In this episode of Built to Last, Colby Jardine and Levi Lawrence sit down with Mike LeBlanc for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, community, family business, real estate, and the long road behind building something that lasts. Mike shares how his family built Fox Creek Golf Club, why Dieppe means so much to him, and what it’s really like to grow businesses with the people closest to you.

The conversation also dives into Mike’s work in real estate, how the industry is changing, why relationships still matter, and how he thinks about technology, AI, and marketing in a more human business. It’s an honest, thoughtful episode about legacy, adaptation, and building with pride in where you come from.

Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-leblanc-36123353/

Fox Creek: https://foxcreekgolfclub.ca/

Iron House Pro: https://www.ironhousepro.com/

Time stamps:

2:23 Meet Mike LeBlanc

• Mike introduces himself through family, business, and community.

4:52 Pride in Dieppe and New Brunswick

• Why place matters to Mike.
• A conversation on local pride and impact.

8:12 Entrepreneurship Starts Early

• Mike reflects on growing up in a business family.
• Why entrepreneurship always felt like an option.

14:29 School, College, and Irving

• Mike’s path through NBCC and accounting.
• What he learned working inside a large company.

18:40 The Start of the Family Building Business

• How one unpaid invoice turned into homebuilding and development.

28:15 Why Golf Was Never the Easy Option

• Golf as a passion project, not a quick-money business.

31:58 The Fox Creek Origin Story

• How a fill site became the idea for a golf course.
• The early land deals and first development steps.

41:36 Building With Family

• What it was like working with parents and brothers.
• Why the experience still means so much today.

49:58 The First Round at Fox Creek

• Mike shares the emotion of playing the course for the first time.

53:10 The Decision to Go Private

• Why Fox Creek shifted to a member-only model.
• What changed and why they stuck with it.

1:02:38 Real Estate as the Main Job

• Mike explains how real estate became a natural fit.
• From selling homes he built to full-service real estate work.

1:17:10 Real Estate, Change, and Technology

• How client expectations are shifting.
• Where tech and AI are starting to help.

1:21:00 Why Real Estate Still Needs People

• The emotional side of buying and selling homes.
• Why great agents still create real value.

1:29:05 Marketing Real Estate Today

• What better listing marketing actually looks like.
• Why storytelling and better content matter.

1:34:45 Building a Real Estate Business

• Systems, boundaries, admin support, and making space to step away.

1:44:31 Turning the Tables on Colby and Levi

• Mike asks about Iron House Pro and how the business came together.

1:58:20 Outro

• Closing thoughts and episode wrap-up.

In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and advisor Joe Testouri for a wide-ranging conversation about building companies, understanding customers, and navigating the realities of scaling a business.

Joe shares lessons from working with companies at different stages of growth, explaining why many founders struggle to truly understand their customer, how sales maturity impacts strategy, and why honest conversations are often the most valuable ones in business. The discussion explores everything from market positioning and relationship-building to the mindset required to grow sustainably. For entrepreneurs navigating growth or trying to sharpen their strategy, Joe offers thoughtful insights grounded in real-world experience.

Connect with Joe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joetestouri/

Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction
• Levi and Colby welcome Joe.

01:20 – Meet Joe Testouri
• Joe shares his background and work.

04:20 – Knowing Your Customer
• Why many businesses misidentify their customer.

08:18 – Joe’s Ideal Clients
• The companies Joe typically helps.

12:30 – Sales Maturity
• How sales changes as a business grows.

17:00 – Founder Growth Challenges
• Why founders struggle to step back.

21:00 – Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle
• Travel, business, and balance.

26:30 – Hard Conversations
• Why honest conversations drive growth.

33:00 – Strategy vs Execution
• Why execution matters more than planning alone.

40:00 – Market Positioning
• Standing out by defining your niche.

48:30 – Patterns in Growth
• What Joe sees in successful founders.

56:00 – Business Relationships
• Why trust matters long term.

1:04:00 – Advice for Founders
• Joe’s guidance for navigating growth.

1:15:00 – Building to Last
• The mindset behind durable businesses.

1:22:00 – Closing Thoughts
• Final reflections on growth and entrepreneurship.

Antonio Lennert’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, personally and professionally. He shares how a major life move, a creative career, and an unexpected obsession with Great Lakes surfing led to building Surf the Greats: not just a shop, but an ecosystem built around education, inclusion, and community. Along the way, we get a real look at what it takes to build something niche, and make it viable.

The conversation then turns inward: burnout, purpose, and the kind of personal work that doesn’t fit neatly into a business playbook. Antonio reflects on what it means to lose direction, how support systems can change outcomes, and why partnership alignment is one of the most underestimated leadership challenges. It’s honest, grounded, and full of insights for anyone building while also trying to stay human.

Connect with Antonio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniolennert/
Antonio's coaching business: https://www.theridein.com/

Time stamps

00:00 – Welcome + why this conversation matters.

01:59 – Antonio’s background.

03:59 – Three major pivots: leaving Brazil, burning out in design, finding purpose in surfing.

09:12 – Identity, belonging, and why surfing became more than a sport.

14:56 – “Surfing in Toronto?” Great Lakes waves, tech shifts, and surf culture inland.

20:09 – Not about money: building an inclusive community and a full surf ecosystem.

31:59 – The inner-work phase: burnout recovery / 10-day silent retreat.

47:23 – Loss, grief, and leadership.

58:57 – Becoming a coach.

01:15:10 – What “change” means now.

01:25:10 – Looking forward: what’s most exciting now (purpose, momentum, and the next chapter)