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From Hospitality to Entrepreneurship: Mike’s Bold Journey

Michael Crooks is a hospitality professional who is always interested in new challenges. He has achieved success in all aspects of the hospitality service industry. Three years ago he decided to move over to entrepreneurship and his journey and success are really insightful for those thinking of making the break to independence.


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Turning an empty small town Saskatchewan school into a booming restaurant/bar

Doug Will, one of the co-owners of Rawhides Bistro & Saloon in Stenen, Saskatchewan, grew up on the family farm just north of Tisdale, where he farmed with his dad and brothers for a few years. In 1980 he moved to farm north of Star City, a town just east of Melfort, where he and his wife raised three sons. In 2000 he bought a farm just north of Stenen, as well as the Alfalfa Mill at Norquay, just down the road from Stenen, where he currently lives and continues to farm with two of his sons.

In 2012, Stenen was having its 100th anniversary and invited him to develop the old school into a “bistro/saloon” They had 90 days from the start to get the new Rawhides up and running and with the great help from all the contractors and town folks they made it happen with six days to spare, for the August long weekend and the town’s 100th anniversary celebration!

Will enjoys antiques, old wood and challenges and while Rawhides provided all of that and more. It’s been very rewarding journey, with one of the most satisfying aspects being the number of people they have been able to hire and help relocate from far away countries and join in the community serving the locals and tourists each and every day at the restaurant.

In 2015 they developed the Chandelier room/rec centre to hold wedding events and corporate functions with its huge outdoor deck, c/w firepits and outdoor stage. Two years ago they completed the project with the addition of a spa, beauty salon, pedicure/manicure, massage therapy. They have also opened up several rental suites for those customers wishing to stay and explore the surrounding area or maybe golf at the nearby Crystal Lake Golf Club.


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Why Empathy Is the Future of Security

Chris Kerr is the President and Founder of XA Security, Western Canada’s leader in proactive risk reduction and people-first security solutions. Driven by strong ethics and a commitment to community, Chris believes every security concern is, at its core, a human one. He and his diverse team treat every person as a valued guest, handling every situation with curiosity, empathy, and strategy. The company’s success is uniquely measured by the number of incidents de-escalated rather than the number of ejections.

In addition to leading XA Security, Chris serves as a special projects Production Manager for Grammy-winning artist Zedd and produces numerous outdoor music festivals across Western Canada. He also volunteers on several nonprofit boards, including serving as Vice Chair of the Event Safety Alliance Canada (ESAC), where he advocates for advancing global event and crowd safety standards. He is Treasurer of the Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA), Learning Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Calgary Chapter (EO), a Board Member of Kidzinc School Age Care Society of Alberta, and an active member of the Canadian Ski Patrol.

In 2024, Chris was named one of Calgary’s Top Business Leaders by Business in Calgary magazine, in recognition of XA Security’s 20-year milestone and his leadership in elevating standards across the security industry.


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Musicians are entrepreneurs

Being a musician and and looking for gigs is is an ongoing process. You’re always selling yourself. They’re always looking for work. But so many of them have other jobs, because that’s what pays the bills.

This podcast is a little different, more of a book review with an entrepreneurial focus. David Eisenstadt, who’s a founder and longtime owner of CPGR a well know communications company is also a very well-known author of a number of books that cover Jewish performers that run under the name Musicians Under The Radar. you know, it’s really interesting to find out what jazz trumpeter, Freddie Stone, Anvil’s heavy metal guitarist, Steve Lips Kudlow, Lorne Green, Robbie Robertson, even singer-songwriter Mendelssohn, Joe have in common. They are all talented Jewish Musicians who appear in David’s latest book. This interview is a little different, because, of course, all these musicians have an entrepreneurial flair as they’re creating their own their own content and selling it. And, of course David is a long time entrepreneur which makes this even more interesting.

Find out more and check at David’s latest book MUSICIANS UNDER THE RADAR – 46 Notable Canadian Jewish Performers on Amazon or go to www.undertheradarbook.com.


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Be patient, it is a journey

Adam Hislop creates videos and movies that help people communicate clearly and effectively. Along with the rest of his team at Atomic Spark, he produces commercials, brand films, promotional videos, website videos, and training materials.

And he’s been doing it successfully for the past twenty five years – so he has some great stories to tell us.


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Juggling acting and a homebuilding business

Robert Daprocida is a Canadian and international actor, singer and pianist, and is a first-generation born Canadian to Italian parents, working in the United States, Europe and his birth country. Robert began studying classical piano at the age of 4 with the Royal Conservatory of Music and shortly after, began singing, which led him to musical theatre, the stage and eventually into film and television appearing in many notable film and television productions.

Robert has continued to work throughout the years and is known for X-files (1998), Wrongfully Accused (1998), Creature (1998) and Out for Vengeance (2023).

He is also owner of Ancora Homes in Calgary.


