2014 Leadership Symposium: Embracing Innovation Thursday November 6, 2014 8:30 am – 3:30 pm Metropolitan Entertainment Centre (281 Donald Street, Winnipeg) 8:30 Registration & Continental Breakfast 9:00 Welcome and Introductory Remarks Dr. Annette Trimbee President & Vice-Chancellor University of Winnipeg 9:15 Conference Board of Canada Research Presentation & Roundtable Discussions Mr. Bruce Good Executive Director, Centre for Business Innovation Conference Board of Canada 10:30 Networking Break 11:00 Panel Presentations – Innovation Success Stories Facilitator: Dr. Chuck Meltzer, President, SynTECGroup Panelists: Mr. Michael Easton President & CEO Argus Industries Mr. Jason Abbott Founder & CEO Oi Furniture Mr. John Ferris CEO inVision Business Edge Founder & Lead Consultant Catapult Consulting Group 12:00 Buffet Lunch 12:30 Fireside Chat – Featuring two Winnipeg success stories in Innovation & Leadership Bob Silver Ash Modha President President & CEO Western Glove Works Mondetta Clothing Company 1:30 Facilitated Roundtable Discussions 2:00 Networking Break 2:30 Panel of Experts – Regional and national impact of innovation Facilitator: Dr. Chuck Meltzer, President, SynTECGroup Panelists: Dr. Sylvie Albert Dean, Faculty of Business & Economics University of Winnipeg Mr. Stan Chung Principal Stan Chung + Associates Mr. Bruce Good Executive Director, Centre for Business Innovation Conference Board of Canada 3:30 Day Wraps-up Speakers & Panelists In order of appearance Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg Greetings – 9:00 am Dr. Annette Trimbee assumed the role of President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Winnipeg on August 1, 2014. Dr. Trimbee was Deputy Minister of Service Alberta where she oversaw the department’s delivery of citizen-centered service and standardized shared services to government ministries, until July 2014. She also led the department’s role in protecting consumers, providing government-wide information and communication services, registry services, and open data and open government policies. Dr. Trimbee has also served as the Deputy Minister of Treasury Board and Finance, Treasury Board and Enterprise, and Advanced Education and Technology in Alberta. She began her career in the public service with Alberta Environment and has also held leadership positions in Alberta Health and Wellness. Her key accomplishments include Budgets 2012 and 2013, aligning post-secondary system capacity through Campus Alberta, developing Alberta’s Health Policy Framework, and building Alberta’s integrated resource management framework and water policy legislation. Dr. Trimbee holds a PhD in Ecology from McMaster University, a MSc in Botany from the University of Manitoba, and a BSc in Biology from the University of Winnipeg. Mr. Bruce Good, Executive Director, Centre for Business Innovation, Conference Board of Canada Research Presentation – 9:15 am Bruce is an innovative, high-energy executive who brings top leadership skills and creativity to the Conference Board. He joined the Conference Board of Canada in January 2012, having worked for Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) for three years as the vice president of Stakeholders & Partnerships. There he was responsible for maintaining positive relationships with key healthcare and economic stakeholders across the country. Prior to Rx&D, Bruce resided in Montreal and worked with IMS Health, the world’s health authority on data analysis and disease states, where he was the President and General Manager for Canada for 5 years. His leadership credentials are truly impressive, with 20 years of executive level experience in sales, service and communications, contributing to several well-known companies, including Rogers, IBM Canada, Nortel and Bell Canada. In addition to his extensive private sector background, Bruce has also been involved with several not-for-profit Boards including the United Way, The Arthritis Society – Quebec Region, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the YWCA. He earned a Bachelors degree from McMaster University and is also a Lakefield College School Alumni. Charles J. Meltzer, Ph.D., President of the SynTECGroup Facilitator – Panel & Roundtable Sessions The SynTECGroup is an organizational development consulting firm which specializes in assisting organizations and its people create sustainable change. Dr. Meltzer is recognized as a leading authority in change management and facilitation across Canada and the United States. Drawing on his training at a doctoral level in psychology and direct senior management experience, he has developed an extensive series of strategies to assist organizations looking to create change. He has demonstrated expertise in the areas of Organizational Change and Development, Performance Management Systems, Strategic and Succession Planning, Individual, Team and Board Performance Excellence. Leadership Development, Executive Coaching and Communication Skill Development are also areas of expertise. His process orientation has enabled organizations, professional firms and businesses to arrive at realistic and practical solutions to major industry related problems. Dr. Meltzer has developed a distinguished record assisting many leading corporations and has worked with several marketing agencies and numerous professional