Advertise on podcast: Belmar Bytes

From waking up at 3:00 AM to process donations to tracking campaigns in real-time, Leslie Stewart joins the pod to discuss the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s move to Salesforce. Scott Billows and Leslie Stuart dive into the challenges of untangling "Frankensteined" legacy systems and the massive benefits of cloud adoption.  Whether you are a fundraiser or a systems director, Leslie’s advice on process mapping and data hygiene is a must-listen for anyone looking to modernize their nonprofit’s tech stack. Episode Highlights: Mitigating Risk: How a CFO and leadership team drove the decision to overhaul critical systems.Real-Time Results: Shifting from reactive, 24-hour delays to watching donations and campaign success in real-time.Platform vs. Application: Why growing organizations should choose platforms that allow for innovation rather than "in-the-box" applications.Future-Proofing: Preparing data foundations today for the use of AI tomorrow.

We are deep into the January rush and the end of the Salesforce fiscal year, but we’re taking a moment to step back from the screens. In this episode, Scott and Matt discuss the undeniable energy of in-person events, from tech happy hours to executive dinners. The conversation dives down a rabbit hole regarding the "hierarchy" of client communication: when is it okay to move from email to text, to FaceTime, and finally, to asking for a selfie?. Plus, we talk about why "trust is currency" and preview some exciting upcoming events in Toronto this spring. Key Topics: The Energy of In-Person: Why face-to-face meetings beat virtual calls. The Manatee Lagoon: Scott’s recent networking event (not amenity lagoon). The Communication Stack: Assessing your relationship status based on whether you text or FaceTime clients. The Selfie Hook: How to successfully ask a client for a photo without making it awkward. Upcoming Events: The Build Good Summit and True North Dreamin' in May.

In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows sits down with Summer Wedlock, CEO of the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation (CCLF), to explore why early childhood literacy is one of the most powerful, and often overlooked, drivers of long-term social and economic impact. Summer shares her journey into the role, what drew her to CCLF’s mission, and why literacy from birth is not just an education issue, but a critical social determinant of health. Together, they unpack the realities facing children across Canada, from the alarming number entering Grade 1 below reading level to the millions growing up without a single book at home. The conversation dives into CCLF’s Flagship Program, which trains healthcare professionals to integrate early literacy into routine check-ups, ensuring families receive both guidance and books at key developmental milestones. Summer also discusses the Foundation’s expansion into early childhood education, multilingual and culturally relevant resources, and the growing role of evidence-based research in shaping national outcomes. Key themes include: Why early literacy from birth matters more than ever The role of healthcare providers and educators in closing literacy gaps Addressing inequities faced by marginalized and underserved communities The long-term economic impact of literacy, including its connection to Canada’s GDP Building national awareness to create lifelong reading habits at home This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and anyone passionate about creating lasting, generational change through early intervention.

Welcome back to Belmar Bytes! In our first episode of 2026, hosts Scott Billows and Matt Hui kick off the new year by diving deep into their predictions for the technology landscape over the next 12 months.  Scott and Matt reflect on the rapid evolution of the market and what it means for organizations trying to stay ahead. In this episode, we discuss: The AI "Tsunami": Scott predicts that 2026 is the year the world wakes up to a massive wave of advancement, where automation and autonomous technologies (like Waymo and humanoid robots) fundamentally change operations for organizations like food banks.AI as an Operating System: Matt argues that AI is no longer a "shiny object" or fad; it has become as fundamental as an operating system, caked into everything we do.The Trust Imperative: With reliance on data growing, security and trust are paramount. Matt predicts outsized investments in cybersecurity, noting it is no longer a question of if you get hacked, but when.From Reactive to Proactive: The duo discusses the shift in Salesforce’s Agent Force, predicting a move from reactive prompting to proactive insights that deliver answers before you even ask.Rising Expectations: As tools improve, user expectations for speed and accuracy skyrocket, requiring businesses to ensure their data plumbing is solid. Join us as we explore how to prepare for this accelerated rate of change and why proactive organizations will have a significant leg up in 2026.

