Building Manitoba Podcast Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:15:31 -0500 http://www.buildingmanitobapodcast.ca en-us © 2026 Building Manitoba Podcast yes Manitoba, Canada e6e9852c-5405-5962-a08e-1fbaf1262142 nathan.maertins@gmail.com Nathan Maertins episodic false The Building Manitoba Podcast is a non-partisan podcast for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community builders who care about creating something that lasts.

Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show features candid, long-form conversations with founders, CEOs, operators, and public-sector leaders shaping Manitoba’s economy. Each episode looks beyond surface-level success to explore the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth.

The conversations are grounded in experience while looking to the future, encouraging listeners to think bigger about leadership, investment, and the opportunities in our province. Nathan helps translate complex ideas into practical insights that can be applied in real organizations and communities.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Manitoba, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development Nathan Maertins nathan.maertins@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/cl1eewatgdbzsbn08978y1f4rmkr?.jpg Building Manitoba Podcast http://www.buildingmanitobapodcast.ca Nathan Maertins Built to Last: Calvin Polet on Family Business and Neptune Properties Built to Last: Calvin Polet on Family Business and Neptune Properties Calvin Polet is President of Neptune Properties, a Winnipeg family office that manages over 1.6 million square feet of industrial, retail, and office real estate. He ran a Dairy Queen and a car wash before teaming up with his father in 2002 to start Neptune, and he's spent the last 24 years growing it.

Calvin explains what a family office actually is, how his time as an operator shaped the way he treats tenants, and how he thinks about succession, from getting a family aligned before bringing in the lawyers and accountants to the governance that keeps a business healthy across generations. He also makes the case for why he keeps building in Manitoba, a place where you have to round up to get to one degree of separation.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Calvin Polet is President of Neptune Properties, a Winnipeg family office that manages over 1.6 million square feet of industrial, retail, and office real estate. He ran a Dairy Queen and a car wash before teaming up with his father in 2002 to start Neptune, and he's spent the last 24 years growing it.

Calvin explains what a family office actually is, how his time as an operator shaped the way he treats tenants, and how he thinks about succession, from getting a family aligned before bringing in the lawyers and accountants to the governance that keeps a business healthy across generations. He also makes the case for why he keeps building in Manitoba, a place where you have to round up to get to one degree of separation.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19869148 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:00:00 -0500 3662 1 10 full false Planning for Growth: Matthew Hibbert on Building Maka Power Planning for Growth: Matthew Hibbert on Building Maka Power A lot of founders are told to move fast and break things. Matthew Hibbert did the opposite. He and his co-founder Kasey Russell started Maka Power with a written plan and built it into a power reliability company serving facilities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

In this conversation, Matthew breaks down what actually got them there. They landed their first client when a competitor couldn't deliver, and learned early that lenders care about your balance sheet before your vision. He explains why the right advice costs far less than the wrong decision, and how building systems long before the business needed them kept growth from breaking the company.

If you're starting out or scaling through the messy middle, this one's worth your time.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> A lot of founders are told to move fast and break things. Matthew Hibbert did the opposite. He and his co-founder Kasey Russell started Maka Power with a written plan and built it into a power reliability company serving facilities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

In this conversation, Matthew breaks down what actually got them there. They landed their first client when a competitor couldn't deliver, and learned early that lenders care about your balance sheet before your vision. He explains why the right advice costs far less than the wrong decision, and how building systems long before the business needed them kept growth from breaking the company.

If you're starting out or scaling through the messy middle, this one's worth your time.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19722865 Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0500 2550 1 9 full false Better Over Bigger: Inside Concord Projects with Nolan Ploegman Better Over Bigger: Inside Concord Projects with Nolan Ploegman Nolan Ploegman, President and CEO of Concord Projects, joins Nathan to talk about how a Winnipeg-based general contractor founded in 1978 has grown into one of Manitoba's most trusted builders by choosing quality over scale. Nolan shares how he stepped into leadership after a career start in finance at Great West Life, why Concord moved its headquarters to 127 Bannatyne in the Exchange District, and what it takes to build a company culture that scales without losing its small-firm feel.

The conversation covers the realities of the current construction market, why so many housing projects only pencil out with CMHC or provincial support, where private developers are finding an edge, and how technology like Procore and AI-driven job site tools (including hard hat cameras) are changing how buildings get built. Nolan also opens up about the Concord Projects Foundation, his conviction that Winnipeggers need to build Winnipeg, and why he chose to be the best rather than the biggest.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nolan Ploegman, President and CEO of Concord Projects, joins Nathan to talk about how a Winnipeg-based general contractor founded in 1978 has grown into one of Manitoba's most trusted builders by choosing quality over scale. Nolan shares how he stepped into leadership after a career start in finance at Great West Life, why Concord moved its headquarters to 127 Bannatyne in the Exchange District, and what it takes to build a company culture that scales without losing its small-firm feel.

