Owners Circle
27 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago -Owner's Circle is dedicated to telling the stories of great family-owned businesses. This fun and informative interview-style podcast gives you a peek behind the scenes into a variety of interesting business stories from sectors including retail, agriculture, manufacturing and beyond. These entrepreneurs and leaders share with our listeners the key lessons and insights they have learnt over their careers.
Industry experts also make an appearance to share collective intelligence gathered in working with these family-owned businesses.
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Episodes
Shawn Kanungo - Innovation is 90% Psychological and 10% Technological
March 13, 2024 05:22 - 19 minutes - 24.3 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Shawn Kanungo, one of North America's most sought after speakers, a globally recognized innovation strategist and bestselling author. With 12 years of experience at accounting behemoth Deloitte, Shawn brings unparalleled insights into disruptive trends and opportunities. Shawn opens up about how a traumatic loss in his early days shaped his life and current trajectory. His engaging style and insights come through in our entertaining interview. Don't mi...
David Bentall of Next Step Advisors - The Twists and Turns of Being in a Family Business
November 22, 2023 06:09 - 38 minutes - 44 MBShawn and David start by briefly sharing their experience on a recent trip to Mexico with Homes of Hope https://www.ywamhomesofhope.org/mexico#baja David is candid about the mistakes he made as a young CEO of Dominion Construction and reflects on the necessary traits great leaders need to focus on acquiring. David shares how his grand dad designed the largest building in the British empire in 1911. The family also built landmark projects such as the Rogers Arena home of the Va...
Colin Ward of Ward Bros Construction - Two Brothers From Other Mothers
June 02, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 32.6 MBWe start our adventure with a strange twist on a multi-million dollar project bid that the company lost the moment we arrived to record this episode. Colin then takes us back to the company's roots and shares the important lessons his dad and company founder Cecil shared with him in those early days. Colin reveals his favourite project from the many iconic buildings the company has built over the years, and provides one of the most bizarre book recommendations in Owners Circle history!
Giuseppe Caltabiano of NXGEN - Hire Character Rather Than Skill Sets
February 09, 2023 04:23 - 28 minutes - 32.3 MBA pilot, city councillor, member of the Italian military and partner in NXGEN Payments, Giuseppe shares how he and his business partner, Tom Napitopili, built an international payment powerhouse based in Whitefish, Montana. He shares the values their company follows for hiring and attracting high-quality employees. Giuseppe gives insights into what giving up ownership control felt like for he and Tom, and also shares the secret to why he sleeps better now. Giuseppe has recently resigned h...
Jack & Laura Deheer - The Dutch Beauty & the Beast
June 28, 2022 15:07 - 34 minutes - 39.9 MBShawn gets the back story on Jack DeHeer’s time at The Lake Placid Olympic hockey tournament, as well as entertaining stories on how Jack’s wife, Laura, acted as his hard line agent. This story goes much beyond the game of hockey, and shares how Jack and Laura ventured back to Canada to take over Jack’s second-generation family print business.
Disney’s Doug Lipp - Imagineering Your Company
January 28, 2022 15:40 - 31 minutes - 36.1 MBShawn engages in a dynamic conversation with Doug Lipp the man responsible for running Disney University and launching Tokyo Disney. Doug's wisdom from inside one of the most creative, customer centric companies of our era will provide valuable lessons for all entrepreneurs.
Kevin Serfas - Don’t Be Afraid to Change
October 12, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBWe get the skinny on how Serfas Farms has evolved over the past three generations. Kevin Serfas shares his thoughts on the future of farming and gives some background into the rationale for their newest project, a 40,000 head feedlot in Southern Alberta that opened earlier this year.
Joelle Faulkner - The Friendly Farming Financier
September 08, 2021 19:00 - 22 minutes - 26.1 MBFind out how entrepreneur Joelle Faulkner of Area One Farms is partnering with medium size farm operations to ramp up their growth. See why her investors take an uncommonly patient and long term approach that gives her a unique edge in agriculture.
Edmonton Oilers Ken Hitchcock - Who You Are Matters More Than The Style You Play
May 21, 2021 14:57 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBKen Hitchcock, the third-winningest coach in NHL history shares his valuable experiences having coached the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and most recently the Edmonton Oilers. Hitch shares lessons he learned from other sports including NFL football coach Andy Reid and Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony Larussa. In this episode, Ken reveals how you know when you have a winning team, what it takes to motivate the players, and one of his top coach...
Keith Hitchcock - Breakfast With a Side of Loyalty
April 09, 2021 16:00 - 24 minutes - 23.3 MBIn 1993, Keith moved his family to Lethbridge to start a new adventure; owning and operating the local Humpty’s Family Restaurant. Years later, Keith and his family are still providing customers with excellent food and exceptional service. Last March, COVID-19 forced them, like many businesses, to adapt. A shift in their marketing allowed them to continue playing an important role (while different) within the community. Join us as Keith shares how him and his family faced COVID-19 head-on an...
Dylan Davies - An Iron Clad Family Business Established in 1898
March 09, 2021 17:00 - 24 minutes - 23.1 MBAs a fourth generation owner of Lethbridge Ironworks, Dylan Davies watched his grandfather, and then was mentored and able to work closely with his father and uncle as they transitioned leadership responsibility to him. Dylan began his career at Lethbridge Ironworks very young, cutting the grass during the summer months and then gaining hands on experience by working part time within the foundry by age 14. Today, Dylan has surrounded himself with a strong team and is honoured to work alon...
Kim Moody - The Entrepreneurs Advocate
December 10, 2020 17:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBEven when he began building his new business in the basement of his home, Kim Moody always dressed for success. Kim doesn’t just stand out due to his sense of style. Today, with over 25 years of experience, Kim not only has a thriving business but is highly sought-out by clients. Chief Executive Officer of Moodys Tax and author of Making Life Less Taxing, Kim knows a thing or two about tax and estate planning, entrepreneurship and what it takes to survive the current economy.Join us as Kim ...
Moulaye Niang - From No Shoes to the NCAA
October 09, 2020 17:21 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBFrom South Africa, Moulaye knew what it looked like to have nothing. Loving soccer, he always felt that he would remain loyal to the sport, that is, until he was introduced to basketball. However, as he grew into a young teenager, he wasn’t able to purchase a pair of size 13 shoes in his town, let alone play professional basketball. That is, until he met Greg Winston. Join us as Moulaye shares his journey of leaving South Africa, becoming an NCAA athlete, and leaving his career in basketb...
Jeff Nielsen - Breaking the Mold Within the Feed Industry
September 09, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBWhile Jeff and his partner were working as nutritional consultants, they noticed a very specific need that their customers had, which wasn’t being filled within the industry. After reading the book Blue Ocean Strategy, Jeff began to understand how the feed industry was locked into repeating the same process, rather than innovating - opening the opportunity to start a company More Than Just Feed in “open waters.” Join us as Jeff shares how he took the leap from a safe career to an opportu...
Justin Kittredge - Leveraging a Layoff Into a Celebrity Brand
August 09, 2020 16:00 - 21 minutes - 48.5 MBHaving worked for Reebok in his early career, Justin demonstrated the drive that it took to grow within the industry. However, when Adidas took over Reebok in 2006, Justin found himself laid off and at a crossroads in his career. Seeing the slide market share increasing, Justin came up with the concept of ISlide, a company that allows customers to customize slides, to provide more meaning to their footwear. He is now the founder and CEO of a multimillion dollar company. Join us as Justin s...
Mike Davis - A Fire Ignited This Great Family Business Founded On Integrity And Community
March 09, 2020 16:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBA live interview with Mike Davis of the Davis Auto Group from the 2020 Tiffin Agricultural Conference. In this episode, we talk about: A fire in Fort MacLeod brought Mike’s dad John home to start their entry into the auto business. The dynamic of working in the family business motivated Mike to work hard and ensure he wasn’t labelled the “entitled dealers son” All the brothers worked for many years in the business until they became managers and eventually shareholders Entry in...
A Fire Ignited This Great Family Business Founded On Integrity And Community
March 09, 2020 16:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBA live interview with Mike Davis of the Davis Auto Group from the 2020 Tiffin Agricultural Conference. In this episode, we talk about: A fire in Fort MacLeod brought Mike’s dad John home to start their entry into the auto business. The dynamic of working in the family business motivated Mike to work hard and ensure he wasn’t labelled the “entitled dealers son” All the brothers worked for many years in the business until they became managers and eventually shareholders Entry in...
Two Scientists Farming With Inspiration From The Crusades
February 07, 2020 20:23 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this episode we sit down with Lynn Thacker of LTAC Farms, a specialty crop producer from Bow Island, Alberta In this episode, we talk about: Lynn’s business partner and wife Ute Thacker’s impact and role as such an integral part of their operation The evolution of pivot irrigation and how that allowed their farm to grow more innovative crops The Canadian Wheat board’s monopoly and how it forced farmers to diversify into other crops to avoid their stifling regulation Lynn’s dad G...
