Richard Aaron, CMP, CSEP
President, BizBash Media

Sessions: State of the Industry Address, Greening your events

President of BiZBash Media, Richard was the founding President of the New York International Special Event Society (ISES).  He has served on both the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and ISES International Board of Directors.  Richard is currently an adjunct assistant professor at New York University’s Preston Tisch Center where he teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes in event management.  He was honored as MPI’s Planner of the Year in 2002 for his outstanding body of work in the meeting profession and was selected as Event Solutions magazine 2001 Visionary of the Year by its readership.  Richard was the Founding Chair of the SEARCH Foundation and ISES Education Foundation and now chairs the Apex Education Advisory Board.

Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey Designs

Keynote: Transformations

With 27 years in the events industry, Preston Bailey has become especially renowned for his ability to completely transform raw, ordinary spaces into sumptuous, theatrical environments, translating his clients’ fantasies into awe-inspiring reality. Preston’s one-of-a-kind events, which included the most extravagant weddings and galas for Royal families across the globe, have earned him a reputation, as the world’s preeminent event designer. He has attracted such clients as Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Uma Thurman, Joan Rivers, Donna Karen, Liza Minnelli, Matt Lauer, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Emmitt Smith and Bill Cosby. Preston’s signature style combines exuberant and harmonious color palettes, sensuous textures, shapes that are both architectural and organic, and modern adaptations of traditional elements to excite the senses in profound ways. Inspired by the simple beauty of the natural world, Preston is known for taking small, simple, elements, changing them, reshaping them and repeating them on many layers to create grand, spectacular dramatic statements.

Dawn Bellini
Director of PR and Marketing, HUGO BOSS Canada

Session: Design IQ: Utilizing design schemes to create successful events

Dawn has been with HUGO BOSS since 1994 and is often asked how she got into the fashion PR industry. Dawn believes that blind luck and being a cheerleader in high school and university set the foundation for promoting the brands she now cheers for.

Candice Best
President and Founder, Best PR Boutique

Session: Industry Matchmaking for Enhanced Partnerships

Candice Best is President and Founder of Best PR Boutique—a public relations firm focused on developing targeted and strategic media relations and publicity programs for premium lifestyle brands in Canada and the U.S.  As part of Best PR Boutique, Candice leads the developing targeted celebrity association and industry partnership alignments for clients. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Candice worked in PR for top-tier companies such as Bell Canada, CIBC, Ernst & Young, and Microcell prior to starting her own firm.

Candice places significant emphasis on giving back to the community, and as such dedicates her time and PR expertise to a number of not-for-profit organizations. She is a Cabinet Member with the Young Patrons’ Circle (YPC) at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), The Jocelyn Foundation, and Rethink Breast Cancer. Candice Best also works with the Women of Influence Luncheon Series, and sits on The Fraser Institute’s Behind the Spin Committee (Ontario).  

Domenic Chiaromonte
Executive Chef

Session: 45 ideas in 45 minutes

In his training with some of the world’s most accomplished chefs, Domenic Chiaromonte experienced the explosion of flavours, textures and colors within the cuisines of many countries. From hands-on exposure to the foods of India, Morocco, Spain, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Japan and China, he has created a unique fusion of these tastes and styles to develop his own distinctive version of Modern Canadian cooking, Domenic is an artist who uses high quality ingredients superbly prepared as his creative medium.  “By creating a dramatic visual impression you can turn a gourmet dish or an everyday meal into an extraordinary event. And the food simply tastes much better”, he said.

Qualifying for the Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) designation in 2008, International Red Seal Chef and Executive Chef for Match Restaurant and Event Venue, Domenic is a three-time Las Vegas International Caterers’ Association (ICA) Catered Art through Innovative Excellence (CATIE) first place award winner. He received these prestigious awards in 2005 and 2006 for best food presentation, best new food trends and best plate presentation, all coveted awards won in previous years by veterans of this competitive industry.

