About
Three Trees Technical was founded in 2013 by Benjamin Leather, Chris Coldwell, and Derek Gauger to develop software that serviced the green energy finance and investment sector in North America. The company specializes in software engineering, user experience, service design, and data visualization.
Three Trees was instrumental in the BC Government’s transition to agile software development techniques and the creation of the BC Dev Exchange as well as prototypes for Court Scheduling with the Ministry of Justice and Community Engagement for the Environmental Assessment Office.
As of 2019, Ben Leather, now the sole owner, worked with clients in the printing industry to create a user-centric, cloud-based approach to enterprise data management.
In 2024, 3Trees welcomed Steve Owst and welcomed back Chris Coldwell for their expertise in bringing BigFish ERP, our enterprise resource planning platform, to the market.
The system is currently configured for the commercial printing industry but adaptable to any widget manufacturing environment.
Benjamin Leather
Benjamin Leather is a founding partner of Three Trees Technical Inc. in Victoria BC. He has been developing custom software since 1994 where user experience and efficiency were key tenets to his approach.
Leather has run development teams services clients throughout North American. His experience includes platform development for private sector startups; large Municipal Government systems for the cities of Huntington Beach California, San Mateo California and around the Greater Toronto area; private sector green energy financing cloud platform development in the United States; and many prototyping and enterprise system endeavors with the BC Government.
Ben believes that software, at its core, must have a positive return on investment by saving time and money for every participant in the pipeline – developer and end user alike. This is an underlying principle of Three Trees and a message he brings to the software development students he mentors through Camosun College in Victoria BC.
Stephen Owst
Stephen Owst has an extensive background in the printing and technology sectors. His most recent assignment was as the Director of Information Technology for Metropolitan Fine Printers, where he significantly contributed to the company’s reputation for quality and innovation. Owst’s role involved overseeing the integration of advanced printing solutions and sustainable practices, ensuring MET Printers remains at the forefront of the industry.
Steve honed his skills in project management, IT consulting, and strategic planning as the principal of various technology startups. His experience includes roles in software development, ERP systems, and technical infrastructure where he prioritized efficiency and operation optimization. Owst now brings his energy to Three Trees Technical and the launch of BigFish ERP.
Owst’s education is in Aerospace Engineering in the UK’s Royal Air Force. This laid the foundation for his technical expertise and innovative approach to problem-solving. His commitment to continuous learning and professional development has kept him abreast of industry advancements. Steve is known for his involvement in community initiatives and his passion for mentoring emerging talent in the tech and print industries. His leadership and vision continue to inspire those around him, solidifying his status as a respected figure in his field.
Chris Coldwell
Chris Coldwell has led teams through massive change and technical disruption. A passionate creative with a deep desire to know how things work, he continually hones his ability to find paths out of complex situations while remaining empathetic to the people within them and respectuful of the decisions that got them there. He believes wholeheartedly in the human ability to do good, and approaches life with that mindset. There are no failures, but many lessons if you’re open to them. He works with leaders to combine the strategy, tactics, and logistics of delivering technical solutions with people-first outcomes.
Chris is known world-wide for assembling the best possible teams to handle a project. He was CEO of Mercurial Communications supporting clients ranging from Time Warner and AOL to local startups.
