Turning Tragedy into Triumph
By B. Ann Jones and Vanessa Lee

A single mother at 37 with three young kids, and a meat packing business...how did she overcome her many obstacles?

LuAn Mitchell-Halter knows too well the meaning of the word ‘obstacle'. She has overcome many of them, and today she is a wealthy entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, corporate executive, philanthropist, wife and mother.

After her husband Fred Mitchell, the president of one of Western Canada's largest companies, Intercontinental Packers (now Mitchell's Gourmet Foods), passed away in October of 1998, she was left with a young family to raise, and many business challenges to overcome.

"There was a time in my life, when I thought I had everything under control," said Mitchell-Halter. "I thought I had it all worked out."

Many did not think she had the will, or the knowledge, to run the meat packing business. But instead of selling her shares, Mitchell-Halter rallied her board members, shareholders, employees and customers to help drive the "corporate vultures" away and keep Mitchell's Gourmet Foods on track. She and her late husband had developed a blueprint for their business and she was going to see it through.

"You have to go with your gut feeling, and go with what you feel is right," said Mitchell-Halter. "Believe you have the right to follow your instincts."

In 1999, she established the Fred Mitchell Memorial Scholarship, in memory of her late husband, which provides economically challenged youth a chance to create a better life for themselves and others.

She was recently remarried to Dr. Reese Halter, and currently resides in Banff, Alberta.

"I never thought I would get married again," said Mitchell-Halter. "For three years after my first husband's death I didn't even date. It too my daughter who was nine at the time, to introduce me to a nice man whom I dated for a short time. She really helped me overcome the barrier that I built around myself."

Mitchell-Halter has just recently released her first book, Paper Doll: Lessons Learned From a Life Lived in the Headlines, in which she shares her story, along with insight and advice on setting and achieving goals.

In fact, one of her current challenges is her book tour, which is taking her all over North America and Australia, and often away from loved ones. Still, she emphasized that family comes first.

"I think people don't plan and just think that the people they care about will always be there, but you have to plan and take advantage of those moments," said Mitchell-Halter. "I even have weekly family meetings where we plan our week, and people get chores to do and so on. It's still hard on the tour because I do miss my family but I call them and they call me all the time, so we always stay connected."

For three consecutive years, she was named Canada's Number One Female Entrepreneur by Chatelaine and Profit magazines. Mitchell-Halter is currently the President and CEO of Save the Planet Holdings. She also serves on a number of boards, including the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Women's Leadership Board, ACE Canada and the University of Saskatchewan's Institute of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Health.

When asked what she is most proud of, this was her response:

"I am vain - not in a negative way, but I like the way I look. I'm over 40, and I was jus put on the cover of magazine. I feel great about that. I'm not saying women have to be slim. Women have to feel good about how they look no matter what size or age they are and they should be honest with themselves about that. If they would feel better slimmer, then they need to be honest about that and make time to work out and do what their body needs for them to reach their goal. Women should feel good about who they are, and I do because I know what is important to me and I feel good about accomplishing my goal."