About the SBC Ontario Network Conference

The SBC Ontario Network conference will bring together managers, business advisors, and teams from all 54 SBC locations, as well as industry leaders and partners from throughout the province. This in-person gathering offers the chance to acquire new skills, stay updated on emerging technologies and trends, network with colleagues, and gain tools to further support your clients’ success.

We are excited to host this conference, specially tailored to Small Business Centres, with the aim of boosting the success of the clients you serve across the province

SBC Ontario would like to thank our conference sponsors

Our Keynote Speakers

LEO CHANHead shot for Leo Chan

Abound Innovation Inc.

Keynote: May 10th at 3:30pm, Concord Room

Leo is the founder of Abound Innovation Inc. He’s a people and heart-first entrepreneur who believes everyone can be an innovator. An innovator himself, with 55 US patents and over 20 years of experience, Leo has come alongside organizations like Chick-fil-A and guided them to unleash the innovative potential of their employees by transforming them into confident innovators.​

Leo’s friendly, joyful and enthusiastic demeanour makes the journey to innovation exciting and attainable. Leo’s also a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® trainer & facilitator who believes unlocking innovation takes new approach.

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ROSITA HALL

Keynote: May 11th at 3:30pm, Concord Room

Black women with short hair glasses, smiling in a red leather jacket.

As a Small Business Centre Professional, rising to the occasion in the face of changes, challenges and unpredictability is part of doing business. However, COVID 19 delivered a powerful sucker punch that has left many of us still wobbling emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually, and anxious about what the future may hold. How do we dust ourselves off, prioritize our mental health, build our resiliency, embrace new beginnings, navigate continuous challenges, celebrate our successes, and courageously move forward supporting entrepreneurs and business owners? Join Motivation Sensation Speaker Rosita Hall as she offers six practical strategies (that you can implement right away) to help you reboot, recharge, prioritize wellness, and use daily challenges as opportunities for growth!

WARNING: This session is filled with energy, practical strategies and a few good chuckles – so fasten your seatbelts and get ready for the ride!

Our Speakers

PATRICE ESPER

Business Advisory Centre Durham Inc.

Session May 11th at 1:30pm, Maple Room

Guiding Your Clients Through Market ResearchPatrice Esper

Patrice joined the BACD Team in 2014. She is an experienced professional with a strong and diverse background in business management and entrepreneurship having opened and operated businesses ranging from retail to real estate services in three countries.

A GrowthWheel Certified Business Advisor and a Penn Foster honours graduate of an Associate of Science degree with a major in Hospitality Management, Patrice coordinates entrepreneurial programs such as the Starter Company Plus Program and the Women’s Entrepreneur Program; facilitates and or leads workshops and mentorship sessions, and helps provide client advisory services and support at the BACD. Patrice is an active member of the Ajax-Pickering Toastmasters Club and became a Distinguished Toastmaster in 2019.

She enjoys and has won speaking contests and when she is not in a speaking role, may be found cheering and supporting other speakers in the audience.


STAR MACDONALD

Transformational Training Solutions

Session: May 10th at 11:00am, Maple Room

Starlene is currently the Leader of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Amica Senior Lifestyles, she is a Certified Inclusion Practitioner (CCIP) and a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP). Star hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Adult Education/Leadership.


HOLLY MORTIMER

Stratford Perth Business Centre

Session: May 11th at 11:00am, Maple Room

With a background in sales and marketing, Holly has been advising businesses, both large and small for the past 12 years. She currently supports small businesses as the Business Advisor for the Stratford Perth Centre for Business, offering start-ups and existing businesses guidance and training, specializing in the area of digital marketing.

Holly has written and published ten novels, and currently operates a business, Holly Darling HQ, that coaches authors to use emails and automation to build their businesses alongside her government post.

She is an accomplished public speaker and enjoys volunteering her time to further her passion for teaching teen and tween girls how to build a business and be the CEO of their own entrepreneurship dreams.


PAVEL MALYSHEUSKI

Pavel Malysheuski

Lockyear + Hein LLP

Session: May 11th at 10:00am, Concord Room

Pavel Malysheuski is a corporate/commercial lawyer at Lockyer + Hein LLP, a full service law firm in the GTA. Pavel provides legal advice to clients in all aspects of business law, with a particular focus on business organization and reorganization, private share and asset acquisitions, corporate governance and finance, commercial contracts, as well as IT & E-Commerce. Pavel is also an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he teaches Legal Drafting and has coached students in the Lawyer as Negotiator Program.


LUCY SHENOUDA

Foster Essence

Session: May 10th at 10:00am, Concord Room

As a global citizen, Lucy has lived and worked across three continents. Over a 25-year career, she supported Fortune 500/Global 500 leaders with branding and marketing expertise. Transitioning into ‘chapter two’ of her career,

In 2009, Lucy pivoted career paths to professional coaching. Trained as a coach by Co-Active Training Institute, CRR Global, and Global Team Coaching Institute, Lucy is recognized by the International Coach Federation as a Master Certified Coach (MCC). Lucy leads both in-person and virtual sessions that require her to listen actively, to address resistance to change, engaging in discussions that emphasize the benefits of coaching and transformative leadership.


ARON MURCH

2H Media

SESSIONS: May 10th at 10:00am + 1:30pm

May 11th at 11:00am + 2:30pm

Aron has worked in marketing since 2005 and joined 2H Media as an equal partner in 2020. Aron has founded, built, and exited businesses in diverse industries, leveraging his passion for efficient systems to create scalable business ventures. In addition to his entrepreneurial experience, Aron also has a wealth of technical knowledge, with specializations in branding, print layout, and video production.


