A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Maureen Adams, CAO, City of Cornwall | Member, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC)
Maureen Adams is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Cornwall, as well as the Chair of the EOLC’s Integrated, Intelligent Transportation Systems Working Group. Maureen will help provide an overview of the Working Group’s activities related to the freight sector, stimulating new services for commuters, and provide an update on initiatives such as the EOLC’s One-Window Permitting System for Freight Transportation in Eastern Ontario, in addition to the MACAVO initiative related to autonomous vehicles.
Speaking in:
Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development, Frontenac County
Richard is Manager of Economic Development for Frontenac County, where his role considers all factors of community health from business development and tourism, to community transportation, access to health care, and promoting agriculture and local food initiatives. Frontenac County has recently seen success in community development through the launch of a regional brand, which led to a local business ambassador network from which several initiatives have launched, including the award-winning Open Farms event that takes place each September. During COVID-19, the value of a connected and collaborative business community has been apparent as Richard and his team have worked to provide advice and support to local businesses through a year of challenge, uncertainty, and in some cases, opportunity.
Prior to joining Frontenac County, Richard had the privilege to serve on Kingston’s City Council. Through that position, he engaged with the community at many levels, and through several community board positions at the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, KFLA Public Health, Town Homes Kingston, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and Kingston Economic Development.
Speaking in:
Rob Arkell, B.Comm, M. Sustainability, LEED AP, Senior Operations Manager Cambium Inc.
Sustainability Specialist for Cambium, Rob leads the company’s activities in providing sustainability strategies to our public and private sector clients. Previous projects include the development of institutional and municipal government sustainability plans, and community energy plans for small and medium sized communities. More recently his project work and personal education has focused on waste and the circular economy. His project work includes leading the development of waste management plan and strategies for municipalities and First Nation communities. Complimenting his waste related project work, Rob recently developed on online course for Fleming College entitled Transitioning to the Circular Economy, as well as his Masters’ research into the potential to implement the circular economy in rural Ontario communities. Additionally, Rob’s experience includes development and implementation of a sustainability partnership program; the creation of a customized sustainability toolkit featuring examples of policies, programs, and best practices; leading stakeholder engagement and community consultation initiatives; and, qualitative research analysis. Prior to entering the field of sustainability, Rob spent 15 years managing shopping centres and warehouse facilities where his experience included project management, the development of waste reduction programs, the development of energy and water conservation programs, and his participation in a LEED Silver certified renovation/expansion project. Rob holds a Masters of Sustainability from Trent University, a Bachelor of Commerce in Business & Economics from University of Windsor, as well as the designation of LEED Associated Professional through the Canadian Green Building Council. Mr. Arkell will be a resource to Ms. Dzurko throughout the project and participate in internal meetings regarding the project to provide input into options and recommendations being proposed. Mr. Arkell will act as a back up Project Manager for this work.
Speaking in:
Jennifer Baker, Jennifer Baker Consulting Ltd. – Simplifying Social Media
Jennifer Baker provides quality training and consulting on social media to businesses and organizations of all sizes. Using her degree in adult education, Jennifer goes beyond explaining the importance of social media and gives her clients the skills and confidence they need to maintain their digital presence. Through careful attention to each client’s needs, time constraints, and skill levels, Jennifer works with individuals to make social media work for their business. Jennifer is a part-time instructor at St. Lawrence College in the Online & Continuing Education Department and a contributor to Social Media Today. Jennifer has a Master in Education (2019), Bachelor of Education – Adult Education (2013) and a Bachelor of Arts in Business & Economics (2007). Jennifer is a Hootsuite Certified Professional and a Hootsuite Ambassador.
Speaking in:
Jasjit Bawa, Manager, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s Funding
Jasjit Bawa is a Manager in the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s Funding Administration Branch. His team manages the intake, assessment and the execution of funding agreements for the Regional Development Program which includes the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and Eastern Ontario Development Fund. Jasjit’s role involves leading the development and delivery of programs which involves partnerships with multiple levels of government, industry associations and other subject matter leaders. Prior to assuming his current role Jasjit worked on the design and delivery of the Ontario Together Fund which is intended to help businesses provide innovative solutions or retool their operations in efforts to support the Ontario’s fight against COVID-19.
Speaking in:
Louis Béland, Entrepreneur
Louis Béland is an entrepreneur focused on helping others follow their dreams. Raised in an entrepreneurial family and immersed in the community from a young age, Louis’s passion naturally rests in igniting the same enthusiasm for business in youth and creating opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Louis has ventured into many different business sectors, including media production, an integrations startup in New Zealand, and an artisanal roastery and coffee shop for which he earned himself Young Entrepreneur awards two years in a row. From start-ups to succession planning, from public speaking to mentoring and coaching, Louis loves sharing his experience and passion with anyone who will listen. He now leads youth initiatives and entrepreneurial support initiatives for the Société économique de l’Ontario, a provincial network with an innovative approach to engage all of the Francophone and bilingual community’s stakeholders in fostering the prosperity of Ontario and Canada.
Speaking in:
Steve Brown, PMP, Manager, Cybersecurity, BDO
Steve is a Manager in Cybersecurity in BDO Canada’s Consulting Practice. He is a PMP certified Senior Project Manager with over 12 years of software project management and program management experience. He has a solid understanding of tools and techniques for planning, organizing, monitoring and controlling IT/software delivery projects.
Speaking in:
Rita Byvelds, Manager, Funding Administration Branch, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Rita Byvelds is a Manager with the Funding Administration Branch, MEDJCT. She has worked for the Ontario government for more than 25 years, first at OMAFRA and now with MEDJCT. She was part of the team that developed the regional funding programs and more recently the Ontario Together Fund. She holds an Ec. D. designation and has completed an MBA. She is a strong proponent of regional economic development and collaboration.
Speaking in:
Tim Caddigan, MBA, Senior Director Programming and Community Relations, Cogeco
Tim oversees 18 local television channels across Ontario under the brand YourTV. These channels partner with municipalities and local organizations to ensure that local issues are covered and promoted. During COVID, the work of YourTV became crucial in helping local health officials keep their residents informed.
Additionally, his team manages many community initiatives throughout the municipalities that Cogeco serves. He is the President and CEO of an independent local television channel (a subsidiary of Cogeco) serving the city of Hamilton.
Tim is a big believer in the importance of communities and the responsibility we all have in contributing to their success. Tim recently completed two years as Chair of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and was a past Director for the Art Gallery of Burlington. Previously, he served as Chair of Showplace Peterborough, is the founding chair of both the Canada Day and the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Peterborough.
Speaking in:
Kelly Campbell, MBA, PMP, Partner & National Strategy Lead, BDOn
Kelly Campbell is the National Strategy Partner in BDO Canada’s Management Consulting Practice. Kelly has more than twenty years of experience providing public and private sector clients with strategic advice in the areas of economic development, planning, organizational reviews, benchmarking, performance management, portfolio management and business process development. Kelly brings strong communication, facilitation and problem-solving skills to every engagement, and has a strong track record of success in obtaining buy in for bold strategic decisions from senior management and staff alike.
Speaking in:
Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Sommer grew up on a small family farm in Eastern Ontario, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. As the seventh generation of her family to be raised on that farm, Sommer learned firsthand through woodlot management, farming practices and waterfront living that everything in the natural environment is connected and that decisions we make today impact our land, health and communities for years to come.
Since graduating from Queen’s University in 2001, Sommer has been fortunate to work for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. She began as a Resource Specialist in planning and regulations, later joining the newly formed drinking water source protection program as a Communications Specialist and then Co-Project Manager. In 2013, she became the General Manager of the RVCA, a position that enables her to promote watershed management and community engagement.
Speaking in:
Denyse Cowling, Public Sector Lead – Talent Solutions, LinkedIn
Denyse has over 20+ years’ experience working with public sector organizations around their talent strategy development; workforce planning; and transformations. Her current role at LinkedIn is as a Public Sector Lead for their Talent Solutions line of business, where she focuses on working with provincial, municipal, healthcare and broader public sector organizations to innovate their recruitment and talent management strategies. Her focus with these organizations is to demonstrate how they can utilize LinkedIn’s data and tools in the areas of government policy and research to analyze trends and information in both the labour and economic markets.
Speaking in:
Trevor Crowe, Prince Edward County
Trevor Crowe is a Community Services & Programs Coordinator for The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward. Having completed 3 BR+E programs over the last few years, he has gained insight into how the lack of appropriate housing in ‘The County’ has affected the availability of workforce, creating bottlenecks for economic expansion. He will also speak to efforts that the County is undertaking to help address these bottlenecks.
Speaking in:
Brett Crowley, Project Coordinator for Limestone Analytics
Brett Crowley is a Project Coordinator for Limestone Analytics. Since joining the company he has worked on cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses and program evaluations for projects related to infrastructure, nutrition, education and the environment. Prior to joining Limestone, Brett’s work and studies focused on the design and optimization of water and sanitation services, both in Canada and abroad. Brett is curious about the ways in which design, analytics and systems thinking can be applied to solve the world’s complex problems.
Speaking in:
Joey Cyples, CPA, CMA, Specialist, Business Development, Enbridge Gas Inc.
Joey Cyples is a Chartered Professional Accountant in the province of Ontario and has worked for Enbridge for seven years. He has held several positions at Enbridge in Finance, Audit, and most recently Business Development. In his current role, he seeks to help organizations understand the benefits of natural gas and supports the transition to compressed and renewable natural gas (CNG, RNG) in transportation. Joey and his team also recently commissioned three new public access, heavy duty capable CNG refueling stations at truck stops along the highway 401 corridor in Windsor, London and Napanee, Ontario.
Before joining Enbridge, Joey was the Financial Controller for St. Clair Technologies Inc. He is married with two children and lives in Wallaceburg, Ontario where he volunteers his time as a board member and Treasurer for the Wallaceburg and District Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s 2035 Strategic Advisory Committee.
Speaking in:
Craig Desjardins, Director, Office of Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships, City of Kingston | Member, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC)
Craig Desjardins is the Director of the Office of Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships for City of Kingston, in addition to the Chair of the EOLC’s Workforce Development and Deployment Working Group. Craig will provide an overview of the Working Group’s discussions over the past year, including data and analytics used for the EOLC’s various labour market initiatives, and describe the experiences throughout the COVID-19 period as well as issues that are likely to dominate the Eastern Ontario landscape in the coming months.
Speaking in:
Alysha Dominico, Project Coordinator of the EOMWDP
Alysha Dominico is CEO of Tangible Words, a Growth Agency. As a Growth Agency, Tangible Words helps companies reach greater revenue growth. Tangible Words offers the strategy and the muscle to companies who are not growing as fast as they used to, or who must prepare for export; or who must grow their sales, customer service or marketing. Tangible Words has won awards for leadership of women, digital success and innovation, quality of writing, and for sales growth. As CEO, Alysha has been a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year and led the company from a 1 person service provider to a 10-person agency. But best of all, Tangible Words’ customers have seen shorter sales cycles, closed $600K in net new business in 5 months, and increased online sales by 340%.
Speaking in:
Leslie Dunford-Yee, Vice Chair, Council for Persons with Disabilities
Ten years ago, I became legally blind. One of the hardest things for anyone with a disability to do is ask for help. It was through my involvement with Not for Profit organizations that they helped me understand I was not alone and it was ok to ask for and receive the help needed.
I became more independent, informed, and social. Now I am Chair person for Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter, Vice Chair for Council for Persons with Disabilities, volunteer for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and sit on many committees within my community and organizations.
Not for Profits are an integral part of our community, and I am happy to be supporting and contributing to them as they have and continue to support me.
Speaking in:
Arlene Etchen , Outreach Specialist, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Arlene Etchen is an Outreach Specialist in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Partnerships and Promotions Team. She has been working in the urban planning and real estate sectors for more than 20 years.
In her role, Arlene is focused on engaging with professionals in the housing industry, non-profit housing providers and provincial and municipal governments to ensure access to the latest and most relevant housing information from CMHC.
Speaking in:
David Fell, CEO of Eastern Ontario Regional Network Inc. | Member, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC)
David Fell is the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), which has served to bring high-speed internet connectivity to Eastern Ontario for the past decade. As a key member of the EOLC, David will present the EORN’s recent and successful efforts to secure funding commitments for a $270-million mobile broadband and cellular network gap project for the region. EORN is also currently working on the Gig Project, to bring internet speeds of 1 Gigabyte to homes and business in Eastern Ontario. Find out what this could mean for your community, the businesses seeking to grow here, and travellers who come to or through your area.
Speaking in:
Karen Fischer, AREDA, OMAFRA Economic Development Division
Karen Fischer is an Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Advisor, working as part of a very dynamic team in Eastern Ontario. Her role is to assist rural municipalities, rural business organizations, sector organizations, and community groups through coaching, training, building partnerships and providing resources and tools to help increase economic and community development capacity.
Prior to this position, Karen was Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) Provincial Specialist with OMAFRA, as well as Economic Development Manager for Frontenac County and the Town of Petawawa. Karen has worked in small rural communities for most of her career. She has an in-depth knowledge and is very passionate about business retention and expansion, business and community development, Teeny Tiny communities, local food, and helping to build vital rural communities.Karen graduated from University of Guelph, with a major in Environmental Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. She attained a Certificate in Municipal Administration from St. Lawrence College.
She resides in the rural Village of Consecon on beautiful Wellers Bay, and has a great love for nature, kayaking, motorcycling, travel, and photography.
Speaking in:
Tony Fleming, Cunningham Swan LLP
Tony Fleming is a partner in the Municipal Group and Land Use Planning and Development Group at Cunningham Swan. The Law Society of Upper Canada has recognized Tony as a Certified Specialist in Municipal Law. As a Certified Specialist, Tony has demonstrated expertise in the fields of municipal law and land use planning and development law. Tony provides advice to municipal councils and senior administrators on all aspects of municipal governance, procurement, by-law drafting and enforcement, election issues, conflicts of interest, property tax collection and tax sales, freedom of information matters and expropriation. Tony provides land use planning and general municipal law advice to numerous municipalities in eastern Ontario. A significant aspect of Tony’s practice is devoted to land use planning on behalf of local municipal governments, including appearing regularly before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. Prior to joining Cunningham Swan, Tony was Senior Legal Counsel with the City of Kingston. Tony focused on providing advice on municipal, land use planning and environmental law with the City of Kingston, building on his experience in private law firms in Toronto where Tony practiced as a land use planning and environmental lawyer.
Speaking in:
Padraic Foley, Director, Business Development and Commercialization, OCE
Padraic is a Director of Business Development and Commercialization at OCE, where he helps lead a pan-provincial team of Business Development and Commercialization Managers to find out what’s needed by industry and explore the halls and labs of academia for the latest breakthroughs in research.
The Business Development and Commercialization team is seen as key commercialization brokers in the innovation communities that we serve across the province. The team helps commercialize innovations, transfer technologies and develop promising talent across unique and diverse stakeholder groups to grow the Ontario economy.
Prior to joining OCE, Padraic has had experience in developing industry academic partnerships and business development opportunities.
Speaking in:
Doug Fountain, Principal of Landscape Architecture, Fotenn
Doug Fountain is the Principal of Landscape Architecture and is based in Fotenn’s Ottawa office. Doug is a full and registered member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, l’Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec and the American Society of Landscape Architects. Prior to launching his own practice (F.D. Fountain Inc.) in 2001, Doug worked for several years in both the private and public sectors. Beginning his career in a municipal setting, he formed a foundation of knowledge around park and recreation planning. He has since transferred these skills into private practice by providing related design services to various government agencies as well as to commercial, residential and institutional developments.
Speaking in:
Donna Gillespie, CEO of Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Donna is an experienced leader who has managed a variety of small and medium enterprises in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. She has overseen significant community economic development initiatives in investment attraction, strategic planning, brand development, and corporate restructuring. Under her leadership as CEO, Kingston realized the highest levels of new foreign direct investment in the city’s history with the establishment of Portuguese fruit processer Frulact and Chinese infant formula manufacturer Feihe. Donna is a Board Member of Tourism Kingston and an Advisor to the Kingston Accommodation Partners. Donna has been involved with community associations and organizations in Kingston for over 25 years including Downtown Kingston! Business Improvement Association, Kingston Arts Council, Kingston Symphony Association, and the United Way of KFL&A. Currently, she volunteers her time as a Board Director of the Kingston Kid’s Triathlon, Thousand Island Playhouse, and Theatre Kingston.
Speaking in:
Cathy Ginsberg, People Focus Training Inc.
Cathy Ginsberg enables managers to create more inspiring workplaces; motivate and engage staff; conquer roadblocks; clarify goals; and improve outcomes. Through her impactful coaching programs, she works with people-oriented managers at all levels in organizations to achieve sustainable improvements. Her interactive workshops and conference sessions cover a range of topics ranging from interpersonal skills and goal setting, through to entrepreneurship, team leadership, and performance management. Her regular “Monday Motivation” videos bring practical, evidence-based insights into workplace motivation, shared with a wider audience on social media. As the owner of People Focus Training Inc., Cathy draws on her experience as a manager, coach and trainer in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, to deliver solid, workable strategies and solutions. Busy managers appreciate her direct, knowledgeable approach to real-world challenges.
Speaking in:
Lynne Groulx, Director, Business Advisory Services Branch – Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Lynne Groulx is Director for the Business Advisory Services Branch – Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Lynne has been involved in Economic Development for over 30 years. A researcher by training, Lynne now heads a team of Senior Business Advisors who actively engage with Ontario businesses with tradeable goods and services. Lynne has a certificate in Economic Development, Commercial Lending, as well as a diploma in International Trade and in Lean Manufacturing.
Speaking in:
Bill Harvie, Investment Attraction Consultant, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Bill Harvie is an Investment Attraction Consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and has been with the public service since 2008. Bill works with both international and domestic food and beverage processors, to develop Ontario-based investment plans.
Prior to joining government, Bill worked for over ten years in the private sector. After beginning in seed, agrochemical and fertilizer sales, Bill shifted to the food trade, where he managed sales and business development for a Canadian food exporting company. During this period, he travelled throughout Latin America and was eventually based in Central America.
Bill holds a B.Sc. (Agr.) and MBA from the University of Guelph.
Speaking in:
Bahman Kashi, Founder and President of Limestone Analytics
Bahman Kashi is the founder and president of Limestone Analytics and an adjunct faculty at Queen’s University. Prior to Limestone, he worked as a consultant in the areas of public investment management, economic analysis of development projects, and evaluation of social programs. Dr. Kashi has served as an advisor on numerous projects for the World Bank, USAID, and the Inter-American Development Bank for the past 11 years. Dr. Kashi has authored peer-reviewed publications and professional guidelines on the use of economic analysis in energy and nutrition, and the integration of gender and other social and environmental considerations into economic analysis.
Speaking in:
Ann-Marie Kelleher , Senior Economic Development Officer, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Ann-Marie Kelleher has been a Senior Economic Development Officer with FedDev Ontario since 2010. Previously she worked as an Economic Development Consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, eastern region and was the Director of Rural & Tourism Development for the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation.
Ann-Marie works with Community Futures Development Corporations, The Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation; communities and economic development partners from across eastern Ontario to access funding and collaborative partnerships with FedDev Ontario.
Speaking in:
Ernst Lueger, Lead – International Program, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Ernst Lueger is the Lead, International Programs, with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s International Representation Branch. In this role, he works with Ontario’s international Trade and Investment Offices (TIOs) to promote the Province’s economic interests abroad. The TIOs are a network of offices located in Canadian diplomatic Missions around the world. Working closely with Canadian federal, provincial and municipal partners, these offices raise Ontario’s profile and build commercial relations in key global markets. They promote exports from Ontario, attract new companies, offices and facilities to Ontario and facilitate international research and innovation partnerships. Prior to his current position, Ernst was a Senior Policy Advisor with Ontario’s Office of International Relations and Protocol, working on the Premier’s international engagement and trade missions. Before joining the Ontario Public Service in 2015, Ernst was a Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Austria and worked for the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organisations in Vienna.
Speaking in:
Steve Maloney, President, SP Maloney Corp
Steve Maloney is an inspiring, creative motivator who truly walks his talk. Since 1990 as president of SP Maloney Corp and Newport Group Inc. he has been providing his clients unique tools and solutions that enable them to improve in all areas of Human Capital Development. Steve has written articles on leadership and employee development that have been published in the national magazines Canadian Mining Journal, HR Professional, and Profit’s E-newsletter. An entrepreneur, a volunteer, an avid sportsman, and a life-long learner – Steve lives in Flesherton, Ontario.
Speaking in:
Carrie Manchuk, Manager, Partnership Initiatives, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Carrie Manchuk is the Manager of Partnership Initiatives at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, where she leads the Ministry’s site selection and location advisory services for investors interested in establishing new footprints in Ontario. She also oversees Ontario’s Investment Ready Program – the first province-wide site certification program in Canada. She has worked for the Government of Ontario for over 15 years in a variety of senior policy and program delivery roles at the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Carrie has a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary
Speaking in:
Nour Mazloum, Communications and Events Officer, Kingston Economic Development Corporation and QCA:K Graduate
Nour was hired as a recent graduate through the Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston program. She assists in the development, writing and production of business collaterals, media strategies, and organizing events.
Nour graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Philosophy and Political Studies and is currently a contributing writer for the Kingstonist. During the summer, she volunteers her time to teach running at the Running Room.
Prior to her role at Kingston EcDev, Nour worked as a Project Intern at Queen’s University and as a Communications Associate for Queen’s IT Services. Nour was the Chair of the Policy Committee at Sexual Assault Centre Kingston and had been on its Board of Directors for two years and was also a Director and Secretary on the Sustainable Kingston Board.
Speaking in:
Christa McCorquodale, Executive Director, Heads Up for Inclusion
Christa has been working in the not-for-profit sector for 14 years, beginning in adult education and moving to her current field of social services and inclusion. She is a passionate advocate for affordable housing, and have been a volunteer Board member with a local housing co-operative for 6 years.
Speaking in:
Simon McLinden, Cornwall and The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation
A native of New Zealand with a penchant for world travel, Simon settled on Canada’s East Coast in 2009 and made Cornwall and area his new home in 2016. A strong passion for community building led Simon to his role as the Project Manager of the Cross Border Partnership Program in 2016, where he contributed to multiple award-winning, cross-community economic development projects and connections between First Nations and surrounding municipalities. Simon has been tapped to speak on the subject at events across North America.
Speaking in:
John McNutt, President and CEO, JA Peterborough, Lakeland and Muskoka
John McNutt is currently President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Peterborough, Lakeland and Muskoka. Whether it is as a local business leader, a committed volunteer, or a proud father and grandfather, John has made a positive impact on our region, our country, and on the global stage. Today, John is Chair, The Council for Persons with Disabilities and Immediate Past Chair, Heads up For Inclusion, but John’s passion for volunteering can be seen throughout his career. Key volunteer roles have included working with the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough/Kawartha Tourism Board, Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Committee, Kawarthafest, Kawartha Choice initiative, and Kawartha Lakes Northumberland Haliburton Training Board (which is now known as The Workforce Development Board). John is a proud and long-standing member of Rotary International, and he has received some of Rotary International’s highest honors in recognition of his work. In addition to his vast volunteer work, John and his wife Sheryl owned and operated Bridgenorth Pharmacy for 27 years.
Speaking in:
Greg Merlihan, Investment Attraction Consultant, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Greg Merlihan is an Investment Attraction Consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and has been with the public service since 2013. He is focused on engaging, supporting and problem solving to develop international food investment and contract manufacturing opportunities in Ontario. Prior to this role, Greg lead Ontario’s food export initiatives to the United States, promoting Ontario’s food processors and working with buyers to continue growing Ontario’s food exports.
Greg’s work for Ontario draws on a private sector career of over twenty-five years in the processing and food industry, with progressive responsibilities in operations leadership, sales & marketing and executive roles in Ontario.
Greg holds a degree from the University of Waterloo and serves on the program advisory board of the Craig Richardson Institute of Food Processing Technology.
Speaking in:
Vitoria Miles, Eastern Ontario College Consortium – Consortium des Collèges de l’est de l’Ontario
Victoria is a member of Algonquin College Corporate Training’s team of expert facilitators, and brings over 25 years of experience in helping organizations create wildly engaged people. Victoria consults nationally with a focus on helping organizations to shape and deliver stakeholder engagement strategies. She loves the challenge of inspiring leaders, helping them to understand their workplace culture and their people dynamics, then crafting one-of-a-kind tools to help them strengthen employee relationships. She provides counsel to corporate, public sector and non-profit clients, and loves a good whiteboard!
Speaking in:
Phil Mosher, Planner, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Phil is a Registered Professional Planner and member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. He is employed by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and previously worked for a rural-urban municipality in eastern Ontario. Phil has developed an understanding of legislation relevant to municipalities and the natural environment. He is passionate about respect and engagement, believing that all participants in the planning process are clients, whether landowners, board members, elected officials, developers or others. He supports opportunities to talk to clients about the benefits of smart growth and conservation. Phil likes to challenge the status quo and put himself in others’ shoes to understand differing viewpoints. He has personally planted over 300,000 trees as a silviculturist in his past life and is a certified wetland evaluator.
Speaking in:
Jeff Pajot, Public Services Health & Safety Association
Jeff is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and Certified Ergonomist (CCPE) with over 30 years of experience. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, specializing in Ergonomics. He joined the Public Services Health & Safety Association in 2007. Jeff worked as an Ergonomist for Canada Post, and then joined the WCB/WSIB where he was an Ergonomics Specialist for nine years. He also operated a private health & safety and ergonomics consulting business for several years, and then joined the health safety associations working in prevention. Jeff has gained experience in a wide variety of industries and specializes in Municipal Government Health & Safety.
He has taught ergonomics and occupational health and safety courses at Algonquin College for many years. Jeff completed his certificate in Occupational Health and Safety at Algonquin College in 2007.
Learn more about me at LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/jeff-pajot/76/313/716
Speaking in:
Kelly Pender, CAO, County of Frontenac | Member, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC)
Kelly Pender is the Chief Administrative Officer of the County of Frontenac, in addition to Chair of the EOLC’s Technology Integration and Innovation Working Group. Kelly has been instrumental in his approaches to stimulating innovation across the region, providing an opportunity for municipalities – including EDOs – to provide local leadership, and creating a mechanism for innovators to move their yardsticks toward full commercialization, right in their home region.
Speaking in:
Laura Pettigrew, General Counsel for the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario
Laura Pettigrew, General Counsel for the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, graduated from Carleton University in 1981 and the University of Toronto Law School in 1985. She began her career at the firm of Goodman and Carr and later entered the public sector, working first for the Human Resources Secretariat and then for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal. She returned to the private sector to practice at Campbell, Pettigrew in Oakville, Ontario, before joining the Ombudsman of Ontario in 1992. Ms. Pettigrew has been involved in a number of the Special Ombudsman Response Team’s systemic investigations, and is active in the drafting of the Ombudsman’s reports and recommendations. As General Counsel, Ms. Pettigrew co-directs the Legal Services team and is a member of the Ombudsman’s executive management team. Ms. Pettigrew has conducted training in Canada and internationally on such subjects as complaint intake, administrative and oversight investigations and investigative report writing. She has also frequently appeared as a speaker and panellist to discuss the work of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Speaking in:
Karen Poste, Manager, Economic and Strategic Initiatives, City of Belleville
Having graduated top of her class in Business Administration from St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Karen has enjoyed working in municipal government for the last 31 years.
Starting her career as a land use planner, but having experience in by-law enforcement, emergency planning, budgeting and project management, Karen has been able to use this experience to help her in her daily tasks as the Manager of Economic and Strategic Initiatives for the City of Belleville. Business retention and business attraction are her main objectives, but she is involved in many different community building initiatives for the City, including tourism and destination development.
Karen was previously awarded the Ontario East Economic Developer of the Year Award by her peers and was also named “Business Woman of the Year” for the Bay of Quinte Region.
Speaking in:
Gary Pritchard , Manager of Environment and Consultations, Cambium Indigenous Professional Services
Gary Pritchard is Manager of Environment and Consultations for Cambium Indigenous Professional Services with over 16 years of experience. In the past, Gary (who is a member of Curve Lake First Nation) has had the privilege to work on behalf of First Nations peoples throughout Ontario. He has travelled and worked in 286 First Nations communities throughout Canada. He has brought a wealth of knowledge to both his Indigenous and non-Indigenous cliental performing a wide variety of services including: Indigenous Community Planning, land-use/traditional knowledge studies, capacity building, mediator between western science and traditional science and peer reviewer on behalf of Indigenous communities. One of Gary’s greatest strength is that he is often able to be the one who acts as the bridge between the Indigenous Community and the western style of government. Gary has successfully collaborated with many stakeholder groups, researchers, institutes, government agencies and Indigenous communities and political organizations to address environmental concerns and identify practical solutions to fisheries or environmental related issues. Gary also serves as a technical advisor and professor at three post-secondary institutes within Ontario.
Speaking in:
Noelle Reeve, Planner, Tay Valley Township
Noelle is an accredited land use planner with almost 30 years of experience in British Columbia, New Jersey and Ontario. She is the Planner for Tay Valley Township, a rural municipality west of Ottawa and North of Kingston with 32 lakes and rivers and a population of 5,600 that doubles in the summer. She has prepared Official Plans, Master Plans, Regional Plans, Urban Growth Targets and Watershed Plans. She has participated in creating Transportation Plans and Regional Equity Coalitions. She has authored reports on Natural Capital, Revitalization of Inner Suburbs, and Transfer of Development Rights. Beyond day to day development applications, Rural Homelessness, Aging in Community, and Climate Change are challenges for land use planning in Tay Valley as is a nascent interest in densifying Hamlets.
Speaking in:
Anne Robinson, President, Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association
Anne Robinson, President of the Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association, settled with her husband Ron, in Manotick in the mid-70’s. Always an active community volunteer and recently retired, Anne’s career included Cultural Supervisor, City of Nepean; Councilor, Rideau Township; Senior Recreation Planner, Anne Robinson & Associates; and Program Manager, City of Ottawa.
Speaking in:
Alan Rottenberg, General Partner of the William Harris Venture Fund and Program Founder
Alan Rottenberg has launched William Harris Venture Fund -targeted at startups in software, fintech and agritech. The fund is fully capitalized and is not at the moment seeking additional limited partners. The fund adds additional value to capital invested by mentoring and offering operational guidance to the portfolio members. Three companies are now in the portfolio.
Alan was Chief Marketing Officer at Ceridian from January 2012 until the end of 2015.
Alan is a proven business leader with a record of helping technology companies transform themselves into industry leaders that bring state-of-the art products to market. He is recognized throughout the software industry for helping companies grow and become innovative technology leaders. During his 13 years at Cognos (now an IBM company) he held a number of senior management roles, including senior vice president of marketing and business strategies, senior vice president of business intelligence, and senior vice president of analytical applications. During his tenure, Cognos became a worldwide leader in business intelligence, achieving significant growth in market share and revenue.
Speaking in:
Matthew Savino, Managing Partner, SHRP Limited
Matthew Savino is the Managing Partner of SHRP Limited, a Management Consulting firm that supports the HR and organizational requirements of small-to-medium sized enterprises. He is also a Co-Founder of HRLive, an online Software-as-a-Service company that provides fully outsourced HR to a variety of organizations across Central and Eastern Ontario.
Matthew has 20 years of progressive Business and Human Resources experience as a Director and Vice-President of Human Resources, and holds degrees in Economics and Law as well as certificates in Dispute Resolution & Mediation.
Matthew is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association and is recognized as a Certified Human Resources Executive. He is also a published author in the field of Performance Development and has been featured in the Globe and Mail, Financial Post, and HR Professional Magazine.
Speaking in:
Nicholas Seguin, Manager of Economic Development, Communications, and Tourism, SDG Counties
Nicholas Seguin is the Manager of Economic Development, Communications, and Tourism for the SDG Counties. Nick’s path to Economic Development has been less than typical. With a background in musical theatre, graphic design, photography, and audio production, he has learned and leveraged the power of storytelling through media.
Speaking in:
Marina Sloutsky, Outreach Representative , Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Marina is a representative on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Outreach team. She is also a social worker by trade who has always worked within a rights-based framework with vulnerable populations. Her passion for system responses and collective impact led her to the housing sector where she spent several years consulting in the implementation of Housing First responses to homelessness. At CMHC, she now works to ensure that communities and organizations have what they need to prevent and end the housing crises in their communities through accessible and innovative housing solutions. Marina holds a Master in Social Work and is always anchored in continuous improvement, equity and the voices of people with lived experience within the journey of creating communities where everyone has a home.
Speaking in:
Donna Smith, Executive Director, Manotick BIA
Donna Smith is the Executive Director for Manotick BIA (Business Improvement Area). She has a demonstrated history in working in the marketing and advertising industry and is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Advertising, Entrepreneurship, Event Management and Media Relations.
Speaking in:
Todd D. Storms, Templeman LLP
Todd D. Storms is a partner at the law firm Templeman LLP and head of the firm’s construction law and commercial/litigation departments.
Todd has been practicing law for 17 years starting his career in Toronto and working with international law firms in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal before moving his practice to the Belleville/Kingston area 7 years ago.
He advises a wide range of clients including municipalities, general contractors, subtrades, engineers and architects on a wide range of construction law matters.
In addition to representing construction clients at all levels of court in Ontario he has also acted for clients with respect to construction projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and New York state.
Todd was also counsel at the Elliot Lake Commission of Inquiry into the collapse of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, Ontario.
When not at work Todd participates in Ironman Triathlon competitions throughout North America.
Speaking in:
Lesley Thompson, Executive Director, Cornwall and The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation
Lesley Thompson is the Executive Director of Cornwall & The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC). She is also the Fund Manager for the Community Venture Capital Fund, a separate fund within the CFDC which aims to attract new investment and create globally competitive companies.
Lesley acts as an advocate for Akwesasne, Cornwall, and the United Counties and promotes collaboration and partnerships between the three regions. Lesley is responsible for leading a high-caliber team who focus on administering small business loans and grants, supporting small business with referrals and advice, working with the communities on strategic planning and directly administers and manages a number of economic development projects and programs across the region.
Lesley is a Graduate of the University of Guelph and has a background in politics, economics, commercial finance and entrepreneurship. Prior to serving the CFDC, Lesley was a Senior Account Manager with the Business Development Bank in Ottawa managing a portfolio valued at over $40Million. In her time with the CFDC, Lesley has grown the organization’s impact through increased lending and investment activity and involvement in a number of high priority regional economic and skills development initiatives.
Lesley sits as Chair of the Cornwall Region Entrepreneur, Artists, and Technologists Exchange (CREATE), Secretary/Treasurer for Community Futures Eastern Ontario, and is a member of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council, Heart of the City, the Cornwall Tourism Development Fund Advisory Committee, and the Southern Ontario Fund for Innovation Investment (SOFII) Review Committee.
As a leader, Lesley demonstrates compassion, perseverance, creativity and dedication. She values integrity, hard work, teamwork and collaboration above all.
Speaking in:
Chantal Tranchemontagne, Big Catch Communications & Perch magazine
A self-described creative crackerjack, Chantal Tranchemontagne has spent the last 20 years in a storytelling role for brands big and small. She is the founder of Big Catch Communications, a Cornwall-based content marketing agency, and also heads up Perch, a magazine that uses big and bold storytelling to reframe the way locals and tourists think of Cornwall, Akwesasne, and the SDG Counties.
Speaking in:
Candice Trickey, Director of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs in the Policy, Engagement, and Innovation, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
Candice Trickey is the Director of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs in the Policy, Engagement, and Innovation business unit of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). In this role, she is responsible for implementing and managing the IESO’s relationship strategy with municipalities, customers, media, sector stakeholders, and the public to ensure positive and productive partnerships. Candice has held a number of leadership positions within the IESO with a diverse portfolio including responsibility for improving control centre operations and emergency preparations, supporting the evolution of demand response in the province and customer relations for electricity system operations, where she oversaw the IESO’s response to customers during the 2003 blackout.
Speaking in:
Akhil Tyagi, Manager International Markets, International Business Growth Branch, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Akhil Tyagi is Manager, International Markets with the International Business Growth Branch, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. He leads a team of experts in international business development who assist Ontario companies to develop proficiency in exporting and to target business opportunities in interprovincial and International markets. Akhil’s team is responsible for international business development in Asia, EurAsia, Australia and Africa. He specializes in growth strategies with a focus on globalization. Prior to joining the Ministry, Akhil held several senior management and business development positions with leading engineering companies. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, India and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto).
Speaking in:
Kathryn Wood, Project Coordinator, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC)
Kathryn Wood is the President and CEO of Pivotal Momentum (formerly Natural Capital Resources Inc.) since October 2001, and carries a wealth of knowledge and experience of the Eastern Ontario region, particularly with respect to municipal government and policy decisions with the provincial and federal levels of government. She has expertise in strategic leadership, brand fulfillment, and collaboration development, and was instrumental in develop a targeted regional economic development strategy for Eastern Ontario. In June 2014, this strategy was published as the “Eastern Ontario Regional Economic Development Strategy” in June 2014 and, the following year, served as the basis for the creation of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council, a group for which she has acted as Project Coordinator since its inception.
Speaking in:
Martha Woods, Executive Director, Eastern Ontario Training Board
Martha Woods is the Executive Director of the Eastern Ontario Training Board. Martha has been working with the Eastern Ontario Training Board for over 10 years ensuring Workforce Development needs are met within the area of Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott, Russell and Akwesasne by conducting localized workforce research and actively engaging organizations and community partners. Martha is also Chair of the Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA), a Board Member of CREATE (Cornwall Innovation Centre), a Board Member of Heart of the City (HOTC) and the Community Representative for the Cornwall Police Service Board.
Speaking in: