Profile
Born in 1958, Danny Lyon grew up in Barons, Alberta, Canada with 2 brothers and a sister. The family owned a gas service station for several decades, selling in 1972 and then owning the Barons Hotel for 5 years in the Seventies. Barons was (and is) a small town of about 250 people which acted as Lyon’s learning grounds for business, commerce, networking, and “exposing oneself” for success.
Grades 10 through 12 students were bussed to Lethbridge, a city of about 50,000, 30 miles away, and after finishing High School in 1976, Danny went to work for Alberta Government Telephones (which later became Telus). This led to completion of a Diploma of Technology in Telecommunications at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta – graduating in 1979.
Lyon spent 20+ years in the telecom industry as a technician and contractor in the installation, test and acceptance of long haul transmission systems. He specialized in fiber optic transmission. From 1986 to 1992, Lyon worked throughout the United States as well as Puerto Rico and Guam, and then relocated to Thailand for 4 years to help install, test and maintain the country’s first working nationwide fiber optic transmission system.
During his years in telecommunications, Lyon learned, developed and utilized skills as a manager, “in-charge”, and supervisor, including the necessary ability to co-ordinate between several companies and many contacts on any one project. He didn’t know it at the time but that project management ability was crucial to the success of his businesses later on.
It was during the telecom “on the road” years that Lyon was lucky enough to be found by the beautiful and vivacious Miss Connie Campbell. They married in February of 1990 and together they have three ultra-fantastic kids Tommy (17), Davey (15) and Maggie (13). The two youngest children were born in Thailand.
Upon returning to Canada from the project in Thailand in 1996, Connie and Danny opened a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise in Lethbridge. The business was a great success, winning a couple of Franchise awards in its very first year. After several unsuccessful attempts to expand to more stores, the Lyon’s partnered with Connie’s sister Kathy Campbell and bought the Area Franchise rights for Mail Boxes Etc. in the Prairie Provinces in 1998. Their responsibilities as Area Franchisees was to develop the system by helping people get into business for themselves, as well as provide ongoing operational support to the existing Franchisees. What a great learning experience the journey has been and the Franchisees in their Area helped Kathy, Connie and Danny win the International Area Franchisee of the Year Award in 2001. Their current Area now includes Alberta, Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories with 47 operating stores – and more on the way. They just renewed their Area Franchise Agreement for another ten years.
Lyon loves sports, especially baseball, running and competitive curling. He has competed in three Canadian National Baseball Championships and a Western Canada Collegiate Curling Championship - all representing the Province of Alberta. Danny has been on teams representing Southern Alberta at six Provincial Curling Championships. In addition, as of his 50th birthday, Lyon had completed 51 marathons (42 kilometers or 26.2 miles), with a lifetime goal of completing 100 or more. He has also completed eleven ultra-marathons including three 100-mile races, and Lyon has completed several Olympic distance triathlons as well. All athletic events have come with fantastic support from his family.
Other interests include travel, fishing/camping and he has had active involvement in various community clubs, sport clubs and associations and their respective boards.