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THE POWER OF CHOICES
Matt Weinstein - California
Matt Weinstein, CPAE, is the founding president of Playfair, Inc., an international consulting company that presents innovative team building programs for more than 400 clients each year. His PBS television special "Fun Works!" brought Matt national acclaim as a pioneer in the field of experiential team building. Matt Weinstein was elected to the Professional Speaker's Hall of Fame by the United States National Speaker's Association, and was honored by Successful Meetings Magazine as one of the "21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century." |
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THINKING DIFFERENTLY
Cameron Johnson - Virginia
At only 25, Cameron Johnson is recognized as one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the world. Starting at the age of nine, he's founded more than a dozen successful businesses, many of which he's sold. Passionate and whip-smart about business, Johnson consults with Fortune 500 companies, garners extensive media coverage from CNN, The New York Times, CNBC and hundreds of other outlets, and was a runner up on Oprah's first prime time series, The Big Give, about philanthropy and business.
Johnson was earning $15,000 a day by the age of 15. By the time he left high school, he had a dozen profitable businesses under his belt. Overseas, he was the youngest American appointed to the board of a Tokyo-based company, and even hosted Beat the Boss, a popular entrepreneurial show on the BBC. Johnson is the author of You Call the Shots, and has spoken to hundreds of audiences, on subjects varying from business to social media to the economy. |
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EXCELLING THROUGH CHANGE
Lorraine Behnan - Ontario
Lorraine Behnan skilfully integrates her corporate consulting and theatre experience, including her years an actor with the Second City Comedy Revue, to help companies and organizations excel through times of transition and growth. A motivational speaker and communications coach for over twenty years, Lorraine's keynote speeches and workshops inspire audiences to action and offer practical applications that they can immediately implement. Her distinctly engaging approach has been branded as "edutainment".
Lorraine strongly believes that challenging times compel us to tap into our deepest talents and strengths, to be innovative, create opportunities, and find solutions. Smart leaders will invest now in helping individuals to be resilient and tenacious and to keep their focus forward.
While on the Drama Faculty at the University of Guelph, Lorraine developed and taught the extremely popular Public Presentation course. Her workbook, Spotlight on Presentations and her instructional audio CD, How to Communicate to Any Audience have helped hundreds of professionals become more effective presenters and communicators. She is the author of ABC's to a Lighter Life and shortstuff. Lorraine has been a featured guest on television talk shows, and her articles on communication and change frequently appear in trade journals and magazines.
Behnan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from the University of Alberta. She has performed leading roles in theatre, film, television and radio and was the recipient of the Award of Excellence for outstanding performance at the renowned Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.
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POLITICAL ENTREPRENEURS
Dave Meslin - Toronto
Dave Meslin is an activist, journalist, community organizer and professional rabble-rouser. With one foot planted firmly in the world of mainstream politics and the other foot dancing in the more vibrant universe of grassroots activism, Meslin has found ways to bring them both together and turn energy into action.
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Activists of the year by NOW Magazine in 2000, Meslin went on to form the Toronto Public Space Committee. During the following five years the TPSC grew to become one of the most effective unfunded non-profits in Toronto, and was chosen in 2005 as the “Best Activist Group” by both EYE Weekly and NOW magazines. The Public Space Committee published the first issue of Spacing Magazine, which has since grown into an award-winning urban affairs publication.
In 2006, Meslin coordinated a project called ‘Who Runs This Town?’, a campaign aimed at injecting some fun and creativity into the 2006 municipal elections in Toronto. The highlight of the project was ‘City Idol’, an attempt to get alienated citizens to explore and share their political ideas by competing for a spot on City Council in front of a live audience. City Idol was filmed and turned into a full-length film that now airs frequently on the Documentary Channel.
