Speakers.
MEET
Chip Conley
Founder of Joie de Vivre/ Founder and CEO of Fest300
Founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality for 24 years. Starting at age 26, transformed an inner city motel into the 2nd largest boutique hotel brand in the world.
Author of four books, including PEAK and New York Times bestseller, EMOTIONAL EQUATIONS, he’s been a featured speaker at TED. Chip received his BA and MBA from Stanford University and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology from Saybrook University.
In 2013, launched Fest300, where he shares his passion for world travel, cultures, and festivals. And joined Airbnb as Head of Global Hospitality, where he’s sharing his proven methods with hundreds of thousands of hosts in nearly 200 countries. His blog is at Fest300
Web: www.fest300.com
Opening Keynote – Thursday March 5 2015
Finding our Humanity at Festivals
MEET
Brent Barootes
President and CEO, Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists™
Brent Barootes is the founding partner of the Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists™. Brent has been engaged in the sponsorship with festivals, events, charities, non profits, municipalities, ag societies, parks and recreation, cultural, sport organizations, and corporate sponsorship since the late 80's.
Working with fairs, festivals and events, his national team of senior consultants and advisory group assist these organizations to generate more money and deliver better sponsorship programs for their partners. They work to help the organizations determine what they have to sell, value the assets, confirm what annual sponsorship revenue should be, build strategic plans for success in sponsorship, cerate and design corporate sponsorship policy and mentor and coach organizations to build the internal capacity they need to be successful.
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Economic Impact Training Group
Closing Keynote – Friday March 6 2015
What the Future Holds – The Trends and Opportunities for Corporate Sponsorship and Overall Life Growth
MEET
Rebecca LeHeup
Executive Director, Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA)
Rebecca’s experience and expertise in the field of culinary tourism is unparalleled – her knowledge of the industry and passion around the interrelation between food, agriculture, tourism, arts and culture has made her one of the most recognized advocates within the industry. Prior to establishing the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, Rebecca spent nine years with Taste the County in Prince Edward County, developing the award-winning Taste Trail, annual TASTE! Community Grown tasting event, the Arts Trail, Countylicious and the buy-local program Harvestin’ the County.
Rebecca teaches courses on the benefits of culinary tourism to business operators across the province and has also developed courses for George Brown College’s industry leading Culinary Tourism Management program. Rebecca contributes her expertise to a variety of industry boards including the CTC Brand Experience Advisory Committee, the Terroir Hospitality Symposium, and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Feast ON - How to leverage local food and culinary tourism to enhance your festival or event.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Embracing the local food movement and culinary tourism
MEET
Danielle Brodhagen
Director of Product Development, Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA)
Danielle joined the OCTA team in 2013 after spending the last five years developing Stratford’s premier Culinary Tourism Program. She is the founder and the force behind the celebrated Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, named Ontario’s “Best Culinary Tourism Experience”.
Danielle’s impressive list of accomplishments during her time with the Stratford Tourism Alliance includes the development of the award-winning series of culinary trails (Chocolate Trail, Bacon and Ale Trail and the Maple Trail); developing seasonal restaurant promotional campaigns (Farmers Dinner Series, Stratford-licious and 100 Mile Menus); coordinating the printed culinary tourism marketing materials for the region, Savour Stratford Culinary Guide, developing over 15 culinary experience packages and the creation and execution of seasonal food events including Food Truck Eats - Stratford, Pubs, Pilsners and Spirits Crawl, the Delicious Stratford Wine and Dine and the award winning Savour Stratford Culinary Festival.
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Feast ON - How to leverage local food and culinary tourism to enhance your festival or event.
MEET
Bernie Robertson
Risk Manager Fairs & Festivals, KNOX Worldwide
Bernie is a 25 year veteran of the insurance and risk management
arena. He has served as a Director of the Insurance Brokers of
Ontario, and is an accomplished facilitator on various topics
including liability, automobile, identity theft, bonding to name a few
areas.
