In the season finale of Shake Hands, Take Names, AJ sits down with Chris Gourley fourth-generation entrepreneur and founder of Summit Vehicle Storage, to unpack what it really takes to grow a barn-startup into a 7,000% growth story without losing your soul—or your community. Chris shares how mountaineering shaped his “Summit” mindset on risk, culture, and perseverance, why he bets big on relationships (from long-term employees to local business partners), and how profit sharing and value creation keep his team invested in the journey. They dive into the future of skilled trades, the power of reading and peer groups for young entrepreneurs, and why being from Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, is an advantage, not a limitation, when you’re dreaming of national and cross-border expansion.

In this episode of Shake Hands, Take Names, host AJ sits down with Lee Weir, a Red Seal trades professional, entrepreneur, and founder of Crossroads in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Lee shares how a lifelong passion for motorcycles evolved into a multi-division business spanning power sports and manufactured housing, now employing around 92 people. He talks candidly about the realities of starting and scaling a trades-based business, the severe shortage of skilled workers, and why passion and willingness to learn matter more than formal credentials. Lee also explains his views on direct-entry trades vs. formal schooling, the red tape around Red Seal certification, and how mentorship, networking, and simple door-knocking still open real opportunities in rural Nova Scotia. Throughout the conversation, he returns to a core philosophy written on his shop wall: “No obstacles, only opportunities.”

In this episode of Shake Hands, Take Names, AJ sits down with brothers Sam and Jim Cripps of Cripps and Sons Woodworking to talk about how passion, perseverance, and relationships turned a small rural cabinet shop into an innovation‑driven business. They share the family origins of the company, their long road to becoming Red Seal cabinet makers without a clear apprenticeship path, and how they balance the art and science of modern cabinetry—from steam‑bent oak archways to robots on the shop floor. Along the way, they dig into the realities of skilled trades for a 17‑year‑old just starting out, the power of community and networking in rural Nova Scotia, and why trust, respect, and genuine curiosity matter more than chasing dollars.