Acquen Partners Launches

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Tuesday, October 13, 2026
A new Saskatchewan partnership is bringing together experienced operators and advisors to acquire, operate and grow established small and mid-sized businesses for the long term, rather than short-term acquisition for exit or resale. Acquen Partners offers a succession option that preserves a company’s identity, local leadership, people and community ties while providing experienced support in operations, finance and culture, governance, legal strategy, risk and growth.

Acquen’s launch coincides with a significant wave of business ownership transitions in Canada. According to a 2026 study by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), nearly one in five small- and mid-size business owners plan to exit within five years. These businesses generate approximately 50% of Canada’s GDP, so successful succession is critical to preserving jobs, strengthening communities and supporting future economic growth.

“Deciding what comes next can be one of an owner’s most significant and worrisome decisions,” said Pavan Sidhu. Operating Partner with Acquen Partners. “It isn’t simply a transaction. Owners think about their employees, customers, reputation, community and whether what they built will thrive. We created Acquen to offer another succession option, bringing experienced operators and advisors as owners committed to preserving what makes a business exceptional and strengthening it for its next chapter.”

Acquen brings together four Saskatchewan business leaders with complementary expertise in operations, finance, people and culture, entrepreneurship, law, governance, acquisitions, business transformation and growth. Operating Partners Pavan Sidhu and Leslie Doka bring extensive executive and operational leadership experience in construction. Sidhu has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, including at Amrize, formerly Lafarge, where she led construction materials and services businesses with full profit-and-loss responsibility for more than $100 million in annual revenue. Doka has nearly 30 years of experience strengthening operations, developing teams and turning strategy into results, including 22 years as a Wright Construction executive pursuing and executing projects valued at up to $800 million.

They are joined by Advisory Partners Rosalie Hughes, Founder and CEO of Hughes Collective and Co-Founder of Catalyst Talent Solutions, and Jared Epp, a Partner with Robertson Stromberg LLP. Hughes brings nearly two decades of experience in entrepreneurship, executive search, people strategy, succession and business advisory, supported by a national and international talent network. Epp brings nearly two decades of experience advising entrepreneurs, owners and executives on governance, shareholder and commercial relationships, risk and strategy. Together, they offer expertise rarely available to a small or mid-sized company through one ownership group.

“Business challenges rarely exist in isolation,” said Jared Epp, Advisory Partner. “A growth decision can quickly raise questions about people, capital, operations, governance or succession. In each business we acquire, we bring several experienced perspectives to work alongside those who know it best, considering those decisions together to build long-term strength.”

Acquen is seeking established Saskatchewan businesses with strong values, reputations and customer relationships built over decades that are suited to long-term ownership and investment. The partnership can support full or gradual ownership transition, and depending on the business, strengthen leadership, organizational structure, systems and processes or pursue untapped growth. Its approach starts by understanding what made the company successful, what the owner wants to preserve and what the next chapter requires.

“We deeply respect Saskatchewan business owners,” said Sidhu. “They have created jobs, developed people, served customers and strengthened communities. When there is a good fit, we want to steward what they built responsibly and make a strong business even stronger over time.”

Acquen will build on each company’s established legacy while making the investments and providing the leadership and capabilities needed for its next stage of growth. Acquen’s approach is captured in its guiding statement: “Preserving what matters. Strengthening what’s next.”

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About Acquen Partners
Acquen Partners is a Saskatchewan-based partnership that acquires, operates and grows exceptional small and mid-sized businesses for the long term. Its operating and advisory partners come together as owners, offering a distinctive succession option that honours what has been built and brings the leadership, investment and expertise to strengthen each business for its next chapter of growth.

For more information, visit www.acquenpartners.com or contact info@acquenpartners.com.

Pavan Sidhu, CPA, CMA, MBA | Operating Partner
Pavan brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in operations, finance, leadership and business transformation. At Amrize, formerly Lafarge, she led businesses generating more than $100 million in annual revenue. At Acquen, she combines operational discipline with collaborative, people-first leadership to strengthen portfolio companies, develop teams and support long-term growth.

Leslie Doka | Operating Partner
Leslie brings nearly 30 years of experience in operational leadership, team development and strategic execution, including 22 years as an executive at Wright Construction. At Acquen, she helps portfolio companies build on their strengths, navigate transitions and establish the systems and operational foundations needed for growth. Her approach centres on trust, accountability and practical execution.

Jared Epp, BA, JD, EMBA | Advisory Partner
Jared brings nearly two decades of experience working with entrepreneurs, business owners and executive teams. A Partner at Robertson Stromberg LLP, he combines legal expertise with executive business education and a broad understanding of governance, commercial relationships and risk. At Acquen, he contributes to acquisition assessment, ownership transitions and strategic decisions that position portfolio companies for long-term success.

Rosalie Hughes, B.Comm., RPR, CTMP, CPHR | Advisory Partner
Rosalie brings nearly 20 years of experience in recruitment, people strategy and business growth. As Founder & CEO of Hughes Collective and Co- Founder of Catalyst Talent Solutions, she understands the personal investment behind building a business. At Acquen, she focuses on owner relationships, succession and transitions, while shaping customer growth strategies, connecting talent and identifying opportunities for innovation.