Across the Yard Podcast

The future of Canada manufacturing has never been more unpredictable, so how are industry leaders adapting? In this week’s episode of Across the Yard, Liz sits down with Sid Tetz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CGC Inc. to explore how manufacturers are navigating today’s complex landscape. They dive into the realities of servicing different regions and rural communities across Canada, and the growing importance of advocacy within the industry. The conversation also covers Sid's perspective on the pressures of tariffs, the push for innovation at the jobsite to better support retailers and builders, and what it trul...

Looking to transform your outdoor living space this season? In this week’s episode of Across the Yard, Liz sits down with Rob Mitchell, President and CEO of Vista Railing Systems Inc. And Rob Stewart, Office Manager of DeckRite Canada Sundecks Ltd. to discuss the latest trends in Canadian outdoor living. They explore regional preferences, underutilized products, and emerging trends in the industry. The conversation also touches on how contractors and dealers can maximize sales on these products, as well as the potential impact of aluminum tariffs on the market. Tune in to hear the latest trends in Canadian outdoor li...

What happens when a family’s journey across continents leads to a thriving business in Canada? In this week’s episode of Across the Yard, we are joined by Rebekah Doerksen, Executive Assistant with Supply-Build Canada, as this week's temporary host, and Harry Sunner, owner of Durabuilt Windows & Doors, to talk about his journey from living in England to leading one of Canada’s most successful window and door companies. Harry shares how his family got into the industry, what it’s like growing a family-owned business, and the leadership lessons he's learned while scaling Durabuilt. They also explore the unique c...

Every business, no matter big or small, deals with mundane, repetitive tasks. From processing invoices to managing warehouse & stock reconciliation. But what if you could handle all of that and focus on bigger projects at the same time? In this week's episode, Liz sits down with Mohan Mailvaganam, National Canadian Practice Leader at Xerox, to explore the company’s surprising evolution from a legacy printer brand to a provider of cutting-edge business solutions, with today’s focus on their Robotics Process Automation (or RPAs). They also dive into Xerox’s journey from expanding beyond printers, what RPAs are and how they w...

Did you ever imagine yourself in the building supply industry– or even owning a business in it? In this week's episode, Liz sits down with Rob and Joanne Lawrie, owners of The Lawrie Group of Home Hardware Stores, to hear the story of how they got started and built their business together. They talk about their early days, what it’s like running a company as a couple, and the challenges they faced along the way. Rob and Joanne also discuss their plans for the future, along with sharing advice for the next generation who are either hesitant about joining the...

With the Canadian election now behind us, the building supply and construction industry has a brighter spotlight than ever before in the public eye. But what does the road ahead look like? In this week’s episode, Rodrigue Gilbert, president of the Canadian Construction Association, sits down with Liz Kovach to unpack the election results and explore what this means for the industry’s future. They touch on recent advocacy wins, what they hope to see from the government, and the biggest challenges that are currently facing this industry. They also dive into how government and communities can do better to a...

Do you ever wonder how you can better connect with people? Why people are the way they are? Or how to improve the workplace culture? Are you aware of how much time the human brain spends in survival mode? (you will be shocked to hear the stat!!!) On this week’s Across the Yard, Liz sits down with Dr. Eugene K. Choi, a Neuroscience-Based Leadership Coach, to discuss the science behind the survival and executive state of the brain and how it influences our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions every single day. From workplace dynamics to personal relationships, they dive into th...

All it takes is a spark to lose everything. So, what can we do to better protect our homes from fire? This week, Liz welcomes Mike Baker, CEO of BarrierTek, and Ewan Davie, Vice President of Sales, to break down the science behind engineering fire-resistant treatments. They share the research that led to them to create this innovative treatment, challenges they've faced, their upcoming plans for BarrierTek, and much more! Tune in to this week’s episode to discover the science behind preventing fire in wood construction. Enjoy the show! Links: Supply-Build Canada: supplybuild.ca Supply-Build Canada Support Local Campaign...

It has been a perplexing week to say the least. For weeks Canada has been accused of many things and we fully expected sweeping tariffs to be implemented on the 2nd, however Canada and Mexico did not make it onto the sweeping list of announcements on April 2nd, yet there is no real sense of relief, and the uncertainty continues. As a business, it’s impossible to chart a course when the road map continues to change. Don Humphrey joins Liz Kovach to help shed light on where we are now, what may unfold and where some potential opportunities lie fo...

Housing affordability has been a prominent topic of discussion for many years, but are we actually taking steps to get there? On this week’s bonus episode of Across the Yard, host Liz Kovach, Jim Tobin President & CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Kevin Lee CEO of the Canadian Association of Home Builders (CHBA) discuss the current climate of affordable housing and the direction it's heading both in Canada and the United States. Tariffs, duties, building codes, are just some of the items on the immediate horizon that will impact the economy and housing affordability. Tune in...

At some point, we all encounter broken glass. Whether we break it, someone else does, or it breaks on its own, what solution do we have to solve that problem? To make it stronger, of course! This week on Across the Yard, Liz Kovach and Vince Croker discuss the thought process and motivation behind creating unbreakable glass, the possible impacts of tariffs, how insurance plays a role, and how ROCKGLASS can transform community and public spaces. Tune in to discover how much actually goes into this innovative technology. Enjoy the show! Links: Supply-Build Canada: supplybuild.ca Supply-Build Canada Support Local...

We often hear that the Canadian economy is built on small to medium sized business, but they face some of the largest challenges to thrive and prosper. Join us as Peter Turkstra, owner of Turkstra Lumber and industry advocate, joins Liz Kovach on this episode of Across the Yard to talk candidly about the issues impacting his retail business in Ontario. The building supply sector is a significant employer and contributor to the economy across the country, but it’s often overlooked by government. To achieve affordable housing in Canada, government at all levels must engage with all facets of th...

Let's Talk Tariffs Understandably, tariffs are at the top of everyone's mind right now. On again, off again, on again - it's incredibly hard to keep track of and, if you're a business owner, especially in the building materials industry, it's making it tougher than ever to make the right decisions. The spreading of misinformation and more voices than ever in the conversation, with varying degrees of trustworthiness, doesn't help, either. In times like these, it's great to be able to rely on experts in the field who can look at the whole situation and present some grounded perspective. This...

The Building Supply Industry is vast, and there are more options than ever for materials and finishings. So how does a new company break through? How do they bring their product to market and stand out from the crowd? This week, Liz sits down with Dean Petrillo and Kristyna Traynova from ABI Mouldings to hear their story. They discuss the beginnings and growth of the company, including how attending Supply-Build Canada events last summer as hole sponsors helped get their name out to the industry in a big way. But wait - there's more! Liz, Dean, and Kristyna get into...

The Building Supply Industry is vast, and there are more options than ever for materials and finishings. So how does a new company break through? How do they bring their product to market and stand out from the crowd? This week, Liz sits down with Dean Petrillo and Kristyna Traynova from ABI Mouldings to hear their story. They discuss the beginnings and growth of the company, including how attending Supply-Build Canada events last summer as hole sponsors helped get their name out to the industry in a big way. But wait - there's more! Liz, Dean, and Kristyna get into...

What is the secret to being a great leader? When hard work is a given, what else do successful CEO's, coaches, and management do to lead their team forward? To begin to answer these questions, we invited Kevin Eastman, who coached the Boston Celtics to a World Championship in 2008, about what it takes to make the best The Best. He's also the author of the bestselling book. "WHY THE BEST ARE THE BEST: 25 Powerful Words That Impact, Inspire, and Define Champions" Liz and Kevin talk about the work that great leaders put in to elevate their game, how to approach...

Technology is top of mind for everyone these days. It's changing the way we do everything, including retail. Diego Mazzone is on the show this week with Liz to talk about the advancements in the retail space that are using tech to elevate the in-store shopping experience. The inventory and pricing automations that JRTech Solutions offer with their electronic shelf label systems are freeing up employees to spend more time getting to know their customers and less time looking for product pegs and shelf locations. Customers are enjoying many of the benefits of the online shopping experience, combined with that...

Welcome to Season 3! Across the Yard is back for our new season with new interviews, new topics, a new brand, and we’re ready to rock n’ roll! Kicking things off, Liz welcomes performance coach Travis Thomas, author of “3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And” and his latest, “Confidence is Overrated: Why Courage is the Antidote and Feelings Make Cowards of Us All.” Liz and Travis discuss his background in improvisation, and how it led to a life-changing realization about how to approach challenges and changes. Then, they get into how courage, not confidence, is what can be counted on to win th...

2024 is coming to a close, and what a year it's been! Liz, Amanda, and Chris from the WRLA team take a moment to look back on some highlights from the year, including the roll out of our new Building Material Fundamental Suite, our many new Affiliate partnerships, and our ever-present commitment to helping our members be successful. Then, we look ahead to 2025, and the upcoming WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase, and the reveal of our new brand. As of this episode, Across the Yard will be on a break until after the Showcase. We'll see you in 2025, and from all of...

Let’s Talk Commodities. Across the Yard with Don Humphries from Sexton This week, we’re taking the plunge and talking about commodities and the lumber market. To guide us through it, we welcome guest Don Humphrey, National Commodity Wood Manager for Sexton Group Ltd. He and Liz talk about the regionality of the lumber industry, and how provincial regulations play a role in the success of mills across the country. They also touch on the tariff situation – both historical and present day, and what’s to come in the ongoing saga of selling softwood to the USA. Don takes us throu...