Workshops & Presenter Profiles
Workshops & Presenter Profiles
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Jim Kyte: A Story of Perseverance: From the NHL to the World of Academia
As the first round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 1982, Jim Kyte enjoyed a 17-year professional hockey career, including 13 seasons in the National Hockey League with Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Ottawa and San Jose.
The Ottawa native is the first legally deaf player to ever play in the NHL and was twice nominated for the NHL’s Masterston Trophy. Jim has been awarded many honours for his community service and was nominated for the NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Tropy while playing for the Jets.
After sustaining a career-ending injury in an auto accident, Jim retired from hockey in the summer of 1998 and is an active member of the Ottawa Senators Alumni.
Today, with a rich and varied background in professional sport, hospitality, event management, and education, Jim leads a dynamic faculty and staff as the Dean of Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts.
After creating the very successful Sport Business Management postgraduate program at Algonquin College in 2002, Jim became the Academic Chair of the Marketing & Management Studies Department in the Algonquin College School of Business in 2007.
He was the Co-Director of the Volunteer Division for the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa – a gold medal experience on and off the ice.
Jim earned a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University in 2012 where his performance was acknowledged with the bestowing of two academic awards: 2012 Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal for the best thesis or graduate project at Royal Roads University; and, 2012-13 Chancellor’s Award for having achieved the highest academic performance in the MBA program.
Overview of Keynote Address: Jim shares real NHL and personal experiences with the audience motivating them towards maximizing their individual potential and being effective team players at work, home or play.
Watch Jim’s recent CTV Ottawa interview!
Workshop #1 – How to be a Courageous Leader in Today’s Competitive Landscape
Presenter Profile: Sylvie Rimbach is Human Behaviour Specialist in the field of Human Performance & Training, with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors in both French and English. She is a dynamic master facilitator and trainer and is a highly skilled proponent of learner-centered training.
Thousands of employees in a wide variety of industries and job functions have participated in her participant-centered learning events throughout North America.
In addition to a number of teaching certifications, Sylvie is certified in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University and has also earned an Executive Management certificate from the University of Notre Dame.
Workshop Overview: Leadership is a VERB, not a noun. Leadership is action, not a position. Leadership is defined by what we do, not by the role we are in. Some people in “leadership” roles are excellent leaders. Conversely, many people who do not have formal leadership roles are excellent leaders as well. In today’s fast changing world, we all need to harness the leader inside of us and use its power appropriately. This interactive workshop will focus on the power and Influence that Leaders have. We will explore the benefits of using each power as well as the potential dangers in “over-using” them. This session will benefit anyone that would like to learn how to better use the power and influence they have.
Workshop #2 – 6 Easy Marketing Steps for the Small Business
Presenter Profile: Katie Tollis-Flabbi is an energized, motivated advocate for small businesses. With a passion for business models and an education in Psychology from McGill University, Katie brings a dynamic consulting approach to business marketing. She applies principles on human behaviour and information processing to leverage online, print, and campaign marketing. With a creative eye and modern approach, businesses can maximize their exposure with up-to-date marketing trends and virtual sales.
As a part time faculty member for Algonquin’s Pembroke Campus and the Co-Founder and Owner of Paperback Events & Consulting in the Ottawa Valley, Katie has vision for the Valley that aims to inspire and motivate. Her experience working for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and her professional career gives her the in-market expertise to teach various courses in the Business Program.
Workshop Overview: You’re a small business owner. You’re passionate, motivated, and energized but you’re also overwhelmed. What do the words brand identity, company voice, online presence, email marketing mean? How do you implement them? More importantly, where do you begin? At this workshop, you will learn how to adopt a few key ways to market your small business that won’t cost much, but can generate increased revenue and exposure. Be prepared to leave this fun workshop inspired to make marketing an essential component of your business model so your business can reach its full potential.
Workshop #3 – 5 Simple Questions to Help Any Business Build a Sustainable Competitive Strategy
Presenter Profile: As Vice President, Innovation & Strategy Doug Wotherspoon champions Algonquin College’s innovation agenda and its quest to personalize learning and embed entrepreneurial thinking in our students, employees and community. Doug’s responsibilities include oversight of the College’s Strategic Planning unit, International activities, Business Development efforts (including Co-op education), Information Technology Services, Lean Management, and Algonquin’s Partnerships, Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship team. Before arriving at Algonquin College, Doug was founder and senior partner of ecoverde, a sustainable development consultancy based in Ottawa. Prior to ecoverde, Doug served as Director of University Communications at Carleton University. During his five years at the university, Doug led the institution through a successful re-branding exercise and was presented with Carleton’s Breakthrough Leadership Award in 2005.
