5 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.
12 CORPORATISM:
Jim Blasingame says there are business survival lessons from comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
group
A2 AT A GLANCE
A look at the unique attitudes to personal finances of Gen Z and Millennials.
2 CROSSWORD
Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.
3 ESSEX ECONOMICS
A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.
6 PRIME PROPERTY
A look at recent commercial property transfers in the city of Windsor.
8 PRIME HOME
A look at recent residential property sales in Windsor and Essex County.
10 BUILDING PERMITS
A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.
11 START UPS
Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
11 WORLD OF WORK:
A career advice column by two workplace consultants and career coaches.
new health clinic in the core of Windsor hopes to shore up the needs of area residents and beyond. The still unnamed clinic will go into the former GoodLife gym location, at 1550 Ouellette Avenue, which closed four years ago.
The building sold for $1.6 million last month to a group of partners, including physicians headed by Dr. Bart Kaczmarek, who has practiced out of the Medical Laboratories of Windsor building further up Ouellette.
Kaczmarek is excited about the new medical center, which will accommodate several doctors’ offices, a pharmacy, a dentist and physiotherapy clinic. The move-in is scheduled for early next year. The facilities will operate on the first floor and basement, and there are as many as 50 parking spots.
Renovations have “already started,” according to Kaczmarek, with “quite a bit” of investment to transform what used to be a women’s-only gym.
Continued on page 4
Dr. Bart Kaczmarek, one of a
building a health clinic downtown on the site of a former Goodlife gym. By Ron Stang
AT A GLANCE
JUST THE FACTS:
• A recent survey of consumer populations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.
• The survey found younger generations are more sensitive to social pressure and the lure of consumerism than older generations.
• Yet, younger generations are less likely to take measures to stay healthy.
• Younger generations are facing more financial struggles than their older counterparts, and are more likely to be saving for the future.
• Younger generations are less loyal to brands or retailers due to inflation and rising prices, while they drive shopping trends of non-essential retail categories.
APPARENTLY, I’M THE WRONG KIND OF SERF...
BUSINESS BOOST
“Age and an excess of experience are not the only clues that mark an older applicant’s résumé as being different. Now, it is not uncommon for boomers and seniors to retire, spend a year or two deciding what they want to do with their lives, and then plunge back into the job market.
“Once again, this is a pattern younger supervisors are not accustomed to. Being out of work for a year is considered a bad sign. What’s so wrong with this applicant that he or she has been unable to find employment for so long? Of course, you can make it very clear on your résumé and accompanying letter that you retired, but in our age-conscious society that may be viewed as negatively as being unemployed.
“In some ways, the whole point of the résumé is to get you to the interview stage. Once you have made that initial cut and can actually talk with an interviewer, you will have an opportunity to explain your situation. You will still need to be careful what you say, in order to have a much better opportunity to present yourself in a positive light. For now, you don’t want your résumé to defeat you before you have had an opportunity to launch your attack.”
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 5 • SEPTEMBER 2024
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia H. Shousher
ART DIRECTOR David Cowx
CONTRIBUTORS Jim Blasingame, Dale Dauten, Paul March, Devan Mighton, J.T. O’Donnell, Ron Stang, Joe Symchyshyn
Windsor Business is published monthly by The Page Publishing Corp. and is distributed through Canada Post to every business address in Windsor and Essex County and Chatham-Kent. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Copyright The Page Publishing Corp., 2024.
Iread a lot of news, local, national and international news. And so of course I have been unpleasantly surprised that, when the world outside this area deigns to notice us, it is only with negative coverage.
In the few weeks prior to this writing, a national newspaper ran five stories on the supposed decaying economy of Windsor and the practically mass suicide planned by its residents. Funny, I’m actually out and about on city streets every day, and haven’t seen any of my fellow citizens rigging up the noose. Yet someone four hours away can “see” it?
The other day someone, with their nose in Tecumseh but their job in Windsor, said they would never live in the city’s west end, because it’s a hotbed of crime and destructive, intoxicated university students. Ironically, I have lived and worked in this “ghetto” for years but have yet to come across any gun-toting thugs or student perps on a crime spree. Maybe my eyes are blinded by rose-colored glasses and a Pollyanna syndrome?
