Today's Entrepreneur: Recent Episodes
FL Fuller Landau MTL
Today’s Entrepreneur is a weekly radio show produced as part of the community involvement initiatives of FL Fuller Landau. Co-hosted by FL’s Managing Partner Michael D. Newton and CJAD’s Dan Delmar. TE shares stories, advice, strengths, challenges, and the growing need to take corporate social responsibility for entrepreneurs in today’s world.
In this season finale, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar have the pleasure of welcoming Ricardo Larrivée, Chef and Co-Founder of Ricardo Media. He tells them about entering every Quebecer’s kitchen, building a multi-media empire and passing the baton to a new generation. They are also joined by Arielle Blais, Digital Marketing Specialist at BDO Canada to discuss efficient marketing and strategic elements to consider for your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Francois Theriault Co-Founder of custom-tailored men’s clothing boutique Surmesur. Francois talks about entrepreneurial agility, international expansion and how they landed a contract to dress up all NHL coaches. They are also joined by Youssef Boutros, Partner at BDO Canada to discuss manufacturing businesses and key elements to consider to grow a sucessful manufacturing business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Samer Saab, Founder and CEO of insights solutions company Explorance. He tells them about listening to your employees to drive higher impact and performance. They are also joined by Mia Barouki, Senior Specialist, People Experience Advisory at BDO Canada to discuss AI in the workplace.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Richard Mabley, Co-Founder and Vice President of business development at Transformer Table. He tells them about his innovative table that went viral on TikTok and selling his product at Costco. They are also joined by Anthony Marinelli, Assurance Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss board of directors; what they are and how your business might benefit from one.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Marina Pavlovic Rivas, Co-founder and CEO of Eli Health. She tells them about the company's mission to be the first at-home technology that gives real-time and lifelong health insights from the hormones in your saliva.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Dan Ahmarani, Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships at ARC Group Benefits, who tells them about the use of their technology platform to shake-up the industry, and the tribulations of a second-generation family business. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax season and how to prepare efficiently.
In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar welcome Fauve Doucet, President and CEO, Partage Club. She tells us about the concept of collaborative economy and the social, financial and environmental impacts offered by her digital solution to borrow what you need from your neighbours. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Senior Manager, Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss how outsourcing can help you achieve your business goals.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar Earth & Space, whose technology helps manage new space economy traffic in the sky, and support the sustainable management of natural resources on earth. They are also joined by Kareen Tea, US Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss some common misconceptions on sales tax for foreigners.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Camille Deslauriers, in charge of Marketing at Pick Pack, to talk about revolutionizing the world of ecommerce and more with their sustainable, reusable envelopes. They are also joined by Uros Milekic, Business Services and Outsourcing Partner at BDO Canada to discuss bill S-211 on new ESG reporting requirements in Canadian supply chains.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Steven Kiekeman Fontaine, co-founder of BoKEA. He tells them about making high-end cabinet fronts for IKEA products, enabling customers to build a custom kitchen while saving money. They are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Leader and Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss the importance of digital transformation for manufacturing companies.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Anna Martini, CEO of men's fashion brand Psycho Bunny. They talk about her move from the Montreal Canadians back to retail, what’s behind the Psycho Bunny name and why she wants more brick and mortar stores. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss updates to the Underused Housing Tax.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Andrew Pimentel from Groupe Powerstone. This 25-year-old tells them about his entrepreneurial journey from cutting grass as a preteen to landscape design, modern inground pools and creating dream backyards. Our hosts are also joined by MArc-Antoine Chaput, Senior Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss cloud accounting and how it can help your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Pierre-Étienne Bousquet, President and Co-Founder of Thirdbridge. He tells them about building the apps that many Montrealers use on a daily basis, and how AI can help entrepreneurs level up their online presence. They are also joined by Carlo Lupo, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss scientific research and development credits.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Philippe Choinière and Stacey Lecuyer, co-founders of Oneka. They tell us about their organic plant farm in the Eastern Townships, working with people who match their values, and committing to truly organic skincare. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss communicating with your accountant during tax season.
In this episode Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stephan Kouri, president of Union Coffee. Stephan tells us about fair trade coffee, conquering the Montreal market, custom blends and the iconic baby Gaccia. They are also joined by Pierre Taillefer, Partner and ESG Leader at BDO Canada to discuss environmental, social and governance in the food industry.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Fred Morin, chef, co-owner and co-founder of the Joe Beef Group, comprised of several iconic Montreal restaurants. They are also joined by Bernard Cormier, Managing Director and Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions at BDO Canada to discuss transactions and what adds value to your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Sarah Seddiki, co-founder of Teameo.io. She tells us about her thirst to feel “useful”, identifying an opportunity to pivot during the pandemic, and navigating the challenges posed by managing growth in the EdTech market. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, senior manager of business services at BDO Canada to discuss improving leadership skills and teamwork, and how to avoid common errors.
In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar receive Karl Magnone, president and founder of Les Franchises Tite Frette. We learn about the advantages of the franchisor business model, the importance of excellent customer service, and how his company’s CRM helped them grow from 0 to 45 stores across Quebec in 5 years. Amanda Khoury, managerfor estates and trusts at BDO Canada also joins Ernie and Dan to discuss digital assets, virtual intellectual property, and five life events that should prompt Canadians to revisit their estate plan.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar receive Jack Dell'Accio, CEO and founder of natural memory foam mattress company Essentia. Jack tells to us about the “mattress in a box” frenzy, the importance of deep sleep, and how toxic products in your bedroom can negatively impact your health. They are also joined by Greg McDonald, Director at BDO Canada, who shares some advice on research and development tax credits opportunities that you shouldn’t leave on the table.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello receive Chloe Ryan, CEO and founder of Acrylic Robotics. Her intelligent robots enable artists to replay their brushstrokes with real paint on canvas, making it easier for them to make a living and democratizing artwork. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss the Canadian underutilized housing tax.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Patrice Demers and Marie-Josée Beaudoin from Sabayon. They tell us about their journey from offering Montreal’s finest patisseries to leaving it all behind, guesting at a pop-up restaurant in New York City, and now, reinventing themselves with a 14-seat restaurant in Pointe Saint-Charles.They are also joined by subject matter expert Carlo Lupo, Tax partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax considerations and credits for professionals in the restaurant business.
In this episode, Sandrine Rastello and Michael Newton receive Adelle Tarzibachi, co-founder of food company les Filles Fattoush. She started with an import business and now sells Syrian ready-to-eat specialties and ingredients. Her business gives women refugees a job and a chance to start a new life in Canada. And most recently, her expansion plans have won her an offer from a dragon.In this episode, we are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, BDO Partner and Eastern Canada leader to talk about entrepreneurial growing pains: from finding capital to meeting compliance requirements.
In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jean Bédard, President and CEO of restaurant turned food business Groupe Grandio. He is also behind the revival of iconic Montreal steakhouse Moishes, and more recently rescued microbrewery Brasseurs du monde.We are also joined by Jean-François Audet, partner of financial advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss franchises and things you should consider before becoming a franchisee.
In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Boivin, CEO, Grizzly Fumoir. She is an entrepreneur at heart who bought a Quebec City-based company to grow it as one of the top 5 producers of smoked and ready-to-eat fish in Canada.We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager in people advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss the various roles of HR leaders when your business is going through transformations.
For the launch of the 2023-2024 season, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dominique Nadeau, CEO of Safari Condo, a successful family business that for 25 years has found its niche making vanlife a reality for customers dreaming of living, and working, on the open road. We are also joined by Uros Milekic, partner at BDO Canada Business Services to discuss how income is taxed when you incorporate your business.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Alexandre Archambault, who tells us about matching their enthusiasm for technology with their love for anything strapped to their feet, inventing an electric skateboard, to powering a board called a foil with a battery, and more recently hauling people up a mountain repeatedly using a battery-powered t-bar ski lift.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Samuel Leroux, co-founder of SOLIOS Watches, a Montreal watch brand that reconciles design, elegance and sustainability. Solar-powered watches are back, and we’ll discuss the company’s values and how they hope to tackle planned obsolescence. We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at BDO Canada to discuss culture in the workplace and aligning corporate mission, vision and values.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Edward Ko, co-founder of Mely.ai, who tells us about how intelligent document processing, a form of AI, can be used by transportation and logistics companies to save 90% of time and 80% of cost related to the heavy burden of accurately filling out logistics-related paperwork. We are also joined by Amanda Khoury, Estate & Trusts manager at BDO Canada to discuss estate planning and digital legacy.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Jean-Maxime Larouche, CEO of Hippoc, a company that offers small and medium size businesses an affordable solution to create and optimize digital advertising that will resonate with their audience. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss deadlines and documents for tax season.
This week, we’ll have wisdom to share from Nilufar Al-Shourbaji, the falafel Queen and co-owner with her parents of the takeout and catering business Nilufar; she’ll tell us about the family’s successful pivot after a real estate nightmare, the growth of their grocery brand Falafel Royale, and their commitment to nourishing those in need. We also welcome Natalie Purkhardt, HR consulting manager at BDO Canada to talk about setting the HR foundation in your business.
