Zebras to Apples

Bryndis Whitson

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BUSINESS

Zebras to Apples

The fun & fascinating stories of Supply Chain & Logistics.

6 DAYS AGO

Tales from the Airline Supply Chain with Peter Wallis

Host Bryndis Whitson welcomes former transportation and airline executive Peter Wallis to the show to discuss the logistics of the airline supply chain. Peter talks about his work with Pacific Western Airlines and how his legal background and expertise in aviation law enabled him to handle regulatory and legal matters, such as aircraft sales and government relations. Bryndis’ discussion with Peter highlights the unexpected challenges in airline operations and the importance of vigilance and due diligence. Peter Wallis shares how Pacific Western Airlines, in a move to reach underserved communities, sought approval to provide air service between Brandon, Manitoba and Toronto, Ontario, which required them to overcome opposition from Air Canada. Through community engagement and strategic arguments, the airline successfully demonstrated the necessity of the service which benefited the local economy. Bryndis and Peter also explore the broader challenges of navigating the competitive airline industry, including partnerships, rivalries, and expansion strategies. Peter’s experience and insight illustrate the dynamic nature of the aviation sector, as well as the challenges and successes of managing the airline supply chain. About Peter Wallis: Peter Wallis studied aviation law for a number of years and has a degree from the University of London in aviation law. He worked for the Canadian Transport Commission as a legal counsel in all modes of transport. He was seconded as chief of staff to two federal ministers of Transport. He also worked for Pacific Western Airlines, which subsequently became Canadian Airlines, which in turn acquired CP Air and Wardair to form the major airline Canadian Airlines. — Contact Bryndis Whitson: Website: ZebrasToApples.com Instagram: @ZebrasToApplesLinkedInContact Peter Wallis: Peter Wallis on LinkedIn — Transcript Bryndis Whitson: [00:00:03] Hi, my name is Bryndis Whitson, and you're listening to the Zebras Apples podcast. The fun and fascinating stories of supply chain logistics. Planes and airlines take us around the world. They take us on vacation. They take us to meetings and to see family and friends. They also deliver cargo and our beloved pets. In this podcast episode, my friend and former boss at the Van Horne Institute, Peter Wallis, shares stories about his time with the Government of Canada and Canadian Airlines. And if you've ever had a passion for the aviation industry, or you just really like a good story with a surprising twist or two, then this episode is for you. Please join me in hearing Peter Wallis talk about the airline sector. Bryndis Whitson: [00:00:48] Okay, so I'm here with Peter Wallis, who has had a very distinguished career in a lot of areas in transportation and supply chain. Let's start off with telling us a little bit about your career history. Peter Wallis: [00:01:04] Sure. Well, thanks for having me, Bryndis. I'm delighted to be part of this chain of podcasts that you've been putting together. I spent a number of years in the aviation industry, directly and indirectly, and I started off my career in Ottawa as a legal counsel for the Canadian Transport Commission. It's now known as the Canadian Transportation Agency, but it was founded in the last century to be the overall regulator of transportation in Canada. Prior to that, there were a number of regulatory boards. The Railway Transport Board, for example, regulated railways. Also, regulated telecommunications, which may sound a little anomalous, but the fact