Fall Back Up with Jordi Morgan: Recent Episodes
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Engaging and thoughtful insights into Atlantic Canada through conversations with business leaders, innovators, and high performers.
Danny Graham is best known as the former leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and MLA for Halifax Citadel. He is now serving as the Chief Engagement Officer of Engage Nova Scotia.
Over the past three decades, Danny has held senior positions in business, law, government, and politics.
He is currently Counsel to McInnes Cooper – advising on business matters, Collective Social Responsibility and Aboriginal Law.
He has been lead counsel in cases at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
He acted as an advisor to Justice Canada and the United Nations, and consultant to the governments of Thailand, Jamaica, Tanzania, and Ukraine.
In Nova Scotia, he was the province’s Chief Negotiator on Aboriginal rights between 2006 and 2014 in the Made in Nova Scotia Process.
Danny helped author We Choose Now: A Playbook for Nova Scotians, a ten-year plan examining the economic future of the province.
He was the c [...]
Dan O’Connor is Nova Scotia’s most senior and best known NDP politico.
His political activity stretches back to when he graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1974 and was Dal’s first full-time student president. He went on to serve as the Executive Secretary of the National Union of Students.
His NDP involvement began as a researcher for Manitoba NDP MP David Orlikow in the late 70s. For the next few years, Dan played several roles for the NDP in Manitoba at both the federal and provincial levels.
Drawn by an offer from Alexa McDonough, Dan welcomed an opportunity to return to Nova Scotia in the mid-80s where he served as Chief of Staff and Communications Director for a decade.
When Alexa became federal NDP leader, Dan served 2 years as the Principal Secretary of Canada’s NDP and a special advisor to the federal caucus. Returning to Nova Scotia in 1998, Dan went on to guide the party as Chief of Staff under leaders Robert Chisholm, He [...]
John Edward MacDonell is the longest serving Chief of Staff for a Minister of National Defence in Canadian history. Over seven years he was the right hand of the Hon. Peter MacKayduring the Stephen Harper government, six of those at DND. Defence saw its share of heavy lifting in his tenure, the height of the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan. John began his career getting his Law degree from Dalhousie University in 1994. He articled Stewart McKelvey and went on to become a Partner in 2001. He is currently a partner at Spiteri & Ursulak working out of their Ottawa office. MacDonell is well known in Nova Scotia through his connection with the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia. He served as president and is also known as one of 12 original petitioners to establish theConservative Par [...]
Charlene Brophy is the president and CEO of Fonemed. Fonemed is a Newfoundland-based company with more than 200 employees and 2,300 client groups in Canada, the United States, Latin America and Asia. It provides telephone-based healthcare services to over 10 million people. In 2016, Fonemed experienced 46 percent revenue growth in the $10-20 million range. In Canada, in addition to supplying telecare for Newfoundland, Fonemed is delivering services to clients in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia, and over 60 university health clinics throughout the US. Saskatchewan is licensing its software as are clients in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Peru, Venezuela, Greece, and Bangladesh. They supply customers with proprietary software, training, quality assurance and ongoing support. It is clearly an efficient and effective alternative service delivery o [...]
Kyle Racki co-founded Proposify with Kevin Springer in Halifax in 2013. Proposify is software designed to assist agencies to create custom proposals for client online.
Using clean, effective templates, the software eliminates unnecessary, repetitive functions and helps sell ideas. It is quickly gaining acceptance among a broad spectrum of users, growing Proposify’s revenues to 4 million dollars annually.
But it hasn’t been an easy process. Kyle’s story is fascinating. Growing up in Cole Harbour in the Jehovah Witness faith, Kyle was presented with unique challenges and opportunities alike.
Kyle’s is an entrepreneurs story, from starting his own agency to support a young family through personal struggles to building his concept using stalwart determination.
I met with Kyl [...]
Jonathan Torrens is probably best known currently for his roles of J-Roc in the popular television series Trailer Park Boys and CBC’s current comedy Mr. D.
His career, however, extends back into his high school years when he hosted the teen-oriented consumer affairs series Street Cents from 1989 until 1996. He then went on to host, co-produce and write for his own teen-oriented talk show, Jonovision, from 1996 until 2001.
