Geoff Otten

Geoff Otten 2024Geoff Otten

President, Otter Valley Concrete

Vice-President, Philanthropy, Cardus

Hamilton, ON

 

About the Presenter

Beginning his career in business, Geoff successfully built Otter Valley Concrete from the ground up, eventually passing daily operations to a management team so that he could focus on further studies and work in the non-profit sector of Canada. Geoff's entrepreneurial journey started in late 2005 when he approached his father to help purchase equipment to provide concrete forming services. His dad joined as a partner in the business. In spring of 2006, Geoff graduated college and made his first hires, but the company grew too fast and suffered losses due to lack of training and infrastructure. In 2009 he got married, his largest client went insolvent, he considered bankruptcy, met with suppliers, and negotiated terms for a path forward. He was able to grow the company and bought out his dad. While growing the company up to 2017, he spent a lot of time volunteering at church and school. He recognized his need for more education, so he hired a general manager, and began studying part-time from home. From 2018 to 2022 he moved to Michigan for a Masters of Divinity. From 2022 to 2024 he sensed a call to work in Canada's public space utilizing business and theological skills. He moved back to Ontario and began working for Cardus, currently serving as VP of Philanthropy. He remains president and owner of Otter Valley Concrete. He has served on church council and on several school boards in Oxford County and Hamilton, ON, where he currently lives with his family.

 

About the Presentation

Topic: The Callings of Business & Ministry: One or the Other?

  • What is the interplay between "ministry" and "work?"
  • Do people chose one or the other?
  • What does it mean to be "bi-vocational?"
  • Is there a positive synergy to blending both ministry and work?
  • What are biblical principles that are relevant?