Sask Entrepreneurs

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Claire Bélanger-Parker, Executive Director at Crane Rental Association of Canada. Claire began her entrepreneurial career in 1999 in tourism and event management. After an eight-year career at Radio Canada, she founded the CNT Management Group and has built a strong reputation, receiving multiple awards and recognition in tourism and business excellence. Claire has contributed to multiple boards over the years, including Tourism Regina, Conexus Arts Centre, and Tourism Saskatchewan. She's also serving her first term with the Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan. Connect with Claire Bélanger-Parker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebelangerparker/ Learn more about Crane Rental Association of Canada at https://crac-aclg.ca/welcome/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Wayne Wilson, President at Business Furnishings. In 1976, Wayne started an office furniture company in Saskatoon and stayed there for about six years. After his business launched, Business Furnishings opened in Saskatoon. It was operated by the general manager of his high school hockey team, who essentially lured Wayne over to Business Furnishings after six years at his other company. In the end, Wayne ended up becoming President. He was just in the right place at the right time and his position morphed into the presidential role at Business Furnishings without any real plan. Today, he has a solid base to guide the next succession plan among his younger, dedicated workers. Connect with Wayne Wilson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-wilson-a9507639/ Learn more about Business Furnishings at https://www.business-furnishings.net/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Jeff Stusek, former President and CEO of Information Services Corporation. Jeff attended the University of Regina, where he obtained his undergraduate degree in business as well as his MBA. He has had various roles over his career, spending 13 years working for the City of Regina in finance taxation, assessment IT, and a stint as the director of transit. In 2006, however, he was recruited to join Information Services Corporation as its Chief Operating Officer. In 2008, Jeff was named the permanent President and CEO. Under his leadership, ISC evolved and grew and Jeff focused the organization away from being a monopoly. He recently stepped down as the CEO of ISC and joins us on day one in his new chapter. Connect with Jeff Stusek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-stusek-00781421/ Learn more about Information Services Corporation at https://company.isc.ca/home/default.aspx This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Sean Stefan, Owner of The Rusty Shovel Landscape Shop. Sean describes his family as an entrepreneurial family, with his dad owning a company, and his uncle owning a separate company. In 2008, Sean started working alongside his uncle helping out with his wholesale operation, then in 2010, the economy was starting to pick up in Saskatchewan, with lots of home building and DIY stuff going on. From there, they decided to team up together and open The Rusty Shovel Landscape shop in 2010. Sean had some ownership to start, then bought majority shares going into the 2015 season. It's been family-owned and operated the whole way through. After taking ownership, Sean grew the company's revenue by 55% in the first year. Connect with Sean Stefan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanstefan/ Learn more about The Rusty Shovel Landscape Shop at https://www.therustyshovel.ca/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we speak with Kevin Bergeron, President and CEO at MiEnergy. MiEnergy is one of Western Canada's leading solar and geothermal energy contractors. Kevin also co-owns and operates Polar Refrigeration as well as SilveRock Investments. Kevin was born and raised in Saskatoon, where he graduated from the College of Commerce with a triple major in finance, business economics, and marketing. He's also completed the executive program at the Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business and holds his fourth class power engineering operator certificate from TSASK. This episode begins with Kevin explaining his background and how he landed his role at MiEnergy. He then shares what he loves about doing business in the Saskatchewan region, which is mainly the people. Kevin also talks about the decision-making process in the company and how the team works together. He also discusses what kinds of customers MiEnergy typically serves. We learn about the challenges Kevin and his team have faced and how they've overcome them. Towards the end of the episode, Kevin shares what he sees as the biggest opportunities for renters and how the company stays ahead of the rapidly changing state of the industry. Learn about the growth of a leading solar and geothermal energy contractor by tuning into the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast with Kevin Bergeron, President and CEO at MiEnergy. MiEnergy This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Daniel Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Innovation Credit Union. Daniel has over 20 years of experience leading organizations by providing people-focused transformational solutions. He is known as a motivational, influential leader and collaborator who guides high-performance teams in achieving performance objectives. After a three to four-year stint in Alberta, Daniel ultimately came back to Saskatchewan to Innovation Credit Union, which is a provincially-based credit union that subscribes to his overall purpose of responsible banking. He particularly enjoys doing business in Saskatchewan