Featured Speakers at the Entrepreneur Series
The following people are presenting or have presented sessions during the series:
About Ted Rechtshaffen, CFP, MBA
President and CEO, TriDelta Financial Partners
Born and raised in Toronto, Ted studied at the Schulich School of Business (then known as York University's Business School), graduating with an MBA in Marketing and Finance at age 22.
Following a year at American Standard - the multi-national plumbing fixture company - Ted joined a consulting firm focused on the Canadian mutual fund industry. The client base included all of the major fund companies, with a particular focus on the sellers of mutual funds - banks, stock brokers and financial planners.
Moving from the consulting side to the 'client' side, Ted joined RBC Dominion Securities in Marketing and Business Development. Ted was Vice President, Strategic Initiatives for RBC Dominion Securities, when he left to launch TriDelta Financial Partners.
Outside of the office, Ted enjoys spending time at home with his wife and two children. When time permits, he can be found playing Baseball in summer and Floor Hockey in winter.
About Cecile Peterkin
Cecile Peterkin, a charismatic and inspiring woman, is the founder and president of Cosmic Coaching Centre (CCC). Through the Centre, Cecile provides a host of coaching solutions for Career, Leadership and Life development. She offers personalized one-on-one coaching sessions and inspirational group sessions as well as a collection of e-books and courses based on her more than 17 years of experience as a manager, leader and counselor. Her personal development and online career counseling strategies and products help many tap into their talents, take control of their lives, and discover a more enjoyable way to live and work.
About Adeodata Czink
Raised in the diplomatic community in Stockholm, Sweden, Adeodata Czink had her etiquette training right from the cradle. Adeodata is a multi-lingual speaker and is in high demand as a guest lecturer and keynote speaker. Her company, Business of Manners, provides seminars in international etiquette, formal dining and social graces. She is a favourite with the media and a protocol consultant to the film industry.
About Christina M. Demeester
Christina M. Demeester, B.A., C.L.C., founder of N.E.W. was born, raised and educated in Belgium. Christina moved to Toronto with her husband where she raised her family, while maintaining her interest and investment in professional and personal development. She was involved in community, charitable and spiritual organizations, the educational system and the diplomatic community.
From 1990 until 1993, Christina moved back to Europe where she helped North American families settling, finding happiness and joy in the midst of relocation chaos. From 1995 until 2001, Christina and her family lived in the New York area, where Christina counseled and coached European corporate clients with their families settling in the New York area. Through formal training and her own life experiences, Christina has lived a happy, healthy, well balanced and fulfilled life, in spite of moves, transitions, changes and challenges that life can present us with.
Christina graduated from the Institute for Life Coach Training in 2003 and became a certified Life Coach in 2005. After finishing her Consciousness Studies training in 2005, Christina is pursuing her Masters in Transpersonal Psychology at the International University for Professional Studies.
Happy to be back in Toronto, Christina is delighted to share her expertise in the field. Her passion is to guide, support and coach people who too would like to live happy, healthy, well balanced and fulfilled lives.
About David Cohen
David's background is in business- to- business sales in both radio advertising and the promotional products/incentive business. During the past 5 years, David has shifted his career embarked on launching a consulting practice, specializing in helping small business owners. The Technicolour Umbrella was launched in 2002.
David prides himself on working and teaching at a variety of local government economic development agencies, specializing in small business start-up programs. David has trained with the Adler School towards obtaining a certificate in Professional Coaching and soon afterwards began working as a business advisor, coach and consultant with Essential Communications, Rexdale Microskills, Centennial College's Center for Entrepreneurship, TBDC and the School.
It is with joy and honour that the Technicolour Umbrella has worked one - on - one with over 100 start-ups and has taught marketing, selling, business start up, cold calling, market research to over 1000 students. David has created and currently hosts the Small Business Big Ideas Show radio program on CKDO 1580 in Durham and is working toward obtaining a certificate in adult education.
About Jennifer Beale
Although shy as a teenager, Jennifer Beale became enthusiastic whenever she met anyone who was extraordinary at what they did. Her enthusiasm compelled her to come out of her shell and tell the world about their greatness.
After years as a freelance writer and editor, she turned her natural compulsion into a successful career as a publicist with unleash pr.
For more than 10 years, Jennifer Beale has been promoting experts and excellence. When you tap into your excellence, learn the know how's behind getting into the media, you will attract ongoing free media coverage on the Internet, and print and on TV and radio shows.
A successful businesswoman, she was nominated as 2003 Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year. Her clients have appeared on Breakfast Television, Canada AM, ROB TV, CFRB, MOJO Radio, CBC Radio, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Globe and Mail, National Post, community newspapers, Style at Home, House & Home, Canada SOHO Business Magazine . . . the list goes on. You name it and one of her clients has probably been featured there.
Roger Pierce
ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs. Co-founder of BizLaunch.ca, he's launched eight small businesses of his own, experiencing what he calls "the good, the bad & the ugly" sides of entrepreneurship. Roger has helped thousands of people to start up through his informative seminars, columns, TV appearances and his work with such organizations as Junior Achievement, Junior Chamber International and the Government of Canada. A popular media speaker on the subject of entrepreneurship, Roger writes two columns each Wednesday in The Toronto Sun called "Up & Running" and "BizLaunch."
