Randy learned his work ethic growing up in the small farming community of Magrath in Southern Alberta. He moved to Edmonton in 1985 to attend the University of Alberta, where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering (1989 Co-op). In both his third and fourth years at school, he entered separate projects into the Canadian Engineering Competition where we won at the national level each time. One of the projects, a device to help a friend who had suffered a high-level spinal cord injury, spawned a new company that Randy founded as soon as graduating in the spring of 1989. The project allowed his friend, who was paralysed and couldn’t speak, to communicate better with those around him.

Randy commenced work at Madentec immediately upon graduating, where he has served as President and CEO for the past 20 years. He has presented and published numerous papers and articles on the subject of accessibility and adapted computer input solutions. The company’s products are sold worldwide, including portions licensed by Microsoft for inclusion in every copy of Windows since 1998.

Randy has received numerous awards, appeared in the media, and served on many industry boards and steering committees. He is a recognised leader in the field of Assistive Technology, as evidenced by some of the more notable awards and positions held outside the company as shown below:

• Recipient of ASTech Award (Societal Impact) 2008
• Canadian delegate on ISO standards committees related to computers
• Recipient of “Best New Product” Award – American Dental Association, 2007
• Advisor on disabilities law to the US Federal Government (TEITAC), 2006-2008
• Vice President and Board Member of the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
• Key disabilities solutions consultant to Apple, Microsoft, and Muhammad Ali
• Invited by Bill Gates to represent disabilities community at Microsoft’s Innovation Day, 1998
• Recipient of “Cool Companies” Award – 2004
• Recipient of CIPS Award (Canadian Information Processing Society) 1999
• Recipient of Canada National IWAY Award 1998
• Recipient of Provincial ASTech Award (Alberta Science and Technology) 1996
• Recipient of Provincial Export Award (Alberta Business) 1995
• Recipient of Industrial Design Magazine Award 1995
• Recipient of Early Achievement Award – APEGGA (Professional Engineers) 1995
• President – Electronics Industry Association of Alberta 1993
• Recipient of the Walter Dinsdale National Award 1993
• Recipient of IEEE Life Member Award 1990
• Canadian Engineering Competition: 1st place (1989)

Randy currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife and five children. He actively participates in recreational sports, and coaches baseball, volleyball, and basketball at the community and school levels. He is also active in music and church activities, and can play the piano, guitar, trumpet, and accordion. Randy lived in Japan for 2 years and speaks Japanese fluently.