Over the past year, Domenic has had numerous appearances in the print media and on network television.  He was the featured chef in the spring educational program offered by the Liquor Licensing Board of Ontario, publishers of Food & Drink magazine. Domenic was also invited as a guest chef to participate in the 2007 Super Bowl pre game celebration event. Match recently received a prestigious nomination for Caterer of the Year through the international organization Event Solutions, to be awarded August 2007 in Miami, Florida. Domenic was recently one of 10 finalists in the Food network’s (Alliance Atlantis) Superstar Chef Challenge 3. Domenic divides his time expertly between his successful restaurant and catering business, training upcoming chefs, and an ongoing program of philanthropy, TV and special appearances and speaking engagements. He is currently working on a new TV pilot.

Michael Cress
Special Event Manager, CANFAR

Session: 45 ideas in 45 minutes

Michael is currently the Special Event Manager for CANFAR – the Canadian Foundation For AIDS Research.  Since 2005, he has been in charge of all aspects of CANFAR’s multi –million dollar special events portfolio, including the award winning Bloor Street Entertains and AIDS beat.  For the past 6 years he has been very active with the Friends for Life Bike Rally an annual 6 day 600km fundraising cycling adventure from Toronto to Montréal support of the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. Michael has personally cycled the 600kms Montreal for the past 5 summers and is responsible for personally raising over $12,000 for the cause.  He is on the organizing committee for the 10th annual Friends for Life Bike Rally for summer 2008, expecting to raise$1 million for the PWA Foundation.  His involvement on many events in many levels for a large number of organizations includes Fife House’s Spotlight and Performers for Life, Willow Breast Cancer Foundation’s Eat to the Beat, Youth Employment Services Art Auction,  Street Youth International Wine Auction, and the  Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives Foul Supper to name a few!  He is also the current volunteer co-chair of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Provincial Advisory Committee on HIV and Substance Use.

Collin Douma
VP of Strategy, Social Media Group

Session: Gen 2.0: Join the Viral Marketing Revolution

In his 13+ years of creating and developing internet platforms, digital marketing and advertising campaigns, Collin Douma has learned that the formula to success is strategic relevance, targeted messages and insightful creative. At Social Media Group he completes the formula by helping clients meet the evolving needs of the "on demand  consumer" in the emerging Social Media space. Developing trust between 

consumer and provider forms the base of his blog radicaltrust.ca, guest lectures and numerous articles in industry publications including the CanadianMarketingBlog.com, Marketing Magazine, Media in Canada and more. Collin has worked with many clients including GM Canada, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Fido and Sears Canada. With Social Media  Group, Collin has been developing Social Media programs with Ford's Global Communications team in Dearborn MI. Collin also offers talks, training and advice on the applied business use of social media from policy creation to tactical execution.

For insights on emerging trends, case studies and principles of social media, be sure to subscribe to Collin’s popular blog radicaltrust.ca

Kori Gorman, CMP, CEP
Director, Corporate, Social and Event Catering

Session: Greening your events

Kori’s 15 years of catering and special event planning experience include the largest off-site catering company in Toronto as well as with one of Toronto’s foremost boutique, high end event catering companies.  She has managed the catering services on the Much Music Video Awards, Festival Schmooze, The Power Ball, The Molson Indy, and Polo for Heart and Tennis Canada.

Alan Hollingsworth
Partner and Practice Team Leader, HKMB

Session: Protecting Your Events from Legal Issues…

Alan is responsible for an extensive client base that ranges from entertainment facilities to gaming centers, concerts and special events. His team also handles film and sport liability.

Alan joined HKMB in 1999 from Guardian Insurance Company of Canada where he worked in the Special Risks Commercial Lines Underwriting department for five years.

During his 5 year tenure at the Guardian, Alan became a mainstay within Toronto’s entertainment industry, volunteering for a number of event/act management roles. This experience has proved to be invaluable in working with his current Clients because he understand the demands of the industry and how it operates, in particular, the need to meet very short time lines.

Alan is often asked to speak publicly about risks and risk solutions in the sports and entertainment fields. He has spoken on Event Liability and Loss Control for the International Event Safety Committee; on Risk Management - Are You Sure You are Insured? at Event Sensations, Canada's Premier Conference for Event Professionals; on Film Production Insurance at several Telefilm Canada and Women in Film and Television (Toronto) seminars; most recently, on Risk Management for Sports Organizations at the Play Soccer 2006 Conference; and on Event Liability at the Northeast Council of Airshows Conference in Niagara Falls, New York.

Alan also incorporates sport and entertainment into his personal life as captain of his Men’s League Soccer team and as an avid music fan. He attended the Business Program at Sheridan College in Oakville, is married and has two young daughters.

Chad Kaydo
Editor in Chief, BizBash Media

Session: 45 ideas in 45 minutes

Chad Kaydo oversees all editorial content in BizBash's New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, and Washington products, including BizBash magazine, BizBash.com, the BizBash Media email newsletters, and the BizBash National Venue Guide. He leads a team of editors and freelance reporters who cover all types of events, watching for news about industry trends, leaders, and new ideas.

As an industry expert, Chad has spoken about special event trends for NY1, WB11, CBS 2 This Morning, Fox-5's Good Day New York, the Food Network's What's Hot, What's Cool, the RSVP show in London, the Council of Protocol Executives' Eventpower seminar, and the BizBash trade show.

Before joining BizBash in 2000 to help launch the original Web site, Chad was an associate editor at Sales & Marketing Management magazine, where he wrote about topics including event marketing, meetings, business travel, and incentives. He holds degrees in English and journalism from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Susan O'Neill
Bureau Chief, BizBash Toronto

Session:45 ideas in 45 minutes

Susan O'Neill is our new Toronto bureau chief. She is an award- winning journalist with 10 years of local newspaper reporting experience. Susan most recently worked as a city hall reporter for Toronto Community News. She was also a regular contributor to Centre of the City—a local style magazine—and has profiled some of the city’s best-known personalities. Susan was awarded the opportunity to travel to Zambia in 2006 for her reporting on international development issues. She studied politics at Queen's University and received a post-graduate diploma in print journalism at Centennial College.

Connie Riley
Director, Special Event & Merchandising, CTV Inc.

Session: State of the Industry Address

Francine Socket is CTV Inc.’s Director of Special Events and Merchandising and has held this position since 2001.  Socket oversees more than 100 events annually including the party for the MuchMusic Video Awards, the Etalk Star! Festival Schmooze, executive conferences, as well as client and staff appreciation events. Socket graduated from Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts program with a Bachelor in Applied Arts.  Her career in broadcasting began in live production for both news and MuchMusic.  Her live TV experience laid a solid foundation for her ability to manage and execute high profile, grand scale events exceeding 3500 guests. Francine sits on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Entertainment District Association.

Francine Socket
Director, Special Events & Merchandising CTV Inc.

Session: Greening your events

Toronto – Francine Socket is CTV Inc.’s Director of Special Events and Merchandising and has held this position since 2001.  Socket joined the company in 1986.

Socket oversees more than 100 events annually including the party for the MuchMusic Video Awards, the Etalk Star! Festival Schmooze, executive conferences, as well as client and staff appreciation events.  Socket and her team recently executed a trio of high profile back-to-back events at CTV Queen Street which were the talk of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. 

The 2006 edition of the MuchMusic Videos Awards party was the winner of “Best Overall Event “at the 2007 BizBash TO Event Style Awards.

In addition to events, Socket oversees the operation of CTV’s retail store The MuchStore and both the selection and production of promotional merchandise giveaways.

Socket launched the building visitor tour program which hosts over 15,000 visitors annually.
Socket graduated from Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts program with a Bachelor in Applied Arts.  Her career in broadcasting began in live production for both news and MuchMusic.  Her live TV experience laid a solid foundation for her ability to manage and execute high profile, grand scale events exceeding 3500 guests.  These events are often backdrops to live international television broadcasts.

Francine sits on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Entertainment District Association.

Anthony Watanabe, Ph.D.
Founder, Innovolve Group

Session: Greening your events

Through a series of business ventures, Dr. Watanabe has been helping leading organizations successfully adopt sustainability thinking. Every day, he encounters leaders who are hungry to embrace sustainability, but struggle to make it relevant to their organizations. In response, Anthony founded the Innovolve Group consultancy and built it into a hub of ideas, people and innovation designed to both move the market and market the movement of sustainability. Dr. Watanabe is also an accomplished speaker having delivered presentations on sustainability in Canada, the United States and Europe.