Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

Amanda Hall, Co-Founder & CEO Summit Nanotech, is a professional geophysicist with 11 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, 4 years in the mining industry and 4 years as a laboratory scientist. Amanda is passionate about growing a human centric company, employing innovative, resourceful people who feel responsible for rapidly creating the change that is needed in our industrial landscape using wisdom, technology and adaptive solutions.

Steven Vaivada is the President of Scout Engineering & Consulting Ltd., a "next-generation" Indigenous-company created, wholly-owned, and operated by First-Nations Professionals seeking to support Indigenous communities across Canada. Steven has industry-leading experience developing relationships and building corporate processes to support projects in Indigenous communities.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Work Nicer - Roxbury

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

I am hosting this episode myself.  For more than 20 years I have provided leadership and guidance in technology and software development. When I am not networking, making connections and trying to help out wherever I can, I follow my creative passions of graphic design and photography.

Anette Ceraficki is the Director, Talent Acquisition and Attraction at Benevity in Calgary. Anette is an experienced Talent Leader with a passion for building strong teams, creating an exceptional candidate experience, employee inclusion, culture, and community building.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Capturing Legacies Inc.

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Adam Ludgate.  Adam is a programmer-turned-CTO who is involved in the startup/tech community and is enticed by new and innovative ways of solving problems with technology. He has worked previously with the likes of IBM Canada, AOL UK, tech startups in London's 'Silicon Roundabout' as well as with a variety of oil & gas software firms in various development and leadership capacities.

Lourdes Juan is an Urban Planner and Calgary based entrepreneur. She is an alumna of the University of Calgary with a Masters in Environmental Design. She shares her time as the Director of Hive Developments, Soma Hammam and Spa, and doing community work with the non-profits she founded: the Leftovers Foundation and Moonlight Market Foundation.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Workhaus Core

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Manuel Olumorin.  Manuel Olumorin is an engineer who worked in the oil and gas business, now a marketer helping small businesses reach new customers on digital platforms and keep their existing customers happy. His superpower is that he has an insatiable hunger to learn and try new things.

Sean Coates is a Community Builder & Startup Professional who is currently the Director - Western Canada for Workhaus Core, a stunning co-working space in downtown Calgary.  Originally from Ottawa, Sean left the Nation's Capital to study at Queen's University in Kingston. Completing his Bachelor's in Political Studies, Sean continued on the down the 401 to Toronto to pursue a post-graduate diploma in TV Writing & Production at Humber College. After five years working on various lifestyle, comedy & documentary productions, he went back to school do his Master's in Business Administration, with a focus on the management of Technology & Innovation. Landing at Kobo and managing their international markets & customers for 3 years, Sean got to get his first taste of the Start-up community, and learning from one of Canada's most successful entrepreneurs, Mike Serbenis. Working with a couple of other Start-ups over the past 5 years, both which were based-out of the original Workhaus location Sean befriending the founders. And after helping out his spare time, Sean joined Workhaus full-time in late 2018. His goal is to help bring community-first coworking to Western Canada, and making the Calgary market, the cornerstone of that expansion!

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Miguel Cortines.  Miguel is an entrepreneur that is passionate about technology innovation, international trade and investment; as well as community projects.   Miguel is Managing Director of Innova International Corporation and focuses his practice in assisting companies to explore business opportunities in Mexico and Latin America. Miguel serves in the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council for the Americas and is President and Founder of Casa Mexico Foundation.

Naomi Pereira is Founder and President of Job Jar Solutions Inc. Naomi's entrepreneurialism has been recognized by a nomination for an Award by Alberta Women Entrepreneurs in 2016, the 21st Immigrants of Distinction Award 2017 and the Women of inspiration by the Canadian Business Chicks.
With a focus on innovation and inspiration, Naomi is always ready to put one foot forward for new endeavors and partnerships.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Manuel Olumorin.  Manuel Olumorin is an engineer who worked in the oil and gas business, now a marketer helping small businesses reach new customers on digital platforms and keep their existing customers happy. His superpower is that he has an insatiable hunger to learn and try new things.