In this episode, Scott sits down with Mike Duerksen, Founder and CEO of Buildgood, a fundraising growth agency serving nonprofits across Canada and the US. Mike shares his journey from a frustrated fundraiser to an agency founder determined to eliminate the "black box" of data and strategy. The conversation explores the psychology of giving through "Self-Determination Theory"—ensuring donors feel autonomy, competence, and connectedness. Mike also breaks down the cultural differences between the US and Canadian markets, noting that while the US is faster and more entrepreneurial, Canada remains deeply relationship-driven. The "Black Box" Problem: Mike founded Buildgood to create a more transparent agency relationship regarding data and strategy. Donor Psychology: Utilizing "Self-Determination Theory" (Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness) to drive loyalty and higher lifetime value. Market Dynamics: A look at the speed and entrepreneurial nature of the US market versus the polite, relationship-heavy Canadian market. The F1 Analogy: Why organizations should not slow down during economic downturns, inspired by racing driver Ayrton Senna. The Teaching Hospital Model: Buildgood’s mission to care for clients (patients) while teaching the industry (doctors). Upcoming Event: The Build Good Summit, taking place May 13-14 in Toronto.

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui welcome Matt Reed, founder of 10th Avenue Consulting, to announce a major organizational milestone: the acquisition of 10th Avenue by Belmar. Matt Reed shares his journey from a frustrated client to a consultant determined to shift the industry standard for nonprofits. The trio dives deep into the specific challenges facing the Health and Human Services (HHS) sector, including the need for rapid digital transformation to meet new payer requirements like CalAIM. They also introduce "Care Ready," a prescriptive Salesforce package designed to get organizations live in just 6-8 weeks with a focus on long-term adoption through mandatory post-launch support. Tune in to hear how this partnership aims to fix the "broken" consulting model and deliver faster value to mission-driven organizations. The Acquisition: Belmar has acquired 10th Avenue Consulting to strengthen its expertise in the nonprofit and Health and Human Services (HHS) sectors. The Origin Story: Matt Reed founded 10th Avenue after a disappointing experience as a client, where a massive budget didn't yield the desired results. The "Care Ready" Solution: This is a pre-built Salesforce package designed for HHS organizations to go live in 6-8 weeks rather than months or years. A Different Support Model: The model requires six months of ongoing support to help clients iterate on the system after they have started using it, ensuring higher adoption. Declarative First: The team emphasizes using Salesforce's declarative (no-code) features so clients can maintain the system themselves without needing expensive developers.

In this special episode released to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Scott Billows sits down with Katherine Such, CEO of Easter Seals Alberta. Approaching its 75th anniversary, Easter Seals Alberta continues to pursue its vision of inspiring potential and building community by removing barriers for individuals with disabilities across the province. Katherine shares her unique leadership journey, rising from a summer student to CEO and discusses how the organization manages to support individuals from birth to age 99+. The conversation dives into the business challenges of the non-profit sector, including the need to diversify revenue streams through corporate retreats at Camp Horizon and the critical role of digital transformation. Scott and Katherine explore how their current technology partnership is streamlining administrative burdens, allowing the team to focus less on paperwork and more on human connection. Key Takeaways: Holistic Support: unlike many organizations that focus on specific cohorts, Easter Seals Alberta serves individuals with all types of disabilities from birth through to end of life (99+), covering the entire province. Revenue Diversification: To offset rising costs and maintain low fees for clients, the organization is utilizing its Camp Horizon facility to host corporate retreats, weddings, and conferences. Digital Transformation: Following a merger with the Children’s Link Society, the organization is implementing a centralized Salesforce database to reduce administrative time, improve reporting, and prevent clients from having to re-tell traumatic stories repeatedly. Leadership Advice: Katherine advises leaders facing complex challenges to "be curious" and start from the ground up to identify the root of the problem before jumping to solutions.

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui return to discuss the launch and rising popularity of "Hypercare," Belmar Cloud’s specialized approach to Salesforce managed services and support. Just as a home requires ongoing maintenance like changing filters or tending to landscaping, to retain its value and function, a Salesforce environment requires dedicated upkeep to prevent it from degrading or becoming inefficient. Scott and Matt explore why organizations are moving toward flexible, subscription-based support models to maximize their technology investments. They break down the specific benefits of Hypercare through three distinct organizational lenses: For CEOs and Executives: Outsourcing support offers a more cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time employees, while providing continuity of knowledge that protects the business when internal staff move on. For CIOs and IT Directors: A dedicated team ensures the system stays on the cutting edge of security compliance and release cycles, allowing IT leaders to sleep better at night knowing the "plumbing" is secure. For End Users: Moving beyond playing "defense" (fixing bugs), Hypercare allows teams to play "offense" by continuously improving features, which boosts morale and keeps users engaged with the platform. Tune in to learn how to keep your Salesforce environment in tip-top shape. For more information on Belmar’s Hypercare plans, visit belmarcloud.com. Key Takeaways Cost Efficiency: Hypercare delivers a level of service often at a lower price point than a full-time employee, who cannot dedicate 100% of their time solely to Salesforce maintenance. Risk Mitigation: The model relies on a cross-functional team rather than a single individual, reducing the risk associated with employee turnover. Security & Compliance: Regular maintenance ensures that security standards are upheld, user access is managed, and new packages are properly tested. User Satisfaction: A well-maintained system that evolves with user feedback prevents frustration and ensures high adoption rates.

In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows sits down with Melissa From, the President and CEO of the Calgary Food Bank. Melissa shares her journey of leading a complex, 40-year-old organization that she lovingly calls her "40-year-old startup". Having stepped in after a 23-year CEO, Melissa discusses the surprising complexity of the food bank, which operates more like a massive logistics company with forklifts, 5-ton trucks, and intricate inventory management. Last year alone, the organization distributed 20 million pounds of food and received over $45 million in in-kind donations. Melissa details the organization's new five-year strategic plan, which is centered on the mission "to make food accessible to everyone in our city". She provides a masterclass in change management, explaining how she is compressing this five-year plan into two years by "building the plane as her team flies it". Key to this transformation was getting staff buy-in. Melissa describes: Conducting roundtable sessions with all 110 staff, 10 at a time. Collecting confidential feedback on "pink post-it notes". Pushing back on the board's initial mission statement ("Feed more people"). Creating a staff working group to rewrite the mission, pillars, and corporate values from the ground up. Melissa also discusses her leadership philosophy of "radical candor", her belief that "good charity is good business", and the future vision for the Calgary Food Bank, which includes centralizing its warehouse and opening new "retail outlet" franchise locations throughout the city.

Welcome back to Belmar Bytes. In Episode 19, host Scott Billows announces a new product offering called Hypercare. Hypercare has historically been a one-month offering added onto implementation projects to help customers successfully transition to using Salesforce. Now, Belmar is extending this offering to organizations that have been using Salesforce for some time and need a managed service to help them maximize their investment. Scott outlines several types of organizations that Hypercare is designed for: Organizations using Salesforce without a dedicated internal administrator often rely on an "accidental admin" who knows Salesforce but administers the system from the side of their desk. Organizations considering further investment in Salesforce who lack an internal team to help with the next phase are prime candidates for Hypercare. Organizations that have not yet moved to Salesforce but need help developing a roadmap, preparing for the board, or budgeting are also great candidates for Hypercare. This episode details the three main benefits of Hypercare: Expert advice on demand: Hypercare is sold as a flexible 30-day auto-renewing contract and provides a full complement of resources for everything from basic admin configuration to in-depth configuration and development. Long-term continuity and support: It addresses the high cost and knowledge-loss challenges of relying on a single, full-time admin. Hypercare provides a dedicated team, ensuring no gaps in coverage. Proactive and cost-effective: The service ensures proactive management of your Salesforce environment, handling security, system administration, and Salesforce's three major annual releases. It offers the flexibility to scale up or down at a cost often less than a full-time employee. Ultimately, Hypercare is designed to be sector-agnostic and help organizations unlock the full value that exists within their Salesforce investment.

In Episode 18 of Belmar Bytes, hosts Scott Billows and Matt Hui return after a brief hiatus spent at Dreamforce in San Francisco. Fresh from the "crazy week" , the two dedicate the episode to validating the predictions they made a few weeks prior. Scott and Matt recap their four predictions and analyze the outcomes: Scott's Google-Salesforce Partnership: Scott had predicted a major expansion of the Google-Salesforce partnership. He admits he was "a little off" , as the major announcement was with OpenAI , though Salesforce also announced a partnership with Anthropic. Matt's Agent Force 3.0: Matt had predicted "Agent Force 3.0". He jokes he was "off by about two numbers" , as Salesforce introduced "Agent Force 360". They also discuss the introduction of "Agent Force Vibes" , which aligns with the idea of configuring Salesforce by typing into a prompt. Matt's Slack as the Front Door: Matt's prediction of Slack as the main interface or "front door" earned him "full marks". They discuss how Salesforce is positioning Slack as the "agentic operating system" , allowing users to access rich data simply by typing a message instead of running reports. Scott's Agentic Everything: Scott's prediction of the "dawn of the agentic everything" was also spot on. He notes that everything at Dreamforce was "agent force" , right down to the main keynote slogan: "to the agentic enterprise". The hosts agree this transformation is "orders of magnitude larger" than the previous shift from Classic to Lightning. To conclude, both Scott and Matt agree that the most exciting development is Slack as the front door, which they believe will "knock down so many barriers" and "unlock so much value" for customers.

