In Between Meetings, Max Schramm, President & CEO of Lufthansa Technik Canada, shares how growing up in Eastern Germany shaped his resilience and leadership, and what brought him to Canada. We dig into why Lufthansa Technik expanded in Calgary (not the obvious choice in a Montreal-dominant aerospace country), what it takes to build a world-class engine maintenance operation, and how the SAIT partnership aims to solve a skills and accessibility gap, not a “labour shortage.” Max also compares Calgary’s ecosystem to Montreal’s, explains what’s still missing locally, and paints a vision for what a thriving aerospace and MRO hub in Alberta could look like over the next decade.

Takeaways:

Canada doesn’t have a labour shortage, it has a skills and accessibility shortage.
Quality, reliability, and safety are non-negotiable operating principles.
Calgary’s edge is collaboration, agility, and a can-do mindset.
SAIT partnership builds a direct pathway into engine maintenance skills.
Accessibility matters: tuition, salary, and tools remove invisible hurdles.
Montreal remains critical; Calgary adds new capacity and westward coverage.
Calgary needs stronger ecosystem connection and a unified industry voice.
A thriving future means world-class MRO density and stronger airline networks.

Max Schramm is President & CEO of Lufthansa Technik Canada and has spent 16 years in aviation within the Lufthansa group. He leads growth, workforce development, and ecosystem-building initiatives designed to expand Canada’s aerospace maintenance and engine repair capabilities.

Between Meetings is a video podcast with industry leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders. Each episode explores the realities of building, investing, and supporting innovation while catching guests between meetings during a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice. Since 2023, Between Meetings has been helping tell Calgary’s innovation story one conversation at a time.

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