The Vault MTL

Howard Szalavetz has never sold a building.

Read Howard Szalavetz's full profile: thevaultmtl.com/guests/howard-szalavetz

He bought his first one with his father in 1992, an apartment building in Côte-Saint-Luc, and moved in. He says he has kept every building he has bought since.

Howard is the president of HS Properties. He trained as a chartered accountant, and he still evaluates every property that comes across his desk himself. His one rule on debt is that no new deal is worth risking what he has already built.

In 2017 he bought the Chabanel portfolio from PSP Investments: 2.5 million square feet that, by his account, was about 40% occupied. It was the largest single purchase of his life, and he says it took a couple of years to turn the corner.

In this conversation with Cathy Bernard: what he looks for when he walks into a building, why he studies listings he has no plan to buy, what his father taught him about keeping his word, how a business coach helped him hand over work he used to do himself, and why he would not lay anyone off when COVID hit.

Recorded in Montreal, June 2026. It was his first podcast.

The Vault MTL is hosted by Cathy Bernard. thevaultmtl.com

Denny Chared decides who gets into DC Finance's family-office events, and a well-known surname is not enough. He asks for evidence, and he turns people away when it does not come — including people other conferences had already put on their panels. He says the vetting is not overhead. It is the reason the room is worth being in.

Read Denny Chared's full profile: thevaultmtl.com/guests/denny-chared

DC Finance runs closed-door conferences and a private club for family offices. Denny describes these as in-house teams serving families typically worth more than $100 million, handling everything from investments to their children's schooling. Attendees are checked before they enter, and the media is excluded.

He came to it from journalism, which is where he learned to ask people to prove what they say.

In this conversation with Cathy Bernard: how he decides who enters the room, why a family member selling a bank's services still counts as a seller, how investing a family's own money differs from running a fund, and what a founder's first email needs to say to get a reply.

Recorded in Montreal, May 2026.

The Vault MTL is hosted by Cathy Bernard. thevaultmtl.com

In this podcast episode, join Cathy Bernard and Ann Blanchette, a seasoned CPA Auditeur at Blanchette & Gallucci Inc., as she shares insights from her 15 years in accounting. 

Ann emphasizes the value of obtaining a CPA title, discusses her firm's specialization in financial statements and tax returns for small and medium businesses, and sheds light on the importance of building strong relationships with entrepreneurs. 

She also provides valuable advice on meeting government deadlines, proper budgeting, and seeking professional support. 

Tune in for a captivating discussion that goes beyond traditional accounting, touching on Ann's passion for educating others about business and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-blanchette-m-sc-cpa-auditrice-0b564020/

Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-bernard1/

Andrea Soueidan is the founder of Altitude Connections, a concierge service catering to personal and corporate clients, offering assistance in various tasks.

Altitude Connections provides a wide range of services, including ordering flowers, catering, hiring personal chefs, babysitters, housekeepers, maintenance, and even simple tasks like hanging a picture.

Andrea transitioned from being a housewife to starting her own business, leveraging her passion for hospitality and service.

Challenges faced in the initial years included educating people about the concept of concierge services and building brand recognition.

Altitude Connections also offers membership options, hosts networking events, and has expanded to include services such as event planning and relocation assistance, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and adaptability.

connect with Andrea: https://www.altitudeconnections.com/

#cathybernard #themontrealentrepreneurpodcast

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Montreal Entrepreneur Podcast, hosted by Cathy Bernard! 

In this episode, Cathy engages in a dynamic conversation with Luciano D'Iorio, SIOR, on a myriad of topics that are shaping Montreal's business landscape.

Luciano shares his pride for the city and delves into 24 crucial issues and projects impacting Montreal. Join the conversation as they discuss various topics, such as Montreal's commercial real estate, underutilized office spaces, and affordable housing.


➜ To watch the full show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uibe52qTAEQ
➜ Follow Cathy Bernard on Linkedin : / cathy-bernard1  

➜ Check out Lucian's website: https://cdnglobal.com/
➜ Check out  Luciano's Linkedin profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianod1/

Dive into the Entrepreneurial Journey of Mireille Dimitry, founder of Seed Me! 

Discover her inspiring transition from accounting to crafting healthy energy snacks. 

From a pandemic-born online venture to 120+ locations, Seed Me is making waves. 

Mireille shares insights on balancing family life and business, emphasizing perseverance and the power of a supportive network. 

Join Cathy Bernard and Mireille for a candid conversation on debunking work-life balance myths and embracing imperfections. 

Tune in for a dose of entrepreneurial inspiration! 🎙️ #SeedMe #Entrepreneurship #HealthySnacks"

➜ Follow Cathy Bernard on Linkedin : / cathy-bernard1  

➜ Check out  Mireille's website - https://seed-me.com/
➜ Check out  Mireille's Linkedin profile -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/mireille-dimitry-b24b97104/?originalSubdomain=ca

Discover how the Montreal commercial office market is evolving in response to the challenges brought by remote work. 

In this insightful video, Georges Renaud (Montreal Commercial Real Estate Expert) & Cathy Bernard, delve into the changes and adaptations occurring in this dynamic sector. 

Gain a deeper understanding of the shifting landscape and the strategies employed by industry experts. If you're interested in the future of office spaces, don't miss this compelling discussion.

➜ Follow Cathy Bernard on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-bernard1/

➜ Check out George's website - https://www.royallepagevillage.com/

➜ Check out Georges' Linkedin profile -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesrenaudroyallepagecommercial/

Join us for an inspiring episode of The Montreal Entrepreneur Podcast, as we delve into the captivating world of entrepreneurship with the remarkable Zack Colavecchio. 

Join us for an inspiring episode of The Montreal Entrepreneur Podcast, as we delve into the captivating world of entrepreneurship with the remarkable Marie-Pier Hébert. 

This episode unveils the extraordinary story of Marie-Pier, the founder of not one but two thriving businesses - KIID and MPH Solutions.

Discover how this passionate entrepreneur's journey started from a single decision to embark on a new adventure. 

She left her career in the hospitality industry to follow her dream, leading her to build Kid, a unique B2B service providing family solutions to employers, including in-home child care, tutoring, and in-home senior care.

➜ To listen on Apple podcast: https://themontrealentrepreneurpodcast.ca/
➜ Follow Cathy Bernard on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-ber...

➜ Check out Marie-Pier 's website - https://kiid.ca/
➜ Check out Marie-Pier 's Linkedin profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-pier-hébert/

Join us for an insightful conversation on the Montreal Entrepreneur Podcast, Cathy Bernard sat down with  with Anne Edma Louis, a seasoned business lawyer and entrepreneur. 

Anne shares her inspiring journey from starting her law firm to helping countless entrepreneurs realize their business dreams. 

She discusses the true meaning of entrepreneurship, the challenges entrepreneurs often face, and offers valuable insights on legal aspects, including choosing the right business structure and protecting intellectual property.

➜ Follow Cathy Bernard on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-ber...

➜ Check out Anne Edma's website - http://www.amlealegal.com
➜ Check out Anne Edma's Linkedin profile -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneedmalouis/