What's Next, Alberta?

Eva Friesen joins the podcast this week to discuss what it means to build a community where everyone has the opportunity to participate. Eva is the CEO of the Calgary Foundation and has focused her career in serving as a leader in the charitable sector to help build a more resilient community in Calgary. Eva talks about the interdependency of having a thriving community and a strong economy, noting the importance of having more people feeling like they're contribute to their community in a productive way is an excellent check and balance. Eva also talks about how the Calgary Foundation's granting program not only by contributing financial support, but also builds capacities of other organizations through partnerships. 

Luke Avezedo is the Film Commissioner with Calgary Economic Development and joins this week to add a little glamour to the conversation to talk about the creative industries in Alberta. He tells us how major production houses are consistently choosing Alberta based on our world-renowned crews, incredible landscapes, and our willingness to be open for business. Luke shares the history of how the creative industries has been fostered over decades of work and how much has gone into creating an ecosystem of talent, resources, and relationships that can support the industry well into the future. He discusses the economic impact and shares staggering numbers, hundreds of millions of the dollars, and the need to continue to develop a talent pipeline to ensure we can sustain our growth. He says that entry into the industry is truly ageless and that the future will be as bright, and as creative, as we want.

Maxim Olshevsky joins the conversation this week to talk about his unique philosophies around commercial real estate development. Maxim is a proud Calgarian, investor and entrepreneur, and as President of the Astra Group of companies he's committed to creating positive community impacts by tackling unconventional development projects. Maxim shares his thoughts about the future of Alberta's economy (spoiler alert: it's really positive!) and how growth will be key to our bright future.  Maxim talks about building and leading his four companies with hard work, quick decision-making, and focusing on the people behind the bricks and mortar. Maxim discusses the importance of understanding the community needs and impacts when it comes to re-imagining buildings that have lost their utility. He explains that people and community must be the primary consideration in order to be successful, both in life and in commercial real estate.  

Wellington sits down with the founder of Laura Brows, Laura Frostad, to discuss how she's created a cult following for her popular eyebrow brand, the launch of her global make-up line Relume, and how she balances life as a busy mom and entrepreneur. Laura shares her thoughts about disrupting the beauty industry and the challenges small business owners face when trying to pursue their dreams. Laura discusses how she moved to Calgary with now-husband from Southern California, where she was raised by her single mother as the youngest of three siblings. Laura shares that her work ethic resulted from watching her mom work multiple jobs to support the family, and that she was forced to be a very independent at an early age. She credits this to her resiliency for being able to start Laura Brows and grow her business despite the challenges of being an entrepreneur. She talks about why the women of Calgary love her brow work and how she was able to build such a loyal clientele base through word of mouth, and how the Calgary 'micro community' is such an incredible support for small businesses. Laura shares that her brother's struggles with mental health was her inspiration for creating a social enterprise in Relume, and how she hopes to continue to grow that brand and give back to organizations that support mental health. 

Wellington is joined by Jim Button who shares his experiences building brands, building companies, and building communities. He talks about finding purpose and joy; and of course, his love of beer. Wellington and Jim talk learning hard lessons in failed businesses and how to be a successful entrepreneur in competitive markets. Jim talks about bringing people together through entrepreneurship, community events, and the social lubricant he calls beer. The pair discuss the challenges facing Calgary and Alberta about  false narratives having to do with opportunities that exist in various industries, particularly around the energy industry. Jim notes that we need to start sharing our success stories of innovation and technology, and how many different types of jobs are available in our market. Jim shares his ongoing journey with terminal kidney cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma, and how he finds comfort in writing for his blog, Gather With Jim. He says that it takes a village to build communities and keep them thriving, but that the most important ingredient to success is staying positive and giving back. 

Wellington talks with Doug van Spronsen about building a technology company that's focused on helping people do their best, do things differently and co-creating solutions will ensure success in the long run for their clients.  Doug talks about his success as an entrepreneur in Alberta and growing a globally focused business right here in Calgary. He talks about Canada and Alberta's reputation abroad as being a location of choice to do business and how that translates into attracting and retaining top talent for supporting the tech ecosystem that's being built locally. He also discusses his optimism about Alberta's ability to solve problems, be innovative, and re-invent our economic history of boom/bust cycles to overcome challenges and expand opportunities. He talks about the importance of funding ideas and enhancing funding models to expand how we are viewing innovation and technology to answer questions about how we fulfill our needs. About Doug: Doug van Spronsen is the CEO and co-founder of Versett, a strategic design firm that works with high-growth companies to capitalize on emerging behaviours, markets and technologies.  Established in 2012, Versett's global team of over 350 specialists bring together rigorous research, exceptional design and software engineering to create and scale world-class digital platforms and interfaces. In the past year, the company has worked extensively with clients like American Express, TD Bank, Visa and Getty Images across a variety of global projects. Each month, millions of people use the apps, products and digital businesses the firm has designed. Versett is headquartered in Calgary and has offices in Vancouver, Paris, Frankfurt, Toronto and Ho Chi Minh City. He also serves on the boards of Connect First Credit Union and True North Water. Doug was EY's Entrepreneur of the Year (Prairies) for Technology in 2019 and was named one of Avenue's Top 40 Under 40 in 2018.connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInVersett: Website

Wellington sits down with Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta to discuss the BCA's recently released report, Define the Decade: A Framework for Prosperity for Albertans. The pair talk about what a good life in Alberta looks like over the next years and what it's going to take to get us there. Define the Decade outlines a vision for Alberta's competitive, inclusive and sustainable economy over the next 10 years and gives a roadmap to help ensure all Albertans have access to be successful, healthy and fulfilled...

Wellington sits down with Maud Salvi, Executive Director of Sled Island Music & Arts Festival to discuss the economic benefits of the arts. They talk about the importance of arts and culture to help build thriving, successful communities. Maud shares her tips and tricks for how to make the most of your Sled Island experience on your journey to discover new artists and musicians. https://www.sledisland.com/

Desirée Bombenon, CEO & Chief Disruption Office at SureCall, and Käthe Lemon, President of RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions, join Wellington to discuss economic optimism, telling Alberta's story and the great realization.

Joined by guest Terry Rock from Platform Calgary, Wellington talks about the role innovation will play in disrupting Alberta's economy.

Joined by guest Luree Williamson, CEO of Ag for Life, Wellington talks about how young leaders can get involved in ag-tech.

Joined by guest Ken Lima-Coelho from Big Brothers Big Sisters Calgary, Wellington talks about youth and the role they play in the future of Alberta.

Kicking off season 2 of “What's Next, Alberta?”, Wellington joins guest Karen Brookman at the WCD headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, to discuss the evolution of WCD the opportunities Karen and her team have created.

On this week's episode of "What's Next, Alberta?" Wellington talks with Connor Curran, CEO of Local Laundry, about the future of Alberta, and the vision and path forward to an economic breakthrough.

Join Wellington as he takes a look back at season one of "What's Next, Alberta?" and reflects on the incredible innovation and spirit of entrepreneurship in Alberta. One thing's for sure, connectFirst is proud of and inspired by Albertans every day. Let's all work together to make Alberta, and the world, a better place.

This week on "What's Next, Alberta?" Wellington talks with guest John Brown about innovation, risk, and how taking chances on wild ideas will forge the future of our province.

In this week's episode of "What's Next, Alberta?" Wellington welcomes Jacques Tremblay and Daniel Plenzik of Bridgeland Distillery to discuss the adventure of following your passion and opening a new business.

Jim Gibson joins Wellington this week to discuss how technology is impacting Alberta's future and the sound decision-making needed when we're investing going forward.

This week, Wellington welcomes connectFirst's Liz Stretch, Senior VP of Independent Business and Agriculture, to discuss the exciting opportunities coming down the line in Alberta's future.

On this episode of "What's Next Alberta?" Wellington chats with Helcim's Nicolas Beique, a local fintech working to make your shopping experience seamless.

On this week's episode of "What's Next, Alberta?" Wellington welcomes Josh Umscheid from Three View Farms to hear the untold and inspiring story of how the Agriculture industry in Alberta is helping to feed the world.

This week Wellington welcomes Cheryl Hacking, President of Standen's, to talk about the industry of manufacturing, and how it's ready to help reinvent Alberta's economy.

This week Wellington welcomes connectFirst's Nick Wade, Director, Product Strategies to discuss how connectFirst is leveraging Alberta's strengths and spirit to build a credit union for all Albertans.

This week Wellington and guest John Kerr of Crowsnest Films have a conversation on Alberta's growing film industry.

This week's guest Connor Curran from Local Laundry and Wellington talk about the impact of supporting local, Canadian made products.

In celebration of Mother's Day this year, I invited a very special guest to the show – my mom.

Listen in as Wellington and guest Dennis Lenarduzzi, VP of Brand at Connect First, talk about the value of a brand and its ability to tell a business's story.

Listen in as Wellington and guest Yvonne Brouwers dive into market research and what that means for the future of Alberta.

This week Wellington and guest Eric Dillon from Conexus chat about the attributes of a credit union and how they can innovate for a brighter future.

If she can see it, she can be it. Tune in to Wellington's conversation with Chic Geeks's Kylie Woods on empowering women in Alberta's tech industry.

Who you do business with matters - Listen in as Wellington discusses the importance of banking with a financial institution that cares for your wellbeing.

The future is female-funded. Wellington and Co-CEO's Judy Fairburn & Shelley Kuipers of The51 discuss the untapped potential of female-powered capital and what that means for the future of Alberta.

From living in a garage to kick-starting one of Alberta's most innovative companies in the Agriculture biz, Paul Shumlich knows it all. Listen in as Paul and Wellington discuss social innovation and what it means to dive headfirst into your passion.

This week Wellington and “recovering entrepreneur” Ray DePaul dive into business creation, the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the opportunities that lay ahead for Alberta. Ray DePaul shares his journey of what brought him to Alberta and how he steered his company, RapidMind Inc., through funding and significant market growth and turned the company into an industry leader. Ray also shares his previous work experience of being part of the team Research in Motion which is now Blackberry. Ray expresses his ambition to build high impact talent through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program at Mount Royal University and assist in delivering transformative community-engaged learning experiences. He states, “don't invest in the business but invest in the person”, as the next generation of entrepreneurs are still formulating who they want to be. Paul explains his personal interactions with students and says that the courses force the student to experience entrepreneurship rather than simply study it.  About Ray: Ray DePaul is the inaugural Director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University. Ray has launched many innovative products in his 30-year career. He has been a successful entrepreneur, selling his company to Intel, and was also a key member of the team that brought the iconic BlackBerry to the world. He is currently a volunteer on the board of Platform Calgary, a board member at Attabotics and Trico Homes, and is a member of the prestigious A100. He is also on several private sector advisory boards and is proud to be a mentor to many young entrepreneurs. Ray holds a Bachelor of Mathematics in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.Resources discussed in this episode: https://calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/students-taking-care-of-businessAbout JMH Launchpad event connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInRay DePaul:  LinkedIn

Listen in on how everyday ideas can evolve into big business ideas with Wellington and guest Ted Fleming from Partake Brewing. Ted created Partake due to a personal challenge that led him to create a unique nonalcoholic beer right here in Alberta. He changed his life perspective by prioritizing things that were important to his health and his family and was passionate about sharing his purpose with people across North America.  His initial ecommerce site created the foundation for Partake and helped launch their brand with thousands of supporters already on their side. Ted focuses on serving his community by expressing his authentic voice and by listening to consumers feedback regarding taste and quality.  He has created a combination of great taste, range of flavours and low calories where he differentiates himself from his competitors. Ted fulfilled the need for a craft non-alcoholic beer that no one else in the consumer-packaged goods industry seemed to be making at the time which led to the successful creation of Partake Brewing.  About Ted: Ted Fleming is the founder of Partake Brewing and Premium Near Beer, some of the first companies in North America dedicated to serving people who crave the taste of beer, wine, cider, or cocktails but choose to avoid alcohol.  In 2005, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a chronic ailment that was the start of significant life changes and led to his decision to eliminate alcohol from his diet. The problem was he loved beer but found that the quality and variety of the non-alcoholic beer available at the supermarket was just plain “crap”. He missed his beer. He missed the taste of beer and discovering new beers, especially new craft beers. But more than that, he found that he missed the social connection that comes from sharing a drink with a colleague after a hard days work, cracking a beer with the guys after hockey, and joining in to celebrate special occasions with family and friends. Resources discussed in this episode: https://www.sootoday.com/great-stories/former-sault-resident-appears-on-dragons-den-gets-financial-backing-for-his-beer-868873https://drinkpartake.ca/blogs/news/funding-announcement connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInTed Fleming/Partake Brewing: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn  