I should really see someone about that …
I wonder why, when there are so many things to be grateful for, human nature is such that we have to search out the wrong, the evil, the depressing and the despair. Reality is all well and good, but what about the magic? What about hope? Vision? Anticipation?
I remember reading some self-named “expert” on economics claiming Windsor is teetering on a massive recession it will be “impossible to recover from.” And this guy gets free ink in a national newspaper? Where is his sense of responsibility? Where is the newspaper’s?
I hate to sound like that stereotypical Canadian who blames everything on the dreaded “others” in our community, but I’d like to tell these so-called Wise Ones: if you think it’s so awful here, why don’t you leave? If this city is rushing to hell on an unstoppable tide, why don’t you get out of the way?
You will see what you want to see, and ignore what doesn’t fit your preconceived notions. Things change. Life changes. It doesn’t mean it’s better or worse, just different. But if you can’t handle change, and are incapable of adjusting to a new world order whatever form it may take, then please: take to your heels and get out.
There are so many worse things than having to bend one’s thinking and way of doing things. Casting blame and bemoaning your fate doesn’t accomplish anything, except allow you to feel self-righteous while degrading those among us who pull up their boots and get on with things.
I don’t like to always admit it, but my mom is right: if you can’t say anything nice, just zip it.
Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.
ESSEX ECONOMICS
Loving is your Number One job
Leaders, your job description has changed. It’s no longer enough to set goals, give assignments and measure performance. You also have to care, especially if you lead millennial and Gen Z employees.
Caring means showing employees unconditional love – relating to them with their best interests in mind, whether or not they reciprocate. It’s not easy, and it’s not optional. It’s what gets people to subsume their individual desires and pull together to meet company goals. Learning to practice love is the number-one job of a leader. Some tips:
Do some self-examination. Pay attention to your attitude toward other people. If you are being kind and loving only as a way to get what you want, people will eventually recognize you are insincere.
Spend one-on-one time. When I spend one-on-one time with my grandchildren, the conversations differ greatly from those held in the chaos of all of them together. These are more focused and less influenced by what others around them may think or say. Adults are no different. Take an interest in their life outside of work. Employees won’t believe you love them if you don’t know them. Ask about vacation plans or their families, but also ask about their interests, concerns and joys. Questions are powerful because they penetrate more deeply than statements, since the brain has to do enough processing to provide an answer. You will also need to demonstrate openness.
Make sure employees are taking their vacations. Loving your employees means watching out for their well-being. Taking regular vacations to relax and rejuvenate is a huge part of that. Yet a recent study from Pew Research Center shows nearly half of all employees don’t take the paid time off they’re owed. Ensuring employees take their vacations will also make them more productive, motivated and dedicated. Give them a surprise break. One way to show employees you care is to give them a bit of extra time off. This could mean gifting everyone a couple of extra vacation days, or moving to a half-days-on-Friday schedule. Giving them time away from work to just have fun shows you care.
Leading with love isn’t all sunshine and light. It’s also about accountability (theirs and yours). Sometimes even “tough love” interactions are in order. If you are coming from a place of care and concern, and not from a place of anger, your message will be received.
Treat people right, even if they don’t reciprocate. Unconditional caring or love means giving 100 percent, regardless of how the other person treats you. The alternative is to go through life in reaction mode, which is a surefire recipe for chaos.
Gary Harpst is the founder and CEO of LeadFirst and author of
GARY HARPST
Jeannette Woodward in Finding a Job After 50: Reinvent Yourself for the 21st Century, Career Press.
International metal recycler buys area plant
Continued from page 1
Tracy Matthews, GoodLife Fitness vice-president of experience and safety, said after “evaluating the needs of our Windsor fitness community, operations from this club were relocated to our Dougall and Cabana location, which includes a women’s section.”
The gym only rented the facility; sales documents indicate a private individual, who could not be reached, sold it.
The doctor said the building will accommodate more than 10,000 patients among four general practitioners. There will also be 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. urgent care clinic at the site. “I think this area needs a place like this,” he said. “We’ll also have a large compounding pharmacy, which the area also doesn’t have.”
While Kaczmarek’s practice of 3,000 patients is full, other doctors will be able to take on as many as “8,000 new patients” in total.
Kaczmarek said while there are other nearby urgent cares, “this one will be visible and inviting,” he said. “We want the building to be a prominent highlight of Ouellette Avenue.”
Kaczmarek has long been entrepreneurial. Besides his family practice, he has sports medicine and cosmetic skin practices, and operated the Safe Travels Clinic during the pandemic.
Recognizing the city core has been underserved, Kaczmarek said his group wants to “make it a go-to place for the downtown,” adding it’s going to “change the dynamics for local people.”
The architect is Toronto-based LEEN Consulting Inc.
Downtown Windsor city councillor Renaldo Agostino said certain residents still lack sufficient medical care.
“The recent opening of UMC Urgent Care on University Avenue is a very welcome addition,” he said. But “many residents, especially new Canadians, are relying on walk-in clinics instead of having a full-time family doctor.”
Essex County Medical Society president Dr. Grant Fortowsky said while there are gaps in services throughout Windsor-Essex – such as distances to urgent care clinics – the downtown may be uniquely impacted.
Overhead for medical facilities may be expensive. Doctors have to pay out of pocket for rent, which he said is “a big portion” of the costs. “I imagine within the city of Windsor is more expensive than out in the county such as in Amherstburg, where I practice.”
Parking could also be an issue, especially for people with disabilities. “So, if you had a choice you’d want to set up a place where your patients can park right in front of your building.”
BY RON STANG
High-profile steel manufacturer buys adjacent property in Oldcastle INDUSTRIAL
Victoria Steel, a major manufacturer and constructor of numerous high-profile buildings, has purchased adjacent property in Oldcastle, possibly for expansion.
The company already possessed ownership of a smaller property sandwiched between the two on O’Neil Drive, when it paid $2.1 million for the industrial site.
Victoria Steel dates to 1959 and has always been owned by the Bas family. It specializes in steel detailing (plans and drawings from which buildings are constructed), fabricating (such as welding) and installation. It has three shops on its four-acre site in Oldcastle.
MOVE
BY RON STANG
“The property provides ample room for the ordering and on-site storing of large lengths of steel,” says its website.
Victoria Steel’s projects include Devonshire Mall’s expansion, the University of Windsor former Armouries building downtown, Bonduelle food processor in Tecumseh, the University’s Welcome Centre and Detroit’s Metro airport.
Project manager Ryan Bas did not respond to requests for comment.
The purchased building was known to have three firms based there: Kodiak Defence Inc., Vesta Tools Inc. and Enclave Precision Technologies, which did not
respond to requests for comment.
The seller was an Ontario numbered company, apparently associated with Manor Tool & Die Group at the same Pulleyblank Street address, several blocks away. Manor dates back 101 years and its different divisions come under the Max Die Group
The firm makes vehicle roof pillars and beams, door beams, oil pans and bumpers. Its customers include GM and Freightliner. It has three area locations in Oldcastle and Tecumseh.
A company representative told Windsor Business “Victoria Steel wanted to lock up that property. That’s all I’ve got to offer.”
Unique medical device firm moves
True Phantom Solutions, one of Windsor – and North America’s – most innovative scientific companies is moving to a bigger location due to its expanding business.
The company manufactures “anthropomorphic phantoms,” or models of human beings and animals, for research and medical training purposes.
The company has been in business for 10 years and currently operates out of the Tessonics build-
ing 787 Ouellette Avenue. It purchased the former AP Painting Solutions site in Oldcastle for $1.5 million. AP, which specializes in large commercial and industrial painting contracts, is moving to a nearby location.
No one from AP responded to requests for comment.
True Phantom is a Windsor-created company and an example of a home-grown, highly sophisticated scientific-oriented enterprise.
“I can safely say with confi-
dence we are pretty much the only company of this scale that produces these products,” said business manager and part owner, Mustafa Ali Misri. The products, ranging from whole bodies or parts of human bodies or animals, are anatomically correct.
“We make the biological tissue properties of soft tissue and hard tissue like bone,” he said. The materials are compatible with ultrasound, X-ray, CT and MRIs. They can be used for medical imaging to assist both in developing such machines, and to train medical students and personnel.