Bernie provides risk management support to Knox Worldwide, a
boutique insurance brokerage in North Bay, Ontario, with partner
offices in Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York. A
true storyteller, Bernie’s strength is turning complex insurance
concepts into stories and examples that are easily understood and
engaging.
Web: www.kibl.com
Thursday March 6, 2015
Emerging Risks to Fairs and Festivals in Canda
MEET
Bernie Colterman
Managing Partner, Centre of Excellence for Public Sector Marketing
Bernie Colterman is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Centre of Excellence for Public Sector Marketing (CEPSM), an Ottawa-based consulting and training organization that helps the public and not-for-profit organizations take a more strategic approach towards marketing, communications and revenue generation.
Known for his expertise in the areas of strategic marketing planning, partnership development, municipal sponsorship and marketing and integrated marketing communications, Bernie provides strategic advice and planning services to a wide range of clients ranging from government at all levels to national associations, non-profits and the event industry. Hundreds of festival and event organizers have benefited from his two-day Designing and Selling Your Sponsorship Program Workshop and Sponsorship Boot Camp. Bernie's Blog -The Bottom Line on Public Sector and Not-For-Profit Marketing can be found at www.berniecolterman.ca
Web: www.cepsm.ca
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Economic Impact Training Group
Thursday March 5, 2015
Taking Control of Your Event Brand Growth
MEET
Cindy MacDonald
Media Consultant
With more than two decades management experience and education in media, communications, marketing and promotions Cindy knows about media coverage and how to get it.
Cindy has worked in newsrooms and television stations from coast to coast , networking with community members, groups and organizations on special event coverage. She knows what media is looking for when it comes to selecting assignments and promotional partners.
Cindy started her broadcast career in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She has also worked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Calgary Alberta, Victoria, British Columbia , Toronto and Barrie, Ontario.
Friday March 6, 2015
Media and YOUR Event - Make the Connection for Coverage
MEET
Constance Exley
CEO, Accessibility Ontario
Constance has worked in partnership with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario for several years to provide AODA education and training to nonprofits and businesses throughout the province. Constance is leading a 15-month long project for with the Ontario BIA Association, “Go ON: Building Accessible Communities”, to assist local BIAs and their business members to understand and comply with the AODA.
Constance holds a Bachelor of Education degree and Masters in Urban Planning. Learn more about Constance and Accessibility Ontario:
Friday March 6, 2015
20 Tips for Making Your Marketing and Communications More Accessible
MEET
Javed S. Khan
Authorized Local Expert, Constant Contact & President, EMpression: A Marketing Services Company
Javed S. Khan is an Accredited Authorized Local Expert for Constant Contact. He works with small to medium business owners, teaching marketing best practices relating to
various marketing services programs including Email & Social Media Marketing. He has presented educational sessions (keynote & workshops) to over 6,900 business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals teaching the latest marketing trends & best practices.
Javed is also President of EMpression: A Marketing Service Company.
EMpression helps companies/ individuals bring their unique story to life through a strategic, collaborative, and creative process. Whether it’s helping you build/rebuild a website, manage your social media programs or brand equity, Javed and his team will manage your marketing communication programs from goal identification to delivery.
Web: www.empression.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
You're Social. Now What?
Friday March 6, 2015
Rethinking Your Festival Email Marketing Campaings
MEET
Kathleen Douglass
Manager, Volunteer & Community Engagement, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
Kathleen has 30 years of international experience working at both the field and leadership levels with formal, education in the not-for-profit sector has given her a solid background in understanding the unique roles of working equally in the voluntary and private sectors.
Kathleen provides leadership to a team of Co-ordinators across the province. The team, working with over 500 volunteers is responsible for the delivery of educational health and safety programmes to Ontarians. Included in this role is the oversight of the HSAP program (Health, Safety Awareness Presentations – formerly YWAP) for the organization.
As one of the architects of Humber College’s Advanced Program in Volunteer Studies, she presented sessions on the Governance and Writing Policies modules along with portions of the Fundamentals program for ~ 10 years.
