2024 MCABC Business Conference & Trade Show

SPEAKER: Will Bowen (Opening Keynote)

SPEAKER: Derek Strokon (Closing Keynote)

SPEAKER: Jennifer Lee

Jennifer has been with BMO Capital Markets Economics for over two decades and is perhaps best known for her analysis on the U.S. economy, as well as her commentary on global financial market and economic activity. Her entertaining, easy-to-understand and call-it-like-it-is style has earned her a devoted following.

Jennifer is a regular in the media and is a frequent guest on Bloomberg. Most recently, she took the #3 spot in the 2023 Focus Economics Survey for Euro Area policy rates among 31 global firms.

SPEAKER: Klayton Gonçalves

Klayton Gonçalves is Senior Economist and Head of Business Intelligence with BuildForce Canada. He is at the forefront of producing BuildForce Canada’s annual labour market forecasts, producing insightful reports and delivering engaging presentations.

SPEAKER: Steve Howe

With over 18 years in the construction industry, Steve Howe understands the daily hazards faced by workers and why safety is often viewed as an impediment. In the spring of 2006, while working as a young tree faller on the Sea to Sky Highway project in British Columbia, Steve suffered an unimaginable injury.

As a safety consultant, Steve travels across the country sharing his story and inspiring audiences to trust their gut. He reminds us that he used to live to work but now he works to live. This keeps what’s important – his family, his health, his life – at the forefront of every safety decision he makes today.

SPEAKER: Elizabeth Petticrew (Panelist)

This session will be facilitated by one of the Globe & Mail’s top-ranked wealth advisors of 2021 and 2022.  Specializing in individual and corporate portfolio management, Elizabeth is the lead portfolio manager on her team. Since entering the investment business in 1988, Elizabeth has been an active participant in education initiatives. She has delivered educational seminars for the UBC Law Society, BC Women’s Hospital, BCIT, SFU, local companies, associations, and investment clubs. In addition, she was sponsored by the Investment Dealers Association as night school instructor in the areas of financial planning and investing.

A supporter of community initiatives, Elizabeth has held the position of co-president of the Western Businesswomen’s Association, participated in the YWCA mentorship program, and sat on the Ethics Committee of Women’s Hospital. Elizabeth was nominated for the prestigious YWCA Women of Distinction Award; in 2015 she became one of the founding contributors to the SheEO’s year of radical giving campaign, and in 2016 she became a full member of the Women Presidents Organization.

SPEAKER: Kimiko Comeau, CFA, FEA (Panelist)

A member of the Business Advisory and Transition Planning team, Kimiko contributes to providing high-net-worth business owners in transition with a sophisticated, forward-thinking wealth management plan. She works with individuals and business owners in the areas of business succession, transition, sale, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and valuations for the purposes of wealth planning and transfer. With a background as a mid-market M&A advisor at a Big Four professional services firm, Kimiko brings a breadth of experience, particularly on the sell-side for private companies in a range of industries including construction, manufacturing, distribution, and oil and gas services.

SPEAKER: Holly Castle, CPA, CA, CFP®, TEP

Providing tax and estate planning expertise to families and business owners, Holly offers guidance on business succession, tax structuring, estate planning, post-mortem planning, and charitable giving. Holly brings insight from her extensive career in public accounting and in senior tax roles where she focused on tax and estate planning issues related to individuals, privately held corporations, trusts, and estates.