"Am I the a**hole if I buy groceries with my company credit card?"
"How many drinks is too many at a work function?"
"Would I be the a**hole if I suspect something's up with the person that calls in sick every single Tuesday after a long weekend?"

These are just some of the questions that can keep a manager or business owner up at night. Lucky for us, we've got people and culture consultant Natalie Bell on hand to field some of these questions for us. 

Liz and Natalie start out with a great discussion about the nature of human resources and how every business can benefit from taking a closer look at their HR policies and practices. 

Then ... Natalie walks us through some HR tips and strategies as she and Liz navigate some real-life workplace horror stories where clear expectations and sensible policies would have saved the day. 

It's a fun (and funny) jaunt through some truly wild workplace challenges that you won't want to miss.

Enjoy the episode (and then sign up for Natalie's Webinar on November 21 where she'll walk you through the HR Basics).

Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Natalie Bell Consulting: https://nataliebell.ca/
WRLA Webinar: HR Basics with Natalie Bell -https://wrla.org/events-calendar.html/event-info/details/id/81

HR Heroes and Horror Stories: Across The Yard With Natalie Bell Consulting s02e18

It's no great secret that experience (or the school of hard knocks) is the ultimate teacher. While education and theory can impart critical thinking skills and a baseline of knowledge, there's no substitute for on-the-job experience. That's where internship can help - specifically the WRLA's internship program.

This week, Liz is speaking to three recent students who found full-time employment through internship and career fair opportunities! Olivia Lloyd took part in a program through the Calgary Board of Education in partnership with WRLA. John Carlo Mendoza got his start on a student internship with us and then found his new career at the Career Fair at last year's Building & Hardware Showcase, and Camilla Josef is now a full-time member of the WRLA team after completing a design internship. Check out the episode and hear how they arrived on their current career path, and what advice they have for their fellow students!

Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
The Cedar Shop: http://www.cedarshop.com
Sexton: https://www.sextongroup.com

From Intern to Teammate: Across the Yard with Camilla, John, & Olivia

This is our 50th Episode!

We started Across the Yard (formerly the very creatively titled, "WRLA Podcast") to share with the world what we already knew - that the Lumber and Building Materials industry is home to so many incredible business leaders and employees. We've invited 50 episodes worth of guests to join us for a chat and, quite often, a few laughs. We've talked about the market, the nature of sales, and so much more.

With all that, we think this week's guests are the perfect encapsulation of that entrepreneurial spirit, and examples of resilience in business. Liz welcomes Wade Laurent and Shane Chapman of The Ultimate Deck Shop in Regina and Saskatoon, SK. They share their "origin story" and talk about how their journey to expansion led right through the middle of a global pandemic.

Thank you, the listener, for joining us for 50 episodes. We can't wait to bring you even more stories, discussions, and laughs in the episodes to come.

Enjoy!

Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org/
The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca/

Resilience in Business: Across The Yard With The Ultimate Deck Shop S02 E20

The WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase is in Edmonton, Alberta for our 31st annual event. 

It's our first time hosting the show in Edmonton, so we invited on a guest who knows a thing or two about this wonderful city - Peter Cottan from Explore Edmonton. They talk about the significance of the show coming into the city, how the newly revitalized Expo Centre is ready to provide a world class experience. Learn how the city and venue are leading the way towards a cleaner, more eco-friendly, power-saving future. Most importantly, find out where to get the best pint of Guinness in Edmonton!

Enjoy the episode, and we can't wait to see everyone in Edmonton!

Links:
WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase: https://wrlashowcase.ca
Explore Edmonton: https://exploreedmonton.com/

New Show, New City: Across The Yard With Explore Edmonton s02e21

At this year's WRLA Building & Hardware Showcase, we're facing off for a great cause. We'll be holding the first ever Hockey for Habitat Event. Participating WRLA Members will be drafted to either Team TIMBER MART or Team CertainTeed. 

On this week's episode, Liz sits down with the captain of Team TIMBER MART - and the person who almost single-handedly conceived this event - Joel Hartung of The LumberZone. 

Liz and Joel talk about the game, which will be receiving the full NHL game production treatment (and how Joel managed to get that done) and why it was important to bring everyone together in support of Habitat for Humanity. 

After the first period, the conversation turns to business matters, the US election, and the Softwood Lumber situation - you know, easy topics like that.

Finally, Joel weighs in on the workforce, and the resilience it's taken to build a successful business in today's economic climate.

Lace up those skates, and hop the boards - you're going to want to hear this one!

Links:
WRLA: https://wrla.org
The LumberZone: https://thelumberzone.ca/
Hockey for Habitat: https://bit.ly/3YT7x7m

Slapshots and Storefronts: Across the Yard with The LumberZone

One of the biggest pieces of a business' marketing puzzle is branding. Everything begins and ends with how your business represents itself. What message is your brand telling customers before they ever walk through your door or pick up the phone (or click that link, etc.)

This week, Liz is joined by Kiirsten May of UpHouse, a branding agency located in Winnipeg, with dozens of successful rebranding campaigns under their belts. Chris Allinotte also steps out from behind the podcast editing booth to weigh in on the process as an in-house marketing professional who has seen three companies through the rebranding process. 

Find out the how, when, and most of all - the "why" of rebranding. Learn what to expect from the process, and common pitfalls to avoid along the way. 

Get your pencils ready - you'll want to take some notes! Enjoy the show.

Links: 
WRLA: https://wrla.org
UpHouse: https://uphouseinc.com/

Also:
The Bud Light Marketing Case Study discussed in today's episode:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90888756/bud-light-inclusive-marketing-right-wing-outrage



When (and Why) to Rebrand Your Business: Across the Yard with UpHouse s02e23

Mental conditioning goes a long way. Your resilience and willingness to ask yourself tough questions can prepare you to deal with the pressures, stress, and even fear that come with running, or working in an organization. How do elite performers do it? What's the secret?

Our guest today is Lauren Johnson. Lauren helps elite individuals develop mental toughness so they can perform their best regardless of circumstance. Lauren’s clients include Google, the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Johnson & Johnson, and the FBI. She and Liz talk about mental conditioning, and what people can start doing right away to start performing at a higher level.

We are thrilled to be welcoming Lauren back to the WRLA Building and Hardware Showcase in Edmonton this January. She'll be talking about the advantage of being able to perform under pressure, and how to leverage it for success. Make sure to register for the trade show today - you won't want to miss this!

Links:
WRLA Showcase: https://wrlashowcase.ca
Lauren Johnson: https://www.laurenjohnsonandco.com/




Becoming Elite by Choice: Across the Yard with Lauren Johnson s02e24

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 through it, and shares some keen observations as we all look for the way forward, examining Canada's inflation rate, the renovation bubble, and even mortgage trends!

It's a conversation you’ll want to hear – enjoy the show!

Links: 
WRLA: https://wrla.org
Sexton Group Ltd: https://sextongroup.com/

Let's Talk Commodities: Across the Yard with Don Humphrey from Sexton s02e25

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 us on the WRLA team, we wish you and yours the very best for the holiday season.

Let's Talk Commodities: Across the Yard with Don Humphrey from Sexton s02e25

Across the Yard Podcast

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