True Phantom is a spin off from the University of Windsor. It originated as a research project under Dr. Roman Maev – Phantom’s president – a physics professor and founder of the Institute for Diagnostic Imaging Research
The models are made of compositions of resin or rubber, and ceramic reinforced epoxy-based materials. The company has a staff of about 20 and works from the third floor of the downtown building; Tessonics is an owner of the company. Tessonics itself came out of the University and provides advanced ultrasonic imaged-based quality control for the auto, aviation and medical sectors.
Misri said the new building responds to the “need of the hour, because the company is expanding sales and revenue” and needs to expand production. He said it will cost a minimum of $1 million for renovations; there is additional land at the site for future expansion.
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AREA EXECUTIVES:
QUESTION: If you unexpectedly won or inherited $1 million, would your work life change? If so, in what ways?
“Turn money into people, and people will bring in money. I would invest that million into the business by hiring full-time employees to take some of the load off, increasing the capacity I’m able to handle on any given day.”
Lisa
Rowley
, Co-Owner, Songbird Florals.
“I wouldn’t retire, but I would take an extended vacation. When a house sells for $1 million at today’s rates, a million isn’t very much anymore. And I have more products to develop and get to market before retirement.”
Richard
Kehl
, President, Kehl Window Systems Inc.
“My work life wouldn’t change drastically. I love what I do, and that passion wouldn’t diminish with money. But, it would allow me to create a sanctuary so I can dedicate more time to helping animals in need. The money would enhance what I love doing, rather than replace it.”
Shadi Abukhadra, Owner, Care Fur All.
“If I won $1 million I don’t think it would change my work life very much. I would probably take more time off, get more tools, and focus more on the personal interactions and networking to continue to expand my business. Hiring some office help would also be #1 on my list!”
Joseph Marchese, Master Electrician, Mates Electrical Ltd.
“After I bought my wife a wonderful gift and took my family to Disney, I would invest the money and continue forward with my life as if the money didn’t exist. It’s life changing money in the longer term but, for now, I need to continue to grind and support my clients.”
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE WINDSOR AREA:
SOLD
Address: 710 Sprucewood Ave.
Selling Price: $2.8 million
Vendor: Transforce
Administration Inc.
Purchaser: 1830102 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 1550 Ouellette Ave.
Selling Price: $1.6 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: 1000891294 Ontario
SOLD Address: 1808 & 1814 Meighen Rd.
Selling Price: $1,854,195
Vendor: Bayside Homes Ltd.
Purchaser: Meighen Road GP Inc.
SOLD
Address: 4276 Roseland Dr.
Selling Price: $1,455,888
Vendor: The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Huron
Purchaser: 1000873037 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 1885 Blackacre Dr.
Selling Price: $3,234,550
Vendor: AGNL Punch Canada
Nominee Corp.
Purchaser: Humbert II Nominee Corp.
SOLD
Address: Conc. 2, Sandwich, LaSalle
Selling Price: $11 million
Vendor: Leptis Magna
Development Inc.
Purchaser: Lov Development Corp.
PRIME PROPERTY
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:
SOLD
Address: V/L Oakwood Ave., Lakeshore
Selling Price: $7,762,200
Vendor: Lakeshore Trails Inc.
Purchaser: Lakeland Homes Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 15709 Lakeshore Rd.
309, Lakeshore
Selling Price: $2 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: Ken-Shirl Farms Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 97 Seacliff Dr. W.,
Leamington
Selling Price: $5.4 million
Vendor: Seacliff Developments Inc.
Purchaser: Piroli Development Corp.
SOLD
Address: 1045 Richmond St.,
SOLD
Address: 10823 Burk Line,
Chatham
Selling Price: $4 million
Vendor: Verkaik Holdings Ltd.
Purchaser: Gestion Maricam Inc.
Chatham-Kent
Selling Price: $1.88 million
Vendor: 1404520 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: Phillips Family Farms Ltd.
SOLD
Leamington
Address: 268 Seacliff Dr. W.,
Selling Price: $1.62 million
Vendor: Keepsake Plants Ltd.
Purchaser: 1000028345 Ontario Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 119 Erie St. N.,
Leamington
Selling Price: $1 million
Vendor: 939457 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: Casabella Clothing Boutique Inc.