Workshop Overview: In the whirlwind of running your business or organization, where do you find time to think about the next 5-10 years? Where do you find the time to update your strategy and lay the ground work for continued competitive advantage? Doug Wotherspoon, Algonquin College’s Vice President of Innovation and Strategy will introduce you to the “Playing to Win” model, a simple framework that looks to ask 5 integrated questions to help you think ahead and align your company for sustainable success.
Workshop #4 – The Labour Market Squeeze: How Will Your Organization Manage?
Presenter Profile: Angela Hoyt, President of Evolution Group Inc., has a rich and varied background in program design and delivery, marketing, results-based management, executive coaching and leadership development. Over the past 19 years Angela has assisted non-profit, public and private sector organizations to maximize performance, increase productivity and achieve positive tangible results.
Workshop Overview: Over the next ten years, the realities of the labour market in Canada, including Renfrew County, will impact your business significantly, whether you work in the private, public or non-profit sectors. The aging and declining workforce will very likely put pressure on your ability to run your business and to achieve your goals. Now is this time to think about how you will weather the storm. For example:
- How are you going to attract new talent from a limited pool of candidates in an employees’
market, if money is tight and the pool is almost empty? - How are you going to engage older workers to transfer their knowledge to your new
employees, if they are expecting more flexibility in terms of work hours, duties and
compensation?
This workshop will tackle these questions and more. You will leave the workshop with a better sense of what it will take for you to find, keep, and build a great workforce, and some tools to get you on your way.
Workshop #5 – Public and Media Relations –It Matters to Your Business
Presenter Profile: Jamie Bramburger has worked in communications for more than 30 years. Trained as a broadcast journalist, Jamie spent 13 years in radio and television before moving to Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus where he has been the Manager of Community and Student Affairs for the past 18 years. Jamie remains interconnected to the media through his regular College columns in the Pembroke Daily Observer and his volunteer work with Cogeco Community television. He has conducted countless interviews, written hundreds of media releases and planned multiple events during his career as a public relations practitioner and has also taught media and public relations continuing education courses. Jamie is also a member of many volunteer committees and boards that support fundraising, economic development and community prosperity.
Workshop Overview: Shrinking newsrooms, cluttered social media pages and limited advertising budgets are all business realities that impact a company’s ability to share its story. But, in today’s competitive marketplace, it shouldn’t be an excuse, but rather a reason for every organization to develop a public and media relations strategy that works. This workshop will offer your organization helpful tips on how you can develop an external communications strategy that will enhance your company brand and reputation, because in 2017 media and public relations matter!
Workshop #6 – Cultural Diversity: Transforming Rural Workforces
Presenter Profile: Chela Breckon has a passion for community development and is focused on Renfrew County as an agent for change in the immigration sector. She is a licensed Facilitator, Settlement Expert and InterCultural Competency Trainer who, for the past five years, has managed the federal Local Immigration Partnership of Renfrew & Lanark Counties. This experience has given her the opportunity to work with many community partners to develop practical community-based outcomes that support immigration and workplace relations. Chela has shared these experiences and successes with businesses, agencies, and government organizations across Ontario and in Alberta. Most recently, she spoke at the National Conference on Immigration in Ottawa about engaging municipal government in leading welcoming communities. These efforts led Chela to become connected to world-class curriculum being developed to support intercultural competency, and she looks forward to sharing ideas and strategies with local employers.
Workshop Overview: Immigration is critical as Canada faces declining birth rates and struggles with replacing baby boomers who are exiting the labour force in record numbers. In rural Ontario, however, there continues to be challenges in attracting newcomers. Creating a more welcoming work environment, and ensuring your employees and colleagues have a broader understanding of cultural diversity, can help your business meet its hiring needs. This workshop will help you learn more about creating a multicultural workforce and inspire you to take initiative in attracting more newcomers to rural regions.
Workshop #7 – Social Media and Your Brand
Presenter Profile: Jodi Bucholtz has worked for Algonquin College for over 8 years in a variety of capacities, including coordinating social media communications and strategies. Algonquin was an early adopter of a number of social media platforms and has evolved and grown with social media ever since. Jodi continually works to grow the Waterfront Campus’ social media profiles and helps to establish a roadmap confirming the position of Algonquin’s Waterfront Campus as the Connected College and a leader in the corporate and academic use of social media. Her goal is to tell the Algonquin Story, a story that reflects the amazing people, events and activities happening in Pembroke. Jodi’s excitement for social media comes from its ability to begin and continue conversations and extend relationships with a growing number of clients and prospective clients, ultimately delivering on the College’s business objectives.
Workshop Overview: Identifying your brand and what differentiates you from your competitors is essential in today’s business world. Social media is a great way to develop a business identity, establish a reputation and stand out in your industry. One of the most overlooked aspects of social business and social media is the power of the personal brand. Unfortunately, many marketers and business leaders wrongly assume that personal branding is only for those looking to be “famous” or become some type of online or social marketing “guru.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.
This conference is presented by Algonquin College, Pembroke and our co-sponsors:
