Photos by Ralph Freso
Sometimes innovation starts with the right connection.
When Canadian entrepreneur Jerry Hanna sought to expand his water treatment company, ClearFlow Group, into the United States, his plans appeared stymied by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately, Hanna had hired Hank Marshall, a veteran Arizona economic developer. That move helped ClearFlow steer in the right direction.
Marshall previously worked for the city of Phoenix and had a personal and professional connection to Grand Canyon University.
His son, Scott, a pole vaulter, was GCU’s first student-athlete to compete at the Division I NCAA Track and Field Indoor and Outdoor Championships (in 2018) and earned a degree in biomedical engineering.
More importantly, Marshall knew Robert Vera, who was starting Canyon Ventures, a GCU-based student innovation center and place designed to help startups thrive.
“I thought, ‘This is brilliant,’” Hanna said. “How can we work together and help your students?”
The seeds of a remarkable transformation began to blossom. Through the resources and support provided by Canyon Ventures, which included access to student engineers, ClearFlow developed DualPool, a product designed to thoroughly improve swimming pool water quality.
And following a recommendation from Vera at a GCU job fair, Marshall hired Delia Van Heukelem, a standout business management major and former president of GCU’s Project Management Club, as ClearFlow’s first full-time U.S. employee in May 2022.
“She’s brilliant,” Hanna said.
In three years, Van Heukelem earned the trust of Hanna and Marshall and advanced as a business development manager.
“It wasn't about a job,” Marshall said. “It was about something that would challenge her in every way, and not wait 10 years to be able to demonstrate what she was capable of doing.”
Van Heukelem, former president of the GCU Project Management Club, had offers to join other companies. But she trusted the vision of Hanna and Marshall in her opportunity to grow at a steady pace parallel with the company’s development in the United States.
“It's my first job out of college, and I wanted to make sure I make the right decision,” Van Heukelem said. “I felt a lot of pressure to pick the right one.”
After discussing her options with a couple of mentors who asked which company will push you to be better, “It was definitely ClearFlow.”
At the start, Van Heukelem learned all facets of the business, from daily operations to supply chain to warehouse production to international and national logistics.
DualPool is a cartilage system designed to separate debris and contaminants more effectively than traditional filtration systems. Its design reduces the necessity for harsh pool chemicals as well as making water “wetter” – enhancing absorption and circulation.
Also, the less reliance on chemicals enables DualPool to provide clear water while reducing environmental impact and maintenance costs.
With DualPool now expanding to commercial markets, Van Heukelem is focusing more on business development and sales.
“I've been sent to a couple of states to run some of our projects right off the bat, and it's been really fun to learn,” said Van Heukelem, who has traveled to at least five states, handling 10 projects on the East and West coasts.
The plan is to groom Van Heukelem for a management-level position. Her high business acumen and ability to connect with customers have impressed Hanna and Marshall, who now include her in interviews for prospective hires.
“She’s been that good,” said Hanna, adding that Van Heukelem has input in building a market and raising its profile. “… She's moving up the ladder, and that ladder seems to be becoming an escalator.”
ClearFlow’s success, thanks to its partnership with Canyon Ventures, could serve as a springboard for other technologies and emerging leaders. At the same time, more GCU students could gain valuable experience and feedback from experts.
The partnership has potential for expansion. Hanna, who also lectures at the University of Alberta, recently brought fellow entrepreneur and professor Luke Butterworth to GCU to examine potential collaborations with the two universities and the potential for more success stories like Van Heukelem.
“It speaks to her, and it speaks to the caliber of people that GCU is putting out,” Marshall said. “… I would say the caliber of people that (GCU) putting out is top tier, first class. And you know, if I could clone her a million times, I would today.”
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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