Meet The Team
Little Rock Enterprises Is a family-owned landscaping, trucking and expediting company based out of La Ronge, Sk. We boast 3 generations in the business with 40 years of experience.
Over the past few decades, we have been able to grow and expand our business as our clients’ needs have evolved. In doing so we have expanded our services to include finish landscaping, greenhouse, water and & sewer installation, brush clearing, trucking, mineral exploration camps, winter road construction, and our newest endeavour recycled rubber paving and products.
Little Rock prides itself in working for the community, helping those in it grow and prosper helping sculpt a community where we want to raise our family. Living and working in La Ronge has proven to be the optimal location for our business to thrive. It’s the central hub for northern Saskatchewan and has provided ample opportunity to service the mineral exploration community.
Founder + President
I was born and raised on a farm in Paddockwood, Sk. And moved to La Ronge with my family when I was 13. I have learned most of my skills from my dad (John Merriman) who was no stranger to work and life in the north. He began in the north hauling freight with a cat and sleighs in the 1930’s travelling from Prince Albert to Stanley Mission and Southend Reindeer on ice and bush trails which would take him roughly three months – stopping at La Ronge, Stanley Mission, Southend, hauling furs on his return. In the summer of those years, they built the first road to La Ronge until war time, then he went to war. He brought the first skid steer to La Ronge in August of 1972.
I began running equipment at the age of 14 skipping school when necessary and decided at 16 I would join the working world. I worked for Highways running equipment and Brown Construction digging basements. During the 70’s and 80’s I worked for DNS construction building the Pinehouse/Beauval, Stanley Mission, Uranium City roads. I was a core splitter in the first ever KeyLake tent camp(Uranus Corp). I have over 9000 finishing operator hours on grader and Road construction.
I spent 17 years working for Cameco Corp. in the bush as an equipment operator and exploration camp manager. On my weeks out I was doing some landscaping and driveway clearing work on the side, so it just made sense to start my own business. My wife and I started the company of Little Rock in 1999 and it has remained family owned and operated since. Two of our kids and father in-law all work for us. We expanded our company in 2005 to incorporate expediting and exploration camps – the division of M.A.R.S.H. was created taking the initials of our 5 children (Monica, Amber, Ryan, Sheldon, and Heidi).
Family is one of my greatest treasures and being able to work alongside them is a dream come true.
Office Manager
Growing up in southern Saskatchewan I will admit I didn’t know a lot about the north but since moving here in 1986 I fell in love, not only with my husband Grant but also with the north and the community of La Ronge. My strengths for Little Rock would be in the accounting department, in landscape design and in the greenhouse division of the company. I have always liked to get my hands dirty trying my hand at growing new plants and love to bring a smile to people’s faces when the job is complete, and the client is satisfied.
I have always taken a hands-on approach to whatever we do; I thoroughly enjoy being a family business and working alongside my husband and kids. If there is one thing, I can say about all of us, we are hard workers but put family first. We give back to the community, when possible, because we truly believe La Ronge and surrounding areas it is one of the best kept secrets of Saskatchewan, the people and landscape are absolutely beautiful.
Operations Manager
I have lived my life in La Ronge and have been working alongside my father Grant since a young age. I started to operate equipment while riding on his dad’s lap. Summer jobs for me while going to school were driving truck, hauling freight, learning the skills to set up exploration camps starting at the age of 16. I earned my 1A driving license at the age of 18. I have operated all types of equipment from skid steers to loaders, brush cutters, hoe’s skidders & cats for 15 years.
Over the years I have been able to develop the skills to be out working with the best. I am now the manager of our ever-growing Rubber paving division and slowly taking over more duties as the time nears for one generation to retire and the next to step up.
Greenhouse Manger
I have had a passion for helping others since childhood and have travelled many countries where I enjoy learning about new cultures. Our family has always had a good work ethic. Our parents Grant and Lynnette have built such a great foundation for us all to spread our wings and try new things. For example. The greenhouse is a newer addition to our servies and we didn’t know going into it how it would go. However my family was reassuring and trusted me to take it on. I love the atmosphere of the greenhouse. People enjoy walking through and deciding what plants will bring them joy! The beauty of Gods creation really is amazing and I love sharing that with others.
I have also decided to pursue my own business and started a food truck business in 2020 called Shelly Deez. I am hoping to operate this next year in conjunction with the green house.