Remembering Gerry Pond

Gerry Pond filled this community with energy, optimism, and possibility. He gave his time freely, believed deeply in people, and had a way of encouraging you at exactly the moment you needed it. So many of us carry something he shared, a spark of confidence, a piece of advice that opened a door, or simply the joy of knowing he believed in what we were building long before we understood it ourselves.

We want to celebrate that spirit and keep it alive. That's why TechImpact is creating a living wall, a tribute page that will grow and brighten over time as our members and the tech community share their stories, memories, and reflections of Gerry. It will be a place filled with the same warmth, generosity, and forward momentum he brought to every room he entered.

In the weeks ahead, TechImpact members and anyone who worked with, learned from, or was mentored by Gerry are invited to contribute their reflections. As these tributes come in, we'll keep adding them, creating a joyful, collective celebration of the impact he had on all of us. We want you to leave this page with a smile on your face and energy to keep thinking BIG.

Anne, thank you for sharing your husband with us. Suzanne and Greg, thank you for sharing your father. For so many people, Gerry became a father figure of support and encouragement. We hope that as you read the stories on this page, you'll see the tremendous impact he made on so many. His legacy lives on in the companies he helped build, the entrepreneurs he championed, and the community that continues to grow because of the foundation he laid. His influence is woven into the successes, the friendships, and the sense of possibility that define our tech and innovation community today, and it will continue to inspire us for many years ahead.

Long before Ted Lasso taped a crooked “Believe” sign above a locker room door, there was Gerry Pond, believing in people, believing in New Brunswick, and believing in what we could accomplish together. His belief wasn’t a slogan. It was a force that changed careers, companies, and the trajectory of an entire province. 

When I moved to Saint John in June of 1990, I thought I’d stay at NBTel for two years and then head off to “bigger and better things.” What I didn’t know was that I had walked into one of the most visionary leadership teams anywhere.  A group that saw a future for the company, the province, and for young people like me that I couldn’t yet imagine. Gerry and others believed in us long before we had the confidence to believe in ourselves. And when someone like Gerry believes in you, you don’t leave, you stay and GROW.

I found myself working in customer service, product management, IPTV, the living lab.  Who builds a living room in the middle of a telco network building so that when telecom companies come from all over the world to see what we were doing with technology, they can experience it like a customer would, in a down-to-earth living room.  Gerry does that.  These were things I didn’t even know existed, let alone dreamed I’d be part of. It was empowering in the truest, most exhilarating way. Gerry helped create an environment where young people felt trusted, capable, and part of something remarkable.

That belief carried forward into everything that came next.  It was the founding of Propel, the work at NBIF, the calls from Gerry checking in, asking how things were going, reminding me of the importance of capital for New Brunswick founders. No matter what I worked on after NBTel, there was always this sense of accountability to Gerry. When he asked you to meet, to help, to take on a special project, you didn’t hesitate. You said yes. And it was a privilege every single time.

When we re‑imagined the KIRA Awards into InnovateNB, we knew we needed a new honour — a Hall of Fame Award to celebrate champions of innovation in our province. The partners agreed instantly, and there was only one person who could receive the inaugural award.  There was no debate, no second choice. It was always him.

I’ll never forget telling him he was the first inductee. He was thrilled.  And every September after that, I would visit him to talk through nominees for the next Hall of Fame Award. We’d discuss impact, longevity, leadership, economic contribution and we’d build a list together. If someone didn’t make the shortlist that year, he’d smile and say, “It will just be a matter of time.” He believed in people’s journeys. He believed in their potential. And he believed in New Brunswick’s ability to grow because of them.

His award sits proudly in his living room today and he told me many times how special it was to him. If you look at the winners since 2022, you’ll see threads that lead back to Gerry in profound ways. His influence is woven through every story.

Last year, we were so fortunate that he could join us at the InnovateNB Awards. Seeing him in the audience, being able to speak about him from the stage, and then watching 450 people rise to their feet in a standing ovation was pure magic. He smiled ear to ear, he felt the love in that room, and he heard, again and again, how deeply he shaped this community.  This was the community that he built over his lifetime. 

Sometimes, all you need is someone who believes.  It’s that person in your corner, someone who helps you see the path forward when you can’t see it yourself. Gerry was that person for so many of us. He was believing long before Ted Lasso made it trendy, and we continue to BELIEVE today because he taught us how.

His belief wasn’t just encouragement. It was joy. It was momentum and possibility. And it lives on in every entrepreneur he lifted up, every company he helped build, every young person he inspired, and every one of us who carries a piece of what he gave.

We BELIEVE because Gerry did and because he showed us how.

-Cathy Simpson
CEO, TechImpact

I've been thinking about Gerry's legacy and what he meant to our community. I'm amazed by the impact he had and by the stories people continue to share. I honestly don't know how he found the time to do everything he did—to mentor so many people, help create so many success stories, and still make each person feel like they mattered.

I've also been thinking about the many conversations we shared over the years and how much they shaped me, both personally and professionally.

I was fortunate to work with and within Gerry's organizations through much of my career. No matter how busy he was, or how early I was in my career, he never just walked by. He knew my name, asked how I was doing, what I was working on, and took a genuine interest. From our very first interactions, that stuck with me. He made people feel like they mattered, and people wanted to work with—and for—someone like that.

Through the years, our interactions always involved some heavy thinking and plenty of laughter—we had a fun banter. In larger meetings, you never quite knew where a conversation with Gerry would end up. He'd take you off the agenda, challenge your thinking, and somehow you'd leave looking at things differently.

 What amazes me most is the variety of things Gerry was always orchestrating, even while facing his own challenges. It seemed like nothing could stop him. We all know about his Innovation legacy, Radian6, Q1 Labs, and so many other accomplishments. One moment I'll never forget was a phone call I received one Sunday while he was in the ICU with COVID and pneumonia. I could hear the monitors beeping in the background. In the middle of what most would consider serious health issues, he was trying to connect with people to help get a football program started at UNB Saint John. He believed football could create a culture that brings people together, builds community, and gives people a sense of belonging. Even then, he was thinking about how to strengthen our ecosystem.

 My last in-person conversation with Gerry was at the Innovate NB Awards last fall. True to form, it started with him throwing a comment my way, followed by, "We need to talk. Let's find some time to connect next week." We did, and I'm grateful we had that conversation. Looking back, it was another example of Gerry taking the time to reach out, share his perspective, and make sure the people around him had what they needed to succeed.

 That's who Gerry was. He cared deeply about people, believed in community, and never stopped encouraging us to think bigger and go after what others thought wasn't possible. 

I kind of wish I had one more go at the banter and the conversation.

 Thank you, Gerry.

- Nancy Butler, Mariner

There are very few Atlantic Canadians that so much could be said or written about. I was quite simply privileged and honoured to be in a very small way connected to his very large life and career. I was witness to and, like many others, lucky enough to be a part of some of those iconic achievements that he either initiated or significantly influenced via his extraordinary visionary and people leadership. Much has been and will be written about his iconic achievements such as NBTel being recognized as North America’s Most Innovative Small Telco, the PNB and NBTel Call Center and Information Highway partnership, the creation of the Living Lab, his personal rise through the ranks of NBTel, and all his post NBTel career ICT industry, start-up and community impacts. All of these achievements have had long term impacts on the people and the economy of our province and will have for many years to come. Those of us connected to them have benefited greatly in some form or fashion. Awarded and recognized so many times, I jokingly told him I was getting tired of going to all his award ceremonies.

What particularly amazes me is how he created so many lifelong business and personal relationships while accomplishing these achievements. He had a unique ability to create excitement and passion around everything he did, drew people into the fold, and then, in with his “Gerry’s Way”, create the required focus to get things done. His “Gerry’s Way” was quite the thing to experience. Often many of his NBTel “proteges” joked about Gerry having an Arts Major in Psychology. We laughed about how maybe we were part of a human living lab experiment, which may have been not that far from the truth. I remember at his Bell Aliant retirement gathering on the infamous Brunswick Square 18th floor, he introduced me for the first time to Anne as “one of his students, … one of the slower ones”. Two thoughts came immediately to mind

First, yes, we were part of his experiment, and secondly, I was tickled pink that he even thought of me as one of his students, slow or not. The “Gerry’s Way” was always direct, tough at times, but always fair … and his feedback was always delivered in a way that made you understand and connect his comments to broader objectives or something you may have overlooked. You may have come out of these discussions a little bruised, but always inspired, engaged and motivated to achieve the task. I recall one our personal discussions about a project I was working on. He started with, “I am going to tell you something because I know you can take it”.. His directness and honesty were balanced with his sincerity to make you and the project at hand better. He created a sense of connectiveness. For example, while working in Fredericton a little over a year, I remember Pam calling me and asking if I was available for dinner with Gerry that evening. I said yes, of course. When I asked what he was in town for, he said, “I came to see you. I asked you to move here, and I want to know how you are doing, …”. I know he had that level of connection with so many, but somehow, he made me feel uniquely connected. He had a rare talent and charisma that created a following with genuine loyalty. That was classic Gerry, and I know most of us would have been willing to walk the plank for him.

Along with this interpersonal approach and his inspiring visionary thinking, he was part of a core group of leaders at NBTel that promoted what I believe Dan Doiron coined “Intrapreneurship”. Many of us were given pieces of the business to run like a mini-business within the larger corporation. We were responsible for the end-to-end profit and loss statements and had to report to the “board” monthly. You guessed it, the board was chaired by Gerry and “Gerry’s way”! It was this culture that gave many of us the confidence and business fundamentals to successfully explore our own businesses and other career opportunities when we left the Telco. It was the best real-life MBA experience that one could ever experience.

After he left the phone company, he carried on his “Gerry’s Way” into the world of ICT start-ups, becoming the God Father of the tech sector after repeatable successes in growing and exiting a few start-ups. He invested in the people more than the business opportunity, looking to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs. He never lost sight of the end goal, to achieve that $1B ICT company, headquartered in NB … someday, Gerry, we will get there. As the East Valley folks have said, our best way to honor Gerry is to carry on with his “Project”.

For me personally, after he left Bell Aliant, our relationship changed. Up until that point he was my boss’s boss kind of thing, the guy you had to answer to, but at the same time, someone you’d looked up to and respected. After I left the phone company, and Roxanne and I purchased Innovatia, Gerry was the first guy we called to be part of our Advisory Board. Quickly, Gerry not only became an advisor, but he became my business confidant, collaborator on number of ICT community things, and eventually a true friend. Again, genuine to the core, he always wanted to know what was going on in my world, both personal and business. I will truly miss those texts ;“Hi Gerry, are you up for a visit?”, to which most times his reply was, “Would love to see you, business or social?”

I remember someone telling me that once you retire, people move on, and you’re forgotten. This was the furthest thing from the truth for Gerry. He got a lot of those texts and emails seeking his time, and he made every effort to do so, even taking such visits and calls from his hospital bed at times. Amazingly, I am just one of many who will miss visits with Gerry. Whether it was the younger folks associated with the start-up community, new Premiers seeking advice, his older NBTel colleagues, or pretty much anyone looking for help to advance our community, Gerry was in constant demand right up to his passing.

Again, personally speaking, both Gerry and Jack Travis were like “work-dads” to me throughout different times in my career, and both Jane and I owe so much to them both. I simply want to say thank you!

To Anne, Suzanne and Greg, Jane and I want to express our most sincere condolences. Thank you for sharing Gerry with our community. Specifically, to Anne, we are so gratefully that through our relationship with Gerry, we have got to know you. You are equally an amazing a person!

- Dave Grebenc, Innovatia

Gerry was a friend, colleague, mentor and supporter.

I retired back to PEI and Atlantic Canada in 2014 after being ‘away’ for over 30 years. Around 2016-17 I began to develop the concept and to lay the plans for what would become Island Capital Partners (ICP)

I was invited to attend a information session in Moncton sponsored by NACO. While I knew of Gerry, it was at that session I first met him and we chatted about the innovation ecosystem, early-stage capital and the concept of ICP. A short while later, I received an email that he would be in Charlottetown and invited me to breakfast.

I knew of Gerry’s reputation and all the things he was involved with so I assumed that with his schedule I would have an hour with him. Over 2 hours later we were still talking, and he was mentoring and advising through his stories, questions and observations. It was one of the most valuable breakfast meetings I attended over my 35-year career.

Through the discussion I talked about the new incubator in Charlottetown (Start Up Zone) of which I was Chair. He wanted to know if we could we walk down the street to visit the space. I introduced him to the CEO and the Program Manager and that was it. He became fully engaged with them and over 2 hours later he had met almost every founder in the space. Not just met them, he was intently interested in what they were doing and, once again, through his questions and stories was mentoring each and every one of them.

What I thought would be a 1-hour breakfast turned out to be a 5-hour mentoring session. That was Gerry

Over time we spent many hours together – over a meal, as fellow board members, on panels together. And I knew he was only ever a phone call way if I needed advice, a provocative perspective or a friendly ear to listen.

The many tributes to Gerry speak to his impact and his friendship. I was fortunate to be the beneficiary of both.

- Alex MacBeath, Island Capital Partners

An unbelievable loss and even more an unbelievable man

-Steve Burns, Bulletproof Solutions

Jeff White wrote a beautiful tribute on LinkedIn to Gerry. I read it and realized he'd said nearly everything I feel — so rather than pretend otherwise, I'll simply add my own thread to it. And encourage everyone to read it.

I met Gerry more than thirty years ago, at the very start of my career, when he was leading marketing at NBTel and I was on the other side of the table as a young consultant. He was already doing then what he would do for the next four decades: refusing to accept that New Brunswick's future should be defined by its limitations. In the years since, he became a colleague, a mentor, a co-investor, and — as for so many of us — the standard we measured ourselves against.

What was most visceral for me was his absolute commitment to this province combined with the guts to live by his values. Not sentiment — conviction. Gerry believed we could build world-class capability and capacity here, and he spent his life proving it: through the companies he built and backed, the entrepreneurs he championed, and the hundreds of people he quietly made better at what they do. Jeff put it exactly right: the true measure of a leader is what they enable others to accomplish. By that measure, Gerry may be the most successful leader this province has ever produced.

He never gave you the answer. He asked the question that made you find it — then gave you the confidence to act on it.

The best way to honour him is to continue the work. Keep building here. Keep believing in people. Keep the door open for whoever's next.

Thank you, Gerry. We'll take it from here.

-Jon Barry, MNP

Gerry had a rare ability to see what was possible, bring the right people together, and turn ideas into action and businesses. He did it naturally, with passion, warmth and a great sense of humour.

I saw that firsthand at McCain Foods, when he brought together several New Brunswick tech firms, including Mariner, Innovatia and T4G, plus early stage startups he was mentoring or supporting: Porpoise, Alongside and SmartSkin. The initiative did not yield an immediate breakthrough or unicorn, but planted important seeds that reshaped the corporate incubation program I was leading, and helped us identify new applications for advanced analytics and digital technologies, including the precision agriculture pioneering work McCain is doing today.

Gerry’s optimism was contagious. His influence extended beyond individual projects and helped McCain’s leadership think differently about innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

He was also a close advisor and friend to Fiddlehead’s founders, Shawn and David, which gave me a privileged view of how generously he supported entrepreneurs. To me, Gerry was a mentor and trusted advisor who introduced me to many technology leaders and broadened my own sense of what was possible.

The last time I spoke with Gerry was at a McKenna Institute event in St. Andrews. His health was clearly declining, but his clarity, curiosity and drive were as strong as ever.

-Nestor Gomez, BrightLine Solutions Inc.