is that the telephone lines were hooked up to the poles that ran alongside the railways. So that's why they had jurisdiction over not only railways, but also telecommunications. Now we have the CRTC, which has more than a bag of issues related to, other than wired communications, but that's another story. The other boards were the Air Transport Board, and there were a couple of others, and they all came together in the Canadian Transport Commission. I had the opportunity to join that organization as a legal counsel after I returned from the UK, where I had taken a master of laws degree, primarily focusing on aviation at the London School of Economics. Peter Wallis: [00:02:34] Interestingly enough, I joined the same day that the appointment to Edward "Eddie" Laborde, a very prominent oil man in the Calgary community. He's now passed away, but Eddie was appointed by Jack Pickersgill as a member of the Canadian Transportation Agency. Jack Pickersgill subsequently became the president of the agency. One of my first tasks with the agency, because it was responsible for determining the success or failure of any application to provide an air service in Canada. From the large operators for the large airplanes down to the bush planes, they all had to be licensed by the Air Transport Committee of the Canadian Transportation Commission, the CTC. As legal counsel, I would go out on these hearings and assist the commissioners in the development of the evidence, which was primarily the responsibility, of course, of the applicant, or indeed the opponent, because these were full blown hearings in which an entrepreneur could apply to operate an air service in a certain area. But there would be the incumbents who would clearly argue that there was enough capacity provided by them and that no competition was required, and the agency had to make a decision on whether there could be more competitors based on the simple premise of public convenience and necessity. Peter Wallis: [00:04:14] If you can have a definition of public convenience and necessity, you'll probably find many of them if you go into the textbooks and the dictionaries. But some people described it as an exercise in determining how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. One of my first hearings was actually with Mr. Pickersgill, and it was a hearing in Newfoundland. In fact, it was in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. As legal counsel, part of my role was to swear in witnesses because they were appearing before a quasi judicial tribunal. You were obviously under oath with the penalties of the Evidence Act to follow if you were found to have committed perjury. One of the witnesses that came forward in this hearing, I can't remember the exact details of the matters that were before us, but the subsequent witness to the applicant was a local member of Parliament. Jack Pickersgill, who some of your listeners may or may not know so let me just give a quick, brief thumbnail there. Jack Pickersgill had a very illustrious career as a Liberal in the government of Mackenzie King and subsequently Louis St. Laurent. He was initially a bureaucrat and rose to the position of the senior bureaucrat in the Privy Council, the clerk of the Privy Council. Then he was persuaded to go into politics by, I believe it was Mr. St. Laurent, and go into politics he did. The writing that was chosen for him was one that he was obviously not a citizen of at the time. Quickly though, picked up the language, cadence, the community spirit, and indeed the characteristics of a Newfoundlander because his writing that he was parachuted into was a Newfoundland writing. Bonavista-Twillingate. Peter Wallis: [00:06:27] Mr. Pickersgill therefore, and he act...

54 min
6 DAYS AGO

All About the Railway Supply Chain with Trish Slivinski

Host Bryndis Whitson welcomes railway expert Trish Slivinski to the show. Trish works for railways and companies that are clients of railways and has experience in a wide array of different jobs relating to train travel. She shares how she got involved with rail and what she’s learned from it as well as how the different aspects of rail travel can affect the supply chain. Trish explains all the intricacies of rail transport including train schedules, loading, finance, operations, and a host of disciplines that keep railways functional. She has experience working in a great many of them and that knowledge gives her insight into how the supply chain is impacted and enhanced by the specifics of railways. Trish and Bryndis discuss everything from how rail is a greener mode of transport than trucks and what it takes to get a train moving to how strikes affect rail transport and the potential for worker accidents. Trish has advice for anyone curious about a career in railways and shares the challenges and rewards of such a choice. About Trish Slivinski: Trish Slivinski was born in the small Northern Ontario City of Thunder Bay. She grew up the oldest of 4 siblings with a stay-at-home mother and an entrepreneur father. Her mother was from a broken family and both parents taught her the value of hard work and personal success at an early age. These deep-rooted values motivated Trish to leave the small Northern Ontario City to pursue post-secondary education. During her second year at university, she found a summer job in transportation at CP Rail which led to a successful long-term career in Transportation. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and then she worked on a Business Admin degree before being transferred to Vancouver BC. During her railway career, she has relocated to pursue promotions in Vancouver and Calgary, at the CP Head Office. Trish has an accomplished career in rail that has spanned a variety of departments including; Intermodal, Finance, Contingency Planning, Operations Business Performance, Service Design, and Bulk Train Planning. She has attained a variety of skills throughout her career; Process Improvement, Six Sigma, Lean Management, Financial and Operational Analysis, Performance Measurement, KPI Metrics, and Project Management. She was also trained as a Train Conductor. The crude oil decline in Alberta in 2016 resulted in a major career change for Trish when she was laid off from CP and found herself, for the first time in her life, unemployed. She has seized this opportunity to start a new career in a different industry, Road Construction. She worked for the last 2 years as the Supply and Logistics Coordinator for Western Canada with (Colas) McAsphalt Industries. She is a single mother of twin boys, a hockey enthusiast, and can be seen in the summer riding her motorcycle (Lily). Resources discussed in this episode: Sheldon Nagy accident story— Contact Bryndis Whitson: Website: ZebrasToApples.com Instagram: @ZebrasToApplesLinkedInContact Trish Slivinski: Trish Slivinski on LinkedIn — Transcript Bryndis Whitson: [00:00:03] Hi, my name is Bryndis Whitson, and you're listening to the Zebras to Apples podcast. The fun and fascinating stories of supply chain logistics. Every town and city it feels like has a train going through it. Countries were built and connected by the railway. In Canada, $380 billion of goods are moved each year by rail, and it supports at least 188,000 jobs. In the United States, it's almost $900 billion and 120,399 employees as of September 2024. In this podcast, I chat with my friend and railroader Trish Slivinski. Trish worked for one of Canada's Class one railways, CP Rail, now known as CP KC, for 29 years and continues to work in the rail industry. We see trains coming and going through our community, but rarely do we know where they are going or what they what they are carrying. Please join me in my conversation with Trish Slivinski and learn a little bit more about the railway and the trains going through your community. Bryndis Whitson: Okay, so I'm here with Trish and we're talking about supply chain logistics. Trish has a really fascinating background from everything in rail but also in sales and so many different things that we'll kind of get into, so welcome. Trish Slivinski: [00:00:57] Thank you, Bryndis. Thanks for having me. This is great. Bryndis Whitson: [00:01:00] Let's start at a basic thing of, how did you get into this kind of field in general? Trish Slivinski: [00:01:06] I think it was just my first job. I was in Winnipeg, I had left home to go to University of Manitoba, I took my Bachelor of Science in math and graduated. Before I graduated, I was looking for a summer job. I had gone back home, a couple of years done work at home. Then I'm like, no, I really want to stay and applied for this job at the rail. My friend's dad worked at the office and that started me in my rail job. That was based in intermodal, which at the time I didn't know much about rail. There was different options, but intermodal is the containers that travel on a rail car, and you see those containers being delivered by a truck on the last mile. We loaded those railcars with the containers, and we did at the time also have these trucks that backed onto cars, which they called piggyback, but they don't have that anymore. So you could tell how old I am. Bryndis Whitson: [00:02:12] Not that old. Trish Slivinski: [00:02:13] Well anyways, they backed those things down, what they called a circus ramp. I was able to, because I worked quite a few nights and stuff, so I was able to practice my backing up. I've backed up a semi down one of those tracks. I've also used one of those packer machines that places the containers on the railcars. There was a lot of little things that I got to experience when I was there. I worked there ten years, basically through my degree. Then they transferred me, so I got to go to Vancouver from Winnipeg. I spent some time in intermodal there. Then they transferred me to Calgary, where you find me now. The thing about the railway is, it's like a large company and there's so many different opportunities at different areas that I was able to use my schooling, use some of my experience and get different jobs. For me, that was what kept me there and kept me interested. They placed me in a role every couple of years, which just kept everything so interesting to me. I was in finance, I did accounting, I did service design, designed the train schedules. Then I ended up in an operations group at the very end planning coal trains, which was so different as well, but very interesting. Bryndis Whitson: [00:03:49] Math is such a big piece that people don't normally think of. Trish Slivinski: [00:03:54] No. I mean, the whole world of analytics is now blown up exponentially with AI and stuff. But very driven in the railway, the math.

52 min
6 DAYS AGO

The Ripple Effect of Supply Chain issues in Natural Disasters with Steve Armstrong

Host Bryndis Whitson welcomes Steve Armstrong, a leadership expert with a career that spans the Canadian military, Canadian Red Cross, and many areas in between, to the show. Bryndis and Steve talk about military and emergency preparedness and how that fits in with supply chain logistics. Steve Armstrong’s experience with September 9/11 terrorist response, flood response, and military endeavors sheds much light on how supply chain is an integral part of emergency assistance. Bryndis and Steve discuss the complexities of even something as seemingly simple as getting food rations, enough for 3 meals per day for 40 soldiers, to where the soldiers are stationed. Behind every soldier, Steve says, is an estimated 3 people in administration and logistics ensuring supplies flow smoothly. They talk about emergency response and the intricacies of not just getting help in but getting debris out and where to put it. There are many things to consider in the wake of a natural disaster in terms of the logistics of assistance. But Steve also stresses that at the end of every logistics problem is a real person impacted by a terrible circumstance and why keeping them in mind is so key. This episode demonstrates the ripple effect of supply chain during crisis events and how everything is tied together. About Steve Armstrong: Steven Armstrong worked worldwide as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross for more than four decades. On the literal frontlines for many of the globe’s most notable humanitarian crises during that time – ranging from the shores of Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami, to the aftermath of 9/11 in New York, to wildfires across Canada, to the devastation of floods [most recently in British Columbia} – Steve has proven, over and over again, what authentic leadership means. Faced with complex missions and tasks that required extreme precision and unfailing resolve, Steve learned early on that properly inspiring his teams to act, move, and overcome obstacles would be the key to ongoing success. Rather than force compliance, he used his natural virtue, honour, and trustworthiness to motivate people. This exceedingly “human” side of his character enabled authentic connections and trust – instilling confidence, determination, and encouragement in all who followed his examples. As a speaker, consultant, and author of You Can’t Lead From Behind, Steve uses humour, honesty, and a lifetime of hard-learned lessons to tell his story and teach others how to become better and more effective leaders. Through his global experience, his approach is down-to-earth and genuine, giving you and your leadership team the personalized tools and confidence they need to succeed. Resources discussed in this episode: “Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War” by William G. Pagonis and Jeffrey L. Cruikshank— Contact Bryndis Whitson: Website: ZebrasToApples.com Instagram: @ZebrasToApplesLinkedInContact Steve Armstrong: Website: StevenArmstrong.caSteve Armstrong on LinkedIn— Transcript Bryndis Whitson: [00:00:03] Hi, my name is Bryndis Whitson, and you're listening to the Zebras to Apples podcast. The fun and fascinating stories of supply chain logistics. Fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, earthquakes and volcanoes. They're all over the news. They truly impact all of us. And sometimes, when we least expect it. When an emergency occurs, are we prepared? What do we do to make sure that we're ready? As those of us in Girl Guides or Scouts would say, the old motto be prepared. My guest for this episode is my friend Steve Armstrong. He has spent his career making sure that institutions and organizations are prepared. Steve and I met when I was hosting a conference entitled Ready at a Moment's Notice The Logistics of the Military and Emergency Preparedness, which is exactly Steve's career. He has worked in the military with government, the Red Cross, and is a leadership expert and consultant, as well as an instructor at Mount Royal University. This interview was recorded in 2024 before the LA wildfires. When an emergency occurs, logistics experts are there to assist in the crisis, the cleanup and the rebuild. Please join me on this conversation with Steve Armstrong. Bryndis Whitson: [00:01:23] Part of the way we met was you were working at the Red Cross, but previously before that you'd worked at the military. You've had a lot of different experiences. Maybe, let's start with just kind of a broad overview. Steve Armstrong: [00:01:35] Oh my gosh. Okay. So it's been a checkered history I would say. I was kind of asked to leave high school because my guidance counselor suggested if I wasn't doing anything, I shouldn't do it there. And I had been a member of the Army Reserves at the time and then full time service after that. Luckily for me, because I didn't have much education and ended up working through a 22 year Army career, ending up in 98/99 as a retiring as an acting RSM and Sergeant Major. And then I spent three years in the Northwest Territories in a remote community, fly-in community with a winter road for a few months of the year called Norman Wells as a town administrator, town manager. And then I joined Red Cross the January of 2001. And I remember that distinctly, because when I was hired, I was told it was going to be a quiet, simple job, that we were to gear up and mobilize and train volunteers to be prepared to respond. And if anyone's even remotely aware, 2001 was the September 11th terrorism attack in New York City. Bryndis Whitson: [00:02:51] Quite the timing. Steve Armstrong: [00:02:52] Yeah, and there was also a papal visit and a big flood in the northwest or northern Ontario on James Bay. And that just launched this unbelievable trajectory into emergency and disaster management, and part of which included most every big disaster in Canada over those 12 years or so, including few trips to the States for both September 11th and then hurricanes, and then almost a year in Sri Lanka post tsunami, doing recovery work there for most of two, well, the tsunami was, if you can imagine, was 20 years ago this Christmas. And so most of 2005, I spent time both domestically and internationally working on the tsunami response. And then I ended up at the end of Red Cross, I was in charge of all of our operations in Alberta and Northwest Territories. Coincidentally, was Slave Lake and a bunch of big disasters here. We made the headlines several times in Alberta as Disaster Central and then a retiring after the southern Alberta floods, 2013. And then since then, I've been working as a consultant and a speaker and educator and coach around leadership and organizational issues for the last 10 or 11 years. So, yeah, it's quite a career. Bryndis Whitson: [00:04:20] Very much so. Steve Armstrong: [00:04:21] My guidance counselor would crap her pants if she knew what...