Learn from Connect First's leader, Paul Kelly, this week as he sits down with Wellington to discuss how business changes are led by powerful leadership. Paul shared his story of what led him to move to Alberta and discusses how he first got introduced in the financial industry. He explains the extensive process of what connectFirst Credit union has faced to get to where it is today. He educates us on the procedures taken when merging credit unions as well as the difficulty of government interference within the business model.   Paul highlights the importance of diversifying within the industry through technological advancement, expanding into new geographics and within internal business models. He mentions how we need to adapt and think about what's coming next and manage those risks that helped connectFirst Credit Union reinvent itself for the 2020's from his personal perspective of being a powerful leader. connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Listen in on how powerful leadership is changing our future with Wellington and his guest Desirée Bombenon. Desirée is the founder and CEO of SureCall Contact Centers as well as Desirée Imports. Desirée transformed this telecommunication company into much more than a contact center but a purpose driven business that provides global services. She wanted to share her passion for the wine business by bring great, socially responsible wines to Canada. Desirée has been a part of multiple organizations that are helping lead change through community involvement as well as addressing gender parity. Desirée believes in giving everyone equal opportunities through a profiling program no matter what one's background is. She is invested in elevating her team through a certification system in-house and mentions that if you take care of your team, they will take care of your customers. She also discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with successful and positive people, who care and want to make a difference. Now is the best time for opportunity and it starts with multiple pain points and problems to solve but Desirée encourages entrepreneurs to keep being creative and persevering.  About Desirée: Desirée has over 30 years of business operational experience and strategic leadership. Awarded RBC's Women's Entrepreneur for 2020, Ernst & Young 2019 Entrepreneur of the year for the Prairies in Communication Technology, she is a bold innovator, futurist, and purpose-driven leader. Her portfolio includes business strategy, social enterprise, and culture building. Desirée was named WXN Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women for 2020, 2017, & 2016. She is an active member of a number of organizations including YPO and International Women's Forum and has chaired several industry boards and focus groups. She is a past director of the National Music Centre, is a past Chair of YPO Alberta Chapter, and a past Chair of YPO Canada Region. Desirée currently serves as Chair for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair for Children First Canada, and Chair with CAMX, the Canadian Call Management Association. She is an Executive Committee member of the YPO Sustainable Business Network, a cohort for Singularity University, and a Harvard University Alumni for the Advanced Leadership Initiative. She is involved in mentorship programs in her community and through Women's Executive Network (WXN). Desirée is also a member of the WXN Diversity Board, she is a CIAC Certified Strategic Leader, and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and has a Queen's University Executive MBA through Smith School of Business. She has also earned her Certificate in Social Impact from Queens University. She is the recipient of the 30% Club Scholarship for Queens. Resources discussed in this episode: https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2020/10/16/meet-desiree-bombenon-ceo-of-surecall-and-2020-rbc-canadian-women-entrepreneur-awards-rbc-momentum-finalist/https://businessincalgary.com/top-news/leading-lady/ connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInDesirée Bombenon / SureCall: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn  

Listen to Wellington and guest Phil Roberts from Valo Networks dive into the opportunity tech has to offer for the future of Alberta. Valo Networks is known for building and operating Rural Municipal Broadband networks by partnering with communities to build local infrastructure and carrier-neutral transport networks. Jim shares his past experiences with the organizations that helped him get to where he is now in the tech industry and expresses the gratitude of building those opportunities and partnerships along the way. Phil gives back to the tech community by being a part of the Calgary Chamber as well as an active member in A100 where they assist in expanding networks, connecting people and sharing experiences to help drive lasting diversification for Alberta's economy.  He shares his advice for new entrepreneurs who are just starting out and demonstrates a bright vision for the tech industry in the next years to aid in providing innovative solutions to problems. About Phil:Phil has more than 20 years of professional, executive and board experience in complex corporate environments. With in-depth experience in business, technology and governance matters in the energy, global telecommunication and software industry, Phil co-founded Provision Analytics, a startup focused on food safety and food traceability, and sits on the Board of Valo Networks, a new venture that will enable agritech, smart homes and rural economic development in Alberta and Saskatchewan.An active volunteer, Phil is involved with numerous civic and economic development organizations.  He has helped repurpose land assets into collaborative hubs and affordable workspace for creative entrepreneurs in the City of Calgary. Elected Chair of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce by the Board of Directors in 2018 he was also recently appointed Honorary Consul to Sri Lanka in Alberta.  His work with non-for-profit and Boards has focused on strategy and growth, regulatory, community engagement, corporate governance and government relations. Resources discussed in this episode: https://businessincalgary.com/month-and-year/january-2018/an-eye-for-opportunity/ connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInPhil Roberts/Valo Networks: Website | Twitter  | LinkedIn

Tune in to hear Wellington talk about his inspiration, vision, and plan for creating a credit union that's made for Alberta. Wellington kicks off this season of What's Next Alberta by sharing connectFirst Credit Unions ground roots of the four organizational mergers that came together. The mergers of the previous credit unions created a vision of what a credit union should look like in order to solve the challenges faced by Albertans. connectFirst Credit Union is reimagining what a credit union could look like for the 2020's and it starts with by putting Albertans first. We are looking into understanding our member segments to help them invest in their businesses and be successful in their industry and help them create sustainability and employment opportunities.connectFirst Credit Union: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn