Chamber Connect Podcast - Huron Chamber of Commerce

In this episode, Colin speaks with Jeff Scholl from Contact North about free education and training opportunities available in Ontario. Jeffery explains his role in guiding individuals through post-secondary pathways and professional development, highlighting micro-credentials, AI tools, and pilot projects like Lambton College’s healthcare passport. He shares how Contact North partners with minist...

In this episode, Colin interviews JC Smit, owner of Jantina’s Pantry and Coffee Bar in Wingham, which opened in March 2025. JC shares her diverse background in retail management, graphic design, marketing, and restaurant work, as well as her experiences running previous businesses. She talks about the unique challenges of launching a coffee bar in a small town, where customer habits didn’t align w...

In this episode, Colin Carmichael welcomes Paul Nichol, General Manager of Community Futures Huron, for a wide-ranging conversation about business support in Huron County. Paul highlights the organization’s 30-year history, its role in lending and advising entrepreneurs, and its strong partnership with the Huron Chamber. Unlike traditional banks, Community Futures prioritizes character, local know...

In this episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast, Colin sits down with Karen Hastie, founder of the ChamberPerksApp, to explore how technology is transforming the way chambers of commerce, local businesses, and communities connect. Born out of the pandemic, ChamberPerks has quickly grown into a coast-to-coast platform with more than 20,000 businesses offering savings and promotions through their loc...

In this episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast, Colin speaks with Rob Evans, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Huron County, about the organization’s expanded approach to tackling the local housing crisis. Marking its 20th anniversary, Habitat Huron County is moving beyond single-family homes to include duplexes, triplexes, and multi-residential projects. Rob explains how housing costs in...

In this episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast , Colin sits down with Paul McInnis , President of Jokey North America , to explore how a global packaging company is making a big impact right here in Goderich. Paul shares how Jokey’s 24/7 injection molding operation employs 125 people locally, produces plastic packaging for markets across North America, and celebrates 20 years in the community. The...

In this episode, Colin chats with Trish from Ladder HR Solutions about her 25-year journey in human resources and why she made the move to providing fractional HR support for small businesses. They explore the benefits of pay-as-you-go HR services, especially for rural employers in Huron County, from compliance and recruitment to payroll and training. The conversation covers strategies for navigat...

In this episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast, Colin sits down with Kimberley Payne, executive director of the Alexandra Marine & General Hospital Foundation, to discuss the essential role the foundation plays in funding medical equipment and services at Goderich’s regional hospital. Kimberley explains how, contrary to common belief, government funding only covers hospital buildings and salar...

Chamber Connect Podcast: Spotlight on Royal LePage Heartland Realty with Jeff BauerJoin us for a new episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast as we sit down with Jeff Bauer, co-owner of Royal LePage Heartland Realty, to talk about the current landscape of real estate across Huron County and what makes our region unique. Jeff offers an inside look at the operations of Royal LePage Heartland Realty—on...

Jeff Bauer - Royal LePage Heartland Realty: Market insights suggest stability through 2025. Absent a surprise rate cut by the Bank of Canada, expect a continuation of current trends for the next 4-6 quarters. "Only time will tell" what follows. Find and subscribe to the Huron Chamber Connect Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts. New episodes every Friday morning.

The Chamber Connect Podcast kicks off with special guests Phil and Ally from the “A Life That’s Good” podcast, joining Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. They talk about launching a local podcast, what it takes to keep going beyond 100 episodes, and how the Starter Company Plus program supports new and pivoting businesses in Huron County. Phil shares his journey...

The inaugural episode of the Chamber Connect Podcast drops July 18th!