service firms across Canada. He has also assisted associations and not for profit organizations boards and staff address critical strategic issues. Mr. Michael Easton, President & CEO, Argus Industries Panelist – 11:00 am Mike has been employed with Argus Industries for over 17 years, serving the last 5 as the President & CEO. Argus has 3 Plants, Argus Winnipeg, Argus Toronto and Argus Metal’s Division. Argus uses Rubber & Plastic molding, Die cutting, and CNC cutting to convert various Rubber, Silicone, Cork, Foam and Plastic Materials into interesting products for every industry from Agriculture to Aerospace. Mike holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Winnipeg. Mike has been involved with LEAN manufacturing for many years, in 2011 he went to the UK, Liverpool, and spent 2 weeks working in Jaguar/Land Rover at the world class “Lean Learning Academy” learning cutting edge LEAN tools. He has received recognition for his work, including receiving the Manitoba Aerospace Association: Award for “Excellence in Quality & Teamwork” in 2007 and being recognized by the Manitoba Business Magazines “Best in Business Practices 2008”. Mike also volunteers on various Boards and Committees, including the Young President Organization, Manufacturers Executive Committee, YFC Winnipeg (a non-profit Organization helping the youth of Winnipeg), Board of Directors of Canadian Manufactures and Exporters, and Board of Directors of Manitoba Aerospace Association. Mr. Jason Abbott, Founder & CEO, Oi Furniture; Founder & Lead Consultant, Catapult Consulting Group Panelist – 11:00 am A born entrepreneur, Jason has a passion for helping others bring their ideas to market. Described by his peers as an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and leader with over a decade of experience in the entrepreneurial and marketing community, he is a guy who will get things done. Jason is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, from which he holds a B.R.S. degree. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jason began his career learning global logistics, sales and marketing with UPS Canada. He then joined an up and coming company, Cocoon Branding where he worked with many brands of all sizes and industries. Concurrently, Jason’s entrepreneurial instincts led him to launch the Toban Experience – a hop-on hop-off adventure tour that enables backpackers the opportunity to explore and experience Southeastern Manitoba’s culture, places, and activities – and later Oi Furniture – a company committed to producing ecofriendly, adaptable furniture that has been featured on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. In 2012 Jason launched Catapult, working with entrepreneurs of start-ups and independently owned companies to bring ideas to market through compelling and effective strategy, messaging, and execution. He has been engaged by entrepreneurs across many industries, including tech, gaming, tourism, financial services, housing, and consumer packaged goods. Jason is also an active member of Manitoba’s volunteer community. In addition to seven years as hockey coach, Jason was President of the Canadian Marketing Association – Manitoba Chapter from 2005-2013 and is currently a mentor of new entrepreneurs through the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF). Jason works one-one-one with all of his clients and is proud of his long lasting relationships. Mr. John Ferris, CEO, InVision Business Edge Panelist – 11:00 am John leads the inVision team across the Strategy and Execution, Innovation Engineering and Organizational Performance practices. With a talent for working with leadership teams to create business strategies and ensure execution, John brings his extensive background in various executive positions to inVision. John has held executive positions leading Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Operations, Strategic Planning and Human Resources for a variety of organizations and industries including New Flyer and Loewen. Immediately prior to leading inVision, John was Managing Director of STRATA Business Solutions. John's passion comes from working with leaders to reignite their quest for success. Combining real-life, well-proven processes with real-life experience helps John lead the inVision team to achieve results for our clients. Bob Silver, President, Western Glove Works Fireside Chat – 12:30 pm Bob obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with honours from the University of Manitoba in 1970 majoring in Mathematics and Statistics. Bob has been involved in business since 1970. Since 1980 he has been the President of Western Glove Works, a Winnipeg based private company involved in the manufacturing and merchandising of casual apparel. He is also a co-owner and director of Western Glove Works and Warehouse One (a Winnipeg based retail clothing chain). He is the President and beneficial owner of RIS Media Ltd, a General Partner of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. He is also a founder of Canterbury Park. In addition to his successful business career, Bob has found time to volunteer with various organizations. Some of Bob's volunteer positions have included Co-Chair, Premier's Economic Advisory Council, Chair, Smart Park at the University of Manitoba, Member, Business Council of Manitoba, Board Member, Canadian Apparel Federation, and Board Member, Destination Winnipeg. He is currently serving as Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. During his 35 year business career, Bob has been extensively involved in reviewing internal management financial reporting and external audited and un-audited financial statements from various perspectives as an owner/investor, a member of senior management and as a board member. In addition, Bob has actively participated in acquisitions reviews, restructuring reviews and numerous negotiations with lenders and prospective lenders. Ashish Modha, BA President & Chief Executive Officer, Mondetta Clothing Company Fireside Chat – 12:30 pm Born in Jinja, Uganda, Ash, as he would come to be known, at 4 years old made a life-altering trip to Canada with his family following the Ugandan Asian Exodus as decreed by then-dictator of the country, Idi Amin. Making his way in his new home of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ash would soon display the entrepreneurial spirit that would form his career path and come to shape the rest of his life. Later, he cultivated a fascination and distinct interest in fashion, which would ultimately form a larger part of his affinity for design across a wide spectrum of disciplines and applications, not just clothing. In 1986, still in grade 12, he would take the first step in realizing his dreams when he established Dimensions 100, Inc., the parent company of Mondetta Clothing, with his friends. As the company grew, Ash was concurrently attending the University of Winnipeg Collegiate and working at the company, eventually graduating from The University of Winnipeg with a B.A. in Economics, but by then Mondetta Clothing had become a resounding success. Essentially the only job and the only life he has ever known, Ash lives and breathes the company - it has become imprinted in his DNA. In his role, Ash has had the opportunity to delineate, cultivate and articulate the organization's approach to design, he encourages his team of designers, in all departments, to draw on all aspects of life, of human experience when searching for inspiration and to not only look at clothing as the starting point when contemplating design. By engaging in an unrelenting exploration of art, architecture, and aesthetics in the everyday he believes, the company as a whole can refine the process by which it shapes and hones its various brands and programs. In addition to his work at Mondetta, Ash has also engaged in a number of community and nonprofit endeavours and organizations including the board of directors for the Health Sciences Foundation, the Bank of Canada Blue Ribbon panel, the Royal Bank Young Advisory Council, the Premier's Economic Advisory Council during which time he also chaired an image task force and the Minister's Trade Advisory Council. Dr. Sylvie Albert, Dean, Faculty of Business & Economics, University of Winnipeg Panelist – 2:30 pm Dr. Sylvie Albert was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Winnipeg in 2012 and subsequently accepted the additional roles of Dean of Continuing Education (PACE) as well as Co-Chair of the University Online Strategy Development. Previously, and from 2004, she was an Associate Dean and Professor of Strategic Management at Laurentian University arriving into academia with 20 years of experience in the public and private sector. She presided over a management consulting firm named Planned Approach Inc., was the Director of two economic development corporations, a provincial Human Resource Consultant, and the Executive Director of a workforce planning board. Planned Approach Inc. built feasibility studies and public-private partnerships toward new intelligent/smart communities and also developed several economic development projects (infrastructure, tourism, value-added, and manufacturing). Dr. Albert’s research on smart/intelligent communities served to educate communities and regions and she continues to speak at events worldwide. She published two books on the topic of intelligent cities and has served for ten years as the lead jurist for the International Intelligent Community Award, a division of a New York think-tank based in New York entitled ‘Intelligent Community Forum’. Dr. Albert has been active in regional development via volunteer posts, serving as a Director on the Telecommunication Access Partnership Program, an initiative that funded $50 Million in innovative telecommunication-oriented proposals; as Director of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, who provided $210 Million in funding support for economic development projects in northern Ontario; as a member of the Laurentian University Board of Governors; as a Board member of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce; as a member of a task force to prepare a strategic plan for the Province of Ontario; and recently as a member of a special task force on mining for the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) of Manitoba. Stan Chung, Principal, Stan Chung + Associates Panelist – 2:30 pm Stan is an educator, writer, and principal of Stan Chung + Associates, a firm specializing in innovation consulting. He is the author of the book Global Citizen: River of Love and Other Stories. Stan is also a recovering VP Academic and Research, Dean, and Associate Professor.