With Dreamforce just a week away, the city of San Francisco is buzzing with energy. In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows and Matt Hui are back to share their bold predictions for the biggest announcements and trends you can expect from this year's conference. From a potential game-changing partnership with Google to the next evolution of AI, the hosts dive into what could be revealed. Scott and Matt discuss what they're most looking forward to, including the speakers, concerts, and connecting with customers in person. In this episode, you’ll hear predictions about: A Google Partnership: Scott predicts a major product partnership announcement between Salesforce and Google, especially with Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, scheduled to speak. The Evolution of AgentForce: Matt expects an "AgentForce 3.0" announcement, with AI interfaces evolving beyond text to include audio, video, and photo inputs. Slack as the New Front Door: A deeper integration between Slack and Salesforce could position Slack as the primary interface for users. In-Product AI Enhancements: Scott anticipates new, built-in AgentForce features for core products like Service Cloud and Sales Cloud, designed to make everyday use easier and more powerful for all customers. Human-Centric Marketing: Matt suggests Salesforce will continue to invest in celebrity endorsements and experience-based partnerships to make technology like AI feel more approachable and human. Plus, find out about the panel Scott and Matt are moderating at the Philanthropy Lounge on Thursday, October 16th at 10 a.m. PST. They will be joined by Tom Zazueta from Valley Health Foundation and Eleanor Castillo Sumi from Ohana Healthcare Partners for a conversation you won't want to miss.

In this episode of the Belmar Bytes podcast, host Scott Billows sits down with his colleague and friend, Austin Stonebreaker, to discuss modernizing digital communications in the political space. Stonebreaker, who spent a decade as a digital director for prominent U.S. senators, shares his experience and insights on the challenges and opportunities he’s encountered on Capitol Hill and beyond. The two talk about how congressional offices often use outdated communication strategies and tools, such as sending generic monthly newsletters to static lists. Austin explains that modern tools, like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, allow for targeted, impactful communication by sending the right message to the right person at the right time. Austin also provides strategic advice for political campaigns, PACs, and membership-based organizations. He highlights the importance of using modern technology and having a solid strategy, including smart data acquisition and a consistent sending schedule, to avoid being flagged as spam by email providers. He explains how his firm, Alpine Data Strategies, helps organizations acquire high-quality, targeted data to better engage with their audiences.

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui celebrate a significant milestone: the 15th episode coinciding with the company's 15-year anniversary on September 25, 2025. In this episode, Scott and Matt take a trip down memory lane, tracing the company's evolution from a small team working with for-profit and public sector organizations to becoming the Salesforce partner they are today. Scott shares the company's early days, including the decision to pivot to Salesforce after recognizing its potential dominance in the market. The conversation covers the initial sales strategy of building relationships with Salesforce account executives and the organic growth into the public sector and nonprofit spaces. They also discuss the misconception that nonprofit organizations are unsophisticated and underfunded, highlighting how their needs are often as complex as those of for-profit companies. Looking ahead, Scott and Matt discuss the future of the company and the broader technological landscape, expressing excitement about the opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to their customers. They reflect on the legacy of building enduring tools for public sector and nonprofit clients, and how the company continues to evolve to meet changing needs.

In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows and Matt Hui discuss the current landscape and emerging trends within the nonprofit sector. Matt highlights financial challenges, including a reduction in available funding and a decline in donors, which has forced organizations to get creative in how they secure support. The conversation transitions to how technology can address these challenges, but Matt cautions that it's not a "magic wand". Instead, he frames technology as a way to scale impact, do more with less, and combat staff burnout and high turnover. Scott and Matt explain that many employees, particularly a younger, digital-first generation, are leaving jobs because they are burdened with manual, inefficient tasks like data entry that prevent them from focusing on their core mission. Beyond internal challenges, Matt also emphasizes that donor and client expectations for a seamless digital experience are at an all-time high. A poor digital experience, such as a difficult-to-use donation form or an outdated client portal, can lead to a loss of support or even prevent vulnerable populations from receiving the services they need. To address these issues, Scott and Matt recommend that organizations involve their staff in the technology transformation process from the very beginning. By communicating the value and showing incremental progress, leaders can foster buy-in and excitement among their team members. They conclude by encouraging leaders to get started on their digital journey and consider partnering with an expert to develop a technology roadmap, which can help guide them through the process.