The conversation covers the realities of the current construction market, why so many housing projects only pencil out with CMHC or provincial support, where private developers are finding an edge, and how technology like Procore and AI-driven job site tools (including hard hat cameras) are changing how buildings get built. Nolan also opens up about the Concord Projects Foundation, his conviction that Winnipeggers need to build Winnipeg, and why he chose to be the best rather than the biggest.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19500329 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0500 3047 1 8 full false Beatboxer to Tech Founder: Adam Fainman on the Highs and Brutal Lows of Solo Founding Beatboxer to Tech Founder: Adam Fainman on the Highs and Brutal Lows of Solo Founding Adam Fainman is a beatboxer and musician turned tech founder. During COVID, he started using generative AI to make music videos for TikTok and YouTube. When one went viral and everyone asked what app he was using, he realised it didn't exist, so he built it. That became Moonlite Labs, a platform where creators can generate, edit, and distribute content all in one place.

In this episode, Adam talks about what it means to be a creative founder in a technical space and how leading bands and producing albums actually trained him for leading a startup. He gets honest about the brutal side too, from contractors holding code for ransom right after his first big win, to the isolation that comes with being a solo founder wearing every hat.

We also dig into how he funded the company through grants instead of venture capital, where the conversation is heading on AI ethics and artist compensation, and what it's like building a globally recognized AI company from Winnipeg, with users in 98 countries and recognition from TechCrunch, VivaTech, and the DARE Innovation Awards.

To learn more about Moonlite Labs, visit https://moonlitelabs.com/

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Adam Fainman is a beatboxer and musician turned tech founder. During COVID, he started using generative AI to make music videos for TikTok and YouTube. When one went viral and everyone asked what app he was using, he realised it didn't exist, so he built it. That became Moonlite Labs, a platform where creators can generate, edit, and distribute content all in one place.

In this episode, Adam talks about what it means to be a creative founder in a technical space and how leading bands and producing albums actually trained him for leading a startup. He gets honest about the brutal side too, from contractors holding code for ransom right after his first big win, to the isolation that comes with being a solo founder wearing every hat.

We also dig into how he funded the company through grants instead of venture capital, where the conversation is heading on AI ethics and artist compensation, and what it's like building a globally recognized AI company from Winnipeg, with users in 98 countries and recognition from TechCrunch, VivaTech, and the DARE Innovation Awards.

To learn more about Moonlite Labs, visit https://moonlitelabs.com/

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19376773 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500 2573 1 7 full false Fill the Gap: Mark Chipman on Revitalizing Downtown and Betting on Manitoba Fill the Gap: Mark Chipman on Revitalizing Downtown and Betting on Manitoba Mark Chipman, Executive Chairman of the Board of True North Sports + Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, joins Nathan for a wide-ranging conversation about the principles behind one of Manitoba's most transformative business stories.

Mark shares how working for his father's automotive business taught him servant leadership, and how a simple framework has guided every major decision: find the gap, ask what you can uniquely bring, and act on it. That approach runs through everything from relocating the Minnesota Moose in 1996 to building Canada Life Centre, True North Square, and the Portage Place redevelopment.

He also talks about managing risk through team competency, building trust that survives changes in government, investing in community through the True North Youth Foundation and the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, and why Manitoba's resilience and people make it a province worth betting on.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Mark Chipman, Executive Chairman of the Board of True North Sports + Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, joins Nathan for a wide-ranging conversation about the principles behind one of Manitoba's most transformative business stories.

Mark shares how working for his father's automotive business taught him servant leadership, and how a simple framework has guided every major decision: find the gap, ask what you can uniquely bring, and act on it. That approach runs through everything from relocating the Minnesota Moose in 1996 to building Canada Life Centre, True North Square, and the Portage Place redevelopment.