Inspiring Montreal has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Étienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention, who tells us about his cloud platform to design, order and deploy manufacturing equipment tailored to each of its customers. We are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss preparation and organization for personal tax season.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Frantz Saintellemy, President and COO of Leddartech, Université de Montréal Chancellor, and Co-Founder of BIPOC Entrepreneurship Incubator Groupe 3737, who tells us about perseverance in school that led him to MIT, climbing various corporate echelons at the speed of light, and giving back to the community by helping black entrepreneurs through an incubator that now has national reach and impact.
Olivier Berthiaume-Bergé, President and CEO of Scéno Plus, tells us about his family-owned design firm that creates unique spaces around the world for some of the biggest names in the live entertainment industry such as Cirque du Soleil, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and more recently Adele, just to name a few. We are also joined by Peter Joseph Moraitis, BDO Canada tax partner to discuss the March Trust tax deadline.
Mahrzad Lari, co-founder of contemporary fashion line for men Wide the brand, stylishly designed and produced locally, specifically for the wide-man body. We are also joined by Mia Barouki, senior HR manager at BDO Canada, to discuss HR functions in small and medium businesses.
Sam Youssef, Founder and CEO of Valsoft; tells us about building a group of mission-critical software businesses that together are now worth north of one billion; he acquires and empowers well-run companies, providing more opportunities for global growth.
Marilyne Bouchard, founder of Bkind, tells us about developing a line of products made of natural ingredients in her kitchen, adopting a vegan and cruelty-free product model, and putting the environment at the forefront. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss bookkeeping tips for your business.
Robert Marzin, one of four co-founders of Man Made, a Montreal-based underwear company for men, talks about revolutionizing the world of male undergarments.
Alexandre Guimond, co-CEO of Altitude Sport, tells us about moving online in the early days of ecommerce, making the jump from employee to majority owner, playing at the intersection of fashion and the outdoors, and keeping philanthropy and the environment close to his heart. We are also joined by Peter-Joseph Moraitis, Tax partner at BDO Canada, to discuss tax implications of rising interest rates.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Philip Cutler, co-founder and CEO of Paper, an online tutoring solution that is taking the education world by storm. We are also joined by BDO Partner Jean-François Audet to discuss business valuation et key value drivers.
Lili Fortin, CEO and 2nd generation family business owner of Tristan Tells us about what do they attribute Tristan’s success to, as they will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, family business transition, and sustainability. We are also joined by Carlo Lupo, FL Tax Partner to discuss Tax credits for manufacturers.
Laurent Laferrière, co-owner of Ditch Labs, tells about his pioneering nicotine addiction treatment and smartphone app, powered by AI to help smokers and vapers quit more efficiently. We also welcome Julie Côté, Senior Manager of non-resident taxation to discuss new laws affecting foreigners: 2022 introduction of the 1% tax on under-used properties and the 2023/2024 ban on new residential properties acquisitions.
Natalie Madjarian, co-owner of custom upholstery and furniture store Cameo Collection, tells us about buying a company from bankruptcy to fulfill her dream to manage her own business, and the synergies - and possibly tensions - that come with owning a business as a couple. We also welcome Sara Halickman, Estates and Trusts Partner at FL Fuller Landau to discuss estate planning concerns for couples who are in business together.
George Kyres, president of Group Commensal, tells us about his successful string of businesses from 4 Brothers to Europe’s Best, and the growth of an iconic vegetarian brand into the retail grocery space. We also have Giuliana Papandrea, manager in accounting and assurance at FL Fuller Landau join us to discuss cloud based accounting systems.
John Saliby, founder of fighting food waste Sauvegarde app, tells us about lessons learned while growing up that made him realize the extent of food waste, and how combatting it is an easy way to fight climate change. We also welcome Nick Vassilas, Manager at Le Groupe Fuller Landau to discuss the process behind launching a business and being an entrepreneur.
Solenne Brouart, founder and chief growth officer of Polystyvert, tells us about circular economy and how she found a way to recycling polystyrene, which we know under the most famous brand Styrofoam. Elida Eid, Senior manager at FL’s HR sister company Pvisio will also talk about adapting to change in the workplace.
Emad Saad, owner of Lebanese restaurant chain Boustan, tells us about his success in the Montreal marketplace in the past 36 years, and its efforts to become a green restaurant chain, from packaging to sourcing ingredients locally.
Danielle Danault, founder of rain or shine, year-round outdoor fitness bootcamp company Cardio Plein Air, tells us about her love of fitness, how a small idea became a HUGE success story in parks across Quebec, and what happened when she started thinking about her 5-year succession plan. We also welcome Amanda Khoury, Manager of Estates and Trusts at FL Fuller Landau, to discuss estate planning and putting together a succession plan.
Étienne Mérineau, co-founder and CMO of Heyday, a HootSuite acquisition. Etienne tells us about the rise of AI in delivering personalized customer experience thru conversational chatbots, and how does a company becomes the provider of choice of the Lacoste, Decathlon, Cirque du Soleil and Danone of the world, just to name a few. We also have Mia Barouki, CRHA and consultant at FL join us to talk about recruiting new employees, creating an engaging work culture, and helping managers adapt to new trends and policies.
To start the season, Peter Simons, now chief merchant of THE oldest private family business in Canada and fashion retailer Simons Inc. We talk about succession planning, the importance of a family council, following consumer trends and frontierless commerce, as well as sourcing in Canada.
Juliette Brun, founder of Juliette & Chocolat, tells us about her passion for chocolate from a very tender age, and the path that she took to turn her passion into a business that is dear to all, across Quebec and the island of Montreal.
Mathieu Clas, Founder of Hookmotion, tells us about how his tech company helps businesses like casinos optimize their monitoring processes. Using automated table tracking, those operating the software can better eliminate fraud and detect errors, to better focus on their clients.
Myriam Belzile-Maguire, CEO and co-founder of Maguire Shoes. As retailers try to find a balance between online sales, and bring and mortar shops, Myriam’s women-led hybrid model is flourishing in Montreal, Toronto, and soon in New York City.
Maxime Morin, co-founder of clothing and accessory maker Rose Buddha, tells us more about her socially-conscious, eco-entrepreneurship model, and how the pandemic saw their revenue grow by 450%.
Dax Dasilva, Founder and Executive Chair of Lightspeed POS, tells us about his journey, from his debut as an entrepreneur, to launching an IPO, to writing a book about becoming changemakers, and doing environmental philantropy work.
Mélissa Lambert, founder of Lambert Design; they make stylish, cruelty-free, vegan bags for men and women. She speaks with us about how she wants to reinvent the backpack fashion industry, driven by the belief that we can combine comfort with elegance, while contributing to a sustainable world.
Alexis Vertefeuille, CEO of the after-disaster accommodation network Sinistar. He tells us about how he’s built the largest community of hosts dedicated to accommodating disaster victims in Canada; a tailor-made solution for both home-owners in need and insurance companies.
Michael Perreault CEO and Alex Benjamin, CTO and co-founders of Eyful, a company at the crossroads of technology and medicine, pushing the limits to help those affected by low vision, with the goal to giving them back their autonomy and independence.
Guillaume Parent, Founder of online art gallery and network Gallea, tells us about his goal to create the largest art distribution in the world, and to make art accessible everywhere to everyone. Guillaume currently supports a community of more than 9,000 artists, showcasing over 50,000 pieces of artwork online located in 40 countries around the world.
Dardan Isufi co-founder of EVA, Quebec coop rideshare and Uber competitor, will talk to us about the first delivery & mobility platform built on blockchain, with a decentralized business model, how they saw an opportunity to add meal delivery to people transportation during the pandemic, and their vision of a shared economy company.
Louis Têtu, one of Quebec’s most prominent tech leaders. He co-Founded HR software company Taleo, later sold to Oracle, and is now CEO of Coveo, an AI-powered platform for digital experiences. It just went public a few weeks ago.
Sarah Lambert, co-founder and CEO of Ora Medical, tells us about her mission is to revolutionize physical rehabilitation for people with walking disabilities by enabling patients to improve their mobility with a helping hand, aided by AI.
David Dupont, Founder of La Petite Ourse tells us about his idea to make cloth diapers accessible to as many families as possible. In the past ten years, La Petite Ourse has prevented over 100 million of disposable diapers from ending up in landfills.
The original fancy casse-croute chain, L’Gros Luxe. Founder Alex Bastide tells us about the punk rock vibe he brought to Montreal’s restaurant scene and its origins in skate culture. We also discuss the importance of PR and working with creatives.
Anne-Marie Trudeau, President of Trudeau Corporation,tells us about four generations designing and developing tableware and houseware since 1889, currently sold in 70 countries around the world.
Dr. Tsafrir Vanounou, CEO of TAP Medical, tells us about reimagining how Canadians access healthcare. TAP is creating a healthcare marketplace allowing you to search, find and book a medical appointment across Quebec.
Dr David Benrimoh and Marina Massingham, co-founders of Aifred Health, tell us how Aifred addresses an approach to medication selection that hasn’t changed in decades, by using AI to personalize treatment selection in depression, the leading cause of medical disability on the planet.
Borys Fridman, founder of Jeans Jeans Jeans, tells us about his passion for denim, starting with selling jeans at flea markets 50 years ago to his iconic Mile End warehouse. He’s developed a cult following without any advertising or social media, just good old fashioned customer service.
Lauren Rathmell, Co-Founder and greenhouse director of Lufa Farms, one of the largest for-profit rooftop urban farms of its type in the world. She’s out to create a better food system, reconnect people with where their food comes from, partnering up with hundreds of farmers and food makers, and providing it all to you through their online farmer’s market.
Kamal Shah, President and CEO of International Leisure Group - Tremblant Elysium, talks to us about his experience managing a unique concept for luxury vacation rentals in the heart of Eastern North America’s #1 ski resort: Mont-Tremblant.
David Landry, founder of Living Safe, talks to us about smart monitoring devices for the senior care industry, how he plans on freeing up time for busy nursing staff, and using AI to improve the quality of care provided for seniors around the world.
Indira Moudi, President of Viandes Lafrance, tells us how she ended up buying an 80-year old meat company, learned to manoeuver in this very traditional industry and how she is impacting this industry and the local economy in a sustainable manner, by reconnecting trust between agriculture, food and consumers, and reducing greenhouse gases.
Inder Bedi introduces us to his new venture: 457 Anew. Exquisite lines of apparel and accessories that are handmade in Canada solely from ocean waste, landfill scraps and plants.
Jean-Luc Lavergne, from Lavergne, on upcycling plastic; supplying international giants like Keurig and HP with clean, recycled resins for manufacturing parts; he started a social enterprise in Haiti, employing locals to recover plastic bottles from canals, roadsides and ocean shores, to be transformed into parts for electronics.
Richard Morin, VP and co-founder at Zorah Biocosmetics tells us about finding inspiration in Morocco for a new product line made with Argan oil; being dedicated to using organic, eco-friendly and fair-trade products; taking recycling to new heights; and last but not least, commiting to producing everything locally.
Anthony Broccolini, COO of Broccolini Construction tells us about the growth of a 70+-year-old family business, from building and selling their first home for 16,000$ 60 years ago, to expanding into many new markets, with 3 generations of Broccolinis managing over 400 employees in Quebec and Ontario.
Simon Berman and Jeffrey Climan, from CLICKSPACE, will tell us about their innovative idea to offer e-commerce entrepreneurs knowledge, expertise and logistics, all under one roof, helping clients scale up while focusing on growing their business.
Annie Cyr, from Tengiva, tells us about her love for textile innovation, educating buyers for smarter textile sourcing, and helping manufacturers from around the world empty their warehouses.
Pierre explains how a trip to Europe inspired him to create self-serve windshield washer fluid stations across the province; killing two birds with one stone, as Pierre is helping remove tens of millions of plastic containers in circulation in Quebec alone, and making it easier for everyone to fill up as needed.
Judith Fetzer from Cook tells us about her dream to simplify healthy cooking for families with her pioneering meal kits. As one of the first in the country in the ready-to-cook business, she acquired some prominent competitors, and is developing a sustainable version of her meal kits, including addressing the packaging dilemma.
Félix Adrien Belisle Dockrill of GRAD4; tells us about helping manufacturers save time and lower costs by giving them access to local machine shops. His system brings together over 200 Quebec-based vendors at the client’s fingertips and landing contracts with big names.
Karine Idrissi, from Influence + All Management, tell us about becoming a serial entrepreneur, founding one of the first influencer management agencies in North America, and creating a roster spread throughout Canada, the US and Europe. Over a decade of entrepreneur stories:
Bastien Poulain and Mélanie Mamet from 1642 talk about their commitment to using only quality, natural ingredients, supporting more than 400 jobs locally, and providing an answer to a very a-propos question: “If your gin is from Quebec, why isn’t your tonic water?” www.todaysentrepreneur.org
Today's Entrepreneur by FL Montreal returns next week on all your favourite podcast channels and on CJAD 800 AM Saturday February 27 at noon. Join FL's Michael Newton and TNKR Media's Dan Delmar with Bastien Poulain and Mélanie Mamet of 1642. Listen to over a decade worth of entrepreneur stories and resources for small and medium businesses and family businesses at todaysentrepreneur.org.
Jade Doucet-Martineau tells us how brainstorming about space travel led to founding a medtech startup — while she was in college. She also addresses the challenges of preclinical trials, the rigour required in dealing with the American FDA and securing an international round of financing during the pandemic.
Vincenzo Guzzo tells us about inheriting a family business, diversifying in various sectors, and his interest in philanthropy. Plus: Managing through ambiguity; how to better lead your team this year.
Greg Kirstein talks about the hurdles of establishing a new NHL franchise, wearing multiple hats in his organization for close to 23 years, and running the team’s charitable foundation.
Rock Thomas of Rock Thomas International tells us about transitioning from real estate to becoming a best-selling author, moving from humble beginnings to self-made millionaire, and world-renowned speaker.
Zach Khazzam of Rite Way Freight Ltd tells us about the trials and tribulations of establishing a transportation and logistics company, the joys of a family-owned and operated business model, and adapting to dramatic changes in market conditions.
Annick D’Amours of 3 femmes et un coussin tells us about the value of entering business contests, the fact that handshake deals do work, and what happens when you lose a business partner.
Sam Younès from Altium Wealth Architecture tells us about the benefits of a Family Office, Investment Management in today’s volatile marketplace, and creating his own independent investment firm.
Angelo Rubino of Rubino Shoes discusses family business transition, upscale positioning with getting back to brands, and moving from physical locations to online sales.
Maxime Gauthier Bourbonnais from Merinio discusses artificial intelligence for workplace scheduling; how it can simplify ever-changing staffing requirements, predict and manage absenteeism, and ensure timely two-way communication with employees.
David Côté of LOOP Mission is a buzzworthy entrepreneur attracting a lot of attention for buying loads of ugly fruit. He will tell us about the unwanted fruits and veggies used in his juicing business, his dedication to a circular economy and the power of direct-to-consumer in difficult times.
This week we talk PR with Torchia communications & TNKR Media, we hear how La Sirene de la Mer and our own FL have adapted to the current normal, and from Cirka Distilleries as they pivoted from making spirits to hand sanitizer. With hosts Dan Delmar and Josh Miller on CJAD 800 Montreal.
Nick, Tax Partner at FL discusses the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (#CERB) introduced by the Federal Government to help workers and businesses
Nick talks about accessing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (#CERB), whether you're self-employed, a laid-off worker, a business owner, someone whose hours have been cut, etc. #COVID19
Our panel addressed issues with labour law and layoffs, preparing for the worst from a financial perspective (with Patrick Sullivan), the insurance controversy, and the latest in governments stimulus packages (with PJ Moraitis), along with host Dan Delmar and Josh Miller.
This week, our panel will answer questions like “Should I be proactive with my banker?”, “Will I be able to make an insurance claim?”, “Can I modify contract terms?”, and “How do I manage staff working from home?” with host Dan Delmar and Josh Miller, tonight at 7pm on CJAD 800 Montreal.
First remote broadcasting of Today’s Entrepreneur, a special edition on crisis management, to help entrepreneurs, executives, managers and other leaders handle the Covid-19 pandemic in their workplace.
Hear several experts including Micheline Maillet, Ernie Furt, and Daniel Martz from EQ Care discuss crisis management, human resources, tax and technology.
Businesses are borne out of an entrepreneur’s need to fill a void in the marketplace. Nicolas Morency of PreVu3D will share how listening to his customers helped shape the product, the benefit to get proper legal agreements from the start, and what worked for him when it came to the pitch.
Acquisitions are an important part of the growth of a business and these entrepreneurs have survived several. Sébastien Fournier of Kadrium by Interfonction shares with us his thoughts on company valuations, the benefits of sharing salary grids, and how there is no such thing as a turnkey ERP.
While this renown Japanese restaurant was a success from the beginning, not all concepts have worked. Following a closure of another concept, Junichi Ikematsu shares the mistakes they are looking to avoid with their newest concept, and how they found the right working mix between Eastern and Western cultures.
Reinventing yourself is inevitable in a business, but when is right time? William St-Pierre of Mechasys shares with us how they needed to pivot 6-months in, elaborates on what he believes are the four funding methods and highlights the importance of stock options in attracting talent.
Running a hockey franchise sounds glamourous but like any other business, it requires hard work, persistence and energy. John Struthers shares with us the difficulties in fighting for sponsorship revenues, the on and off-ice relationships between teams, and the importance of splitting critical tasks between partners.
The past 2 years for these returning guest entrepreneurs were filled with lessons learned. As they are now more than 5 times the number of people since their first full year, Joseph and Fabio Zeppilli of Bad Monkey Popcorn share with us their challenges with talent acquisition, their growth experience selling from local to National, and their strategy towards making a vegan product.
This story is about transitions, from generations to locations, as the Maison Lipari brand has been around for close to 50 years. Patrizia Lipari will share with us the path of going from one store to two, and how they overcame generational gap issues as they embraced technology while keeping the warm family touch in each location.
The real estate market is hot and the industry is cutthroat. Tanya Boni and Tiffanie Rothwell of Proprio Actif share with us their progression through 3 different agencies, how they are using today’s technology to differentiate themselves, and how they select their team by using “the coffee test”.
While seeing a void in the digital photo finishing sector, the two photographers found their own way. Daniel and Davina Kudish will share with us the benefits of hiring from within, surviving the doubling of their team in 3 months, and how they used technology to simplify and expand their business.
Operating a professional services firm has changed quite a bit over the years, yet some aspects will never change. Stephen Solomon of De Grandpre Chait will share with us the importance of values and mentoring, what it takes to become a partner, and their concept of partner buy-in.
Technology is at the forefront of many medical professional clinics and this is no different for a dental practice. Warren and Jason will share will us the challenges of remaining current in their field, the benefits of community giveback and the mechanics and choice of buying and selling a practice.
The food industry is filled with rules and regulations. Lezlie Karls and Nick Saltarelli of Mid-Day Squares will share the importance of quality assurance, adapting to the stakeholder when it comes to the pitch, and the value of having a rover in the business.
E-sports is a recent phenomenon that has created many entrepreneurs, including this one. Cole Gurman of H4X shares with us how he entered the gamer community, the major importance of research, and his answer to the question “Can you go too big too soon with your marketing?”
To survive in the restaurant sector takes a lot of perseverance and some good business karma. Ted Dranias and Perry Kalivrousis share with us the choice and build-out of a location, what’s worked for them for marketing and why give to get is a key factor for their success.
This entrepreneur is a Montreal original as he popularized two international media brands. Andy Nulman will share with us his unconventional path in business, how to harness creatives, and his ability to bounce back from failure.
Brand strategy agencies need creative and professional leaders, but the business model aspect cannot be forgotten. Jill Selick of Rubix Marketing will share with us how her CEO plans changed to becoming an entrepreneur and the philosophy of leaving the expertise to the experts.
Often what starts out as one business flourishes into several others, and this story exemplifies just that. Gad Bitton of Holand Group shares with us the challenges and lessons learned during the growth years, and the importance of community giveback.
Sometimes family business is in your blood and it can never be avoided. Frédéric Roy of Paramedic Canada will share with us the experiences learned from buying a small business realizing what’s on paper does not always work, and the importance to them of going from fully outsourced to creating a team under their own roof.
As we all know, life can hand you some unexpected moments, and it’s what you do with them that sets you apart. Claire & Stuart Webster will share with us the events that led them from their existing path of fundraising and landscape architecture to their current businesses helping others manage their families’ mental health issues and today’s stress levels.
Saving the bee population was the original intention before this entrepreneur realized this could also be a socially responsible business. Nick Melka of MIEL MTL will share how he manages 100+ hives, his philosophy of community giveback and the decision to move away from online sales.
Many businesses are built off a family legacy and this one exemplifies just that. Derrick Hui of À Point International will share with us his philosophy behind “build, measure, learn”, how he leveraged his experience in the family diamond business, and how he learned to stay true to his brand.
Alexandre Amancio of Reflector Entertainment sits down with hosts Dan Delmar and FL Fuller Landau's Josh Miller. www.todaysentrepreneur.org
Do you have questions about your personal income tax return? Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at FL and Arnold Zwaig, Portfolio Manager at Soctia Bank get around the subject during this episode of Money Matters.
“Break the mold” personifies the entrepreneur. Pierre Mantha of Artist in Residence Distillerie embodies this notion and shares with us the challenges in building a full distillery and creating a-typical spirits, and the benefits of bringing people together to foster success.
Have you ever been somewhere for one purpose, and a whole other idea jumped out at you? Dominic Ciarallo of Rocket Sport shares his idea inspired by a trip to China, the challenges of moving to online sales, and how the philosophy of give-to-get truly helped launch the product.
An aging population results in the need for more seniors’ services, especially when transitioning from your long-time residence. Matt Del Vecchio of Lianas Services shares with us his jump into this industry, how they adapted to meet the increasing needs of clients, and their marketing direction as he went from B2B to B2C.
Collaboration between franchisor and franchisee is critical to success. Lianne Levy of California Closets will share with us her franchise experience, the benefits of vertical integration, and no matter the status of the economy, the power of remaining true to your values.
In this creative and competitive PR and branding space, managing time and emotions is no easy task. Karine Idrissi and Kristina Argento of The Sundae Collective expand on that, and share their philosophy of transparency with clients.
This LED video lighting leader got an early break with U2 concerts and recently created the tallest media façade on the planet. Jonathan Labbée of SACO shares with us how they sold to a public company only to buy it back years later, and how “making a difference” in their industry became their company culture.
This niche aerospace business is the product of a merger between father and son. Bryan Dollimore of MHD-Rockland shares with us the lessons from the merger, the challenges of expansion, and the effective organizational structure where customer service is at the forefront.
B Corps are companies working to a rigorous, verified standard of higher social and environmental impact. Kasha Huk shares with us how this international organization collaborates to educate leaders in the corporate community and help businesses attract the next wave of socially responsible staff and consumers.
Small businesses rely on their team. Is it possible and maybe suspicious to have an employee that’s too dedicated? Zvi Shapiro shares with us the lesson he learned here, the benefits of being green, and how he leveraged the networking power of BNI.
Working in an extremely and competitive space of Recruitment, getting companies and candidates to trust you is a challenge. Jessica Glazer of MindHR will share with us how she built the business in her 20’s, survived the recession, and maintains a solid following on LinkedIn while managing the client and candidate client ghosting phenomenon.
This IT technician turned entrepreneur had a lot to learn when it came to growing his IT support company. Chris Symeon of CDMS shares with us how he managed relationships has he went from handshakes to contracts while he empowered his own team, and how he sold most of his business only to buy it back shortly thereafter.
Snowdon Deli is a family operation that has served Montrealers for over 70 years. Ian Morantz will tells what it takes to survive in the restaurant business and how his family built a deli icon.
This contact software reseller is the result of a merger of two companies. Joe Bigio and Pierre Lemoine of QuovimC3 will share with us the unique experience of their merger and how they managed to expand their business across Canada & the US in a very niched sector. And we’ll also address some human resource challenges for entrepreneurs.
FL Fuller Landau Tax Partner Nick Moraitis shares his thoughts on the fall #economic update on CJAD 800.
After moving on from their respective family businesses and enduring a life altering experience, this married entrepreneurial couple was motivated to start something new. Andrea Chamandy and Andrew Battah of SmoothiesGo will share how important it became to balance family and business, and their marketing philosophy involving the use of influencers and strategic partners.
Saving the environment is a driver for these entrepreneurs, who started an eco-friendly cleaning products company following many years in their own family businesses. Anie Rouleau and Steven Balit of Baléco will share with us the lesson they learn from their one huge product failure and share with us why they chose to be a certified B corporation.
This experienced multimedia storyteller has had many jobs starting at the lowest of levels, by choice. Justin Kingsley imparts how his philosophy of being the best at the jobs nobody else wanted fueled his success, shares the single event that pushed him to start his own business, and how he constantly strives for what he calls the triple bottom line win.
When Eric Molson agreed to have his memoirs written, he insisted on a “warts and all” account of the Molson story. With that direction, Helen Antoniou shares with us some experiences of the past 50 years which include family posturing, diversification from the core business, and the importance of corporate governance.
Josh Miller and Dan Delmar present the Top 10 Best Moments of Today's Entrepreneur over the last 10 years to celebrate the 200th episode of the show, featuring these inspiring entrepreneurs:
- Rebecca Wolfe, Mandy's
- Kimberly Lallouz, Miss Prêt à Manger
- Fabio and Joseph Zeppilli, Bad Monkey Popcorn
- Lennie Moreno, Sofdesk
- Jamie Kerr, Fabco Custom
- Michael Eskenazi, Felix & Norton
- Julien Giacomelli, Rise Kombucha
- Pino Di Ioia, Beaver Tails
- Mitch Joel, Mirum Agency
- Daniele Henkel, The Wellness Company
What started out as a desire to own & operate a restaurant turned into a full-fledged franchise operation. Since building their 1st restaurant around their kitchen layout, Tom Bountis will share their philosophy of collaborating with the franchisees and the importance of corporate social responsibility.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax partner Ernie Furt speaks with Tony Marinaro on The Montreal Forum Show about taxation of hockey players and the Free Agent Frenzy.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
While tree top trekking is a lot of fun, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of this outdoor adventure business. Stephane Vachon of Arbraska will share with us the importance of maintaining company culture across different locations as they expanded outside of Quebec and the challenges behind managing cash flow in a period of strong growth.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
Owning and operating a restaurant is certainly a labour of love, and labour is clearly one of the most challenging aspects. Since adding a catering business to their restaurant operation, Amelia and Jonathan will share the human resource lessons they learned including when to fire someone, the power of delegation, and the why’s of bringing on a new partner.
FL Consultant : Micheline Maillet
In this digital design and marketing space, it’s easy to take on any type of client, but here, Plank Design followed their passion and service a specific industry sector. Warren Wilansky and Steve Bissonnette of Plank Design will expand on this, share their criteria for accepting a new customer, and talk about some aspects when bringing in a new partner.
Being an entrepreneur can be extremely rewarding and inspiring. But it isn’t as easy as some people think. FL's Partner Josh Miller joins Sandra Reich on this episode of Straight Talk, where they talk about ways to overcome obstacles and limitations as an entrepreneur. Don’t miss this chance to hear more about strategies for a successful venture as an entrepreneur.
FL Consultant : Ernie Furt
The entertainment industry sounds glamourous, but it requires a ton of hard work, persistence and energy. Andrea Kenyon of Kenyon Wells Casting will share with us the importance of nurturing relationships with production companies as continued presence is critical, and we’ll also chat about some US matters as it affects business and actors.
