Description

For over 45 years, Small Business Week has been dedicated to honouring the incredible diversity of local businesses and entrepreneurs to our economies. 

This year, in celebration, the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Business Summit, taking place October 24th from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm for a full-day interactive and engaging event highlighting the vibrant and prosperous business community. 

Join us for a one-day conference dedicated to bringing together Kingston’s industry leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators who drive our community. Get inspired, create connections and engage in rich conversations with dynamic industry leaders from numerous different sectors. 

Participants can look forward to interactive and enlightening presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, lunch, and much more. This is an event business owners and their employees (of all sizes) within Kingston and area won't want to miss. 

Many thanks to Title Sponsor, MNP, Partner Sponsors, ReStart Employment Services, Empire Life, and COGECO, Supporting Sponsor, Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP, Buchner Manufacturing Inc., Breakfast Hour Sponsor Home Equity Bank, Lunch Sponsor Veritasa Law Office Professional Corporation, Decor Sponsor La-Z-Boy Furniture for their support on this program. 

Be sure to use your email connected to your Chamber membership to receive member-discounted pricing. Cancellations must be received two weeks prior to the scheduled event for a full refund. Lastly, please reach out to events@kingstonchamber.ca if you have any allergy/dietary restrictions or problems accessing the discounted pricing. 

Agenda:

8:30 am - Registration and networking breakfast 

9:00 am - Opening Remarks 

• Paige Agnew - Commissioner, Growth and Development Services, City of Kingston 
  • Paige is Commissioner of Growth & Development Services at the City of Kingston, and formerly was the Commissioner of Community Services (for 3 years), Chief Planner and Director of Planning, Building & Licensing Services (for 6 years). Paige has had the privilege of providing professional guidance, policy development and strategy focused on propelling Kingston forward as a 21st century vibrant and sustainable City. Paige has made significant changes to the way the City of Kingston works with the community and reshaped a number of departments to provide a better service continuum. Paige has become a key strategic leader within the City of Kingston. Paige’s passion and vision have enabled her to find innovative solutions to significant community challenges, with a focus on collaboration and relationship building. As the Commissioner of Growth & Development Services, Paige oversees Planning Services, Building Services, Licensing & Enforcement Services, Business, Real Estate & Environment Services and Climate Leadership.

9:15 am - Key Tax Matters what business owners need to know

• Jason Skilnick (MNP)
  • Jason Skilnick is a Tax Partner at MNP LLP in their Kingston Ontario Office.  Drawing on more than 2 decades owner manager tax planning experience, Jason helps small business clients achieve their success as they define it.  Jason ensures clients have the right corporate structure and can help businesses with succession and estate planning objectives to ensure business can either remain in the family or exit efficiently in sales to a third party.  Tax minimization over the life cycle of a business is the primary tax goal for many of our clients which he helps them achieve.  Sometimes however, other goals take precedence including simplification of the organizational structure, or business systems improvement. Many of his are seeking to expand to the larger market to the south of Canada.  Jason has helped many businesses navigate the many pitfalls that can stall a business expansion to the United States by working with MNP’s cross border specialists. MNP’s tax team in Kingston has 10 people and continues to grow.  We are passionate about helping small businesses and we are able to do this locally.  Jason’s professional experience includes teaching taxation at Queen’s University and also with the CPA Canada’s tax indepth program.

    
    

10:00 am - A Straightforward way to Effective Marketing

• Jennifer Baker (JBC Pushing Digital Boundaries)
  • Jennifer Baker provides done-for-you digital marketing services. Using her education-focused degrees, Jennifer goes beyond explaining the importance of social media and gives her clients the skills and confidence they need to attract and retain customers. Through careful attention to each client’s needs, time constraints, and skill levels, Jennifer works with businesses  to make digital marketing work for their business. Jennifer is a part-time instructor at St. Lawrence in the Integrated Marketing Communication program. She holds a Master in Education, Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Arts in Business & Economics.
• John Sanfillippo (SoundWise)
  • When John Sanfilippo was a child, he would spend time playing radio with tape recorders. In his teens, he started playing music. In his twenties, he got into media and advertising. Then in his thirties, he finally found a way to put them all together. In 2012 he founded what is now known as SoundWise, a Kingston-based sonic branding agency. He has worked with businesses big and small to bring their brand into the realm of sound. The mission of SoundWise is to produce an identity that is so sonically consistent and distinct, that it is recognized not only without visuals, but without words. The right sound starts with the right vision.
• Trevor Trewartha (1dea Design + Media)
  • Trevor Trewartha is the co-owner, CEO, and Strategic Director of 1dea Design + Media, a Kingston-based marketing agency that specializes in crafting compelling brands, high-performing websites, and conversion-focused online marketing. With over two decades of experience, Trevor has partnered with organizations across diverse industries, helping them scale their marketing efforts and achieve real growth. He’s passionate about empowering small businesses to overcome the challenges of building a brand and a digital presence, and is driven to share his insights with fellow entrepreneurs looking to elevate their businesses in today’s complicated digital landscape.
• Kathleen Vollebregt - (Avenue Strategy) - Moderator
  • Avenue Strategy founder Kathleen Vollebregt, has more than 25 years’ experience in the advertising, research and marketing fields. Most recently Kathleen served as Director of Marketing for Queen’s University where she led the team in developing the university’s first-ever brand positioning, the foundation for Queen’s most ambitious fundraising campaign which surpassed its half billion dollar goal. She has previously worked as a senior account planner at TBWA/Chiat/Day, overseen the Canadian roll-out of the world’s largest brand database for agency Young & Rubicam, and carried out market research for such top international conglomerates as Unilever, Pepsi and Burger King. Whatever the job, she attributes her success to an interest in how people interact with the world around them and how it affects their behaviors and attitudes. Her personal philosophy is to stay curious.