He also talks about managing risk through team competency, building trust that survives changes in government, investing in community through the True North Youth Foundation and the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, and why Manitoba's resilience and people make it a province worth betting on.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19303598 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500 2728 1 6 full false It’s About People: Lee Waltham on Building the Brandish Way It’s About People: Lee Waltham on Building the Brandish Way Lee Waltham unpacks how Brandish Agency scaled from a small Winnipeg start-up into a national brand-building partner by betting on culture first. He traces the early stumbles, the moment the team swapped top-line targets for metrics that actually move margin, and why serious brand work begins long before a logo is even sketched. Lee also walks through the math and the mindset that convinced him a four-day work week could boost profitability rather than dilute it. The result is a set of hard-won lessons and immediately actionable insights for anyone determined to build a brand that really sticks.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Lee Waltham unpacks how Brandish Agency scaled from a small Winnipeg start-up into a national brand-building partner by betting on culture first. He traces the early stumbles, the moment the team swapped top-line targets for metrics that actually move margin, and why serious brand work begins long before a logo is even sketched. Lee also walks through the math and the mindset that convinced him a four-day work week could boost profitability rather than dilute it. The result is a set of hard-won lessons and immediately actionable insights for anyone determined to build a brand that really sticks.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-19042674 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0500 3858 1 5 full false Todd Burns on Building Globally from Manitoba Todd Burns on Building Globally from Manitoba From a pool-table “lab” in Winnipeg to mine sites and customers in almost 50 countries, Todd Burns shares the playbook that turned a small one-man dust-control business into a world-class cleantech exporter. We dig into cash-flow squeezes that forced invention, the R&D boost unlocked by a partnership with RRC Polytech, and the systems Todd uses to scale without losing Manitoba roots.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> From a pool-table “lab” in Winnipeg to mine sites and customers in almost 50 countries, Todd Burns shares the playbook that turned a small one-man dust-control business into a world-class cleantech exporter. We dig into cash-flow squeezes that forced invention, the R&D boost unlocked by a partnership with RRC Polytech, and the systems Todd uses to scale without losing Manitoba roots.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-18927524 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0500 2798 1 4 full false From Flyover to Flywheel: Iain Crozier on Unlocking Early-Stage Capital in Manitoba From Flyover to Flywheel: Iain Crozier on Unlocking Early-Stage Capital in Manitoba Manitoba has historically been underrepresented when it comes to early-stage venture capital. That’s starting to shift.

In this episode, I sit down with Iain Crozier, founder of Trillick Ventures, to talk about why he’s building Manitoba’s first dedicated early-stage venture fund — and what that could mean for founders here.

We talk about the lessons he carries from growing up in a family business, what Trillick actually looks for when backing a founder, and why recent updates to Manitoba’s Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit could meaningfully improve access to early-stage capital for Manitoba founders. We also explore what Manitoba can learn from ecosystems like Calgary and Newfoundland when it comes to building a durable startup flywheel.

If you care about capital, founders, and the long-term growth of this province, this is a conversation worth digging into.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Manitoba has historically been underrepresented when it comes to early-stage venture capital. That’s starting to shift.

In this episode, I sit down with Iain Crozier, founder of Trillick Ventures, to talk about why he’s building Manitoba’s first dedicated early-stage venture fund — and what that could mean for founders here.

We talk about the lessons he carries from growing up in a family business, what Trillick actually looks for when backing a founder, and why recent updates to Manitoba’s Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit could meaningfully improve access to early-stage capital for Manitoba founders. We also explore what Manitoba can learn from ecosystems like Calgary and Newfoundland when it comes to building a durable startup flywheel.

If you care about capital, founders, and the long-term growth of this province, this is a conversation worth digging into.

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-18781680 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0600 3350 1 3 full false How Valley Fiber is Scaling Fast Without Losing What Works How Valley Fiber is Scaling Fast Without Losing What Works Ryan Klassen, CEO of Valley Fiber, shares what scaling a province-wide infrastructure business really demands—and why successful growth often requires rebuilding systems without losing culture, quality, or momentum. Drawing on Valley Fiber's rapid expansion across Manitoba, Ryan offers practical insights on leadership, execution, and scaling with intention. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Ryan Klassen, CEO of Valley Fiber, shares what scaling a province-wide infrastructure business really demands—and why successful growth often requires rebuilding systems without losing culture, quality, or momentum. Drawing on Valley Fiber's rapid expansion across Manitoba, Ryan offers practical insights on leadership, execution, and scaling with intention. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-18577823 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600 2474 1 2 full false Leadership That Lasts: John Proven on Mentors, Values, and Building in Manitoba Leadership That Lasts: John Proven on Mentors, Values, and Building in Manitoba John Proven reflects on the early influences, mentors, and values that shaped his leadership journey—and what it takes to build organizations and institutions that endure. Drawing on a career rooted in Manitoba with global reach, John shares lessons on leadership, culture, and long-term thinking that matter for builders at every stage. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> John Proven reflects on the early influences, mentors, and values that shaped his leadership journey—and what it takes to build organizations and institutions that endure. Drawing on a career rooted in Manitoba with global reach, John shares lessons on leadership, culture, and long-term thinking that matter for builders at every stage. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-18577800 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600 2951 1 1 full false Trailer: Building Manitoba Podcast Trailer: Building Manitoba Podcast  The Building Manitoba Podcast is a non-partisan show for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community builders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]>  The Building Manitoba Podcast is a non-partisan show for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community builders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. 

Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba.


]]> Nathan Maertins Buzzsprout-18504786 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:00:00 -0600 62 trailer false