What began around a kitchen table in 2000 is now a national integrator keeping 16,000 Canadian businesses online, secure, and talking. In this Table Talk episode, host Matt Knight sits down with Sean Schoenberger , President (and former summer-student cable-runner) of Sunco Communications & Installations , to unpack a 25-year growth story powered by technology, family, and “radical love.” Sean traces Sunco’s evolution from pulling wire in local ceilings to delivering SD-WAN, SASE, cloud voic...
Aug 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 19
A startling fact shapes this episode: just one in four business families has a written legacy plan. Geoff Badger, wealth advisor, family enterprise researcher and leader of Badger Investment Group at Canaccord Genuity, joins host Matt Knight to unpack why so many families hesitate and what advisors can do to spark progress. Geoff traces his 31-year career from Bay Street to Edmonton, the ICU phone call that crystallized his purpose, and his pursuit of the FEA and a doctoral degree focused on “th...
Jul 21, 2025•54 min•Ep. 18
What does it take to execute not one, but two successful transitions in a family business? In this episode of Table Talk , Matt Knight speaks with Jason and Ryan Collins, brothers and second-generation leaders of Collins Steel. After joining the company and working alongside their father, Jason and Ryan led the business through its first major transition: succession from their parents, who started the business in the early 1980s. That transition was structured with terms that balanced the value ...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 17
In this thought-provoking episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight sits down with Dr. Vikas Mehrotra, Dean of the Alberta School of Business, to challenge fundamental assumptions about what truly defines a family business. Dr. Mehrotra brings insights from research spanning continents, revealing how traditional definitions based solely on ownership percentages may be fundamentally flawed. His work explores innovative succession practices from Japanese adult adoption – where every single Suzu...
Jun 02, 2025•55 min•Ep. 16
In this dynamic episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight sits down with Russell Hay, CEO of Scandinavian Building Services (SBS), who shares the remarkable journey of transforming a small Edmonton janitorial company into a national powerhouse that cleans over 160 million square feet daily with more than 8,000 cleaners. Founded in 1956 by two Scandinavian brothers, SBS was purchased by Russell's parents, Terry and Wilda Hay, in 1982. What began as a single truck operation has evolved into a c...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, Matt Knight sits down with Malcolm Burrows, founder and executive director of Aqueduct Foundation, Canada's 13th largest foundation with over a billion dollars in assets and $900 million granted to charities across Canada. Malcolm shares his 35-year journey in philanthropy, from his early days at the University of Toronto to his current role helping business families transform wealth into purpose. With remarkable candour, he reveals how philanthropy is a powerful expression of f...
May 08, 2025•58 min•Ep. 14
In this enlightening episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight sits down with Angela Santiago, co-founder and CEO of the Little Potato Company, to explore her remarkable journey from a small family venture to a North American agricultural powerhouse. Angela shares the surprising origin story of how, fresh out of university and with no agricultural background, she reluctantly agreed to help her father plant a one-acre test plot of small potatoes in 1996. What began as washing potatoes in a bat...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 13
In this insightful episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight speaks with Franco Lombardo, founder of Veritage, about his transformative journey from financial advisor to emotional governance coach for business families. Franco shares how an ABFI event many years ago sparked his interest in family businesses, leading him to discover that even financially successful families often struggle with emotional safety within their relationships. The conversation explores several key themes that are es...
Apr 02, 2025•46 min•Ep. 12
Join us for an engaging episode of ABFI Table Talk featuring Kevin and Jason Miller of ServiceMASTER Restore of Edmonton. When catastrophic events strike – from the Fort McMurray fires to the recent Jasper wildfires – these brothers lead and support a dynamic organization that scales from 100 to 1,400 employees virtually overnight to meet community needs. In this episode, discover how the Miller brothers have built on the foundation their father Grant established 22 years ago after transitioning...
Mar 08, 2025•46 min•Ep. 11
Join us for a compelling episode of ABFI Table Talk featuring George Cantalini, President, CEO and Owner of Cantiro , formerly known as the Beaverbrook Group of Companies. In this episode, George shares his remarkable journey from a CA who "wasn't really cut out for accounting" to leading one of Western Canada's most innovative real estate enterprises. Discover how George transformed a struggling land development company he purchased for $1 in 1995 into a diversified organization with over 150 e...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 10
Join us for an insightful episode of ABFI Table Talk featuring Bill and Steven Knight , the father-son duo behind Mosaic Home Services . They share their remarkable journey from running a successful demolition company to building a multi-brand home services franchise operation spanning from Halifax to Vancouver. In this episode, discover how Bill built B&B Demolition from a $7,000 loan into Edmonton's dominant demolition company, and how an unexpected exit eventually led to a new chapter wit...
Dec 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 9
Join us for an inspiring episode of ABFI Table Talk as we sit down with Teresa Spinelli of the Italian Centre Shop . In Episode 8, Teresa shares her remarkable journey of unexpectedly taking over the family business after losing her brother and father and her journey of transforming a single store founded in 1959 into a thriving community enterprise with five locations and 672 employees across Alberta. In this episode, discover how Teresa navigated the challenging transition from being "the litt...
Dec 09, 2024•40 min•Ep. 8
Join us for a compelling episode of ABFI Table Talk as Matt Knight hosts a deep-dive discussion with three experts in family business succession and wealth transition: Tom Deans, best-selling author of "Every Family's Business," "Willing Wisdom," and "The Happy Inheritor"; Jane Halford, president of Halford Consulting specializing in governance and leadership transitions; and Bob Hahn, partner at HLH Chartered Professional Accountants with extensive experience in accounting, tax planning, and we...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 7
Join us for an inspiring episode of Table Talk as we sit down with Rohit Gupta, President and CEO of the Rohit Group . In Episode 6, Rohit shares his remarkable journey of stepping into the family business in 2002 and leading it to new heights. From beginning with 16 employees to a diversified enterprise of 260 team members, the Rohit Group has made significant strides in land development, new home building, retail, and healthcare across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. In this episode, disco...
Oct 10, 2024•53 min•Ep. 6
Join us for a captivating episode of ABFI Table Talk as the Sunner family from Durabuilt Windows & Doors shares their personal and professional journey and how they built Durabuilt with grit, determination and passion. In Season 1, Episode 5, Joe, Harry, and Henny Sunner share their 29-year journey at Durabuilt and unpacking the layers of their experiences from immigration hurdles to business milestones. In this episode learn how this family has mastered the art of blending resilience and in...
Jun 27, 2024•51 min•Ep. 5
In episode 4, Matt Knight is joined by Tim Latimer, the founding visionary, and Lindsay Dodd, the first non-family CEO who is leading Cashco Financial into a new chapter. We discuss the transformative story of how Cashco has become a champion of financial inclusion and the remarkable leadership transition from founder to non-family CEO. Tim and Lindsey share the inside story of their leadership transition, how they maintained a unique company culture through this change, and the powerful role of...
Mar 27, 2024•57 min•Ep. 4
For episode 3 of Table Talk, Matt Knight is joined by Justine and Kendall Barber, founders and co-CEOs of Poppy Barley, a luxury fashion brand known for its sustainably and ethically made shoes and accessories, share their entrepreneurial journey. They discuss the inspiration behind the venture, the evolution of their brand from custom footwear to a diverse fashion company, and the challenges and triumphs of running a family business with a focus on sustainability and social responsibility. Key ...
Nov 15, 2023•49 min•Ep. 3
On Episode 2, ABFI's Executive Director, Matt Knight , is joined by 4th generation leaders of VETS Group , Sean Rayner , President & CEO, and Erin Rayner , Marketing & Communications, who discuss the history of VETS and the Rayner family. VETS Group is a 102-year-old industrial ventilation and HVAC company based in Edmonton. Sean and Erin provide the company's history, starting when it was founded in 1921. They discuss their professional journeys becoming involved with the family busines...
Sep 18, 2023•49 min•Ep. 2
On EP1, ABFI's Executive Director, Matt Knight , is joined by Sarah Baptist, 2nd generation President and CEO of ArrKann Trailer & RV . In this episode, Sarah discusses the history of ArrKann, which began as a family-owned hardware store. She shares her professional journey and how she joined the family business and eventually took over as leader. Sarah also provides valuable insights for business family leaders on how she has built a culture of collaboration and innovation at ArrKann and so...
Sep 15, 2023•44 min•Ep. 1
TABLE TALK with ABFI - a new and exciting podcast coming soon from Alberta Business Family Institute. Matt Knight is your host. Here's a quick look ahead!
Sep 14, 2023•3 min
