Some companies start with a market opportunity. Others start much earlier—with curiosity.
“I got started in technology when I was 13 years old. My dad gave me a computer, and I had to build it with him,” says Shawn Freeman, CEO of Always Beyond. What began as curiosity has since grown into a career spanning two IT services companies and a leadership approach shaped by experience on both sides of the journey.
Only a couple of years after launching in Calgary, the IT services company Always Beyond has built strong momentum, including taking home the 2025 Doane Grant Thornton Emerging Growth Award at the Calgary Small Business Awards. For Shawn, the recognition is less about the spotlight and more about what it signals.
“It’s really good validation that what we’re doing resonates,” Shawn says. “We couldn’t have built and grown that quickly without clients who really trusted us.”
From curiosity into a career
Always Beyond officially launched in 2023, but the foundation behind it goes back more than a decade. Shawn had already built and sold a managed service provider, TWT Group, which he started in 2011. By the time he exited in early 2020, the company had grown to $5 million in revenue with a team of 25.
That experience shaped how he approached building again.
“Over time, [we] saw how clients weren’t happy, and culture eroded,” Shawn explains. When his non-compete expired, former clients and team members were reaching out, looking for a different kind of experience. “We got a bunch of the team back together and hit the ground running.”
This time, Always Beyond would be built around relationships first, with a focus on being a true partner to clients rather than just a service provider. “We know we’re a technology provider, but we’re really a service company,” Shawn says. “We’re there to help our clients make their businesses better.”
That mindset reflects both early curiosity and years of refinement, turning technical interest into a more intentional way of building businesses.
Relationships, culture and consistency
Winning the Emerging Growth Award at the Calgary Small Business Awards was a meaningful milestone, especially for a company still early in its journey. For the team, it felt like a moment to pause and take in what they had built so far.
“Our team was super excited to win,” Shawn says. “Our first two years were nothing but busy. To see some of that culminate [in this award] is pretty awesome.”
In many ways, the recognition offered more than validation. It created space to reflect on the pace of growth and the effort behind it.
The award also reinforced that their approach is working. By prioritizing relationships, culture and consistency, Always Beyond has been able to grow quickly without losing sight of what matters most. It also signaled that there is room in the market for a more people-first approach to technology services.
Growing with intention
While their award might be called Emerging Growth, Always Beyond has continued to build its momentum with a clear focus on sustainable growth. The company is targeting around 40 percent expansion year over year, but Shawn is clear that growth only matters if it does not come at the expense of quality or client experience.
By 2033, the company aims to reach $25 million in revenue and grow to a team of 80 to 100 employees. With 17 people today and 50 customer, there is still significant room to scale, especially within Alberta’s active and growing business community.
“Alberta is the place to be for entrepreneurs and business owners,” Shawn says. “There’s new businesses starting all the time, and we’re here to support them.”
That support extends beyond Always Beyond itself. Through his coaching business, Impactful MSP, Shawn also works with IT service providers, including some in Calgary, to help them grow and strengthen their operations.
When it comes to entrepreneurs considering applying for the Calgary Small Business Awards, his advice is simple: “Don’t doubt yourself. You might be doing something really awesome and you don’t realize it.” And just as importantly, he emphasizes how celebrating milestones is an impactful part of the journey.
“Don’t minimize your success, celebrate the wins. I’ve built and sold a business and I can tell you that the best part was the journey, not the sale.”
To learn more about Always Beyond Corp., visit: www.alwaysbeyond.com.
The 2026 Small Business Award applications are now open. Apply today: calgarychamber.com/small-business-week/calgary-small-business-awards/.