Web: www.wsps.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
How to Protect Your Festival or Special Event (Risk Management)
MEET
John R. Beresford
Co-Founder / Business Development, EventPeeks
John is a co-founder at eventpeeks and responsible for helping customers revolutionize how they merge live experiences and social media. The eventpeeks team believes that life is best lived in the moment, and that social media allows us to amplify those moments across the globe! Eventpeeks’ mission is to take that proposition to passionate brands with passionate fans!
John brings more than 15 years of sales and marketing leadership experience for a number of world class organizations. Most recently spent nearly a decade at the front lines of the Smartphone revolution leading international sales and marketing teams at BlackBerry and is a business professor at Wilfrid Laurier University
Web: www.eventpeeks.com
Friday March 6, 2015
Harnessing the Power of Social Media
MEET
Robert Davidson
Commander/ Special Operations, Ottawa Paramedic Service
Bob Started as an Ambulance officer in 1978 and became an Advanced Care Paramedic in 1999. Part of the team that built Ottawa Paramedic Service in 2001 and has been involved in major event planning in the Capitol since that time. Assisted with medical response planning for major events including G7, G8 and G20 meetings, Royal visits, Presidential visits and major public event such as Canada Day on Parliament Hill. Responsible for Paramedic Special Operations Teams development and emergency management planning.
Web: www.ottawa.ca
Tuesday March 4, 2015
Emergency Planning: Are You Ready?
MEET
Kevin D. Kennedy
Event Planning Staff Sergeant, Ottawa Police Service
Kevin started his career with the OPP spending 15 years in various detachments around the Province. Kevin was absorbed into the Ottawa Carleton Regional Police (now the Ottawa Police Service) during the 1999 municipal amalgamations. Kevin has worked as a supervisor in various sections since that time and has worked on many internal committees.
In 2009 he took on the role as the Paid Duty Sergeant in the Emergency Operations Directorate and has worked closely with event organizers and the City of Ottawa Special Events Advisory Team. In the fall of 2013 he was assigned to fulfill the role as the Event Planning Staff Sergeant , overseeing all the Event Planning Sections including Special Events, Paid Duties and Labour Liaison.
Throughout the years, Kevin has worked on several large scale events and has been responsible for the development of the police operational plans for events such as the National Canada Day Celebration, National Remembrance Day Ceremony, National Capital Marathon , Canadian Army Run, Bluesfest along with various unplanned events.
Web: www.ottawapolice.ca
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Emergency Planning: Are You Ready?-
MEET
Margo Fisher
Research Advisor, Investigation & Enforcement Bureau - AGCO
Margo Fisher has been employed at the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) since October 2012. She currently works at the AGCO’s Head Office in Toronto as a Research Advisor in the Investigation & Enforcement Bureau. Previous to this, Margo was an AGCO Inspector working out of the Ottawa Regional Office.
Web: www.agco.on.ca
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Emergency Planning: Are You Ready
Friday March 6, 2015
The Role of the AGCO at Events
MEET
Joel Baskin
Agent, The Feldman Agency
Since founding The Pilot Agency in his Ottawa basement in 2006, Joel Baskin has developed a reputation as an honest and relentlessly proactive advocate for his artists. His primary concern – both then, and since joining The Feldman Agency in February 2011 – is providing clients with personal attention and the tools to help them reach their goals by continuously adapting his services to meet their evolving needs.
A key driver in Baskin’s success has always been putting the emphasis on seizing the moment – actively searching out opportunities for his artists, or in their absence, creating those opportunities himself.
Friday March 6, 2015
The Power of Music
MEET
Rebecca Peirson
Manager, Marketing Communications, Luminato Festival
Rebecca Peirson is a seasoned arts marketing professional. She managed Mongrel Media’s Theatrical and Video Marketing and Sales departments, was the Marketing Manager at the National Film Board of Canada and has led the marketing & communications departments of a variety of live entertainment organizations before taking on the post of Marketing & Communications Manager at Luminato Festival.
Rebecca is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts Program and has been invited to speak at international film festivals and industry arts events on the art and smarts of marketing shows.