FL Consultant : Micheline Maillet In the uber competitive space of headhunting and recruiting, an agency must follow a different path to enhance their client experience. Moranne Elarar and Marina Byezhanova will share with us how Pronexia tries to gain its edge, and it has everything to do with company culture. And once on the topic, we will also explore the link between culture and recruiting talent.
Pvisio Consultant : Natalie Riviere
The past 3 years for these returning guest entrepreneurs is filled with lessons learned. As they are now 5 times the number of people since their first full year, Fabio and Joseph Zeppilli of Bad Monkey Popcorn will share their philosophy for growth, including their marketing strategy which goes from grass roots basics to online branding.
FL Consultant : Nick Moraitis
In Quebec’s two-tiered health system, why would a doctor choose to operate privately? It’s not always for money, and Dr. Andrew Steinberg and Dr. Roni Munk will share with us why they made the jump to go into private practice. And then there are the changes to regulations and taxes, which we’ll explore as there is always an affect on doctors.
FL Consultant : Micheline Maillet
Human resources is an important component to most businesses, but for a service business treating clients for mental health issues, it’s critical. Sandra will share with how she created a new market vs. following the competition, and we’ll also discuss some aspects entrepreneurs should consider to best handle mental health with their employees.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Nick Moraitis on The Andrew Carter Morning Show on CJAD 800 Montreal shares his thoughts on the 2018 Federal Budget.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Nick Moraitis on The Aaron Rand Show on CJAD 800 Montreal shares his first thoughts on the federal budget 2018 which was tabled on February 27, 2018.
FL Consultant : Michael Newton
Many service professionals long to find that product to sell in addition to their time-based services. Bruce Takefman of Research Consultants International will share with us the steps he took to create their business intelligence platform FDI365, and we’ll also delve into some of the challenges entrepreneurs face when they look to buy or sell a business.
FL Consultant : Nick Moraitis
As we all know, entrepreneurs just cannot sit still, and Miguel Escobar of Future Cities is no different, as his business now offers services in 6 facets of the real estate profession. Miguel will share with us how his business idea started when he was 9 years old, and his management philosophy regarding the team around him.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
Why would someone ever enter the extremely competitive market of alcohol manufacturing? It’s gotta be for the love of it. Paul Cirka and Joanne Gaudreau of Cirka Distilleries will share that passion and tell us how they worked with influencers, and why they started with B2B before going B2C.
Consultant: Micheline Maillet
The right accelerator is great for any business, and this Bar inventory App company was able to find and get accepted into the right one for them. Angelo Esposito will share with us their accelerator experience and highlight the benefit of customer referral programs for their business.
If you’ve ever wondered how to start up an event from scratch, Rick and Jesse will share with us how they created this specialized car show which attracts thousands of participants each June. We’ll also explore the significant advantages of using social media and the challenges of building a brand online.
Si vous vous êtes déjà demandé comment démarrer un événement à partir de zéro, Rick et Jesse partageront avec nous comment ils ont créé ce salon automobile spécialisé qui attire des milliers de participants chaque année en juin. Nous explorerons également les avantages significatifs de l'utilisation des médias sociaux et les défis de la création d'une marque en ligne.
This professional services firm has evolved quite a bit throughout its 55 years. Michael will share with us what it’s like to manage 4 different generations, as well as the challenges the firm faces with transition and growth, all while maintaining the right service offering for its mid-market clients.
Cette firme de services professionnels a beaucoup évolué au cours de ses 55 années. Michael partagera avec nous ce que c'est que de gérer 4 générations différentes, ainsi que les défis auxquels l'entreprise fait face avec la transition et la croissance, tout en maintenant la bonne offre de services pour ses clients du marché intermédiaire.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Ernie Furt shares some great tax tips on Dollars and Sense on CJAD 800 Montreal.
Reinventing one’s brand is no easy task, and is almost inevitable with any business. Cheryl Besner of Solo in the City will share both a past and current evolution and reinvention of her relationship business brand, and what the tipping point was for her before making that difficult decision to change direction.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet
For a manufacturing business, resisting technology can be disastrous, but not for St-Viateur Bagel. Joe & Vince Morena will explain why they keep their tried and tested process since inception 60 years ago, and afterwards, we’ll discuss the impact on Human Resources in a 24/7 operation.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
This story will include it all – family transition, manufacturing and logistics, marketing, corporate social responsibility and 3rd party investors. And after Chris Oldland of Hatley Apparel shares these experiences, we’ll address the challenges of business transition from a tax perspective.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan
The professional world is evolving and pre-paid legal services on a fixed-fee basis is what was created here. Avi Levy and Bernard Levy-Soussan of Ticket 911 will talk about how they built that program and once on the topic of law, we’ll share some tips for entrepreneurs to help detect and avoid fraud in their company.
Consultant: Natalie Riviere
Even seasoned entrepreneurs recognize the importance of planning, as it was 2 years in the making before they opened. Rio and Andrew Infantino of Copper Branch will share with us the challenges for both a franchisor and franchisee, and together we’ll discuss some do’s and don’ts of launching a new brand through online marketing.
Consultant: Natalie Riviere
How do entrepreneurs stay on top? They continuously innovate, and they learn from their failures. Kristina Boudaeva of WAFF World Gifts will share with us why she constantly reinvests in her business, and together we’ll discuss how failure can be a catalyst for great success with research done by The Failure Institute.
Analytics, influencers, likes, followers, subscribers are terms used in the online world, yet traditional media does have its place. Pascal Plante YouTube Channel Him & Him will touch on all these aspects and share how he chooses to display controversial topics on his YouTube channel as we also discuss creating and maintaining your online image.
FL Consultant: Natalie Rivière
Entrepreneurs often want to do things on their own. Marina Byezhanova and Stefano Faustini of Les Labs will describe their Do-It-Yourself training program for digital literacy and answer the question – can an employee make the jump to shareholder? And once on the topic, we will also discuss some challenges of digital marketing and online reputation.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Nick Moraitis talks about the small business tax cut announced by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Nick Moraitis talks about the federal tax changes announced by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
This story is not only about expanding the service offering after being known mostly for being a men’s salon, but also about the importance of the environment and customer experience. And after Victor and Richard of Inter Coupe display their passion and dedication, we will explore some specific human resource challenges for entrepreneurs.
In addition to a major rebranding, 2 of the biggest turning points revolved around human resources. Tune in to hear Rob Sibthorpe of Lovepac share these stories, after which we will explore some tax challenges for entrepreneurs as we discuss this summer’s federal government announcements which will affect all private business owners.
Did you know that Mandy’s salads have been around for 14 years? Rebecca Wolfe will share with us their fast growth story, and the pains that went with it, as they went from operating within a clothing store to their now 5 locations in just a few years.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax partner Ernie Furt speaks with Tony Marinaro on The Montreal Forum Show about how NHL players deal with taxes in Canada and US
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Ernie Furt talks about the difference between the Montreal Canadians offer and the Dallas Stars offer on The Montreal Forum Show with Tony Marinaro on TSN 690.
FL Fuller Landau's Tax Partner Ernie Furt shares some great tax tips on Money Matters with Arnold Zwaig on CJAD 800 Montreal.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet
Public affairs and communications agencies need creative and professional leaders but the business model cannot be forgotten. Adam Daifallah of Hatley Strategy Advisors will share with us the importance of having an experienced advisory board and the value of a solid and diverse network.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
Bruce Conquy of Line-X Quebec believes that business dealings are much like marriages and will offer that perspective given that this protective coating business is both franchisee and franchisor. He will also share with us the importance he places on business plans and the respectful persistence needed when reaching out to a new customer.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman
There is a constant cat and mouse game being played with computer viruses and hence the reason for the FixMeStick product. Marty Algire will share with us the transition from engineer to entrepreneur and how for this tech company, they realized that traditional media kills digital media.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
3 generations & almost 60 years in business is the result of taking transition seriously. Geoffrey Unger of Abe Cohen Plumbing & Heating Inc. will share with us the importance of partner transition, the value of mentorship with both family and employees and their #philosophy of showing a mutual respect for the competition.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan
Transportation and logistics has evolved greatly as entrepreneurs increase demands on lower prices and faster delivery. Aldo Decarolis of Vitesse Transport Corporation will share with us their response to this as well as the profit value of using technology and the power of company retreats for generating ideas.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
Some professionals like to do it all and some like to focus. Anna Di Stasio of New Era Immigration will share will us the gut reaction to start a specialized practice and the challenges in balancing being a professional, a mother and a new business owner.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman
Entrepreneurs often search for accessible and affordable legal services. Jamie Benizri of Legal Logik will share will us the challenges in offering online access to packages with fixed prices and payment plans while running a full-service law firm with all the usual traditional services.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet
This is a story about overcoming adversity as blindness could not stop this entrepreneur from finding her niche. Kim Holdbrook of Hands That See will share with us the benefits of a strategic advisor and how she overcame the fear that was holding her back.
FL Consultant: Natalie Riviere
This is a story of a lifestyle business started by an artisan who stumbled on his first bestselling product. Jesse Herbert of Oopsmark will share with us his experiences in using different B2C web platforms and why they moved away from Facebook for their online social media strategy.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
This neuro-scientist turned entrepreneur led the charge in combining media and web technology with in-video transactions. Andrew Murray of Be Spotful will share with us the challenges of staying at the technology forefront and his original philosophy of “sell it and it will come”.