because of the province's culture of working hard and having fun along the way, then taking that success and making sure that people are empowered and giving back to the community. Connect with Daniel Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-johnson-53064920/ Learn more about Innovation Credit Union at https://www.innovationcu.ca/personal.html This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Kyle Smyth, Co-Founder at Offstreet Technology. The parking industry is a multibillion-dollar industry. For most drivers, it's just simple parking, but Saskatoon alone brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. Offstreet Technology's software enables parking operators to convert to a fully digital environment. Kyle was approached by Matt Forman, who's now his co-founder, who came to him with the idea of creating a parking app that was like Airbnb for parking. They're now deployed at almost every parking operator across the country in Canada, primarily in British Columbia and Alberta. Connect with Kyle Smyth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-smyth-34460512/?originalSubdomain=ca Learn more about Offstreet Technology at https://joinoffstreet.com/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Jay Sullivan, President and CEO at HBI Office Plus Inc. Jay Sullivan has been part of the HBI Office Plus team for the past 22 years. He started his HBI Office Plus journey in the warehouse and has worked his way through the company, all the way to the top. He became the primary owner in 2018 and understands every aspect of HPI and the Office Solutions industry. Jay has revolutionized and grown the company into the successful business that it is today. He is a thoughtful leader and promotes positive culture and work environments that staff are proud to be part of. The best part about office supplies or office furniture is that almost every business out there needs paper, pens, toner, or other office supplies. He's now involved in every industry within Saskatchewan and is happy to serve everyone. Connect with Jay Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-sullivan-95b19722/?originalSubdomain=ca Learn more about HBI Office Plus Inc. at https://www.hbiop.com/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with Ben Borne, Co-Founder and Co-President at SymmetryPR. He is a communications professional on paper, but a relationship builder at heart. Over the years, Ben has nurtured a passion for using strategic communications to create inclusive, generous, and responsible communities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Canadian Mennonite University, and a diploma in public relations from the University of Victoria. In his spare time, Ben is an active volunteer with the International Association of Business Communicators, and President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan board of directors. One of the qualities that I really admire about Ben is that he's a master networker. People love his personality. He's outspoken, and that's really resonated a lot with the network he's established and the relationships he's built over the years. Connect with Ben Borne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-borne/?originalSubdomain=ca Learn more about SymmetryPR at https://www.symmetry-pr.com/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Mouneeb Shahid speaks with David Smith, President, Executive Leadership Coach, Consultant & Speaker at Logia Consulting Inc. Logia Consulting primarily exists to help new and upcoming leaders make things happen as they lead their teams to success. They empower new leaders with their experience and existing leadership, carefully develop skills, coaching, mentorship, and passion for people. In today's market, you definitely need that coaching and mentorship to be able to expand your mind. Why? Because what David has personally noticed after being in business for 17 years is that you tend to do business a certain way and you eventually reach a plateau where you cannot scale further — you've basically run out of ideas. As a result, you have to take a step back and connect with other individuals that can actually help you get to the next level, which is the role he fills. You need to lead yourself well so that you can then lead your teams, organizations, families, and communities. Connect with David Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-w-smith-cmc-acc-227b19a/?originalSubdomain=ca Learn more about Logia Consulting Inc. at https://logiaconsulting.ca/ This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we spoke to Didi Emokpare, Chief Executive Officer at Outpost Health. Outpost offers healthcare without boundaries by powering a global health delivery network, bridging gaps between patients, providers, and health payments worldwide. The episode begins with Didi sharing his backstory and background, and what made him start Outpost three years ago. We learn some of the challenges Didi and the company have faced with his long-term vision for the brand. Didi explains that the vision is for any patient on the planet to access healthcare with any provider they choose. That care should be a 360-degree view of the patient. Didi hopes to see the company available on every continent in the future. Didi goes on to talk about what makes Outpost stand out among the competition and who the brand's target audience is. The episode finishes up with Didi giving a final takeaway to entrepreneurs. That is to try to remain calm whatever the situation is and not to stress too much. Discover how Saskatchewan-based healthcare company Outpost is bridging the gaps between patients, providers, and health payments worldwide by tuning into the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast with Didi Emokpare, CEO of the company. Outpost Health This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses and non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we chat with Blair Ross, Chief Operating Officer at Security Services Corp (SSC). Security Services Corp. is a growing, publicly-traded provider of physical and cyber security services. Its services are available to corporate and public sector clients across Canada. The episode begins with Blair sharing how he started his company and talking about his professional background. He then shares what he loves about working in the region, which is mainly the people. Blair goes into more detail about his company, discussing how he helps other businesses in the security sector and the types of customers they serve. We learn what sets SSC apart from the competition, and how Covid-19 affected the business. Blair also shares what he expects from the future for SSC. The episode finishes with Blair sharing a final takeaway he would give listeners - that is that any entrepreneur has to realize they don't know everything about everything. They must let their people empower their people, let them speak, and give them a voice. Learn what sets Saskatchewan-based security company Security Services Corp apart from the competition by tuning into the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, with Blair Ross, Chief Operating Officer of the company. Security Services Corp. This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we chat with Karen Smith, CEO of Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan. Karen also serves as a board member for the following organizations: Regina Community Clinic; Access Communications Cooperative; the Saskatchewan Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors; and Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program. She's also a member of the Leader's Council at the Hill and Levene Schools of Business at the University of Regina. The Better Business Bureau helps consumers find businesses and charities they can trust, and the episode begins with Karen explaining how she first started working at the establishment. She also shares more about her current role. We learn about the Better Business Bureau's services and how the company deals with complaints and resolutions. Karen also talks about the future of the Better Business Bureau and how she sees it evolving. Karen expects the company to use AI more in the future to improve the rating process it uses. Towards the end, we discover what Karen loves about working with businesses in the Saskatchewan area. Do you want to learn all about the services the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan uses? Then tune in to the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast with Karen Smith, CEO of Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan. University of Regina Institute of Corporate Directors This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

On the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we speak with Ryan Quiring, CEO at SafetyTek. SafetyTek is a leading workplace safety app that collects information efficiently, reduces incidences, and creates a safer workplace environment. The app focuses its efforts on incident prevention. The episode begins with Ryan explaining how he came up with the idea for SafetyTek. Then, he talks about his goals for SafetyTek. Ideally, he wants customers to know immediately that SafetyTek is an app that can be implemented within minutes. Ryan goes on to share the challenges he has with running the business, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. He talks about the importance of creating a healthy remote-work environment for staff members and the pros and cons. He also discusses how the profile of the ideal customer has changed, especially during the pandemic. We learn Ryan's take on a healthy work-life balance. Plus, Ryan answers what he would change about SafetyTek in hindsight if he went back to 2020. The episode wraps up with Ryan giving his listeners one last main takeaway, based on his experience and the challenges he's overcome. Learn all about the functioning of a workplace safety app by tuning into the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast with Ryan Quiring, CEO at SafetyTek. SafetyTek This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we chat with Shea Martin, CEO at Brew Ninja. Brew Ninja offers brewery management software, providing simple accounting, production, regulation, sales, and reporting. The episode begins with Shea sharing his background and his journey of starting Brew Ninja. Then, we learn why Shea loves doing business in the Saskatchewan province, which is mainly because he enjoys working in a small community. Shea shares what separates Brew Ninja from the competition and how the company manages to exceed in customer service. He also discusses the marketing practices that are working best for Brew Ninja. We also learn some of the biggest challenges Shea and his company face—such as the lack of travel resulting in no trade shows. Toward the end of the episode, Shea shares what he sees and plans for Brew Ninja in the future, which is primarily continued growth. He also discusses where he sees himself in the next ten years and his vision. The episode ends with Shea sharing the advice he'd give himself ten years ago if he could. Learn how brewery management software works, in the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast. Tune into the episode with Shea Martin, CEO at Brew Ninja, here. Brew Ninja This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we speak with Collin Pullar, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. Collin builds and maintains relationships with industry partners, unions, indigenous communities, regulators, and government members. He's also a leader in innovation and incorporation of leading technology, and introduces improvements to business decisions. As well as working as the president of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, Colin also serves as the chair of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce. The episode begins with Collin sharing his career background in depth. Then, we learn about the teams he's worked with and the kind of feedback he's received from businesses using his technology recommendations. Collin goes on to share the opportunities tech will introduce in the future and how Covid-19 affected business at the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. Collin believes that wearable technologies will be big in the future. On a personal note, Collin shares the advice he'd give himself ten years ago, which is to not be so hard on himself. The episode wraps up with Collin giving his main takeaway to the entrepreneurs listening to the podcast, which is to find a reason to encourage and inspire others. Learn how Collin Pullar, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, helps businesses and entrepreneurs grow with innovative technology by tuning into the latest episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast. Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association Regina & District Chamber of Commerce This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

In this week's episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we chat with John Bailey, CEO of Regina Food Bank. The Regina Food Bank is a charitable community-based organization. Its mission is to eliminate hunger and food insecurity via nutritious food distribution, education, and support programs in cooperation with the community. John begins the episode by discussing his background and role at Regina Food Bank. Then, John goes on to explain what he loves about working with the local community. He also shares some of the biggest challenges for the organization. A large part of the episode involves John explaining how the team builds awareness for Regina Food Bank. He shares that social media is one of their primary tools for marketing the organization. We also learn how John and his team track return on investment. Toward the end of the episode, John talks about some of the biggest opportunities for Regina Food Bank in the future. He also shares where he sees Regina Food Bank going in the next decade. The episode comes to a close with John answering what advice he would give himself ten years ago: that time is finite. Resources: Regina Food Bank This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses and non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

On this episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we speak with Trent Meyer, President at Hi-Tec Profiles, one of Western Canada's leading providers of steel processing services, including profile cutting and bending technology. Trent has been at the helm of the 25-year-old company since 2018. They do business with many companies in select industries, without discriminating on size. He says that having multiple clients in certain industries is possible due to strong relationships. Whether it's a long-term relationship or a new one, Trent and his team focus on delivering exactly what the clients need, when they need it. Trent talks about navigating Covid in a manufacturing environment, and the changes and adaptations that had to happen. They are an essential business because some of their clients are in the medical field and rely on Trent's products. He credits the flexibility of his team as the reason they were able to make quick changes on the fly. Trent also talks about the importance of the team, and the trust they have in one another. Everyone at the company starts on the floor, so the leaders have all done all the jobs. As he concludes, it's important to do the things that nobody else wants to do. Resources: Hi-Tec Profiles This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses and non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca

On the first episode of the Sask Entrepreneurs Podcast, we speak with Craig Campbell, President and Owner at G3Tech. G3Tech first brought ground penetrating radar to the Saskatchewan construction industry in 2007. Today the company is the leader in applying new and innovative technologies to work with non-destructive testing for municipal and construction sectors. The episode begins with Craig sharing how he ended up working at G3Tech. He also explains the services that G3Tech provides to customers. Craig then goes on to talk about how G3Tech differs from its competitors. A big topic of the conversation is the use of improving technology in the industry. G3Tech uses the latest technology in its sector, and Craig explains the importance of investing in new and progressive technologies. The episode wraps up with Craig sharing what advice he would give to his younger self, which would be to not fear making mistakes. Craig also advises budding entrepreneurs that you have to be in it for the long game for success. He believes you need to invest time and energy into your work. You won't simply become a millionaire overnight. Learn about the importance of investing in new technologies in the construction industry by tuning into the latest episode with Craig Campbell, President and Owner at G3Tech. Resources: G3Tech This episode is brought to you by 2Web. Growing your business online is overwhelming. At 2Web, we make it simple. Our agency has helped over 700+ businesses & non-profit organizations grow through digital marketing. Learn more and reach out to us at 2Web.ca