In an entrepreneurial race to the finish line, it would be unwise to bet against Hal Walker.

He’s the one with the inline skates and a wealth of experience at building successful businesses, be it in real estate, resort and golf-course development, the oilpatch or his current focus as chief executive of a budding technology company, EarlyRain Inc., that is tapping into the smart-card industry.

At 49, Walker, an inline-skating fanatic, hasn’t slowed down. You might say the spirited one-time member of the Wynyard Spirit Track Club is on a roll.

1. What are your memories from small-town Saskatchewan and the family farm at Wynyard? “Our home town is a great sports-minded town. There was such great spirit there. In fact, the track team there was called the Spirit Track Club. I was on the team, but I was no star. Wynyard was very special because there were so many people there, like my father (the late Harold Walker) who had a really positive attitude. There were so many high achievers among my classmates.”

2. Did you consider being a farmer? “I really did consider it for a while. It was a wonderful place.”

3. What values did you take from the farm to your business life? “You learned on the farm that if you don’t do it, it won’t get done. So your self-reliance became very strong.”

4. So growing up on the farm was no picnic? “My dad, like most farming fathers at the time, was a tough taskmaster. You worked hard and you played hard.”

5. Could you describe the business philosophy that has worked for you? “Often, the difference between success and failure is how much energy, enthusiasm and vision you have. If you put that energy and enthusiasm into the right vision, you can make it into something successful. But if it doesn’t make financial sense, it doesn’t matter how big your dream is, it’s not going to happen.”

6. Did you have a boyhood hero or role model? “My dad was my hero. He was the person I looked up to and respected the most. He was a great influence on me. Interestingly enough, my other hero is my son Chris. I’ve often said that my son is my hero and my best friend. He’s a tremendously high achiever. He’s been a great influence on me because he’s a person you can’t let down and that’s what’s important. And of course my wife (Mattie) has also been a great influence.”

7. Beyond your family, was there someone that had an impact on your life? “Ayn Rand, the author, has been very influential in my life for her business philosophy and socio-economic philosophy on life. Alan Greenspan (U.S. Federal Reserve chairman) was a student of hers.”

8. Your favorite book? “Of course, it’s an Ayn Rand book — Atlas Shrugged (considered by many to be Rand’s greatest book, about the role of the mind in man’s existence). I’ve read Atlas Shrugged several times. My son Chris (a hotel executive living in Chicago) read it when he was 13 or 14. It’s like his guide to life. He gives it away to friends. It’s a daunting read — like 1,400 pages — but once you get into it, you can’t put it down.”

9. The best advice you can give a young entrepreneur? “A friend of mine in California, Ernie Voss, said it best. If you can tell the truth 100 per cent of the time, you don’t have to have a good memory. In your whole life, no matter what you do, your integrity is the most important thing. You’ve got to make sure that’s how you live your life.”

10. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in business? “Truly, the best lesson is to live up to what you say.”

11. How do you manage to balance business and family life? “By having fun. It’s not that difficult if you have a positive attitude and positive outlook on life.”

12. You’ve been inline skating in several cities around the world? “I work out about three to seven times a week at the Glencoe Club (where EarlyRain’s smart card is used by members). I Rollerblade a few thousand miles every year. I’ve Rollerbladed in Central Park in New York and cities like Dubai. You get some odd looks from people.”

13. What business accomplishment are you most proud of? “I developed the Hyatt Regency Resort on Grand Cayman and built that (Brittania) golf course with Jack Nicklaus. It was one of those things where I didn’t know I couldn’t do it, so I did it.”

14. What struck you about Jack Nicklaus in your association with him? “He’s a fine person, very self-confident with a wonderful and very compelling personality. He’s also very much a family man and strong taskmaster. Overall, just a great guy.”

15. God taps you on the shoulder and says you can change one thing in your life . . . “I just want to do it all over again. I can’t think of anything that I would necessarily change.”

16. You have lunch invitations with Wayne Gretzky and Tiger Woods. Which do you choose? “I would definitely pick Tiger Woods just because I haven’t met him. What a tremendous effect he has had not only on the world of golf but with everything else he does. He’s such a gentleman.”

17. So you knew Gretzky during your affiliation with ex-Edmonton Oiler owner Peter Pocklington? “I’ve known Wayne for years. In fact, I was in the locker room when Gretzky played his first game as an Edmonton Oiler (during eight months as general manager of Pocklington’s companies). I admired Wayne’s dedication and strong sense of values. I’m still an Oilers fan, but it’s hard for me to say that because a lot of close friends of mine are Flames owners and I love what they’ve done in Calgary.”

18. Your vision for EarlyRain for 2005? “We really seek to position ourselves as industry leaders. We see EarlyRain, through acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures, being a major player in the technology world in 2005.”

19. Any other goals beyond EarlyRain? “I keep looking at new endeavours, but I don’t know what they’ll be. I love resort development but I love technology. And I can see blending the two together.”

20. So you’re not exactly planning to wind down your career anytime soon? “It’s funny, when my brother-in-law retired, I said to him: ‘You know, that’s something I can’t imagine. I know I’ll never retire.’ And my brother-in-law said: ‘Well, that’s great, because none of us can figure out what you do anyway.’ I’m having too much fun.”

IN PROFILE: Hal Walker

* Born/Raised/Age: Wynyard, Sask.; 49.
* Title: CEO/chairman, EarlyRain Inc.
* Education: University of Saskatchewan (arts and science major).
* Resume: Background in real estate, resort and golf-course development, venture capital and oil-and-gas investments; director, Stone Creek Properties, SilverTip Golf Course; former director, Agra Industries; involved with Alberta Progressive Conservative party at the senior level.
* Family: Wife Mattie, son Chris, 25.
* Role model: Harold Walker (father).
* Claim to fame: Golfed with the legendary Jack Nicklaus.
* Passions: In-line skating and reading anything by Ayn Rand.

THE COMPANY: Early Rain

* Brass: Hal Walker, CEO/chairman; Jim Lout, president/chief operating officer; Dave Antony, chief financial officer.
* Profile: EarlyRain, formerly Yes I.C. Technologies, is a tech company specializing in smart cards for the health-care, golf and merchandising sectors.
* Partners: EarlyRain is aligned with Telus Corporation in rolling out its smart-card technology and has smart-card deals with Calgary’s Glencoe Club and the Florida Hospital Group.
* Recent stock price (ERN-CDNX): .50 (year range-.40-2.00).
* Web site: earlyrain.com
* Address: 2600-605 5th Ave. S.W., T2P 3H5.
* Phone/Fax: 517-3300/517-3301.