Lenneal is a bubbly, efficient and organized Virtual Executive Assistant who works with business owners (large and small) to help them organize and maintain the day to day administration tasks of their businesses, so they can focus on what they do best.  From creating templates, and multi-page reports to developing sophisticated cross referenced, macro-enabled excel spreadsheets, Lenneal has been “office optimizing” since 2005. Linneal has developed skills in: project management; event planning; and creating organization through data analytics. 

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Peter Beaudoin.  Peter manages strategy and partnerships for an innovative alliance of energy companies committed to reducing environmental impacts through collaborative R&D efforts. Peter worked for more than 20 years in Asia building and investing in a variety of businesses. His most recent role outside of Canada was with the World Wildlife Fund, where he was the Chief Executive Officer of WWF China, based in Beijing. Prior to that, Peter lived in Hong Kong for 15 years working in the technology industry.

Jeff LaFrenz is A multi-disciplinary, multi-industrial professional with over two decades business development, management, marketing and technical experience.  Jeff thrives on pulling together complex technical and business requirements, contextualizing them within the local and global environments, and working with a team to develop and implement creative solution strategies.  Jeff is the President of VizworX Inc.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This is the first episode from Edmonton, and it is hosted by Christopher Drobot.  Having worked and lived across Western Canada, Christopher has recently made a shift out of an 18 year career (with one company) in food retail management to now exploring Edmonton’s innovation ecosystem. His experience launching a store in a new market helped him realize his excitement around bring ideas into reality, and the power of a supportive network in making that happen. His time at Rainforest has been eye-opening in just how much is happening in the community to make things happen.

Christopher is currently involved in the Aquatic Biosphere Project, working on funds development for the push to bring a world-class aquarium to the city of Edmonton; is working towards building a Machine Learning model with retail applications; and is completing the final courses towards his MBA. He is a husband, and a father of two homeschooled children. He sees parallels between the entrepreneurial path and homeschooling and is teaching his children how to unleash their inner entrepreneur as well.

David M. Botwick-Ries is an American serial entrepreneur with a background in coworking, community, and strategy. Currently the Business Development Representative at ConnectAd in Toronto and the Communications Manager for Gun Violence Archive in Washington D.C., David has launched two businesses (Mike & Cookies and Verde Vegan) in two different countries (United States and Mexico), has a background as a freelance marketing consulting, and has worked with startups nonstop since graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Political Science in 2011. David also served as Director of Innovation for The Grove Coworking in New Haven, CT and Community Manager for Homestead Coworking in Edmonton.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Unit B Coworking

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

This episode is hosted by Allan Marston.  Allan is a Father, Husband and innovator. Mr. Marston is a successful corporate executive heading up departments in Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Human Resources. As a serial entrepreneur Allan has over 18 years’ experience in the technology startup space and was the CEO of his own Silicon Valley company.  Previously Allan spent 25 years in the retail business and was with a company when it created Canada's first loyalty reward card program.  He has had several start-ups and successful exits and is currently the founder of Zenoshi.io where he is building a universal rewards program on the blockchain.

Al Del Degan is educated in Computer Science and has spent most of his career as a software developer, business analyst and project manager.  He is a passionate entrepreneur and enjoys working with creative technologies and in business development.  Some links to things Al is involved in:

TECHCareers: http://TECHCareers.ca

Capturing Legacies: https://CapturingLegacies.com

Aduro Photography: https://Aduro.ca

Al's Son Tony's book project: https://tony.deldegan.ca/the-plight-of-steel

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Workhaus Core

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta.  The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

I am hosting this episode myself and for some background on me, I am educated in Computer Science and have spent most of my career as a software developer, business analyst and project manager.  I am a passionate entrepreneur and enjoy working with creative technologies and in business development.

If you have listened to past episodes of this podcast, chances are you heard Allan Marston host a few.  On this episode I have the pleasure of having a conversation with Allan about his personal history and how he got to where he is today.  Allan shares his idea for an "investment club" (35:45) to help new startups get a leg up through a unique crowd funding and mentoring opportunity.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out.  We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts.  We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Workhaus Core

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan