Three inducted into JA Business Hall of Fame

The Telegram | Published on May 20, 2015

Hundreds of business leaders gathered at the Delta St. John’s Hotel and Conference Centre Wednesday to honour three prominent men in the Newfoundland and Labrador’s business community.

Inducted into the Junior Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame were Charles Bell, former president and CEO and board chair of Bell Group of Cos.; Bernard Collins, former CEO and current board chairman of PF Collins International Trade Solutions Inc.; and H. Stanley Marshall, retired president and CEO of Fortis Inc.

Randy Bell

When Bell joined the Bell Group of Cos. in 1965, its sales were around $2.5 million and there were 37 employees. When he retired, sales had ballooned to $125 million and the company employed 426 people, said Bill Mahoney, honorary chairman for the hall of fame committee in 2015.

Along with expanding the company, Bell spent a lot of time helping community groups such as the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Rotary Club of St. John’s and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Tanny Collins

Collins was also inducted as a result of his work in a family business.

P.F. Collins was started by his grandfather in 1921, and eventually developed further by his father. In 1971, Collins joined the business, and took the helm in 1981.

Throughout his career, he volunteered with organizations such as Junior Achievement, Legends Swim Club, the Canadian Red Cross and Flight 491 Legacy Fund. He has also provided leadership for groups such as the St. John’s Board of Trade and Noia.

Stan Marshall

Marshall retired as the president and CEO of Fortis Inc. in 2014.

Under his leadership, the company’s total assets grew to almost $25 billion, with almost three million customers in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean, and more than 10,000 employees.

Marshall also put significant effort into community and charitable activities. In 2013, the company contributed $6 million to such groups.

The three men join more than 70 others who have been inducted into the hall of fame since its inception in 1990.