Day 1 | May 10th, 2023

7:30am

Vendor Booth Set up, Conference Registration and Breakfast

Booths

9:00am Concord Room

Conference opening and welcome remarks

10:00 – 10:45am, Concord Room

Coaching for Change: How Your Authority, Presence, and Impact Shape Your Approach – Lucy Shenouda, Foster Essence

Foster Essence Logo

Maple Room

Conducting a Brand Audit for Clients – Aron Murch, 2H Media

2h Media Logo

11:00 – 11:45am, Concord Room

Building Resilient EntrepreneursOwnr

OWNR Logo - Primary

Maple Room

How Inclusive is Your Language? – Star MacDonald-Ifil, Transformational Training Solutions

transformational training solutions logo

12:00 – 1:30pm Concord Room

Lunch sponsored by Square and visiting conference floor exhibitors

Square Logo

1:30 – 2:15pm Concord Room

Client Onboarding & Follow Up: ThinkTank – Kristel Manes, Business Centre Guelph-Wellington

Business-Centre-Guelph-Wellington-Small

Maple Room

SEO Audit for Clients – Aron Murch, 2H Media

2h Media Logo

2:30 – 3:15pm Concord Room

Thought leadership about Digital Transformation & eCommerce – Darryl Julott, Digital Main Street

Digital Main Street Logo

Maple Room

Co-operative Business Model Presentation – Co-operative Association of Ontario

3:30 – 4:30pm Concord Room

Keynote – Innovation by Leo Chan, Abound Innovation Inc.

Head shot for Leo Chan

Abound Innovation Logo

6:00 – 7:00pm Concord Room

Reception sponsored by Tourism Vaughan

Tourism VaughanHeadshot of Musician Nathan Hardy

Live music by Starter Company Alumni, Nathan Hardy 

Nate Hardy is a singer-songwriter from Brockville, Ontario. Ever since 8 years old when he first picked up the guitar, Nate has been heavily involved in the live music scene, and lately, producing for artists and writing. Nate creates a unique sonic experience using a looper, blending together classic and modern techniques for a truly one-of-a-kind listening experience. You can find Nate on all social media platforms for news on upcoming shows and music releases. Nate is also a past Summer Company and Starter Company Plus participant. Instagram: @natehardy_

7:00 – 9:00pm

Dinner in the Concord Room with live improv from Stephanie Herrera

Stephanie Herrera is an award winning BIPOC Actor, Writer, and Producer who specializes in Improv comedy. She founded Durham Improv, which produced hundreds of sketch, improv, and dinner theatre shows from 2007-2019 and taught thousands of people across

 North America. She is the author of “The Ten Commandments…of Improvising!” (foreword by Colin Mochrie) and continues to act and write for television. Stephanie also heads the Entertainment Division at McCam Insurance Brokers and she speaks regularly at Film Festivals, Film Schools, and for organizations, such as the BACD, on understanding commercial liability.

Wine sponsored by Henry of Pelham and Love StC, Tourism St. Catharines

Logo for Henry of Pelham

Day 2 | May 11th, 2023

7:45 – 8:45am Concord Room

Breakfast and visiting conference exhibitors

Booths

8:45 – 9:45am Concord Room

Connected networking and Learning by Tim Newton, South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre

https://enterprisecentre.ca/

10:00 – 10:45am Concord Room

Legal Considerations for Online Business – Pavel Malysheuski, Lockyear + Hein LLP

lockyear + hein LLP

Maple Room

The Rise of AI in SBECs: How to Stay Relevant, Embrace the Technology, and Retain the Value of Human Advice –  David Madie, GrowthWheel

11:00 – 11:45am Concord Room

Marketing Strategy for Business Enterprise Centres  – Aron Murch, 2H Media

2h Media Logo

Maple Room

Automating Your Centre – Holly Mortimer, Stratford Perth Business Centre

Stratford Perth Business Centre

12:00 – 1:30pm

Lunch sponsored by Square and visiting conference floor exhibitors

Lunch Sponsor

1:30 – 2:15pm Concord Room

Think Tank: Marketing your SBC Centre – Madeleine Hurrell, Business Advisory Centre Peterborough

Invest PTBO

Maple Room

Guiding your clients through Market Research – Patrice Esper, Business Advisory Centre Durham

bacd logo

2:30 – 3:15pm

Easy Templates for your clients with Sprintpoint, – Aron Murch, 2H Media

2h Media Logo

Banking for EntrepreneursTD Bank

td bank logo

3:30 – 4:30pm Concord Room

Conference Keynote: Reboot and Recharge: Changes, Challenges and ChoicesRosita Hall

Black women with short hair glasses, smiling in a red leather jacket.

rosita hall logo

History

Small business is the backbone of Ontario’s economy. In recognition of this vital role, Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) were created in local communities across Ontario to deliver services and programs to entrepreneurs. The SBEC core programming dates back to the mid-1980s with a few pilot offices and has now grown to include 54 SBECs across Ontario.

Partnerships

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, we work directly with small business owners to fulfill the mandate of growing the economy and creating new jobs by delivering programs, services, resources and expert advice. We also partner with multiple federal, provincial and municipal organizations to offer a single portal for small business support. Learn More