Family Business and Balance with Shane Wenzel, President & CEO of Shane Homes Group of Companies

The Boardroom 180 Podcast

In this episode, host Munir Haque interviews the president and CEO of Shane Homes, Shane Wenzel. Shane Homes, of which Shane Wenzel is the namesake, has been the leading builder in the Calgary region for over 45 years. Shane Wenzel oversees policy advice through Building Industry and Land Development (BILD) Calgary as well as economic engagement with the Alberta Enterprise Group in addition to leading Shane Homes. As a leader in his industry, Shane offers great insight into company growth and governance.

Shane Wenzel explains how the branding and unified operation between the divisions of his company - Shane Homes, Shane Multifamily, Shane Communities, and Shane Investments - maintain the successful culture and growth of the Shane Homes name overall. The evolution of the corporate vision and mission that keeps growing the company in sync with the culture and the conscious work to maintain the vision in light of innovation and market shifts is something Munir addresses with Shane.

Munir delves into the challenges unique to the family-owned business aspect of Shane Homes and Shane explains the executive structure and biannual strategic planning sessions that help keep everything in balance. Shane talks about the seven pillars his company has developed as a way to drive long-range planning, the external advisors who help shape direction, and how he empowers people to run their respective departments as part of the overall keys to maintaining a growth-oriented business plan. In regards to personal balance, Shane acknowledges philanthropy and personal passions as necessary parts of the whole, as well as addressing the governance that is key to philanthropic endeavours.

About Shane Wenzel:

Before you ask, yes, the company was named after Shane. Shane joined Shane Homes at a young age and learned the new home building industry from the ground up, first working in the field on job sites, then joining the Sales and Marketing department. While in the role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Shane was instrumental in leading innovation in marketing and design for the company.

Now, Shane leads the Shane Homes Group of Companies as President, is a social media creative, a mentor, podcaster, speaker, and an active member of the LGBT community. "Earn it, don't expect it."

--

Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:

• Website: AEEDNow.com
• Linkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
  
  

Contact Shane Wenzel:

• ShaneWenzel.com
• LinkedIn
• Twitter / X
• Instagram
• YouTube

Contact Shane Homes

• ShaneHomes.com
• Facebook
• Twitter / X
• Instagram
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Podcast Production:

• Recording: PushySix Studios
• Production Assistance: Astronomic Audio
  
  

--

Transcript

Shane Wenzel: [00:00:01] When you hire the executives or even the operators of specific divisions, their values have to align. I will always hire that first and foremost over a skill set. I'll openly say, we're trying to create something here more than just production factory, where we're turning out houses day in day out and developing land day in day out. You're trying to create something special. That all starts from the top, and if you don't have the people who are operating the company working within those same kind of boundaries, those values and creating that culture, then you're going to fail. You're just going to end up with the McDonald's version of housing.

Munir Haque: [00:00:41] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices, and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.

Munir Haque: [00:01:12] Today's guest is Shane Wenzel. Shane is the president and CEO of Shane Homes Group of Companies, and he's also its namesake. They are a leading builder in the Calgary region for over 45 years, and their mission is to create thriving communities with innovative design and customer centric services. His leadership focuses on building high quality, sustainable homes while advocating for industry friendly policies and economic growth. Shane oversees strategic direction, policy advice through BILD Calgary, which is Building Industry and Land Development, and economic engagement with the Alberta Enterprise Group, making him an industry leader in his field. Growing up with entrepreneurial parents, Cal and Edith, early on as a laborer within the company, then marketing assistant, moved up to director of marketing and then up through the ranks to president and CEO. He developed a strong foundation in sales and marketing, further enhanced by his involvement in a business advisory group. He is a self-proclaimed tech junkie, embracing technology and integrating smart systems and eco friendly practices. Under his leadership, they aim to grow and innovate, continually pushing boundaries into their new products and services. His commitment to excellence extends to his philanthropy and giving back to the community. Balancing professional responsibility with personal passion, he strives to lead with integrity and inclusivity, shaping a brighter future one home at a time. He's a proud member of the LGBTQ community and a social media influencer on various platforms. Hello Shane, and welcome to The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Thanks for making the time to get on our show.

Shane Wenzel: [00:02:45] Munir, thank you for having me.

Munir Haque: [00:02:46] I've been looking forward to this conversation. As you may or may not know, I cut my teeth in the land and real estate development industry in Calgary in the early 2000s, and the Wenzel name definitely was well known. We built homes in many of the same communities that I was heavily involved in, although I don't think we ever crossed paths. When we did launch this podcast, you were one of the people who reached out to me, responded with some positive messaging and feedback, and is very much appreciated on my part. So welcome.

Shane Wenzel: [00:03:16] Well thank you again for having me.

Munir Haque: [00:03:18] Before we get into it, is there anything else that I missed in your introduction that you want to tell people about?

Shane Wenzel: [00:03:23] No, I think that was pretty thorough. There's a lot to cover there. I've had enough time to at least cover all the ...