Meet Monica & Kerry Paslawski: A Catalyst Incubator Graduate
- Cathy Forner PMP, CMC
- Feb 2
- 4 min read
Forged in Frost: ICE HERO is the next generation pipe thawing machine – built for ranchers by ranchers. “An innovation born from winter’s harsh challenges.”
A rural Alberta story
Monica and Kerry Paslawski are Alberta ranchers who knew the challenges of harsh winter and frozen pipes firsthand. While they were building their ranch, Kerry often worked away. This meant Monica oversaw the ranch operation and kept the water flowing so she could get the kids to school and herself to work.
This was no easy task. Monica was determined to find a safe solution that would work when she was home on her own. and that was reliable no matter how tough the weather. So, she and Kerry combined efforts, experience and thinking to create Ice Hero.
Prototype to profit: the learning phase
Just prior to joining the Catalyst Incubator program, Monica had already developed a prototype and hired engineers to refine and test the product. Her biggest uncertainties were knowing if there was a market for the product, and how she would retail and market it. A lot of information
she encountered in the program was new to her, but not overwhelming.
Monica had never pursued building a consumer product before, but she was willing and open to learn anything that could help. From pitching to patenting, to customer evaluation and testing, the Catalyst Incubator brought forward many of the necessary topics Monica needed to keep moving ahead. Monica says her perceptions were challenged, and she learned it was ok to slow down and make the prototype testing a big priority.
Valuable Connections and partnerships
Monica credits the Catalyst Incubator program for opening the door to valuable connections and partnerships. “Mentorship is huge and introductions within the program are amazing” she states. “My network was very small in this arena before, so this has been very helpful for me.”
Like many entrepreneurs just starting out, Monica tapped into several resources throughout the province that helped her navigate a path forward:
Eric Boechler at GO ALBERTA provided Financial Advice
Barrie Yaehne from Community Futures Grande Prairie provided a review of their business plan and encouragement.
Deanna Douglas from Campus Innovation Consulting Group assisted in finding relevant grants and funding programs.
Craig Elias and Brandy Old from Alberta Innovates inspired and supported through pitch workshops and programs.
Jane Hunter
Kelsey Meston at SwitchUp buckets was a source of information and inspiration.
Akeem Young from Follow the Lead in Grande Prairie has been a long-standing resource for web designand marketing!
Throughout the Catalyst Incubator program and even now, Suzanne Ebelher and Cathy Forner have been trusted advisors, making a significant impact on Monica’s journey. With their strategic mentorship, they helped Monica move from uncertainty to decisiveness, gaining the confidence to prioritize her founder’s intuition, to trust her internal compass, and be selective when partnering with talent that aligned with her vision for Ice Hero.
No barriers, only breakthroughs
Connecting with other entrepreneurs who were mostly pursuing online projects was eye-opening for Monica. Nobody else had a simple tool like she did, so there was limited crossover in terms of those in the cohort. Ice Hero is not a service or recurring revenue model. It is a real product that goes on a store shelf. “As a woman in agriculture there was nothing stopping me,” Monica shares. Overall, connections from the program gave her confidence and a boost of validation (even Entrepreneurs in later cohorts contacted her).
Beyond the prototype. It is GO time!
Ice Hero now has a marketable product destined for store shelves. The prototype is market ready, with the first shipment of pre-orders arriving soon. It has been a test of patience wading through the product development and refinement phase, but Ice Hero will be out very soon. Many of the first to pre-purchase the product had trialed it last winter and loved it. Looking ahead, past the first product sales, Monica hopes to expand awareness of Ice Hero and make connections with retailers and distributors. Marketing will play an important role in the “next steps” such as attending key trade shows.
The Ice Hero– “A woman’s solution”
Ice Hero is not your ordinary bucket. It is a portable, high-performance pipe thawing machine built to restore frozen water lines quickly and safely in rural, agricultural, and remote environments. It is a fast, safe, and reliable device. All you need is about 6 litres of hot tap water, but cool water will also work fine. The unit will stay heated thanks to the insulated bucket. The device will cut through over 2' of ice per minute and use 1 litre of water to do it. With a straight or slightly curved pipe, it is possible to thaw over 12' in about 6 minutes before you may need more water. This is more than sufficient for most ranching applications. No more torches or steamers are required. Through Monica’s connection to the land and her community, she realized that this practical solution would help so many during winter emergencies, to keep their operations running smoothly with minimal disruption and stress.
Stamp of approval. We asked Monica what advice she would give to Entrepreneurs considering the Catalyst Incubator program. Here is what she had to say: “Do it. It is intense and meaningful. The content is so serious and exposes the participant to many aspects to consider when launching a business, which may not have been thought through. It is about challenging assumptions and giving and receiving feedback. It is a valuable use of time.”
Monica is grateful for, and credits the practical support from her husband, Kerry Paslawski (the original "Ice Hero") and their daughter Julia who does all the social media!
Ice Hero is a unique solo product with multiple applications including Farms and Ranches, Plumbers and Contractors, Oil and Gas Companies and Homeowners. Learn more and order
Although business was not foreign to Monica, the idea of building a consumer product to take to the market was utterly unfamiliar,
Barry Yaehne provided review of business plan and encouragement. Deanna Douglas from CICG assisted in finding relevant grants and funding programs.
about 6 litres of hot tap water, but cool will also work fine.
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