#118 Pondcast with Bob Lund
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, Warren Barry sits down with Bob Lund, Corporate Health & Safety Manager at Main Road Group, for a candid and grounded conversation about youth in trades, safety leadership, and building meaningful career pathways. Bob shares his unexpected journey from mills, electrical work, and Alberta oil fields into safety management, highlighting how curiosity, mentorship, and hands-on experience shaped his career. Together, they explore what makes Main Road’s employee-owned, family-style culture exceptional, and why safety is less about rules and more about influence, ethics, and trust.
The conversation expands to the future of trades, education, and technology, challenging the idea that university is the only path to success. Warren and Bob emphasize the importance of early exposure, pre-apprenticeship programs, and real-world experience for young people—especially hands-on learners who thrive when building something tangible. They also discuss how AI will augment, not replace, skilled trades, reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human judgment, empathy, and experience. At its core, this episode is a reminder that the trades offer purpose, pride, financial stability, and the opportunity to make a real impact—on people, communities, and the youth get to leave their fingerprints on the world.
Website: Mainroad Highway Asset Management, Road & Bridge Maintenance
LinkedIn: (1) Robert Lund | LinkedIn
Instagram: @boblund79
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In this episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, Warren Barry sits down with Bob Lund, Corporate Health & Safety Manager at Main Road Group, for a candid and grounded conversation about youth in trades, safety leadership, and building meaningful career pathways. Bob shares his unexpected journey from mills, electrical work, and Alberta oil fields into safety management, highlighting how curiosity, mentorship, and hands-on experience shaped his career. Together, they explore what makes Main Road’s employee-owned, family-style culture exceptional, and why safety is less about rules and more about influence, ethics, and trust. The conversation expands to the future of trades, education, and technology, challenging the idea that university is the only path to success. Warren and Bob emphasize the importance of early exposure, pre-apprenticeship programs, and real-world experience for young people—especially hands-on learners who thrive when building something tangible. They also discuss how AI will augment, not replace, skilled trades, reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human judgment, empathy, and experience. At its core, this episode is a reminder that the trades offer purpose, pride, financial stability, and the opportunity to make a real impact—on people, communities, and the youth get to leave their fingerprints on the world. Website: Mainroad Highway Asset Management, Road & Bridge Maintenance LinkedIn: (1) Robert Lund | LinkedIn Instagram: @boblund79