His most recent political project was the creation of Toronto’s first membership-based bicycle advocacy group: The Toronto Cyclists Union. After one year, the group has over 500 paid members, full time staff and has made a substantial impact at City Hall. Meslin also created and published the first issue of Dandyhorse Magazine, Toronto’s first urban cycling magazine. |
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STATE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CANADA
Leslie Roberts - Calgary
Dr. Leslie Roberts is President and Founder of GoForth Institute, Canada’s first national online education program for entrepreneurs. She was also founder of Mercatus Research, a western-Canadian market research firm specializing in research to support commercialization of technology.
Leslie is a former professor of entrepreneurship at both Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business and the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business. She holds a Commerce degree in Marketing, an MBA in New Venture Development and is the recipient of Canada’s first PhD in Entrepreneurship. Her research has been published in leading academic journals in Canada and the US.
Leslie is also an expert panellist on a popular Business News Network (BNN) series called The Pitch. Here, she provides extensive entrepreneurship experience to direct and counsel a variety of business owners seeking venture capital.
Leslie is passionate about combining business education and technology to give small business owners the best possible foundation for success. |
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THE PELA CASE - OPEN MIND DEVELOPMENTS
Jeremy Lang - Saskatoon
Jeremy Lang is the Managing Principal for Stantec’s Environmental Remediation practice area in Saskatchewan and the President of Open Mind Developments Corporation. Jeremy has been working as an environmental consultant since receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000.
Jeremy’s environmental consulting experience helped him see the need for companies to conduct business in a more environmentally sustainable manner. In 2009 he founded Open Mind Developments Corporation with the goal of developing sustainable solutions to environmental problems. Open Mind Developments now manufactures the PELA case, an eco-friendly iPhone4 case made from plants instead of oil.
Jeremy lives in Saskatoon with his wife and their 4 year old son. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing hockey, waterskiing and golfing. Jeremy is proud and grateful to be from Saskatchewan and he is excited to see what the future holds for this province and its people. |
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SUCCESSION MATCHING
Alison Anderson - Saskatchewan
Alison Anderson is the VP of Business Development for Masyndic Consulting Ltd. Alison runs the Moose Jaw office. Masyndic has a ROWE (Results Only Work Environment) human resource strategy; getting involved with Companies of all sizes and at different stages of the business cycle.
Alison was raised in Weyburn Saskatchewan; after graduation she wanted to be a Page in Parliament so she moved to France to learn French. Life threw some curl balls and she ended up taking HR at SIAST in Moose Jaw. Alison now happily lives in Moose Jaw where she is active in her community. This year she has been named to the City of Moose Jaw Economic Development Commission; Co-chairs Ad Hock Youth Incubator Committee Cityof Moose Jaw; President and founder local SYPE chapter, also sitting on the provincial executive; Chair and founder of MJ Place, charity that will be building a retreat for individuals suffering from Chron's and Colitis can use with their families; "Dragon" for the Junior Achievement Program Vanier High School; Facilitates P2X from the Pacific Institute; Youth Pipeline Champion for the South- Enterprise Saskatchewan; Master Of Ceremonies Moose Jaw Multicultural Festivals MOTIF; Scholarship review committee for the South East Female Hockey League. Alison has stepped down from her rolls last year in the Moose Jaw Minor Hockey Board and Habitat for Humanity to spend more time with her two new nephews and is currently working on her EDAC designation. |
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CREATING SOCIAL CAPITAL - THE PRINCESS SHOP
Ainsley Robertson - Saskatoon
Ainsley Robertson is a Co-Founder of The Princess Shop, a nonprofit organization in Saskatoon that creates an enhanced graduation experience for female students in need, then provides mentorship, support and the tools to succeed after graduation. Young women have the opportunity to be lent a donated dress, accessories, and shoes as well as receive services such as makeup, hair, photography, and a limousine. As Executive Director, Ainsley practices entrepreneurship in a volunteer capacity that positively impacts her community.
Four years later, The Princess Shop reached 103 young women in Saskatchewan in 2011 and currently operates programs to: provide graduation essentials so that every young woman has the opportunity to feel proud, beautiful, and equivalent to her peers on her graduation day and transition into the next stage of her life with excitement and optimism; provide support, mentorship and encouragement to set and achieve her goals, and; provide access to funds needed to achieve those goals.
Ainsley received her Bachelor of Commerce degree with the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 and subsequently worked as a Program Director with Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan for two years. Ainsley is currently a Project Manager with zu in Saskatoon. She is Chair of the SIFE Saskatchewan Advisory Board and sits on the Canadian Youth Business Foundation Loan Review Committee as well as the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce's Youth & Knowledge Development Committee. Ainsley also finished a close second in the 2010 Saskatoon Civic By-election in a field of six candidates.
In recognition of her exceptional leadership, Ainsley received the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award in 2011 and was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2008 and 2011. |
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RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Dan Taylor - Ontario
Dan is a creative problem solver, who learned about creativity and marketing at the dinner table.
Dan took his private sector sales and marketing experience and applied it in the public sector as an innovative economic development officer in Prince Edward County. <
Dan still practices economic development as President and CEO of the Greater Peterborough Economic Development Corporation.
Dan is also an international speaker, facilitator and workshop leader on creative economic development solutions. |
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REDEFINING PUBLIC LIBRARY
Colleen Christopherson-Cote - Saskatchewan
Colleen is a resident of rural Southern Saskatchewan, who brings global and innovative ideas to grassroots issues. As the community of Coronach’s Economic Development Officer since 2007, she has been an integral part of creating long-term, resilient and often inventive solutions/partnerships for her community. Honoured with the 2008 SEDA ‘EDO of the Year’ award, she believes that the connections with education, community development and human capital are the key drivers of rural community development. She was the 2007 Council of the Federation Literacy Award winner (SK) for founding the Prairie Literacy Awareness Network (PLAN) and the subsequent development and implementation of the Coronach Community Literacy Plan, including advocacy for and realization of a fully integrated, subsidized child-care facility and subsequent investment in PreKindergarten, heightening the awareness to the importance of education to community development.
In 2008, Colleen was elected to the Prairie South School Division and currently sits as the Vice-Chair. Colleen consistently attempts to bridge the silos of education and community development through any means available. In 2010, she presented at the National Congress for Rural Education in Saskatoon to showcase the role education plays in Coronach’s rural community development plan.
Since 2006, as the Chairman of Palliser Regional Library, Colleen has been an advocate for public library and the importance of redefining its role in a global, digital society. Believing that public library is “in the business of information” and not just books, Colleen has set out to transform how people view library, its uses and what it will look like in the future.
Colleen is an entomologist, an educator, a small business owner, a storm enthusiast and a married, mother of 2 girls, who is committed to making her community the best place to live. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, the Food Network, social media and spending time with her family. |
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START ME UP SESSION
Victoria Lennox - Ottawa
Victoria Lennox, 27, is the first Canadian and one of the youngest recipients of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. Victoria won the award for having pioneered a grassroots youth entrepreneurship movement both in the UK and globally that has taken on a momentum of its own with a membership of more than 45,000 enterprising students across over 80 universities within 12 months. As the Founder and Chair of the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE), Co-founder and Chair of ICUE, Co-founder of Enterprise Alliance UK, Entrepreneur in Residence at London Metropolitan Business School and former President of Oxford Entrepreneurs, Victoria has built enterprise networks, stimulated public discourse and developed meaningful political and policy inroads to further the entrepreneurship agenda.
On the global stage, Victoria supports and mentors the development of youth enterprise organisations in numerous countries; provides advisory support to international organisations in the areas of entrepreneurship networks, education and policy development; and undertakes consulting projects for universities to enhance their entrepreneurial projects.
In 2009 Victoria was awarded the SFEDI ‘Enterprise Support Network Builder Award’ and ‘Overall Enterprise Champion of the Year Award’, was recognized as a ‘Champion of Entrepreneurial Britain’ and ‘Top 30 Under 30’by Real Business Magazine and was noted as ‘One to Watch’ by Spectator Business.
Victoria moved back to Ottawa in January 2010 where, after having spent a year with Industry Canada’s Small Business Policy Group, she is now working on advancing entrepreneurship in Canada through Startup Canada. |
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PLATFORM FOR PROSPERITY PROGRAM
Verona Thibault & Celine Favreau - Saskatoon
As Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association(SEDA), Verona Thibault believes that prosperity requires a coordinated, cooperative effort of many individuals and organizations in the public, private as well as civil sectors. Verona led the development and implementation of the Grow Our Region website which is now a key knowledge centre for community leaders and economic development practitioners.
As Project Manager, Celine Favreau is responsible for education and outreach at SEDA, having assisted with the development of Platform for Prosperity, the Accredited Community Economic Development Program, and supporting the program as a technical advisor. Celine encourages communities to invest in themselves and build a strong community at the local level, so that they can be stronger partners at the regional level.
Together with our members, allies and partners, SEDA works diligently to enhance the economic capacity of Saskatchewan communities. |
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BIG RIVER CENTRE FIRST NATION CENTRE
Marie Prebushewski - Saskatchewan
Marie has been the Executive Director of the Thickwood Hills Business & Learning Network since 2001. The network comprises 68 community CAP sites of which 20 are First Nations, 3 are Métis and the remainders are non-native communities. The network was developed to strengthen community development, address issues surrounding the rural digital divide as well as minimizing the inequality of access to the Internet, computer literacy and application skills.
In conjunction with this network, Marie manages the Aboriginal Business Service Network (ABSN) for the Western half of Saskatchewan. This ongoing project has succeeded in building a strong network of ABSN partners across the province. This program assists in the development of Aboriginal small businesses and entrepreneurship. Since 2007, Marie has been successful in introducing co-operatives to First Nation communities in conjunction with some targeted economic development activities. Two co-operatives are now incorporated.
Marie also serves as coordinator for the West Central Community Access Program established in 2000 and consisting of over 68 Community Access Program (CAP) sites. The sites provide Internet access and computers, which can be used to access GOL. Marie currently serves on the Board of Directors of Telecommunities Canada (TC), which speaks on behalf of the CAP initiative.
Marie was a curriculum writer for the Older Adults/Newer Technologies project (SOS), which is a community-based approach to reducing barriers to the acceptance of technologies by Older Adults. She is also coordinator for the project in Saskatchewan and directed the implementation of the pilot project through a series of workshops. She is also a member of the National Advisory Board for the Older Adults and Technology Program.
Marie has international experience in teaching as she was contracted in 2001 by International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank group, to deliver courses in Ukraine. Following that experience, Marie served as Project Manager and CEO for a multi-phased agricultural project in Western Ukraine. This project was conducted in 2002 and 2003. In this capacity, Marie has attained expertise and a strong understanding for the delivery of programs in different cultural and ethnic environments. The main focus of the project was to assist former Collective Farms to change their governance structure to a democratic model such as a co-operative/corporation, to assist local farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies and to develop initiatives for value added and overall community development strategies and business plans. |
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MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Steve McLellan - Saskatchewan
Mr. Steve McLellan is the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held since 2007. Mr. McLellan has held several senior positions in the Saskatchewan business community including 20 years with Tourism Regina and Tourism Saskatchewan. Before that he worked in the hospitality industry and for 11 years was in the restaurant business as an owner and manager.
He has served on dozens of local, provincial and national Board of Directors and was elected as Chair on many of them.
Mr. McLellan is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and was named by Sask Business Magazine as one of Saskatchewan’s 2011 ‘Men of Influence’.
As a lifelong resident of Saskatchewan he understands and firmly believes in the potential that exists in the people and businesses within this province. He contributes time to several charitable causes and non profits and has spent many years volunteering in support of Scouts Canada.
Steve and his wife Heather have two wonderful children, Thomas and Erin. |