For the Sudermans, the family business is building bi-fold doors.
It’s something that began and has continued with local roots, but recently, the Winkler-based company, Diamond Doors, has been awarded a prestigious accolade for its work that goes beyond borders.
Excellence in exporting
Each year, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) grants an Exporter Award to a company that demonstrates “excellence in expanding into geographic markets … through significant and sustained export sales.”
According to CME, the award goes to a business that also exhibits “good corporate citizenship” and contributes to the expansion of Manitoban and Canadian employment.
In 2025, Diamond Doors has checked all the boxes.
“To be honest, the award actually came as a surprise. I was not expecting it. You kind of do your thing and you grow, and you just do what you need to do to satisfy your customers,” says Jim Suderman, one of the owners of Diamond Doors.
“I feel a little bit humbled because we stand alongside a lot of other manufacturers in this area that have also received the award in previous years. It’s just an honour to be considered part of that larger exporting group.”
A special evening
The company accepted its plaque at CME’s Gala Awards on March 27th, which included 500 business leaders from across the province.
Jim Suderman (second from left) with other award recipients at the CME Awards Gala. Photo courtesy of the CME website. It was an experience that he won’t soon forget.
“I was honoured to have some of my fellow staff members and family join us there,” he says.
‘Like they say, ‘blood, sweat, and tears’’
Receiving the reward wasn’t the only part of the gala that stood out for Suderman. There seemed to be a theme that many of the people in the room shared, and it was one that resounded with him in his journey of becoming a business owner.
“[I saw] a lot of pictures, a lot of stories of how other businesses started and the struggles that they’ve faced. It’s like, ‘Wow, they’re reading my playbook,'” he says.
“[It’s] a lot of hard hours, a lot of, like they say, blood, sweat and tears, but you grow, and you work through it, and you don’t really think of it. Then, when you hear other people’s stories, there are so many similarities. It’s a testimony to perseverance at the end of the day and being blessed.”
Three generations
Suderman shares his business journey with his family. The genesis of Diamond Doors lies with his father, Dick Suderman, and he and his brothers, Richard and Terence.
The company, which builds bi-fold doors for the agricultural, aviation, and industrial fields (among others), was established 27 years ago.
“The business started, I guess, sort of like a lot of businesses — out of necessity,” he says. “My dad was a commercial pilot. He flew for a gentleman outside of Morris, and … he was building a hangar, and needed a door, so [my dad] built one for him, and from there the neighbours asked [for one, too]. The rest is history.”
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Today, the Sudermans have added another generation to the legacy they’ve built and continue to maintain.
“A third generation is coming onboard,” says Suderman. “They’re starting to take some active roles … in the shop and operations.”
Putting in the effort to be seen worldwide
Suderman says that over the years, the business has flourished. It has also made a point of making itself visible to markets worldwide, a strategy that has resulted in the Exporter Award.
“Over the last several years, we’ve definitely taken an active approach in marketing [and] promoting our products, specifically in the U.S. and a lot of the farm and aviation shows. As a result, you gain more and more recognition worldwide from different people who visit the various shows,” he says.
According to Suderman, the company has received inquiries from countries such as Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Romania, and South America.
A legacy of excellence
For Suderman, no matter where service stretches or what awards there are, the core principles of business that his father passed down to him remain.
Striving for premium quality and solving dilemmas are a few.
“Whatever you do, do it with excellence and just continue to grow, continue to try,” he says. “Even when things are hard, find a workaround, find a solution, find some way to just stay ahead of the curve.”
As for Diamond Doors’ shiny new award, Suderman is thankful for the staff who helped make it happen.
“People often recognize me because [I’m] the face and the name of the company, but at the end of the day, it’s really not about anything that I’ve done. It’s about … our staff — they’re putting in hard work and effort,” he says.
With files from Robyn Wiebe
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