Joel Alleyne
Joel Alleyne is a perfect example of the tenet that a company's President is in fact the "Chief Sales Officer" even when that is not one of his official titles. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, the bottom line is that the role of a leader is more than just guiding the direction of the company, it is also to be the "face" of the company and to make connections and to open doors for the sales team (no matter how large or small that "team" is).
Joel's past experience as President of GSA Consulting Group Inc., saw the management consulting firm grow from a small core team of consultants to a company with well over 100 employees in offices right across Canada, doing business globally. In this role, he opened the right doors in sectors as diverse as professional services, healthcare, insurance, pharmaceutical, finance, and government organizations.
Joel has held many executive positions and is currently Chief Information and Knowledge Officer for Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, as well as the Executive Director of the Canadian Health Care Anti-Fraud Association. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and a Masters of Information Studies, and a long-standing member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.
In 2004, Joel was appointed to the Entovation 100 Global Knowledge Leadership Map which includes several global thought leaders and practitioners in the field who play a role in shaping the new knowledge based economy. He is Practitioner in Residence at the Knowledge Media Design Institute (www.kmdi.org) - University of Toronto and a faculty member/senior researcher with the Kaieteur Institute For Knowledge Management (www.kikm.org).
Stephen van Beek
Stephen van Beek has had several consecutive careers integrating his long-term interests in communication and decision-making.
After a first career in academia at University of Toronto and York, and a tour of duty in educational research, he embarked on a long career within business and government as a professionally certified management consultant. He served as the Chair of the 1000 member GTA Chapter of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants and among other innovations instituted its exciting self-directed learning groups.
Having finally recognized the dynamic and structural factors that lead organizations to act unwisely and irrationally, he re-trained as a psychodynamic psychotherapist. He developed a five stage growth model at www.pragmos.com that he uses to advise business leaders both in terms of their official strategy and their unconscious strivings.
His increasing faith in his own intuition has led him into new avenues of creativity. Two major projects are current, the Salon L'Espresso seminars held in this space once monthly, and the Toronto Therapy Network. The Salon L'Espresso seminars are original multimedia evenings followed by and spirited group discussions, and supported by an excellent buffet dinner. The Toronto Therapy Network at www.therapytoronto.ca , created in March 2004 is now both the reference point for information about psychotherapy, and the largest pool of qualified psychotherapists in Canada.
Marilyn Wetston
Marilyn Wetston, The Wardrobe Doctor has owned and operated her clothing store Marilyn's in Toronto's Fashion District for over 30 years. It is famous for high quality pieces at an excellent price. Moreover, it is known for a special philosophy of dressing.
Marilyn believes that clothing is a non-verbal method of communication that enables us to speak to others in every aspect of our lives. The right clothing for the occasion sends a clear message about you. The language of dressing can be learned when each of us learns the vocabulary. It is this philosophy that underlies the way Marilyn operates her store.
Clients return to Marilyn's season after season because they are not left to fend for themselves among the many racks of clothing; instead they are given personal help and learn the art of dressing. Marilyn takes this caring attitude one step further with her charity and fundraising work on behalf of numerous organizations.
In addition to being an exceptional entrepreneur, Marilyn is also a well-known media personality. Known as 'The Wardrobe Doctor', Marilyn writes regular columns for Women with Vision! (magazine), Toronto Waterfront (magazine), Progressive Choices (magazine), and Osprey Media newspapers throughout Ontario. In addition she appears on Chex TV every Wednesday, and has a radio program (From a Woman's Perspective) on AM 740 every Sunday morning at 8am.
To encourange entrepreneurship and charitable efforts, Marilyn also conducts monthly W4w events and supports fundraising events both in store and elsewhere. In her presentation, Marilyn will teach you the art and language of dressing, how to organize your wardrobe, and how to best present yourself in every area of your life.
Marilyn's full bio can be found here.
Wendy Woods
Wendy Woods is a Principal with Watershed Training Solutions, a company that focuses on teaching soft skills for the workplace.
Wendy's enthusiastic and engaging training style energizes and motivates her participants. Her years of hands-on business and adult education experience, complimented by an M.B.A. and Certificate in Adult Education, provide her clients with productive and profitable results - specializing in Soft Skills, Networking and Laughter is the Best Medicine.
Soft skill workshops include Managing conflict, Effective communication, Stress reduction and time management, as well as Productive teamwork. Wendy's strength lies in her subject matter expertise and ability to create a comfortable environment where individuals can discuss their challenges.
Aside from building her own networking group for entrepreneurs, Motivational Café, Wendy delivers networking presentations and workshops throughout the Greater Toronto area. Her practical and interactive approach gets rave reviews with most attendees staying long after the session ends.
Laughter is the Best Medicine is Wendy's unique flagship workshop. Co-workers share laughter, have fun and act creatively in a social setting. Participants build rapport, reduce stress and leave with an enthusiastic new perspective.
Special Thanks to:
Event planning and coordination:
David J. Ng Management Consultants Inc.
Want information on sponsoring the series or donating a door prize?
Visit the sponsorship page.
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