10:45 am - Break and Connect

11:00 am - Understanding the ever evolving world of Employment law

• Andrea Risk (Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP)
  • Andrea graduated from Queen’s University in 1999 with numerous awards for outstanding achievement, including earning the highest standing in her graduating class. She then practised for several years with a major national law firm where she fine-tuned her skills and gained significant trial experience. Cunningham Swan was lucky to welcome Andrea to the team and she quickly flourished as a litigator, appearing before tribunals and all levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada. Andrea maintains close ties with the Kingston community. Most notably, she was Chair of the Kingston Police Services Board where she spent almost a decade influencing positive change. She is a member of the Kingston Arts Council and the Frontenac Law Association. Andrea is a Partner in our Labour and Employment group. She regularly assists employers by providing highly specialized and experienced assistance with legal aspects of all workplace issues.
• Keagan Davis-Burns (Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP)
  • A Kingston native, Keagan attended the University of Western Ontario after graduating from Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute. She then went on to attain her J.D. from the University of Ottawa. While at law school, Keagan worked at the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic representing members of low-income communities in tenancy disputes. Keagan has several years of experience working in both Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario, in the areas of family law, commercial litigation, and workplace legal disputes.  Keagan now focuses her practice solely on labour and employment law. Keagan is an Associate in the Labour and Employment Group. Keagan understands that work is an essential part of a person’s life. The effects of a workplace dispute on the business and on the individual can be life changing. Keagan uses her practice to create useful and meaningful results for her clients. Keagan is also very active with the Ontario Bar Association, serving as a voice for Kingston and surrounding areas through her positions as a Council Member for the East Region and Past Chair of the Young Lawyers Division – East. 
• Tony Virgin (Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP)
  • Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tony attended Dalhousie University to complete his undergraduate studies prior to working for the Department of National Defence in Ottawa, Ontario. During his time working in the Federal Government, Tony received a Command Commendation from the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy in 2018. He received his J.D. from Queen’s University in 2023 where he won the Ontario Trial Lawyer’s Association Cup Moot in 2023. He also won the Bergeron Clifford Award for Best Team with his moot partner and the Bonn Law Award for Best Cross Examination. Tony is an Associate in the Labour and Employment Group and is engaged with the local community through the Frontenac Lawyers Association.

12:00 pm - Lunch and Connect

12:45 pm - Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace

• Kaleb Verk (Registered Psychotherapist and the Clinical Team Lead at Resolve Counselling Services)
  • Kaleb Verk is a Registered Psychotherapist and the Clinical Team Lead at Resolve Counselling Services. He has work at Resolve for almost 10 years. He works with individuals from 5 to 95 years old, with couples, families, and groups. He also facilitates mental health trainings and presentations as well as crisis debriefings for organizations. Previously, Kaleb worked with adult offenders at Kingston Penitentiary as well as young offenders through St. Lawrence Youth Association. Kaleb can also be found building a gazebo and sauna in his backyard or going on adventures around the world with Tiffany; his wife of 15 years.

    
    

1:30 pm - Your business today and tomorrow, making the best business succession plan

• Elizabeth Teleki (Park Place Financial)
  • Elizabeth Teleki is the President of Park Place Advisory, previously COO at Park Place Financial, which she has held since 2016. During her tenure she has overseen the growth of the business moving from a small team of 10 in one centralized location, to a team of 50 with multiple locations across the province. In addition, Elizabeth played a central role in the diversification of the business in 2018 when the firm partnered with Peak Benefit Solutions. Her position also has her focus on fiduciary oversight, strategic plan development and execution as well as the governance structure with the partnership team. She thoroughly enjoys working with the team to push the daily limits of what is achievable and seeing tangible results.
    
• Hughena Brennan (Veritasa Law Office Professional Corporation)
  • Hughena Brennan has been the CEO of Veritasa Law since its inception in 2020, playing a crucial role in shaping the firm’s direction. Prior to this, she served as the COO of Culic Law, Ontario’s oldest contiguous law firm, from 2016 until the two firms merged in 2023. She earned her MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. With decades of experience, she has advised Fortune 100 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, and non-profits on business planning, risk management, and business continuity. Additionally, she was a lecturer at Queen’s University, where she taught a course on "Maximizing Business Value through Technology". She continues to provide strategic business advice to nonprofits throughout Eastern Ontario. She is currently the host of the Your TV program Legal Insights with Veritasa Law.
    
• Tony Hall (Hall & Associates CPA Professional Corporation)
  • With over 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, and advisory services, Tony is a seasoned expert in driving business growth and financial stability. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he brings a wealth of knowledge in accounting, tax regulations, and compliance, ensuring that organizations navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence. Tony is widely respected for his strategic insights and practical guidance, making him a go-to advisor for business leaders. His expertise spans financial management, risk assessment, and operational efficiency, helping businesses align their financial strategies with long-term goals. Tony’s ability to analyze market trends, anticipate risks, and develop actionable growth strategies has been key in helping clients achieve sustainable success.
• Jason Skilnick (MNP) - Moderator
  • Jason Skilnick is a Tax Partner at MNP LLP in their Kingston Ontario Office.  Drawing on more than 2 decades owner manager tax planning experience, Jason helps small business clients achieve their success as they define it.  Jason ensures clients have the right corporate structure and can help businesses with succession and estate planning objectives to ensure business can either remain in the family or exit efficiently in sales to a third party.  Tax minimization over the life cycle of a business is the primary tax goal for many of our clients which he helps them achieve.  Sometimes however, other goals take precedence including simplification of the organizational structure, or business systems improvement. Many of his are seeking to expand to the larger market to the south of Canada.  Jason has helped many businesses navigate the many pitfalls that can stall a business expansion to the United States by working with MNP’s cross border specialists. MNP’s tax team in Kingston has 10 people and continues to grow.  We are passionate about helping small businesses and we are able to do this locally.  Jason’s professional experience includes teaching taxation at Queen’s University and also with the CPA Canada’s tax indepth program.

2:30 pm - Break and Connect

2:45 pm - Cybersecurity: Is your business safe?

• Andy Larin (allCare IT)
  • Andy Larin is the CEO allCare IT, an IT Support company dedicated to providing cybersecurity services and consultation to businesses. Andy is notorious for his deep understanding and passion for all things IT related. His work ethic, honesty and demand for excellence are deeply appreciated by loyal clients. With his inquisitive spirit and love of learning, Andy has risen as a leader in the field of cybersecurity. He enjoys serving the business community by sitting on the Board of Directors for the Kingston Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Advisory Boards of several companies as a cybersecurity consultant.
• Angelo Da Silva (BrokerLink Insurance)
  • Angelo Da Silva is a commercial insurance broker. Married for 19 years and father of 3 children. Originally from Toronto. He has been in the insurance business since 2011 as a commercial and personal lines agent. In February 2021, he joined Brokerlink as a commercial insurance broker. While helping clients with various types of commercial insurance, he gravitated towards Cyber, as it became clear to him that this was the new, largely unknown frontier of risk. Cyber coverage is the new Commercial General Liability.
• Rob Maratta (Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP)
  • Robert is a lawyer and registered trademark agent at Cunningham Swan LLP in Kingston Ontario. Robert has earned a reputation as a leading regional lawyer in the areas of intellectual property, information technology and not-for-profit law, and assists clients with businesses at all stages of growth and development. Robert has experience in assisting clients with legal data breach response requirements, assisting with privacy related inquiries as well as drafting and negotiating commercial IT contracts requiring an allocation of liability relating to cybersecurity exposure.  
• Stefan Walker (Kingston Police Force)
  • Stefan has been a police officer with the Kingston Police for 15 years. His experience includes 11 years on the front line and 4 years as a detective. He is currently assigned to the Fraud Unit.
• Zermaan Khan (Clarity Kiring Inc) - Moderator
  • Zermaan is an Experienced Business Professional with a demonstrated and proven track record of success within Human Resources and Talent acquisition and management Solutions. Highly Skilled in overall business management, strategic thinking , workforce management and development, sales management, training, as well as business development and effective negotiation. Working everyday to help build productive, progressive and lucrative partnerships.

3:45 pm - Closing Remarks 

5:00 pm - Chamber On Tap: Business Summit Edition

NOTICE OF FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

When you enter a Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce (“GKCC”) event or program, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording and streaming may occur.

By entering the event premises, you consent to being interviewed, photographed, audio recorded, video recorded and streamed at the event. You grant to the GKCC, its representatives and any GKCC designated person or entity the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any media now known or later developed, including but not limited to print, broadcast, electronic, digital and social media. These may be used for promoting and publicizing the event or other GKCC events and the work the GKCC does, and for any other purpose deemed fit by the GKCC, its affiliates and representatives. You release the GKCC, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the aforementioned activities.

By entering the event premises, you waive all rights to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, distribution, web casting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibiting, broadcasting, web casting, or other publication and irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by the GKCC or a GKCC designated person or entity.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please get in touch with us on info@kingstonchamber.ca seven (7) business days prior to the event and we will do our best to accommodate your request. However, please note that if you're scheduled to be a speaker, moderator, host, or the chief guest for any event, adjustments may be challenging to accommodate.