vancouver with him in the coldest months of the year and the most beautiful. When you do that many times you get to be close friends and know each other well. Talking with him is motivational."

"The darndest thing is watching Peter run," Steven laughs. "He's what you'd call a 'thud runner'! It's the most awkward thing."

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