Housing Matters Podcast

What if the future of housing isn’t just about building more homes—but building them smarter, faster, and more affordably? In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot sits down with Dennis Steigerwalt, President of the Housing Innovation Alliance, to explore how real change is happening across the housing industry. From modular construction and micro-factories to smart lending and policy refo...

In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot sits down with Jason Levesque—former Mayor of Auburn, Army veteran, entrepreneur, and now a real estate developer leading one of the largest market-rate housing projects in Central Maine. Jason shares his journey from founding Argo Marketing to transforming Lewiston’s downtown through Aegean Development. They talk candidly about zoning reform, plann...

In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot is joined by Dottie Chalmers Cutter, Chief Operating Officer of Chalmers Insurance Group and a fourth-generation leader of one of Maine’s most respected family-owned businesses. Dottie shares her expert insight on the evolving landscape of home insurance—why premiums are rising, how national disasters affect local rates, and what homeowners really n...

Building Homes Like Cars: Why Modular Just Makes Sense Guest: Thatcher Butcher, President of KBS Builders In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Thatcher Butcher, a seasoned construction industry leader and President of KBS Builders, to explore the transformative potential of modular housing in Maine and beyond. Together, they dig into: Why Maine’s aging population an...

Building Community Through Development with Kevin Bunker | Housing Matters In this episode of Housing Matters, we sit down with Kevin Bunker, founding principal of Developers Collaborative, for a powerful conversation about what it really takes to create housing in Maine—and why it matters. From lobster boats to Harvard, from urban planning to real estate finance, Kevin shares his unconventional j...

In this episode of Housing Matters, we dive into the fascinating journey of Ben Davis, a Maine-based entrepreneur revolutionizing modular construction and sustainability. Ben is the founder of Edura Building Systems, co-founder of The OpBox, and Portland Container Company—pioneering companies reimagining how we build homes, communities, and infrastructure.   A former professional sailor turned vis...

In this episode of Housing Matters, we sit down with Tawni Whitney, a key figure in Freeport, Maine’s economic and community development. As the Executive Director of the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Director of Business Development for Freeport Economic Development Corp., and Founder of Freeport Friends, Tawni is driving change to make Freeport a thriving place to live, work, and do busi...

In the latest episode of Housing Matters, we sit down with Ed Gardner, owner and broker of Gardner Real Estate Group, one of Portland’s most respected real estate firms. With over 35 years of experience, Ed has been at the forefront of Maine’s housing market, navigating everything from single-family home sales to large-scale development projects.   Ed shares his incredible journey into real estate...

Welcome to Housing Matters! In this episode, we dive into the world of urban planning, zoning, and smart development with Vanessa Farr, Regional Manager of Planning & Design at Haley Ward. With over 25 years of experience, Vanessa is a leading expert in planning, urban design, sprawl retrofit, and zoning policy in Maine.     Join host Matt Pouliot as they discuss:   ✔️ How zoning impacts housi...

Welcome to the seventh episode of Housing Matters, the podcast where real estate meets education and inspiration! Hosted by Matt Pouliot of Pouliot Real Estate, this episode dives into the world of real estate with special guest Max Ross, a dedicated real estate agent and father of six, with an incredible background in hospitality and home flipping.   In this episode, we explore Max's journey into...

Welcome to another episode of Housing Matters, hosted by Matt Pouliot and brought to you by Pouliot Real Estate. In this thought-provoking interview, Matt sits down with George Casey, a seasoned leader in housing development and the President and CEO of  Stockbridge Associates , based in Freeport, Maine. George brings a wealth of experience, from serving as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer to p...

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Quincy Hentzel, CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce. Quincy shares her journey from Chicago to Maine, her work in government affairs, and her role in advocating for Portland's business community. They dive into critical topics like the housing crisis, workforce development, and the challenges of balancing growth with...

In this episode of the Housing Matters Podcast, hosted by Matt Pouliot, we are joined by Sarah Sturtevant, a Shaw Innovation Fellow and a graduate student in public policy analysis at the Muskie School of Public Service. Sarah brings a wealth of experience and insight into addressing Maine's growing affordable workforce housing crisis. With a background in business management and economic analysis...

Join Matt Pouliot, host of the "Housing Matters" podcast and CEO of Pouliot Real Estate, in a compelling discussion with Ryan Fecteau, a Senior Officer of Policy and Planning at Avesta Housing. Ryan, with a distinguished career that includes serving as the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and working as a senior advisor for Governor Janet Mills, brings a wealth of knowledge on housing...

Welcome to another engaging episode of Housing Matters, the podcast that dives deep into the world of housing and development in our state. I'm your host, Matt Pouliot of Pouliot Real Estate, and today, we have a special guest joining us: Paul Peck, a distinguished real estate developer, attorney, and key figure in Maine's housing community. In this episode, Paul shares his unique journey into rea...

Exploring Housing Solutions: A Deep Dive with Maine State Credit Union's SVP of Lending Welcome to the first episode of "Housing Matters," a series where real estate insights meet community values. Join host Matt Pouliot from Pouliot Real Estate and special guest Elizabeth Jean from Maine State Credit Union as they dive deep into the nuances of the current housing market in Maine. In this engaging...