FL Consultant: Peter Moraitis
Talk about an industry disruptor! Stefanka is an interactive clothing fit software solution! Elizabeth Stefanka will share with us her first years of development with a diversified team, and how the power of entrepreneur contests can help greatly with financing and marketing.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
In a town that loves its hockey, Josh Naygeboren and Jordan Topor of Ball Hockey Complex Le Rinque saw a void in the marketplace for indoor ball hockey and took advantage. 10 years later, they are learning what it means to go from tenant to building owner and share with us the changes they require to meet demand for growth.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman
Social responsibility in companies today has become an important factor with brand awareness. Charna and Jacqueline will share with us their “fashion for a cause” philosophy as they ensure the use of vegan materials and donate part of every sale to the SPCA.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet
This story is about continuous transition, from location to location, print to online media, father to son. With Azar in business for over 30 years, Toufik Kamal will share with us how a local restaurant can survive and thrive more than most.
FL Consultant: Natalie Riviere
Reinventing oneself to match the times is no easy task and requires much change, especially in the telephone communications industry. Lindsay Riddell of Luminet Solutions will share with us the impact change can have on training and culture, as well as the importance of the selection of a major product line.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
In looking to develop a sales accelerator tool for themselves, Sofdesk created software marketable to others as “sales made easy”. Lennie Moreno shares with us the extent they measure their marketing efforts and the lessons learned during a recent round of financing.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman
This innovation management software business is the result of a merger of two companies and addition of strategic partners. Ludwig Melik of Planbox will share with us the importance of the customer acceptance process and the value of winning an industry award.
FL Consultant: Micheline Mailet
Being a pioneer in a beverage category takes vision. Julian Giacomelli of Rise Kombucha will share with us their unwavering commitment to quality as well as the lessons they learned when scaling from small to large batches for their kombucha beverage which they have termed “perfectly off”.
FL Consultant: Cristina Longo
Customer feedback can be a significant factor in a company’s ongoing success and growth. Malcolm DeSouza and Mel Squires of DocuPlus will share with us their approach with clients and the challenges of managing strategic partners all while maintaining their brand image as they help law firms and businesses move from paper to digital.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis
This 2nd generation business focuses on the art of the pitch. Natasha and Jonathan Launi of Maramel Solutions will share the positive impact of their varied background and how Natasha’s work with a highly prominent politician resulted in some invaluable lessons.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan
More restaurants survive than do not, and location plays a huge role. Victor Dias and Victor Battista of Restaurant Doca will share with us their Griffintown location vision and how marketing and human resource management are key factors in the success of any restaurant.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt
Going vertical in business is a desirable goal but going from wholesale to retail can be a big challenge. Raffi Kelechian of Mirvik Group will share with us their short time in retail and also, after some bad experiences, their updated customer acceptance process.
Public relations and social media agencies need creative leaders but the business model cannot be forgotten. Priya Chopra of 1 Milk 2 Sugars will share with us the importance of getting to know the numbers while balancing both their Montreal and Toronto offices.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
This story is a great way to finish off our season. Ethan Song of Frank & Oak will share with us how they are able to maintain their corporate culture as they went from 0-100 employees in the 4.5 years in business, and the evolution of adding to their online community with bricks-and-mortar locations.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Services
Mauro Simonetti of Fitness Annex has a degree in financial economics but quickly realized his passion for health and wellness and became a licensed naturopath and trainer. He will share with us his story of shifting from manager to partner, and the challenges of educating their clients on lifestyle changes.
FL Consultant: Philippe Cusson, Business Development
This story is all about transitions, from generations to operations. Christopher Kontogianis of Christopher Kon will share with us the shift from manufacturing to importing, the evolution from white label to branding, and the business continuation from father to child.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
This 40 year-old family owned fabric Fashion Company knew they needed a change. Carolyn De Luca will share with us the shift they made towards being a niche player in healthcare textiles and the learning curve of the tendering process as well as the challenges of being a young female futurepreneur.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
In the late 90’s, Francisca Roel of FRSNM took a bet on the internet as she used it to develop work sharing processes. She reveals to us how her small agency made a big impact in the pharmaceutical industry without using any typical marketing tools.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Union Lighting is a 3rd generation family business that has seen its share of evolution in its 100+ years of being in business. Bram & Darren Naimer share with us their focus on the customer as they brought together an array of complementary businesses in what they now call Carré Union.
Carmelo Marsala started as a student painter franchisee, and after developing his own paint solution, decided their growth was in becoming a Franchisor. He shares with us their experience on Dragons’ Den and how winning an International contest gave them the credibility to reach the next level of success.
Incubator environments have somewhat become the norm in Montreal, but TandemLaunch selects their projects quite differently. Helge Seetzen shares with us how they systematically reduce the risk of a tech startup investment and the support they offer to their entrepreneurs.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan
A tech startup company may eventually lead to lots of glamour, but the road to get there is not easy. Mohannad El-Barachi of SweetIQ shares with us the harsh realities of the early stages and the opportunity they received from an unlikely incubator.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting Services
The level of service and pride Entrepreneurs have is usually quite high, and Andre Wojtczak of Garage Outfitters is no exception. He will share with us the lesson he learned about the correlation between always saying yes and the quality and service one can provide.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
These kids’ formal wear stores on St. Hubert Street have constant foot traffic, but when Jason Ayoub of JuniorKids added a destination store in Laval, his marketing strategy expanded to the Internet as he quickly realized the power of social media.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
The construction industry in Quebec has come under a lot of fire over the years. Roberto and Luciano Catalogna will share with us their views on the changes in this industry and their 2nd generation business strategy which is all about diversification.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting Services
Digital marketing requires sophisticated technology and a creative mind to make magic. Awane Jones and Ricardo Poupada share with us why they remain in Montreal and how they continuously foster a culture of innovation.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Restructuring & Insolvency
An entrepreneur’s A-HA moment can happen at the most unexpected times. Suzanne Sendel of Ronit Furst Canada shares with us the timing of her A-Ha moment and how it compelled her to leave her well-paying job and begin distributing hand-painted eyewear frames.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
The investment markets may be turbulent at times but running an independent investment firm also has its challenges. Sebastian Cardarelli and Philippe Hynes of Tonus Capital Inc. will share their story of partner buyout and years without pay before their formula for success paid off.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting Services
They left their solid paying jobs to create an app that filled a void in the applications market allowing conversations to continue across different devices. Jenviev Azzolin and Denzil D'Sa will share with us the leaps they took to get their app idea into the Google Play store.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting Services
When manufacturing has almost but all gone offshore, Wetstyle insists on making its custom products here in Quebec. Mark Wolinksy shares with us how their investment in brand and product excellence helped them achieve growth since the 2008 financial crisis.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
In the huge growth market of tattoo studios, lies a booming sector of tattoo removal. Robin Labrèche and Dr. Maryam Majdi shared with us their path to find the right solution in a competitive space by using today's best technology and properly educating their clients.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
Successfully changing a business model after many years is definitely a challenge. Olivier Proulx of Modena Kitchens shares with us the growth strategies in the competitive kitchen and bathroom market after spending a long time with two industry veterans.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Fabco Custom Inc. is a Canadian company who manufactures in China. We’ll speak with Jamie Kerr about the challenging landscape of manufacturing in mainland China and the business and cultural differences which need to be known to ensure success.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources consulting services
Operating a professional services firm has changed quite a bit over the years, yet some aspects will never change. We will discuss with Robert Raich about the firm of today and the challenges partners face on a daily basis.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
Incubating inside another business, David Souaid and his partners capitalized on a market gap brought on by the 2008 recession. We’ll hear about how Evolocity got into financing of small businesses and how capturing data for them is a major driving factor to their success.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
While looking for a job right out of University, Mitchell Druckman fell into this opportunity to become an owner in a sector he truly loves, the food business. We’ll speak to Mitchell about why he chooses to stay local, and how his best marketing efforts are naturally in the form of word-of-mouth.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
We've all been there, a cracked phone screen, a tablet that our kids broke. uBreakiFix is the Starbucks of consumer electronics repair. We speak to Jordan Socran about how he secured the Canadian rights to this franchise, and the ins and outs of being a franchisor.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting Services
Bad Monkey Popcorn is the brainchild of the four Zeppilli brothers who saw a gap in the marketplace and jumped on the opportunity. We discuss with Fabio Zeppilli and Elaine MacLean their unique marketing approach, the value of customer feedback, and of course, their upcoming appearance on Dragon’s Den.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Hear the story behind the company’s humble beginnings in a tiny town of outside of Ottawa, to the internationally brand BeaverTails has become.
CJAD Ad: 2015 FL Fuller Landau Cedars CanSupport Dragon Boat Race and Festival by FL Fuller Landau MTL
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting Services
Kane & Fetterly is coming up on 50 years of business as a full-service funeral home. We discuss Bridget Fetterly’s unplanned transition into the family business, the complimentary role her husband Paolo Bassi plays, and their biggest challenge – changing the perception of funeral.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
Natalie Riviere takes us through the ten-year evolution of her online marketing business. We learn about the advantages of partnerships and how she found her niche with small business and startups.
FL Consultant: Nick Moratis, Tax Services
Michael Eskenazi has some amazing stories to share about Felix & Norton’s new store in the United Arab Emirates and how he has re-launched the brand here and abroad!
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting Services
Scott Simons refers to himself as an “EcoPreneur”, someone who puts people, priority and planet first. It is these values that drove him to start Organik, a company focused on wellness in the workplace, and leave behind the chance to work in the family business – the well-known Simon’s department store.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Tommy Petrogiannis and his partners were way ahead of the curve when in the early 90s they realized the potential of going paperless. We discuss how they created a product to meet a new demand, and why being transparent with their technology to customers and competitors alike has boosted their business.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Jason Hattem is the sole distributor of products such as Krombacher here in Quebec. We’ll discuss the keys to creating a successful beverage distribution company, including the challenges of working through the SAQ, and the importance of inventory management.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
We speak with Beverly and Michael Suliteanu of the eyewear company West Group. The theme this week is change! Namely, the West Group’s ownership transition from father to son. The move from private label to their own brands, and finally, the shift from national to international sales.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
With Benoit St-Cyr of Camo Customs we’ll learn how this body shop worker jumped on an opportunity to open up his own shop and the shift he made from working IN his business to working ON his business.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Financial Engineering
François Gaouette is a venture capitalist turn entrepreneur. We’ll discuss what prompted him to sit on the other side of the table and become a business owner and how Amilia’s registration technology is helping both users and service providers.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting Services
Three thoughts come to mind when we think of Kimberly Lallouz and Miss Prêt à Manger: self-taught, self-sufficient, and driven. This is a story about reinventing yourself to follow a passion, and then continuing to challenge the status quo in order to grow.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
iGotcha Media provides their clients with turnkey digital signage solutions. We’ll discuss with Greg Adelstein the importance of staying ahead of the technological curve and recognizing when it’s time to change the business model.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
Our first show back for 2015 features Chef on Call owners Rob Kauffman and Gabriel Malbogat. Rob and Gabriel who started Chef on Call as University students and have grown it into one of Montreal’s most well-known take-out and delivery services! We’ll discuss the importance of seizing an opportunity and running with it!
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Our guests Joe and Maria specialize in renting custom furniture for weddings, parties, and photoshoots. We discuss the importance of being a trend setter, and how collaborative competition has played a role in their success.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
Utex is a coat manufacturer that distributes to very specific retailers. We discussed the reasons behind this strategy with Michael Seligman.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
We discussed with Steve Dustin the unique business model that Laurentide Controls operates under. Unlike most private companies, this one is 100% employee owned!
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Financial Engineering
Lessons from past entrepreneurial ventures have helped May Haddad make the Mia More Collection a success. She’ll discuss what she learned and the competitive advantage of manufacturing clothing in Canada.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Monette Malewski’s story is one of transition and stepping into a business after tragedy. Her dedication and work retained over 95% of the client base.
Kitchen’s Choice is the retail arm of a long standing import business. We discuss with David Saliba why he decided to move into the retail business, and how he is able to find unique products made exclusively in Europe.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Our guests this week each sell their goods in very different ways. Robert Courey of H5 Décor sells online only, whereas Scott Meleskie of Clark Street Mercentile has a physical store and does not offer online purchases. We discuss the pros and cons of each strategy with Robert and Scott.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, It Services
Show & Tell Fashion operates in Montreal and Vancouver, and like any bi-coastal operation, one of Sarrah Sheiner’s entrepreneurial challenges as been ensuring a consistent company culture across almost 5,000 Km!
50 pieces of advice for entrepreneurs.
Edited from the CJAD show, Today's Entrepreneur, hosted by Josh Miller and Dan Delmar.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
Entrepreneurs always see opportunity, and in this case both Daniel Gurman and Derek Cogan saw students of all ages with a need and Aplus Tutorials was born. We’ll discuss how they approach marketing to the school community and the operational side of matching students to tutors.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
The National Pardon Centre is the brainchild of Nicole Levesque, a criminologist turned entrepreneur. Her desire to service one community quickly led to a presence across Canada. We learn how this non-profit organization incorporates all the elements of a for profit business.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Lime Fashions is a trendy boutique with 3 locations in Quebec. We discusses with Robert Stroll how his family’s long standing involvement in manufacturing has helped his venture into retails, as well as how his love of statistics has helped his business grow.
FL Consultant: Lorne Brotman, Accounting, Real Estate & Wealth Management
Thomas Sychterz and his partners at Wipebook ran the most successful Canadian Kickstarter campaign to date, raising over $500,000, and they recently appeared on Dragon’s Den. Traditional financing is no longer the only option for new businesses.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
Blush Lingerie has been in operation since the 80s, selling fashion intimates to retail stores. Siblings Tiffany and Justin have seen more than a couple transformations in their industry, including the shift from domestic to overseas manufacturing, and more recently, the launch of their online store.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Vision Travel Solutions is a travel management company for corporations that began in 1977 in part because of Joel Ostrov’s love for airplanes. We discussed his companies long history, and his “everyone must win” business philosophy.
FL Consultant: Josh Miller, China Overseas Investment Network
Orangefield ICS is a corporate services provider that acts as a virtual office in Hong Kong for foreign companies. Founder Vincent Bremmer gives our listeners insight on the ins and outs of doing business in Hong Kong.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency
Our guest this week is Vanessa D’Amora from the bakery shop Bar à beurre, a family business in the Old-Port. Vanessa has followed a professional pastry making program in Ottawa and has worked in different restaurants and shops in Montreal.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
CPE de mon coeur is the first non-profit on the show, and we were excited to discuss the business operations with Andria Mallozzi. She gave our listeners insight into the day-to-day highlights and challenges of owning a daycare in Quebec.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting
Leeza provides home surfacing solutions, and for over 10 years, Mark Hanna has strived to make his solutions focus on creativity and fun. We’ll speak with Mark about why he believes having the right team behind has made all the difference.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
The best marketing for any company is word of mouth, but to get referrals you need to provide a quality service. Brahm Mauer exemplifies this in his day-to-day operations, and has grown his company from a fringe service to a must-have at any event.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Services
This marketing firm began in 2000, during the first wave of digital marketing. Mitch Joel talks about how Twist Image has evolved their digital strategy over the years, and how they have expanded into one of the largest independent marketing firms in Canada.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting
Execution Labs helps independent video game developers get their game to market. We speak with Jason Della Rocca bout how an idea he once preached to clients became the seeds for his own business.
FL Consultant: Michael Newton
Solo entrepreneurs have their own set of challenges and advantages. We’ll talk to Robert Shustack of Danvin and Michael Eskenazi of Felix & Norton about their decision to have no employees, and how that has impacted their work/life balance as well as their business dealings with customers and suppliers.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting
Yvon Roy purchased the Vignoble Morou 10 years ago, after nearly a lifetime as a winemaking hobbyist. As an artisanal producer, we’ll discuss the challenges he faces with distribution and the bright future of Quebec wines.
FL Consultant: Michael Newton
Succession is something we often ask our entrepreneurs about. Peter and Jonathon Auger of C&M Textiles will share their family business transition story, while Sam Fayer of Atelier Ferland discusses his experience in purchasing an existing business.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
OmniTrans grew from a custom brokerage firm to a full service logistics company. Steven is one of three principals and will talk to us about the keys to their growth and his journey within the company.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
If you visit almost any liquor store worldwide, you’re bound to find a bottle of the award-winning apple ice cider from Domaine Pinnacle. We’ll sit down with Charles Crawford to discuss the ins and outs of the industry, from producing to distributing and marketing alcoholic beverages.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting
The Putting Edge is a glow in the dark mini golf franchise that was brought to Quebec by Joe Zunenshine. We’ll discuss how they came to open three locations in Quebec, and the unique relationship between franshisee and franshisor.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
This week we focused on successful Entrepreneurs Under 30 with Vinny Success of Success Clothing and Dan Smajovits of Pi Athlete Management. Two business men from two very different fields, but with similar lessons to share with our listeners.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
Equinoxe is a supplemental health care provider that began with geriatric care. We discuss how they’ve expanded their service offerings, and the importance of integrating technology into health services.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Rresources Consulting
Allez Up is one of the most recent winners of the Fuller Landau JMSB Family Business Award. We will discuss how Jean-Marc de la Plante bought a struggling climbing gym and turned it into a success with the help of his family.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Not only is Frozen Yogurt & Café a great story of local entrepreneurs making a mark on the international business community, but brothers Jon and Marvin will also be able to give our listeners insight into the world of franchising.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, tax services
Terry and Paul make up two thirds of the financial services firm Donvito O’Neill Gagné & Associates inc. This week we focus on the essence of partnerships and how the existing business successfully integrated Paul as a third partner.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, Human Resources Consulting
PinkiBlue is a baby store with products for infants to toddlers. We’ll discuss with Gad Bensabbat his product selection philosophy as well as his commitment to customer service. We’ll also learn why Gad left his high profile IT Job to open the store, a move that positively impacted his quality of life.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Marianna Roth came over to Canada in 1958 after the Hungarian revolution and literally worked her way up from dishwasher to business owner. This is a story of entrepreneurship that mixes in themes of family, hard work, and commitment to community.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
Sometimes opportunities are born from obstacles. In this case, Eric Leclair found his entrepreneurial opportunity in his struggles with rubber suppliers. The inception of Vicone Rubber came from Eric’s belief that success is derived from great service, delivery and quality.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
Understanding your niche is important, and from the beginning Sebastian Van Berkom has built on this strength in the investment world. This week we’ll hear how Van Berkom and Associates expanded by taking their focused service offering into other geographic.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Portatec manufactures high-end residential entry doors and the key to his success is salesmanship. Leo Lapointe discusses with us how important it is to understand the product you are selling and why he places so much value on teamwork.