Lynn Thacker - Two Scientists Farming With Inspiration From The Crusades
February 07, 2020 20:23 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this episode we sit down with Lynn Thacker of LTAC Farms, a specialty crop producer from Bow Island, Alberta In this episode, we talk about: Lynn’s business partner and wife Ute Thacker’s impact and role as such an integral part of their operation The evolution of pivot irrigation and how that allowed their farm to grow more innovative crops The Canadian Wheat board’s monopoly and how it forced farmers to diversify into other crops to avoid their stifling regulation Lynn’s dad G...
Shaun Haney - From Feedlot Alley To The Studios Of Nashville
January 03, 2020 17:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThis episode we turn the microphone on Canada's leading Agriculture expert Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture.com. In this episode, we talk about: Picture Butte, Alberta’s unique and competitive landscape of corporate farming Themes of the best managed farms: Clear division of responsibilities Clear communication of strategy and operational direction Not crossing the line of Business vs. Family Ignore tendencies to compare by respecting and trusting each other Off-farm spouses ne...
From Feedlot Alley To The Studios Of Nashville
January 03, 2020 17:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThis episode we turn the microphone on Canada's leading Agriculture expert Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture.com. In this episode, we talk about: Picture Butte, Alberta’s unique and competitive landscape of corporate farming Themes of the best managed farms: Clear division of responsibilities Clear communication of strategy and operational direction Not crossing the line of Business vs. Family Ignore tendencies to compare by respecting and trusting each other Off-farm spouses ne...
Stuart Johnson - Go To Work To Work
December 02, 2019 17:00 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBThis episode we sit down with Stuart Johnson; past automotive dealership owner in Brooks Alberta. In this episode we talk about: Best part of being in business; great customers and friendships with employees Economies of scale: Combining Chevrolet & GM dealerships to fuel growth. HR and personnel issues being the toughest part of the industry Benefits and challenges of being part of a franchise "Go to work to work" The donut shop deal in Vauxhall Missing the great customers bu...
Go To Work To Work
December 02, 2019 17:00 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBThis episode we sit down with Stuart Johnson; past automotive dealership owner in Brooks Alberta. In this episode we talk about: Best part of being in business; great customers and friendships with employees Economies of scale: Combining Chevrolet & GM dealerships to fuel growth. HR and personnel issues being the toughest part of the industry Benefits and challenges of being part of a franchise "Go to work to work" The donut shop deal in Vauxhall Missing the great customers bu...
Humans Are The New Horses
November 04, 2019 17:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBThis episode we sat down with Adam Legge; author of the book Making Remarkable. In this episode we talk about: The book: The 5 Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lenceoni. Choosing Likeability vs. Accountability Purpose, People, Platform Brand is the bedrock of your company Millenials are just another version of the hippy boomer generation Social Disruption via income inequality - Silicone Valley vs. average worker Unemployment disruption as technology replaces many jobs of today...
Adam Legge - Humans Are The New Horses
November 04, 2019 17:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBThis episode we sat down with Adam Legge; author of the book Making Remarkable. In this episode we talk about: The book: The 5 Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lenceoni. Choosing Likeability vs. Accountability Purpose, People, Platform Brand is the bedrock of your company Millenials are just another version of the hippy boomer generation Social Disruption via income inequality - Silicone Valley vs. average worker Unemployment disruption as technology replaces many jobs of today...
Haircuts On The 50 Yard Line
October 01, 2019 14:28 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBThis episode we sit down with Robb Bloos who was one of the founders of the Chatters Hair Salon and Tommy Gun’s Franchises. In this episode, we talk about: How moving to a wholesale distribution really made things take off. Securing great locations was a key driver of growth Dealing with the changing consumer landscape Focusing on key profitability indicators Keeping numerous partners focused on one goal The emotional side of deciding to sell to a third party The stress of man...
Robb Bloos - Haircuts On The 50 Yard Line
October 01, 2019 14:28 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBThis episode we sit down with Robb Bloos who was one of the founders of the Chatters Hair Salon and Tommy Gun’s Franchises. In this episode, we talk about: How moving to a wholesale distribution really made things take off. Securing great locations was a key driver of growth Dealing with the changing consumer landscape Focusing on key profitability indicators Keeping numerous partners focused on one goal The emotional side of deciding to sell to a third party The stress of man...