From Duct Cleaning to Digital Design: The Proxima Origin Story

My name is Stephen MacLeod, and I was born and raised in Ottawa. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to computers, technology, and the digital world. That passion eventually led me to Algonquin College, where I studied Game Development and Design. I’ve always loved building things — worlds, systems, ideas — and technology has been my creative medium.

But like many journeys, mine didn’t start exactly where I imagined.

After college, I found myself working as a duct cleaner, far away from keyboards and code editors. Still, I held onto my passion. While working for my boss, I noticed he was spending a lot of money on digital marketing and website services. I knew I could help streamline things and deliver something better.

So I stepped in.

What started as me helping out with his digital needs quickly grew into something bigger. I began managing marketing tasks, improving his online presence, and producing results that were more effective and more affordable. That experience planted the seed for what would become Proxima Web & Brand.

I launched Proxima while still working full-time cleaning ducts. It wasn’t easy, but the work energized me in a way nothing else did. One project led to another, and soon I had multiple clients trusting me to build their websites, create their branding, and guide their digital direction.

Today, I’ve built many websites, helped shape brands, and grown Proxima into a modern digital agency built on passion, skill, and a drive to do things better.

My journey from ducts to digital taught me something important: opportunity can appear anywhere — even in a job that seems completely unrelated to your dreams. What matters is recognizing that moment and building something with it.

Proxima is more than my company. It’s the realization of the path I’ve been on my whole life, and the beginning of everything still to come.

You can connect with me on LinkedIn.