FL Consultant: Lorne Brotman, Accounting, Real Estate & Wealth Management The start-up phase is a unique stage in the business cycle in that has the steepest learning curve, and is filled with more questions than answers. Our guests this week, Mark Rhyman of Acumen Factory and Ovi Mija of Outpost Travel are in the midst of starting up a business and will share their experiences thus far.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Jon Kyres of Angelo’s gives us a unique perspective of the restaurant industry in Montreal, and especially on Crescent Street.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Top Marks provides uniforms to schools across the country. We’ll chat with them about their strict “made in Canada” policy and how their business process differs from traditional Canadian manufacturers.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
Image-24 is an outsource call centre for businesses looking to provide top-notch customer service to their client base. We’ll talk to Gary Blair about the importance of human resources in his industry and how he has adapted to changing technology.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency
Khadjavi brothers, Reza and Ali, found a solution to the universal pain point of laundry. We’ll discuss their business model of dry-cleaning pickup and delivery, and look to the future and how they plan to expand outside the island of Montreal.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
The Kid Scoop is a story of innovation. Josh chats with owner Cindy Fagen about how early funding was key to the site’s development, and how Cindy has expanded the business from local directory to national end to end solution for children activities.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Learn how Sonomax has taken the lead in hearing protection. Nick LaPerle will guide us through his journey in this field which has taken him from his parent’s dinner table, to a stage in Vegas with Dr. Dre.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
Mummieslist.com operates on the notion that if mothers are deciding 85% of expenditures, why not reward them for their loyalty? In partnering with venodrs both nationally and locally, we’ll learn how these two moms took a start-up business from hobby to invaluable family resource in 3 years.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting
The New Year is all about fresh starts and opportunity and Alain Boucher’s story really embodies this notion. We’ll talk about how A.R.B. Teak is making the most out of a raw material, and how it’s never too late to start your own business.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
We love having Michael Eskenazi on the show because it lets us delve into topics we don’t usually have time to get into! This time around, working with your spouse and living to tell about it!
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting
Internet marketing is a fascinating environment, and Bosko Milekic’s company AdGear is right at the heart of it. We’ll learn how this start-up is responsible for delivering many of the ads we see online every day.
FL Consultant: Josh Miller
Musician’s like David Usher come to Albert and Base Bin Studios for both his skills as a producer and pristine recording environment. Albert’s story also highlights for us a recurring theme – if you have a passion for your business, success is sure to follow.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
Dan Anber started XN Financial by looking at the insurance business and finding an underserviced niche market – expatriate insurance. We’ll discuss how Dan developed this business, and where it’s going today.
FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
We’ve heard it before, but location, location, location. We’ll learn how Peter Bahlawanian’s diligent scouting has helped to make Spice Station a success both here in Montreal and across the border in California.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Financial Engineering
David Reese of Callidus Capital – Every company needs financing. In most cases, that money comes from the business owner or a bank. But when traditional lending institituions aren’t an option Callidus Capitol steps in and helps using innovative and creative funding solutions.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Erica Bianchini and Yoan Gehant of Ecksand Jewels – a Montreal based high-end jewelry brand. Ecksand’s strict values which include directly sourcing their diamonds and pearls is earning a reputation for luxury and quality across the nation.
FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting
The roots of Edgewood Florist date back to 1956. We’ll look at how their industry has changed over that time, and what the Van Egmond family has done to stay at the top of their game.
Daniele Henkel FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
What we learn this week is that when an entrepreneur uses their own value system as a company philosphy, success is sure to follow. The Daniele Henkel Wellness Company believes in positive wellness, creating beauty from the inside out and healthy living – just like Mme. Henkel herself.
Matthew and Jonathan Auger FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
We open this season with Jonathan and Matthew Auger who will be discussing their role at C&M and of course, the expansion stores they’ve opened.
FL Consultant:Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Ross Fraser first joined us back in November, to discuss the 131 year legacy of Fraser Furniture. Ross joins us again, and this time, we speak about the future of Fraser Furniture.
FL Consultant: Michael Newton, Family Business Consulting
David Sternthal joins Josh Miller and Dan Delmar to discuss the business of operating a law firm, and the unique challenges that limited liability partnerships often face.
Philippe Lamarre FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
This week we speak with Philippe Lamarre, graphic designer turn successful entrepreneur. He’ll discuss his company Toxa Inc. and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Namely, not getting too high when things are going well, or too low when business gets tough.
Calliope and Demetrios Hadjis FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Calliope and Demetrios are brother and sister as well as business partners. In their 7 years of working together, they’ve learned that running a law practice and practicing law are two very different things.
Mariouche Gagné FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
This week, we explore the path that has taken Mariouche Gagné from tree planter to fashion student, to owner and designer of one of the largest recycled fur clothing companies in Canada.
Roger Southin FL Consultant: Micheline Maillet, HR Consulting
Jouviance started in a kitchen and a small lab has grown into a full line of skin care products that has recently attracted the attention and endorsement from Quebec celebrity Veronique Cloutier!
FL Consultant: Michael Newton
We’ve had lawyers on our show before, but what differentiates Jamie Benizri’s firm is how he has packaged his services into menu-style packages. We’ll learn how and why Legal Logik opted for this service model.
George Kyres and Eric Doyon FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
George and Eric share with us their recipe for success with a focus on high quality in-home gourmet snacks and the InCuisin line of frozen risotto.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Building a practice is always challenging but our guests this week have built two! Dr. Lang and Dr. Sgro have spent the past 25 years growing both their own and a joint practice.
FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Financial Engineering
Felix and Norton have been sweetening Montreal’s Valentine’s Days for 27 years. Now they’ll tell us about the brand new dessert they are launching, and share the strategic development process behind it.
Joan Salette FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
“If you build it they will come” a quote that rings very true for this Montreal private school. Joan started the school 25 years ago to fill a need, and as Kuper Academy itself has grown, so has the student body.
Pierre Maillet FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
CyFrame sells business operating software. We’ve spoken with entrepreneurs in similar industries, but what makes CY Frame unique is that they focus solely on the plastics industry.
Derek Vincent and Jean Souliere FL Consultant: Ernie Furt, Tax Services
C.V. Logistics has grown from a small family business into a major player in the freight brokerage industry. Their focus on hiring, technology and business processes is helping them achieve their goals.
Kevin Thind FL Consultant: Michael Newton, Family Business Consulting
This week we speak with Kevin Thind, an entrepreneur who found himself at the helm of his family business, despite having different plans. Kevin teach us that sometimes everything falls into place for a reason.
Marc Merulla and Marc Bartschat FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Team Building Montreal helps businesses transform their employees from a group to a team. We’ll learn how both Marc’s got started in this business, and how they branched out to other recreational services.
Hicham Ratnani FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
Modasuite.com is a pioneer in personalization. The clothes are literally made to match the man, from style preference all the way to custom tailoring. This week, we speak to the man behind the concept.
FL Consultant: Michael Newton, Family Business Consulting
Fraser Furniture was founded in 1880. Being in business for 131 years is no easy feat. We’ll learn the secret to this Montreal institution longevity.
Deborah Assaly FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
This week we speak with Deborah Assaly of Paramount Paper. What makes her story unique is the journey. What started as a part-time job helping her dad during a recession has become both a passion and full time career.
Martin McNicoll FL Consultant: Ernest Furt, Tax Services
Martin McNicoll started his company out of the basement of his home with one single employee. In only five short years, ERP Guru has evolved into one of the premiere ERP software resellers in Quebec!
Mark Kalus FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
KalusAir is truly a one-stop shop for all your aviation needs. From flying modified aircrafts over deserts in search of fresh water to consulting on aircraft valuations.
Rick Kanna FL Consultant: Patrick Sullivan, Financial Engineering
The Kanna family is now in its 3rd generation of restaurateurs. Rick’s father opened the very first Indian restaurant here in Montreal, Rick owns L’Usine de Spaghetti, and now Rick’s daughter just opened her first place. We’ll discuss with him the ups and downs of the restaurant industry.
FL Consultant: Kevin Ammerman, IT Consulting
Lawyers run a business like any other entrepreneur. Robert Faguy explains how this St. Jerome based firm successfully expanded in their 75 year history.
FL Consultant: Nick Moraitis, Tax Services
Groupe Park Avenue is a successful family business in the competitive auto-selling industry. What started with his father as a single Chevrolet dealership in 1959 has grown to over 10 dealerships selling everything from Toyota’s to Rolls Royces.
FL Consultant: Stephanie Darwish, Marketing
The transition from global to local can be interesting and complex. Both Christina and Alex have made a career from dealing in international trade. They now want to return focus to their native city of Montreal, and offer local products at their grocery store Fou D’ici.