Trevor Jones, Area Manager of Operations – Prairie Region with CarStar Canada, shares his personal succession journey and the importance of succession planning at CarStar, North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities.

Mike Kuzma, Client Solutions Manager at The Targeted Strategies Group, shares how life insurance can be a powerful tool in succession planning and long-term wealth preservation.

Judi Cunningham, founder of Trella Advisory Group, explores one of the most challenging aspects of transition in family enterprises – preparing the next generation. She shares what she has learned about working with senior generations to build the knowledge and skills in the next generation for effective succession.

In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you through the SuccessionReady approach, and provide guidance on next steps.

James Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Patti Durand, Principal of Brightrack Consulting, about her work guiding family businesses from complex urgency to results-oriented action.

Michael Smith, President of Smith Business Valuations, shares advice and guidance for founders thinking of a business valuation as part of their succession planning process – what to expect, how to prepare, what can get in the way, and how to set you and your business up for a smooth process and outcome.

In this episode, taped during the VIEA State of the Island Economic Summit 2024, SuccessionReady co-creator Ashka Wirk moderates a panel of experts – Ehren Lee of Urban Systems, Joshua Ludgate of Small Business BC, and Kyle White of Co-operatives First. Together, they share their insights, experiences, and innovative approaches for small and medium-sized businesses, and especially founder-led businesses, to navigate and thrive through succession planning.

Liz Robertson, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, shares what she’s noticing about the needs of farmers and farm businesses from a succession planning perspective.

James Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Danica Dutt, the President of Kelowna Women in Business, about her insights, experiences, and stories of female founders and their approaches to succession planning.

Lee Vanderlaan, the CEO of the Vanderlaan Family Office, shares her story of the series of successions in her family business, as well as the set up of the Vanderlaan Family Office, whose purpose is to ensure the lasting impact, contributions, and achievements attributed by her family enterprise through generations.