He’s appeared and starred in many television series and movies over the years becoming one of Canada’s most well known young actors. [...]
Jim Spatz is the Chairman and CEO of Southwest Properties Limited, one of Atlantic Canada’s leading real estate developers. Southwest owns, operates and develops residential and commercial real estate in Atlantic Canada, extended stay accommodations across Canada, as well as multi-unit residential portfolios in four Florida cities.
Bishop’s Landing Downtown Halifax Plans are also underway for Seton Ridge a major community project on the Mother House Grounds on former Mount Saint Vincent lands. Jim has been leading the company for the past 25 years since returning fr [...]
It’s not often you run into someone who began their career when they were six years old.
Born and raised in the tiny community of Berry Mills, New Brunswick, Jared Steeves started his training in being an antique auctioneer literally at his father’s knee.
Starting his own business, Key Auctions at age 18, Jared has built it into one of Atlantic Canada’s top three auction houses.
During his career, Jared has uncovered some remarkable treasures in Maritime estates including the discovery of a painting by the early 20th-century American wildlife artist Carl Ruingas which sold for over 100,000 dollars.
But his business tells only part of the story… now age 30, he’s already travelled to 67 counties and now is fully engaged in international humanitarian work on two continents.
I met with Jared in downtown Moncton…
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Show notes:
Gerry Pond is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Mariner Partners Inc. and the Co-Founder of East Valley Ventures. He was CEO of NBTel and president of its successor, Aliant Telecom before he moved into the tech startup field.
Gerry is perhaps best known for his successes in the tech world with two New Brunswick startups Q1 Labs and Radian6. Collectively, they sold for a billion dollars in 2011.
Following these successes, he co-created the industry group Propel ICT, which runs the Launch36 tech startup a [...]
Jeremy White and his wife Melanie were looking for a summer retreat in Cape Breton after honeymooning in 2008. What they found were a new way of life and a successful small business.
Big Spruce Brewing sprung from a passion for craft beer and a serendipitous real estate buy in Nyanza.
Jeremy’s background was in international engineering and while living in Nicaragua, they stumbled upon an opportunity to relocate to Nova Scotia.
He had been a home brewer for years, and have wanted to scale his production up to a commercial level for a long time.
With favourable condition for growing hops and an industry that has been taking off in the region, they opened up Nova Scotia’s first certified organic on-farm brewery. Big Spruce quickly established itself as a local favourite. [...]
Denis Joseph Patrick Ryan. Irish musician turned successful businessman,
He is one of Canada’s leading performers, helping establish traditional Celtic music throughout North America, England, and Australia.
Denis was born in Newport, County Tipperary, Ireland, immigrating to Toronto in 1969.
Eventually moving to St. John’s, Newfoundland, he founded what became one of Canada’s most well known traditional bands, Ryan’s Fancy. In 1983 the group was disbanded and he turned his attention to the stock market and other business interests.
Ryan moved to Halifax where he and his family have resided for more than 35 years. I sat down with Denis in his home near the Public Gardens in downtown Halifax.
In our conversation, we cover topics as wide ranging as his time with Ryan’s Fancy, his involvem [...]
Halifax Magazine
Show Notes:
Saeed El-Darahali is the driving force behind the SimplyCast team, who built the company from the ground up to what is now an industry-leading marketing platform that serves clients in over 175 countries.
He has over 10 years of management experience in the IT industry, with an interest in strategic partnering, corporate financing, strategic growth, operations, and sales and marketing management.
Saeed, as you will hear, is passionate about technology and about helping people reach their goals.
He enjoys sharing his experiences with start-up companies, offering insights into growing a business and becoming successful.
Saeed [...]
Tim Moore is the founder of several highly successful Canadian businesses. Starting in 1971, Tim borrowed $2000 to purchase a small moving truck.
That launched a career of serial entrepreneurship resulting in the founding of AMJ Campbell Van Lines, Premiere Executive Suites, Premiere Van Lines, Premiere Self-Storage, Premiere Mortgage Center, Oceanstone Resorts, Moore Executive Suites and Atlantic Signature Mortgage and Loan.
He is the author of two inspirational books, On the Move and You Don’t Need a MBA to Make Millions where he shares his jour [...]
Show Notes:
Today, I’m talking with a native Nova Scotian who has earned a reputation as one of the best bladesmiths in the world…Murray Carter.
At 18, Murray Carter set out from Nova Scotia to see the world. A major first stop on the tour was a nine-month stay in Japan where he had arranged to be hosted by a karate dojo.
The stopover turned into an inspiration for Murray who would go on to apprentice with a 16th generation Yoshimoto bladesmith for six years.
Such was his dedication to the craft, Murray was asked to take the position of number seventeen in the Sakemoto family tradition of Yoshimoto bladesmithing.
He moved to the United States and continued hand forging one of a kind blades in Oregon. He continues growing his Carter Cutlery business on a reputation of creating some of the finest blades in [...]
Rob Steele built his entrepreneurial career in auto-related industries throughout the 1990s. The Steele Auto Group, is now the largest and most diversified auto group in Atlantic Canada with 900 employees, and 17 dealerships in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, representing 22 brands.
The Steele Auto Group is recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.
Rob’s other hat is President and CEO of Newfoundland Capital Corporation or Newcap. Since taking the job in the early 2000’s Rob has focused on the radio business, and now controls 95 radio licenses across Canada with 1000 employees.
Rob also sits on the boards of Stingray Digital, Montreal, and Atlantic Signature Mortgage, Halifax.
Rob has a strong passion for music. [...]
On this episode I’m delighted to sit down with former Syrian refugee, medical student and entrepreneur, Tareq Hadhad
In the election of 2015, then candidate for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged if his party won the election, his new Liberal government would begin effort to bring 25,000 Syrians displaced by the war to resettle in Canada.
Among the families selected were the Hadhads.
Tareq had been studying medicine and his father was running a well establish chocolate manufacturing business in Damascus when hostilities broke out in Syria. After essentially losing everything in fire fights, looting and airstrikes, the family fled to Lebanon, eventually being selected to come to Canada as part of the Syrian refugee program. They were sponsored by a community group in Antigonish.
Theirs is a [...]
SHOW NOTES:
On this episode I’m delighted to sit down with the President of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), Don Bureaux
As President of NSCC, Don Bureaux serves as the chief executive officer for the operation of 13 campuses, with over 120 programs, and approximately 24,000 students and 2,000 staff.
Don Bureaux has been president of NSCC since 2011 but his commitment to adult education spans over two decades working with adult learners at colleges and universities as well as professional designation granting organizations across Canada and internationally.
At NSCC, he works to bring the college’s vision – transforming Nova Scotia one learner at a time – to life.
Don holds a certificate in Adult E [...]
Show Notes:
On this episode I’m delighted to sit down with author and social business innovator, Barb Stegemann.
Barb Stegemann was born in Montreal, Quebec and holds degrees in Sociology and Journalism from the University of King’s College.
Barb built her own boutique PR firm while living in British Columbia and created innovative, award winning campaigns winning numerous marketing awards from the Economic Developers’ Association of Canada
After Barb’s best friend Captain Trevor Greene was wounded in Afghanistan in 2006, she set out to support his mission of economic empowerment creating a new business model that supports trade with nations experiencing war or strife.
She launched The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc., a company that [...]
SHOW NOTES:
On this episode I’m delighted to sit down with one of Canada’s best Editorial cartoonists, Bruce MacKinnon
Bruce has been nominated eight times for a National Newspaper Award (NNA), winning five times. He also received the NNA inaugural Journalist of the Year award for 2014.
Among many other honours, Bruce has also been awarded 17 Atlantic Journalism Awards for editorial cartooning…including Journalist of the Year in 1991 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000;
He’s been given an honourary doctorate by St. Mary’s University for his work in the field of editorial cartooning and is a member of the Order of Nova Scotia. In 2013 he received both an honourary Doctor of Fine A [...]
SHOW NOTES:
On this episode, the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, Rear-Admiral John Newton
Rear-Admiral Newton began his career in the Navy in 1983, after trying his hand as a geologist out west.
He completed tours with the destroyer HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Preserver, and HMCS Montreal gaining a specialty in Canadian maritime sovereignty through countless fishery patrols and three Arctic sovereignty missions.
In 2000, he completed a year of Joint military studies at the Command and Staff Coll [...]