X-Treme Packaging Services Inc - Calgary

X-TREME Packaging Services Inc. was incorporated on November 9, 2006. Darren & Laura Exner began operation on January 12, 2007.

On April 4, 1983, Darren started working for MacMillan Bloedel Packaging, working his first day as a Pallet Repairman, repairing broken wooden pallets for use in the Corrugated factory. Over the next 3 months, he worked throughout the plant on machines like the corrugator, the Bobst Die Cutter, the Ward Rotary Die Cutter, the Flexo Folder Gluers and the finishing department. He then became the Assistant Shipper and forklift driver, loading trucks until September 1986.  This is when he was offered a position as Sales Service Representative. It meant a move from a unionized shiftwork job to an office desk job. Darren never looked back.

From that day forward, he learned the in's and out's of the box business, always letting his bosses know his goal was to become a Sales Representative selling boxes on the road . In February of 1990, with no opportunities for a sales position in the Calgary Sales office, Darren decided to leave MacMillan Bathurst Inc., and took a position with Echlin Canada Inc. to become a Territory Manager for the Alberta Region. While he enjoyed his work at Echlin and learned about the automotive aftermarket sales industry, corrugated was still his passion.

In October of 1991, a position opened in the Calgary sales office and Darren immediately made the call advising MBI he was ready to return to the box business.

From October 1991 - Dec 1999, Darren worked as a Sales Representative elevating himself to a senior position, acting as Sales manager when the need arose. On January 1, 2000 Darren was promoted to the position of Sales Manager, Calgary region and worked to grow the Southern Alberta Region. In February of 2004, Darren was again promoted to Alberta Region Sales Manager, now in charge of 10 Reps and the Sales for the entire province. It was a challenge that Darren welcomed.

By spring of 2006, with many changes occurring in the company, the market place and the job, Darren was looking for a new challenge.

In the summer of 2006, the opportunity presented itself for Darren to face that new challenge. An existing company, Specialty Packaging was floundering in Calgary. The owner lived in Vancouver and the operation was having trouble returning a profit.

Darren and Laura talked about the opportunity and by late October, the deal was well into negotiations, On December 6, 2006, the deal was signed and Darren resigned from Smurfit-MBI on December 30, 2006.

On January 12, 2007, Darren and Laura began operating their new company and have continued to grow the business.