Business

Rob Hunter

00:27:32

Rob Hunter has been an entrepreneur ever since he was a kid. He had an eBay account by the time he was 12 years old, and sold Japanese professional wrestling VHS tapes and DVD’s (yep!) to pay his way through university at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

He did so well, he was able to establish a mini student real estate empire. After graduation, he sold my properties and got into the ice cream business, opening 7 Marble Slab ice cream stores by the time he was 25. Rob has had lots of tremendous high’s and low’s as a multi-unit franchisee, and learned a lot of lessons along the way.

In 2012, he got offered a great scholarship to do his MBA at the #1 school in the world for entrepreneurship, Babson College. In Boston he met a co-founder, a wife, and immersed himself in the technology startup culture of the city.

Right now he’s back in Toronto and focused on growing HigherMe – a way for retail and hourly employers to find, screen, and hire better employees faster.

Jim Button

0:17:35

Jim Button is co-founder of Village Brewery, a strategist with Evans Hunt and a member of the board of directors of Beer Canada. Jim has been on a sabbatical for a year while he deals with terminal cancer.

Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte

0:27:24

Introducing Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte, brand performance catalyst (a.k.a jet fuel) at LeapZone Strategies. As a brand builder, business performance catalyst, TEDx speaker with more than 2 Million views, and one of the best selling authors of the business and marketing book titled, The Next Big Thing: Top Trends From Today’s Leading Experts to Help You Dominate the New Economy; Isabelle’s sole purpose is to empower change and growth. “Momentum Generator” is her middle name and she has a relentless passion for helping entrepreneurs and small business owners raise the bar and expand their comfort zone to create outstanding brand experiences.

Isabelle’s biggest strength is her no BS approach and ability to tell it like it is. She has the “Simon Cowell” edge and is not afraid to tell people what to do and how to do it. She is an inspirational speaker, a captivating storyteller, and has an unquenchable enthusiasm for life. She is consistently leading-edge in facilitating change, and her undeniable track record and authentic connection with people, has gained her worldwide influence and recognition.

Jennifer Carlson

0:13:49

Jennifer Carlson is founder and president of Thirsty Naturals. She’s also co-founder of Baby Gourmet and Chair of Innovation and New Ventures at SAIT.

Sandra Nomoto

0:27:31

Sandra Nomoto is a writer and aspiring world traveller. After earning her University degree and working in public relations, at the age of 25 she launched Conscious Public Relations Inc., a virtual communications firm. Over the 10 years in business, Nomoto was awarded the 2009 Volunteer of the Year by Women In Film & Television Vancouver, earned B Corporation® certification, and contributed to eWomenNetwork Vancouver earning the Best Social Media and Community Engagement Award in 2016. She also founded and grew the Vancouver Short Film Festival from 2005 to 2015. Nomoto is also the author of newly-published book, The Only Public Relations Guide You’ll Ever Need, blogs at SandraNomoto.com and for Cold Tea Collective, and serves on the board of the Vancouver Mural Festival. She practices Transcendental Meditation daily, sells a line of bold journals, and has been eating vegan since 2018.

Robin H. Smith

00:22:47

Robin Smith Co-Owner and Co-Founder of VL OMNI – which he has built over the past twenty-five years. He is also founder of genealogyman.com. VL OMNI provides a platform for agile and scalable iPaaS ecommerce integration. It is used by global multichannel to move data seamlessly through their infrastructure as they grow, expand, and accelerate their business. VL OMNI is headquartered in Oakville and has offices in the UK as well.

PJ L’Heureux

0:13:47

PJ L’Heureux is a well-known Calgary businessman who owns and operates several bars and restaurants in the city including CRAFT Beer Market, Trolley 5, St. James Corner, Home & Away and Rodney’s Oyster House.

Greg Hadubiak

0:28:14

Greg Hadubiak is an executive coach, consultant, facilitator, speaker and author who believes that the impossible is possible if human potential is unleashed. He brings extensive, broad-ranging, senior level experience and insight to leaders, especially those involved in significant change management initiatives. Greg’s client list is extensive and encompasses both public sector and private sector organizations and leaders. Greg’s company, Breakpoint Solutions, is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta.

Clive Goodinson

0:22:05

Clive Goodinson, aka The Jokester, is the mastermind behind Pixton. It all started when he imagined a website where people could share and collaborate on ideas and stories. Combining his love of comics like Tintin, The Far Side, and Calvin & Hobbes, with his skills in computer programming, Clive struck upon the idea of a new kind of comic, where anyone could be its author.

An expert in the full spectrum of interactive technologies, Clive has a M.Sc. degree from the University of British Columbia and over a decade’s experience building interactive content for some of Canada’s leading brands and design agencies. Originally from England, Clive loves listening to and playing music, word games, and the right brand of chocolate-mint ice cream.

Clive’s family moved to Canada from England when he was small and moved to Ontario. From Ontario, Clive moved to Vancouver for 14 years, and ultimately moved from an interurban 600 square foot apartment downtown Vancouver to Vancouver Island nine years ago, and fell in love with the space of Vancouver Island – being close to nature and out of the noisy city. Above all, Clive believes in nurturing the creative spirit, that we have the unique ability to imagine something and then make it a physical reality.

Nicola Kozmyk

0:23:23

Nicola Kozmyk Jones is the owner and executive director of Pure Motion Dance Company, a company she started in 2008 at the age of 21 that quickly grew into one of Calgary’s largest and most successful commercial dance companies. Pure Motion provides Nicola with the opportunity to work with some of Calgary’s top dance professionals and share her love of dance with young children.

She has a bachelors degree in sport and recreation management from Mount Royal University. She is an MRU Distinguished Alumna, winning the university’s prestigious Horizon Award which is presented annually to a recent graduate for outstanding achievement early in their career.Both Nicola and Pure Motion have been nominated for and have won a number of awards including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s Customer Service Award in 2017.

In addition to Pure Motion Dance company, Nicola works as a business coach helping dance industry professionals throughout North America achieve their full business potential. Nicola’s personal motto, which she shares with everyone she meets, is “You are PURE potential”.

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