SOLD
Address: 160-190 Stanley Ave., Chatham
Selling Price: $2.165 million
Vendor: 2198060 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: Eden Villa Residences Inc.
PRIME HOME SALES
Where: 753 Partington
Property Size: 35’ x 118’
# Bedrooms: 4 + 2
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $1,800
Listed For: $520,000
SOLD
Where: 2691 Askin Ave.
Property Size: 107’ x 60’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $3,000
Listed For: $499,000
Sold For: $475,000
Sold For: $510,000 SOLD
Where: 1237 Laurendeau
Property Size: 40’ x 105’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,195
Listed For: $329,900
Sold For: $340,000 SOLD
Where: 1932 Pillette Rd.
Property Size: 40’ x 101’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 1
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,950
Listed For: $399,900
Sold For: $380,000
SOLD
Where: 3291 Maisonneuve
Property Size: 60’ x 112’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,200
Listed For: $559,900 Sold For: $550,000
SOLD
Where: 1227 Goyeau St.
Property Size: 30’ x 76’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,508
Listed For: $299,900 Sold For: $325,888 SOLD Where: 1235 Glidden Ave.
Size: 60’ x 133’
Bedrooms: 3
$2,723 Listed For: $479,900
For: $430,000
PRIME HOME SALES
SOLD
Where: 5825 Canada St., LaSalle
Property Size: 76’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,089
Listed For: $599,900
Sold For: $650,000
SOLD
Where: 306 Jackson St., Colchester
Property Size: 66’ x 100’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,970
Listed For: $449,900
Sold For: $470,000
SOLD
Where: 386 West Belle River Rd., Lakeshore
Property Size: 50’ x 96’
# Bedrooms: 2
SOLD
Where: 89 Texas Rd., Amherstburg
Property Size: 84’ x 310’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,551
Listed For: $549,900
Sold For: $535,000
SOLD
Where: 41 Whelan Dr., Amherstburg
Property Size: 69’ x 126’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,969
Listed For: $649,900
Sold For: $650,000
SOLD
Where: 18428 Erie Shore
Dr., Chatham-Kent
Property Size: 44’ x 203’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,065
Listed For: $499,900
Sold For: $545,000
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,077
Listed For: $279,000
Sold For: $250,000
SOLD
Where: 301 Erieview Dr., Kingsville
Property Size: 35’ x 98’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,300
Listed For: $349,000
Sold For: $370,000
SOLD
Where: 264 Cotterie Park Rd., Leamington
Property Size: 100’ x 227’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,803
Listed For: $379,900
Sold For: $320,000
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are erecting a singlefamily residence on Nicholas St. Value of construction: $650,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family home on Mersea Rd. 15. Value of construction: $25,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family home on Seacliff Dr. W. Value of construction: $20,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are doing renovations to a restaurant on Talbot St. W. Value of construction: $157,000.
• 2006235 Ontario Inc. is doing renovations to a retail store on Seacliff Dr. E. Value of construction: $180,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to an industrial site on Seneca Rd. Value of construction: $225,000.
• Individuals are doing alterations
at an institutional building on Talbot St. W. Value of construction: $350,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a school on Ellison Ave. Value of construction: $25,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a store on Erie St. E. Value of construction: $300,000.
• Individuals are building a greenhouse on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $30 million.
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT COMMERCIAL:
• Lambton Kent District School Board is doing mechanical work on Alexandra Ave. Value of construction: $328,000.
• CK Holding Inc. is renovating a retail store on King St. W. Value of construction: $670,000.
• Individuals are erecting an agricultural building on Industrial Rd. Value of construction: $600,000.
• A numbered company is building a new commercial office building on Industrial St. Value of construction: $585,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:
• 1000027320 Ontario Inc. is constructing a new apartment building on Keil Dr. S. Value of construction: $43 million.
• Neil Wammes Farms Ltd. is building a single-family home on King St. W. Value of construction: $450,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on North St. Value of construction: $610,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Stanley Ave. Value of construction: $284,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family home on Detroit Dr. Value of construction: $100,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Creek Line. Value of construction: $700,000.
• Individuals are doing renovations to a single-family home on Walnut St. W. Value of construction: $82,000.
• 1991209 Ontario Inc. is building an addition on Erie St. N. Value of construction: $80,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Baldoon Rd. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Timbertec is building a singlefamily home on Reeders Line. Value of construction: $850,000.
• Bouma Builders Inc. is erecting a single-family home on Bloomington Way. Value of construction: $719,000.
• Ewald Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Rosewood Cr. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Walnut St. Value of construction: $400,000.
• Multi Construction is building a single-family home on Champlain Crt. Value of construction: $320,000.
• Sunbuilt Custom Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Keil Trail N. Value of construction: $500,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are building a greenhouse on Bell Rd. Value of construction: $4.025 million.
• Individuals are building an addition to a pole barn to a property on 11th Concession Rd. Value of construction: $90,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX RESIDENTIAL:
• Brady Homes is building a twounit dwelling on Irwin Ave. Value of construction: $925,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit on County Rd. 13. Value of construction: $515,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit on Dunn Rd. Rd. 13. Value of construction: $641,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit on County Rd. 15. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit on Lakeview Ave. Value of construction: $475,000.
• Individuals are doing interior renovations on Talbot St. N. Value of construction: $200,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit on Cumberland Way. Value of construction: $480,000.
• Individuals are erecting a singlefamily home on Talbot St. S. Value of construction: $785,000.
• Bart DiGiovanni Construction is building two single-family homes on Bear St. Values of construction: $725,000 each.
TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:
• 1000743918 Ontario Inc. is building an Accessory Dwelling Unit to a home on Montgomery Dr. Value of construction: $213,515.54.
• Laurier Horizons Inc. is erecting 139 units of condominiums on Laurier Parkway. Value of construction: $55.4 million.
• Timberland General Contractors is building four units of two semi-detached dwellings on Vel Lane. Values of construction: $750,000 each.
• Lapico Custom Homes is building a single-family residence on LaSalle Woods Blvd. Value of construction: $1.392 million.
• Royal Oak Luxury Builders Ltd. is erecting two units of a semidetached dwelling on Bouffard Rd. Values of construction: $362,640 each.
• Birch Custom Homes Corp. is building two single-family residences on LaSalle Woods Blvd. Values of construction: $1.177 million each.
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family home on Maple Ave. Value of construction: $136,240.
Michael Campoli
Owner Steven Caruso Sales Manager
BY JEANINE “J.T.” O’DONNELL
Benson: I keep hearing all over TikTok that you need a “skimmable” résumé, because recruiters only spend a few seconds looking at it before they decide if they will invest more time reviewing it. How can I create a résumé that stands out and captures the attention of recruiters in just six seconds?
J.T.: The key to creating a résumé that captures the attention of recruiters in the crucial six-second scan is to prioritize skimmability and clarity. This approach ensures your most relevant information is easily digestible and stands out, increasing the chances of your résumé being selected for further consideration.
• Clear and concise format: Use a clean, well-structured format with strategic use of white space, bolding and bullet points. This will make it easier for recruiters to quickly identify your key qualifications, experiences and achievements.
• Highlight relevant experience: Instead of listing every detail of your work history, focus on highlighting the experiences and accomplishments most relevant to the target role. This will ensure the crucial information stands out immediately.
• Use powerful phrasing: Craft compelling bullet points that showcase your achievements using strong action verbs and quantifiable results. This will grab the recruiter’s attention and demonstrate the value you can bring to the company.
• Prioritize relevant keywords: While avoiding excessive keyword stuffing, strategically incorporate relevant industry terms and job-specific keywords throughout your résumé. This will help ensure it is aligned with the position.
• Tailor for each application: Customize your résumé for each job you apply for. This targeted approach will make your qualifications more apparent to the recruiter, and increase your chances of standing out.
• Proofread meticulously: Ensure your résumé is free of spelling and grammatical errors, as these can be an immediate turnoff for recruiters and undermine the professional impression you aim to create.
Remember, while the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) play a role in the initial screening process, the ultimate goal is to captivate the human recruiter or hiring manager. By crafting a skimmable and visually appealing résumé, you
increase the likelihood of making a strong first impression and progressing to the next stage of the hiring process.
J.T. O’Donnell is the founder and CEO of the job search career coaching platform Work It Daily. Visit workitdaily.com to submit your questions.
START UPS
THE FOLLOWING WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION UNDER ONTARIO’S BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT:
• A. Moussa Medical Professional Corp.
• Alise Capital Investments Inc.
• Angel Kamdem Health Care Services Inc.
• B&A (Windsor) Holdings Inc.
• Bergeron Art & Frame Inc.
• Best Worth Foods Inc.
• Bestmates Eatery Inc.
• Bully Raw Dog Food Inc.
• Burke Management Ltd.
• CS Smith Construction Inc.
• Canadian Apex Ventures Inc.
• Canadian Global Greenhouse Supply Inc.
• Capital Wealth Realty Inc.
• Cheers To You By Aixa Inc.
• Circuits Design And Innovation Services Inc.
• Compressor Motor Recycling
• Concrete Connect Inc.
• Creed Electrical Company Ltd.
• Crystal Cleaning Crew Inc.
• Dave Stallaert Farms Ltd.
• Duerent Property Management
• Educan Tutoring Services Inc.
• Elinco Solutions Inc.
• Erie View Home Inspection & Services Ltd.
• Evestone Property
Management Limited
• Fastrak Mold Finishing (2024)
• Fehr4all Construction Ltd.
• For You Barbershop Inc.
• Frate Food Inc.
• Guaranteed Bookkeeping Inc.
• Healthwrx Inc.
• Henry's Parts Source Inc.
• Kagawong Manitoulin Island Construction Ltd.
• Katelyn Bartlett Medicine Professional Corp.
• Katherine Zhang Law Professional Corp.
Continued on page 12
Business survival lessons from comedian Jeff Foxworthy
You’ve no doubt seen the classic Jeff Foxworthy act, where he says “If you have more than one car jacked up in your front yard, you might be a redneck.”
Just as Jeff got rich delivering this comedic routine, you can benefit from his cause-and-effect logic by applying it to your small business. Except unlike Foxworthy, it won’t be funny if you resemble too many of these one-liners. In fact, your business might not make it.
• If you’re holed up inside the four walls of your business, instead of getting out into the marketplace where customers are acquiring new expectations, you might not make it. Don’t presume you know what customers expect from you. Get direct updates by asking them.
• If your budget cuts include wiping out your marketing plan, you might bomb. Appropriate adjustments may be warranted; going dark isn’t.
• If you don’t have an online presence, you might not make it. Do you have a phone? Do you open your door in the morning? Do you like customers? Then you MUST be quickly and easily findable online, including a regular website, a mobile website, social media and local search optimization. Increasingly every day, prospects are searching for what you sell on their mobile devices, and they’re not all young people.
• If you’re still making cold calls on businesses, you will bomb. Business prospects expect you to become relevant to them before they buy. In the Age of the Customer, cold calling is a fool’s errand.
• If you’re spending more time worrying about what the competition is doing instead of asking customers what they want, you might not make it. Those who stay close to customers thrive.
• If you don’t understand the rela-
tionship between revenue, gross profit and expenses, you’ll bomb. You can’t price products and forecast sales if you don’t know the minimum gross profit you need. Would you drive down a one-way street, the wrong way at night, in a thick fog, without headlights?
• If you accomplish sales and gross profit goals but don’t collect receivables fast enough to cover current obligations, like payroll, you might not make it. It’s possible to operate without profit for a while, but negative cash can take you down in day. Even the best collection strategy should include a Plan B for cash.
• If you aren’t managing cash flow with a 12-month projection – preferably an Excel file – you will bomb. A cash flow projection will tell you well in advance when you’ll be short on cash, so you can increase sales or talk with your banker.
• It’s okay to fall in love with what you do, but if you fall in love with how you do it, you might not make it. What you sell may never go out of style –shoestrings, shovels and sifters are still in-demand – but how customers want to buy, take delivery and use them is always changing. Fall in love with what you do, not with how you do it.
Write this on a rock: Jeff Foxworthy – useful for small business? Who knew?
Jim Blasingame is the author of The 3rd Ingredient, the Journey of Analog Ethics into the World of Digital Fear and Greed. Visit jimblasingame.com.