46 min
6 DAYS AGO

Intro to Supply Chain Logistics with George Read

Welcome to the Zebras to Apples podcast, the fun and fascinating stories of supply chain logistics. In this first episode, host Bryndis Whitson talks with George Read, who has had a 25+ year career in supply chain, procurement and buying. The conversation focuses on his experiences in the supply chain logistics industry. George’s career runs from working with windows to office furniture through to technology and groceries. He opens a door into the world of supply chain with fascinating stories and real-world advice on how to work in the role of what he calls the unsung hero. Bryndis and George first discuss what there is to love about a career in the supply chain where, as George says, “If you do your job well nobody knows your name”. George talks about what it takes to work effectively with salespeople, the obligation of reciprocity, and how to problem-solve the many issues that crop up in the supply chain process. He shares real-life stories about everything from having products on a ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal to what happens when borders close due to war. He also tells Bryndis the secret of the five currencies that people will accept to make them want to operate in compliance and, spoiler, it’s not just about money. This episode is a revealing look into what supply chain logistics is and how it affects the products we use every day. About George Read: George Read is a Supply Chain Manager with 25+ years of experience. He is a people leader, negotiator, contract manager, and a buyer. Resources discussed in this episode: “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B Cialdini, PhD“Start With No: The Negotiating Tools That the Pros Don’t Want You to Know” by Jim Camp — Contact Bryndis Whitson: Website: ZebrasToApples.com Instagram: @ZebrasToApplesLinkedInContact George Read: George Read on LinkedIn — Transcript Bryndis Whitson: [00:00:03] Hi, my name is Bryndis Whitson, and you're listening to the Zebras to Apples podcast. The fun and fascinating stories of supply chain logistics. You might be asking, what is supply chain logistics? I personally look at the supply chain as the movement of goods, people, and information. It could be rail, road, air, pipe, data. As long as it's moving, it's a part of the supply chain. This podcast episode is with my good friend George Read. This episode showcases exactly this. Plus, I personally could listen to George all day long. George has been in the field for over 25 years. Everything you touch today, everything you ate, wore, or purchased had a supply chain behind it. And that is what this podcast is all about. How did that item get to you? Was it on a ship, a train, a truck, or all three? Join me as we explore the supply chain procurement world with George Read. Bryndis Whitson: [00:01:05] So starting in this conversation, you've got so many great experiences from so many different areas of the industry, from working with windows to working with office furniture, to working in oil and gas, to working in technology, to working now in groceries, I think all of your experiences are perfect, you know, as a start, too. So. George Read: [00:01:27] No, I hear you and thank you for inviting me to your show, Bryndis. This is quite a treat. The, I think this is the first podcast, maybe second podcast I've really ever been on. But what did you want to talk about today? Bryndis Whitson: [00:01:43] I think it's really talking about a lot of the fun stories of what a supply chain, and, you know, knowing all of our conversations that we've had over the years of talking about different things, I think this is kind of the perfect opportunity to kind of talk about what makes you like supply chain, what are moments within supply chain that actually make a difference, and what would make other people realize that they love it too? George Read: [00:02:12] Well, that's a good, that's an interesting point. I don't know why anyone would go into supply chain. It's like a mistake. I mean, the supply chain is a wonderful place to be if it's something that you want to do, but I mean, supply chain is always out of step, right? Like it's always out of step with the company. Right. Because in the times when it's easy for the buyers and the supply chain people to get stuff, then the company isn't selling anything because that's a buyer's market, right? And that's when it's good for buyers. Right? And on the flip side, it's, in a seller's market, the company is doing great. They're selling stuff hand over fist. But you know as a buyer you can't get stuff for love nor money. So it's like the worst of times. So I mean why would you want to be in supply chain. But I mean, on the flip side, I know, I know why I got in and I got in it because my first boss in supply chain actually gave a class to a, you know, all of us plebs on the floor. And he was talking about how the supply chain works and about how it's a great, a great web of trying to bring all the materials into one place at one time so that you can build things and that it really is the, it really is what drives things. George Read: [00:03:25] I mean, without stuff, you know. I mean the great line, you know, the bullets and the toilet paper have to arrive at the battlefield at the same time, like without the supply chain people, literally nothing happens. And of course, the problem with supply chain people is they, it's a hard job, you know, they're unsung heroes because when you do your job, nobody knows you exist. I mean, you go to the warehouse and you want to pick up whatever, and there are boxes of that sitting there. Now, you don't know the trials and tribulations the supply chain guy went through to make sure there was a box there when you needed it. But that's, but when the supply chain guy does his job, he's invisible. And so another reason, you know, you don't necessarily want to be in the profession is that when you do your job well, nobody knows your name, like they have no idea who you are. I mean, recently we've had all these supply chain disasters. You know, shortage of toilet paper, shortage of this, shortage of that because the... Bryndis Whitson: [00:04:20] Empty shelves. George Read: [00:04:21] Empty shelves. Exactly. And everybody's all like, oh, supply chain, supply chain. Bryndis Whitson: [00:04:25] Suddenly we know what it is. George Read: [00:04:26] Yeah, exactly. But the only reason, you know what it is, is because they've been doing a quote unquote bad job. Now, have they been doing a bad job? No. They've been doing an amazing job because there's been difficult times. But on the flip side, nobody knew they existed five years ago. So, you know, before the pandemic. And why was that? Because whe...

57 min
10/10/2024

Trailer: Zebras to Apples

The fun & fascinating stories of Supply Chain & Logistics.

1 min

TRAILER

Trailer: Zebras to Apples

The fun & fascinating stories of Supply Chain & Logistics.

10/10/2024

•

1 min

The fun & fascinating stories of Supply Chain & Logistics.

Creator

Bryndis Whitson
Years Active

2024 - 2025
Episodes

5
Rating

Clean
Copyright

©2024 Zebras to Apples
Show Website

Zebras to Apples