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Belting out the tunes the Frank Sinatra way

Paul Michael Stoia (https://www.paulmichaelstoia.com/home) made his US debuts in the fall of 2024 at the legendary Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, with the orchestra led by Grammy Award Winner Quinn Johnson. He then sold out his very first “A Frank Sinatra Christmas” show live in Las Vegas at the Maxan Jazz Club. In 2023, he made his international debut in Martigues, France with Lyrique en Provence under the direction of Paris Opera “Chef de chant” Phil Richardson.

Paul got his start singing jazz in high school, then studied opera in Canada, Italy, the USA, Germany, and France. He has performed in musical theatre and opera productions in Canada. In May 2024 he debuted a Frank Sinatra tribute concert at the Polaris Theatre. He currently performs regularly at private events and lounges in Calgary, including, a sold out first show at the Ironwood Stage and back by popular demand, the historical King Eddy. In 2022 Paul performed Canada’s national anthem before an international audience live on ESPN for the inaugural Women’s MMA Fight (Pallais Athena) at the Grey Eagle Casino.


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L’importance de l’authenticitĂ©, la rĂ©silience et la dĂ©termination en entrepreneurship

Cynthia Daoust https://www.linkedin.com/in/spheria/ conjugue un BACC en animation et gestion culturelle Ă  son expĂ©rience d’entrepreneure en production d’évĂ©nements Ă  son compte depuis plus de 30 ans. Elle a conçu, de toutes piĂšces, plus de 500 Ă©vĂ©nements clĂ© en main dans sa carriĂšre et a gĂ©rĂ© des Ă©vĂ©nements d’envergure nationale, des Ă©vĂ©nements d’affaires internationales et des Ă©vĂ©nements grand public.

Elle a fondĂ©e en 2003 SphĂ©ria ÉvĂ©nements, https://www.spheria.ca/ une firme d’expertise en production d’évĂ©nements corporatif clĂ© en main sur mesure. Et, elle est productrice de ses propres Ă©vĂ©nements-maison Les Bals de NoĂ«l SphĂ©ria des PME qui font fureur depuis 2007.
Aussi auteure du livre Sortie du Bois, un guide de stratĂ©gies clĂ©s, de questions concrĂštes et de mĂ©thodes Ă©prouvĂ©es qui non seulement peuvent aider une personne Ă  se sortir d’un tourbillon dĂ©pressif, mais aussi rĂ©duire les chances de revivre un Ă©pisode aussi dramatique.


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Delivering music right to your door

Amanda Burgener is the co-founder of Curbside Concerts, a Calgary-based company that delivers live music right to your door, or driveway, or anywhere! With a mandate for equality, safety, and mental health, Curbside Concerts has kept live music in neighbourhoods, and local musicians working throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Now in its 4th year of business, Curbside has seen incredible growth, media attention, and even awards and nominations from YYC Music, Western Canadian Music Awards, Alberta Touring Arts Alliance, Canadian Live Music Association, and Music Cities. Most importantly, they have paid out over $750,000 to performing artists in Canada.

With a background in the Arts (B.Music from the University of Calgary), live events, and local business management, Amanda combines creativity with a desire to uplift her community.

As a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, she is proud to foster inclusiveness and an Indigenous lens in her industry.

Matt ‘Masters’ Burgener is a Calgary based country and western musician and a co-founder of Curbside Concerts. A veteran performer, playrite and storyteller, Matt’s 25 year, 7 album career has taken him across Canada and on ten international tours. For 5 years he led the house band at the King Eddy, he’s played numerous times at the Saddledome for the Calgary Flames and he’s a 17 year member of Barney Bentall’s Cariboo Express, helping raise over 5 million dollars for Canadian charities.

Matt has a background in music business, working as a consultant, producer and advisor for different not-for-profits, the City of Calgary arts and culture department, the National Music Center, different music festivals and with CKUA Radio.

Matt has a BA in History from the University of Calgary. He and Amanda and they have 3 young kids. Matt is a first generation Albertan living in Treaty 7 territory.


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How to smell out a good deal when buying a business

Today, our guest is Trevor Van Heemert. After briefly attempting employment in his early 20s, Trevor resigned with no plan and bought a $150 bike trailer for scooping up merch from street-side free piles for consignment. That fateful purchase led to the offer to take over a struggling bicycle-based compost pickup operation in Victoria called Pedal to Petal. He brought it from decrepitude into a brief golden age, before the City brought its own taxpayer-funded compost trucks in to crush all the green waste operators out of business. Undiscouraged, Trevor launched his bucket website FiveGallonIdeas.com to showcase dozens of repurpose projects for the countless buckets in his now useless business inventory. Having established a pattern of redeeming struggling enterprises, Trevor was presented with an opportunity to buy an arcade manufacturer in Vancouver. After a grueling negotiation process, he and his business partner took possession of the 13-year-old salvage operation in April 2024.


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