Friday March 6, 2015
Know Your Hook...and who you are trying to catch
MEET
Andrew Rowntree
AGCO Inspector, Investigation and Inspection Branch - Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Andrew has been employed with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for fifteen years as a Policy Analyst, Statistical Coordinator, and currently as an AGCO Inspector in the Ottawa Regional Unit. Andrew sits on the Special Events Advisory Team for the City of Ottawa and provides advice/ guidance regarding the Liquor Licence Act to potential licensees and permit holders.
Web: www.agco.on.ca
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Emergency Planning: Are You Ready
Friday March 6, 2015
The Role of the AGCO at Events
MEET
Delores MacAdam
Division Manager - Event Central Special Events and Volunteer Services, City of Ottawa (Ottawa)
Delores MacAdam is the Program Manager of Event Central (Special Events, City Wide Allocations and Volunteer Services) with the City Of Ottawa. For the past 30 years, Delores has worked for three levels of government in the regulatory field. She has worked with the Departments of Justice in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario specializing in the area of regulatory issues.
Over the past 10 years Delores has played a lead role in the development of the one-stop shop in the Nation’s Capital in regard to Festivals, Fair and Special Events Delores’ goal is to develop a reasonable and sound regulatory framework in which events can grow, where service excellence is the guiding principle on which any initiative is based.
Web: www.ottawa.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
The UnConference - Knowledge Exchange Network
MEET
Gil Tait
Program Manager, Traffic Management - City of Ottawa
Gil's unit, comprised of 28 staff members, is responsible for all Traffic Management related duties for construction, incident and special events that affect all modes of traffic (vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians).
Gil is an honours graduate in Transportation Engineering Technology and alumni of Mohawk College and has been “playing in traffic” for over 20 years.
Web: www.ottawa.ca
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Emergency Planning: Are You Ready?-
MEET
Martha Haldenby
Associate Director, Development - Luminato Festival
Martha is the Associate Director of Development at the Luminato Festival. Martha’s work at Luminato has spanned 7 years, and has and included growing the Festival’s Patron Circle annual giving program, stewarding its founding major donors, and most recently working to launch the Festival’s Big Bang Bash Gala.
Martha has long personal past in the performing arts as a performer and producer and holds an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Toronto, which included work at the University College Drama Program. Martha was also the co-creator of ZED.TO (2012), an award winning 8-month narrative told in real-time through an integrated combination of interactive theatrical events and online content.
Friday March 6, 2015
"Free's A Crowd"
MEET
Jeff Clarmo
President, North Star Fireworks Entertainment
Jeff has been doing fireworks displays on a full time basis since the late 80’s. Through his company, North Star Fireworks Entertainment, he has produced over 1500 fireworks displays across the country. We have done shows up to 100K. Typically we produce 75 shows a year on Canada Day alone and do more festivals and events than any other company in Ontario.
He spent 5 years in the 90’s managing a fireworks facility where Jeff has learned the science of fireworks. Jeff has developed a company that not only has longevity, but also produces the most beautiful, innovative and safe displays in the nation. With a highly trained employees surpass the WSIB standards, our customers are in excellent hands.
Web: www.northstar-fireworks.com
Friday March 6, 2015
Firework Discussion Forum
MEET
Stephen Fischer
Executive Director of the Welland International Flatwater Centre
Stephen Fischer is the Executive Director of the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation (WRCC). Stephen is a Welland, Ontario native, returning to his hometown after earning his Honours Degree in Business at Wilfrid Laurier University.
In his role as Executive Director of the WRCC, Mr. Fischer has expanded the WRCC portfolio, and is now the Executive Director of the Welland International Flatwater Centre (WIFC); Creative Director of IlluminAqua ~ The Waterway’s Arts & Culture Series; and past President of the 2013 Canoe Sprint World Championships and 2012 Open Water Swim Championships.
Stephen's recent work has resulted in the delivery of the $10 million flatwater centre as part of the venues for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games; and landing of the 2015 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships and Pan Ameican Club Crew Championships taking place over two weeks in August of 2015 with over 5,000 athletes and participants descend upon Niagara, Ontario with an impact of more than $30 million.
