Road to Excellence: Brad Bentz and His 3 T’s
Traveler Teacher Training Leader
Some career journeys stand out as truly unique, and Brad Bentz, Customer Success Manager and Training & Development Lead at Lotus Terminals, has a story worth sharing. His path—from exploring the world to leading classrooms and now driving training initiatives—offers valuable insights into adaptability, leadership, and perseverance. Brad’s professional life can be summarized by what we’re calling the “3 T’s” of his journey: Traveler, Teacher, and Training Leader.
The Traveler: Early Adventures That Shaped a Leader
Brad’s story begins with a sense of exploration. In the mid-90s, he embarked on a backpacking journey through Asia, landing unexpectedly in Seoul, South Korea. With little teaching experience, he stepped into the world of education as an ESL teacher.
I connected with students easily and found teaching adults fulfilling and challenging,
Brad recalls. That combination of travel and teaching sparked something in me that eventually became a career.
These early experiences not only honed his adaptability but also planted the seeds for his passion for learning and development—a passion that continued to grow as he returned to Vancouver and immersed himself in the education sector.
The Teacher: Developing Expertise in Education
Back in Vancouver, Brad joined an international language school, spending two decades refining his skills as an educator and later advancing to management roles. His career also took him around the world, with a significant chapter in Vietnam, where he led teacher training for ILA in Saigon.
Training became my life’s work,
Brad reflects. I moved from teaching to running training programs where there was always a lot on the line. It was fast-paced, demanding, but extremely rewarding.
At ILA, Brad encountered one of the most complex projects of his career—overseeing high-stakes teacher training programs, often beyond his immediate expertise. In my third day on the job, I had to navigate a sensitive issue involving a course participant with a criminal background. I quickly realized I needed help and found mentors I could depend on to guide me. That taught me a lot. Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers and lean on your team when you need to.
These challenging experiences sharpened Brad’s leadership skills and his ability to stay calm under pressure—traits that continue to serve him well at Lotus Terminals.
The Training Leader: Driving Excellence at Lotus Terminals
Brad’s connection to Lotus Terminals began serendipitously, through a shared passion for football. He met Prab Bal (CEO) and Ricky Bal (COO) while coaching at the Westside Warriors. When the pandemic disrupted his teaching career, Prab and Ricky invited him to join Lotus Terminals in 2021. What started as a temporary role soon evolved into a pivotal position leading Training & Development.
At first, I thought I’d just be answering a few emails,
Brad admits with a laugh. But the role quickly became much more complex and engaging.
Since joining, Brad has transformed the company’s training programs, introducing structure and efficiency. Before, onboarding was more of a mentorship model, which was effective but time-consuming. Now, with formal training modules, written SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and competency-based reviews, we’ve streamlined the process and better engaged the team at the same time.
One of Brad’s key achievements is his work on Trainual, a platform that centralizes the company’s training resources. Ricky had already started building Trainual, but I refined the learning modules applying best practice in learning and development as I did so.
Brad’s initiatives have resulted in:
- A more structured onboarding process with engaging modules
- Written SOPs to ensure consistency across departments
- Quarterly reviews aligned with published competencies
- Ongoing microlearning opportunities to support staff in real-time
- Regular “Internal Ideas” and “Black Box meetings” to reflect on challenges and refine strategies
Learning and Development are becoming central to HR functions in many companies, and I believe the work we’ve done at Lotus has created real value—not just in performance but in overall morale and engagement.
Adapting to a Changing Industry
Brad’s background as both a teacher and manager has given him unique insights into the evolving landscape of training. One of the biggest trends I’ve seen is the shift towards brain-based learning—understanding how the brain operates to improve teaching methods. There’s also been a rise in online education, accelerated by the pandemic, which forced many of us to become experts almost overnight.
He credits his Post-graduate Certificate in Instructional Design from Royal Roads University with helping him adapt to new training technologies. It was a game-changer, allowing me to build effective training modules that meet the needs of a diverse workforce.
A Philosophy Rooted in Connection
Brad’s success as a training leader is grounded in a simple but powerful philosophy: Meet people where they are, not where you are.
This lesson, passed down from his father, has guided his interactions with colleagues, students, and employees throughout his career.
I believe in connecting with people and emphasizing process over outcomes. Training isn’t just about skills—it’s about helping people see their potential and guiding them to achieve it.
The Future of Training at Lotus Terminals
Brad sees his role at Lotus Terminals as an ongoing journey, one that requires continuous learning and adaptation. Training is never done—there’s always room for improvement. My goal is to keep building systems that not only support individual growth but also align with the company’s long-term objectives.
With his unique blend of life experiences—traveler, teacher, and training leader—Brad is not just a key part of Lotus Terminals; he is also an inspiration to those around him. His journey shows that with curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to growth, one can truly excel in any field.
Closing Thoughts: Brad’s Advice to Aspiring Leaders
When asked what advice he would offer to those starting out in their careers, Brad reflects on his own experiences:
Embrace challenges. Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow. Be curious, be adaptable, and most importantly, connect with people. If you do that, everything else will fall into place.