Web: www.canalcorp.ca
Thursday March 5, 2015
International Sport Tourism - The Intersection of Sport, Festival and Attraction
MEET
Lauren Dart
Department of Canadian Heritage
Lauren has been with the Federal Government for ten years and has called the Department of Canadian Heritage home since 2007. She has worked on many grant funding programs and is currently a Program Officer with the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage and the Museums Assistance programs.
Lauren’s portfolio includes festivals and events in Eastern and Central Ontario. She enjoys working in the field and travelling across Ontario to meet with clients and participate in their events. She also enjoys speaking at conferences and working with youth. Lauren holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Bachelor of Education.
Web: www.canadainternational.gc.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
What Makes a successful Grant Application?
MEET
Kathleen Sharp
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF)
Kathleen Sharpe is a senior manager and administrator in government and the cultural sector. She has been Executive Director of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund since its inception in 1999.
Prior to OCAF, Kathleen was Director of the Culture Division of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, a post she held from 1991. Kathleen’s leadership led to the adoption by Metro Council of its first comprehensive cultural policy, Metro’s Culture Plan, in 1994.
Kathleen has also held management positions at the Ontario College of Art and Design and The Banff Centre. Kathleen is president of the Canadian Conference of the Arts, past-chair of Toronto Artscape, president of SharpeCulture and a member of the Toronto Arts Foundation board. She sits on many advisory committees including those for Nuit Blanche and the service organization CPAMO.
Web: www.ocaf.on.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
What Makes a successful Grant Application?
MEET
Luanne Smith
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS)
Luanne Smith is a Senior Program Consultant in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) working in the Investment and Development Office (IDO). Since joining IDO in 2012, Luanne has been one of the principle leads for the Celebrate Ontario grant program, working with Ministry Regional Tourism Advisors and stakeholders across the province, providing advice and guidance to festival and event organizers throughout the grant application process and cycle.
Prior to joining IDO, Luanne was Executive Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Tourism Policy and Development Division of MTCS, and has held coordinating roles with the Ministries of Education and Training, Colleges and Universities.
Prior to joining the Ontario Public Service in 2002, Luanne gained international experience in the hospitality and food services industry working with food concessionaires at the World Expos in Lisbon, Portugal and Hannover, Germany, enhancing her North American hospitality and food services experience.
Web: www.mtc.gov.on.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
What Makes a successful Grant Application?
MEET
Enza Chiappetta
Ontario Tourism Marketing Parnership Corporation (OTMPC)
Enza Chiappetta is Partnership Programs Coordinator with the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC). She has held this position since 2001, managing the OTMPC’s Tourism Event Marketing Program (TEMP) and until 2013, the Tourism Industry Partners Program (TIPP). Her roles have ranged from leadership to direct stakeholder communications. She was a member of the TEMP Task Force and Partnership Program Review Committee. Enza managed the recent launch of the updated Tourism Event Marketing Program, providing guidance and direction to festival and event organizers throughout the process. She has longstanding associations with many stakeholders in the festivals and events industry.
Prior to joining the OTMPC Enza was with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade where she was part of the International Investment Services team, responsible for attracting international business investors to Ontario.
Enza recently celebrated 30 years in the Ontario Public Sector. Over the years she has worked in a variety of programs and departments, including the Youth Venture Capital Program, International Investment Services, Small Business Hotline, and Canada-Ontario Business Services (Research) Centre.
Friday March 6, 2015
What Makes a successful Grant Application?
MEET
Chuck Thibeault
Central Counties - RTO6
Chuck Thibeault has been active in the tourism industry for the past twenty years. He began his career out of university at an indoor playground for children and then became a partner in Putting Edge Glow-in-the-Dark mini golf. After selling his shares in this venture, he joined Ontario Place as Director of Sales. Leveraging his expertise in sales, he then worked as Director of Sales and Membership at the Royal Ontario Museum.
Chuck has been on the Board of Directors of Attractions Ontario for the past 10 years. He joined Central Counties Tourism as Executive Director, September 2012. Chuck lives in Georgetown with his wife Trish and three sons, aged 12, 10 and 7. He volunteers with the local scouting group as Registrar and spends most of his spare time at arenas for rep hockey, lacrosse and speed skating.
Friday March 6, 2015
RTOs Connecting with the Festivals and Events Industry to Maximize Tourism Economic Spinoff
MEET
Jim Hudson
Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation - RTO1
Jim Hudson joined the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation as Executive Director in October 2011. His corporate background includes being CEO of IDS Group based in Minneapolis where he grew revenues to $38 million US.
His love of the tourism industry started many years ago when he worked for Air Canada helping craft a new reservation network. That was back when a whole room full of computers did not have as much power as the average laptop today.
Jim started his own company, Sea to Peaks LLC, based in Minneapolis, which offered niche travel and adventure opportunities in western Canada. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Guelph where he researched ways to promote collaboration in issue resolution for destination organizations.
He is married to Dr. Joanne Parrott and has two sons, both of whom (unfortunately) live in the U.S.
P.S. Jim was born right here in the Niagara region.
Web: www.swot.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
RTOs Connecting with the Festivals and Events Industry to Maximize Tourism Economic Spinoff
MEET
Rick Davis
Rick Davis Promotions Inc. (RDP)
RDP's Executive Director, Rick Davis is known in the shows and exhibitions community for his creativity in designing unique exhibition solutions, intuitive timing and execution abilities. As an active member of the Canadian Association of Fairs, Ontario and Exhibitions and Festivals and Events Ontario, he is regularly approached to speak at their functions on Entertainment and Sponsorship subjects.
His passion for Ontario’s community fairs and festivals, and sports exhibitions has been called upon by educational institutions to share his unique views and insights with students interested in event planning.
Web: www.rdpevents.com
Friday March 6, 2015
" Multicultural Sponsorship Activations are Universal"
MEET
Bruce Devine
National Capital Commission (NC)
Bruce Devine is the Senior Manager, Facilities and Programs, Urban Lands and Transportation Division with the National Capital Commission (NCC), a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada.
Bruce provides leadership for site use of all Capital urban parks, parkways and recreational pathways within the nation’s Capital. His team annually issues over 250 event permits, ranging from major to regional events, to picnics and weddings. Bruce also manages the operations of the Rideau Canal Skateway and the Sunday Bikedays programs, both of which contribute to visitors’ experience of the Capital. An ongoing challenge remains: providing stages to event organizers while conserving and protecting the organization’s assets in order to promote site sustainability for the enjoyment of all Canadians.
Bruce brings more than 20 years in major special events management and oversight of municipal sports facility operation and construction. Most recently, he led the development of effective site use guidelines and established a monitoring system that has proven successful for event organizers as well as the NCC.
Web: wwwncc-ccn.ca
Friday March 6, 2015
A safeguard approach to managing events’ land use in urban parks
MEET
Maria V. Fortunato
Hamilton Halton Brant - RTO 3
Maria has over 15 years of destination marketing and management organization experience and familiar in all marketing segments: Media & Leisure Marketing, Conventions Sales & Servicing, and Travel Trade. Maria is the founding Executive Director of Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association (RTO 3). The organization will be heading into its 6th year of operation with ongoing focus to steadily move the tourism development pendulum in the region working in partnership and collaboration with industry stakeholders.
As Executive Director, Maria continues to achieve significant milestones working with tourism businesses to develop their product and marketing initiatives to maximize business and visitor opportunities to increase tourism receipts in Hamilton Halton Brant regions.
Maria is graduate of McMaster University and Humber College. Maria also enjoys contributing back to the tourism sector teaching in the Event Development faculty at Mohawk College.
Web: www.theheartofontario.com
Friday March 6, 2015
RTOs Connecting with the Festivals and Events Industry to Maximize Tourism Economic Spinoff
MEET
Allan Isfan
MyEventApps (a FaveQuest company)
Allan Isfan is the CEO of MyEventApps(a FaveQuest company), a leader in social and mobile solutions since 2007.
MyEventApps has launched hundreds of mobile apps all around the world with a focus on event based organizations. Before co-founding MyEventApps with his business partner William Love, Allan was an Entrepreneur In Residence at Venture Capital firm Skypoint Capital.
MyEventApps (a FaveQuest company) is an affordable turnkey mobile app service for the event market. Our team delivers fully branded apps and do the heavy lifting which includes: a dedicated project manager, custom graphics, data entry and sponsorship support. Some of our secret sauce includes software that can pull content directly form your event website just like magic - no double data entry, no worries.
Allan has been creating cutting edge technologies that solve real business needs since obtaining his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1991.
Web: www.myeventapps.com
Friday March 6, 2015
Your Double Dose of Festival Trends
MEET
Shannon McNevan
Republic Live Inc.
How does a former pro hockey player from Peterborough wind up leading one of the most successful country music festivals in Ontario?
If you ask Shannon McNevan, executive director of the live music production company Republic Live Inc. and the now famous Boots and Hearts Music Festival, he’ll tell you his achievement results from believing in your vision, surrounding yourself with problem solvers, and loving what you do.
“If you have faith in your vision and are willing to work hard enough, anything is possible.”
It was in 2011 that McNevan wagered his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his growing business acumen, to embark on a bold and daring journey as the co-founder of Republic Live, producers of Boots and Hearts, a world-class country music festival unlike any other we have seen in Ontario.
Republic Live has offices in Peterborough, Toronto, and Nashville. In 2014 they will be moving Boots and Hearts to the revamped Burls Creek Event Grounds just north of Barrie, Ontario. In February of 2015 they launched their newest venture, WayHome Music and Arts in collaboration with Ashley Capps and his team at AC Entertainment. (Co-founder of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival).
Web: Republic Live Inc
Thursday March 5, 2015
Creating a brand/event that transcends its' economic impact for the province, region, and municipality
MEET
Steven Pulver
Director of Marketing - Mill Street Brewery
As a former professional stand-up comedian and a 4 time nominee for professor of the year at Canada’s #1 Business School, The Schulich School of Business, Steve Pulver will entertain and inform audiences on the topic of beer marketing and sales. His unique approach traces to the fact that he has made his living in bars since the 1980s, first as an entertainer, next while looking for “the next big thing” while in the record business and for the past 28 years marketing beer for Canada’s breweries, large and small alike.
Steve began his career in marketing and sales by selling cameras to pay his way through graduate school. An opportunity to become a partner at a fledgling advertising agency called Echo Advertising was too good to pass up, and in 1987, Steve became a driving force in what would become one of the largest and most successful Canadian advertising agencies, specializing in entertainment and lifestyle clients.
As an agency of record for such blue chip clients as American Express, Coca Cola and Labatt Breweries to name a few, Steve drove his vision of creating marketing programs which were an extension of brand vision. This was a leading edge philosophy at the time which brought increased sales and brand equity to clients and agency alike.
One of Steve’s specialties is the beer business, and his agency has worked for Molson, Labatt, Budweiser, and Steamwhistle. He is now in a consulting role with Mill Street Brewery and is also a shareholder.
Join Steve as he explains the benefits of using craft beer as a marketing tool and revenue generator for your event.
Web: www.millstreetbrewery.com
Friday March 6, 2015
Your Double Dose of Festival Trends
MEET
Kathy McLachlan
Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
Kathy McLachlan is the manager of the Strategic Initiatives Unit at the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure.
Kathy has 20 years of public sector experience, covering all facets of the social service sector including Direct Delivery, Operations, Business Planning and Finance, Information Technology, and Project Management.
As manager of the Strategic Initiatives Unit, Kathy and her team manage files related to broader accessibility awareness and strategic initiatives with time limited implementation. Specifically, she is responsible for promoting and supporting accessible tourism initiatives, Directorate coordination of all accessibility advice related to the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games and activities related to the 10 year anniversary of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act which will take place province-wide over the next 12 months. Last fall she led a very successful marketing campaign to raise awareness of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and compliance reporting requirements.
Web: AccessON
Friday March 6, 2015
Towards an Accessible Ontario: Accessibility Tool Kit
