Feature Presentation
Brian Belski
MCABC is very pleased to announce that this year’s presenting sponsor, The Petticrew Group of BMO Nesbitt Burns, will be opening the 2023 Business Conference with a feature presentation by Brian Belski, a trusted and regular commentor on CNBC and BNN. Ranked a Top Gun Analyst by Brendan Wood International since 2016, Brian is the Chief Investment Strategist and leader of the Investment Strategy Group of BMO Capital Markets.
Renowned for his accuracy as a strategist, Brian is travelling from New York City to share his mid-year market outlook with conference delegates in Whistler. Reinforcing the conference theme of Forward Thinking, Brian’s knowledge of the US and Canadian markets will illuminate what businesses need to consider moving forward:
- Are we in or on the verge of a recession?
- Is confidence growing in the investment markets?
- What is the impact of the geopolitical environment on businesses?
- Are supply chain issues here for the long term?
- Is the US the barometer for Canada’s outlook? What’s next?
Mechanical contractors are the single largest representative trades group on new construction sites, and they are responsible for the retrofitting, service, and maintenance of mechanical systems in BC’s existing infrastructure. Altogether, mechanical contractors make a significant contribution to the provinces GDP, 9.3% of which is accountable to the construction industry. We need to pay attention!
We are thrilled that Brian is willing to lend his 32 years of experience and forward thinking to MCABC members. To learn more about Brian, hear his perspective, and consider his outlook for the full year, you can watch his market introductions here and here.
Keynote Speakers
Robyn Benincasa
Robyn Benincasa has made an art form of extreme performance by competing and winning at the highest levels of sport and business.
Robyn is an award-winning keynote speaker, a 20+ year veteran San Diego firefighter, a World Champion Adventure Racer, a 2014 CNN Hero, a Guinness World Record Endurance Kayaker, a New York Times best-selling author, and the Founder of The Project Athena Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping survivors of medical or other traumatic setbacks achieve their adventurous dreams.
Robyn is known as an inspirational force for leadership, teambuilding, and extreme performance. Her game-changing keynotes have earned Robyn accolades as one of the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World, the #1 Female Speaker for Meetings.net, and one of the Top 10 Speakers featured by Harvard Business Review.
Mark Breslin
Mark Breslin is an author, speaker, CEO and influencer at the highest levels of business and the construction industry in North America. He has spent decades advising CEOs and senior leaders in business, government, labor and non-profit arenas in both the U.S. and Canada. As a top-rated public speaker and strategist, he has spoken live to more than 400,000 people. His five bestselling books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have improved leadership, accountability, profitability, innovation, and engagement for organizations and individuals.
Influencing groups from 50 to 5,000 at a time, Mark drives home the lessons needed for positive change that create profound results. Noted in the New York Times, major trade magazines and frequently interviewed by media outlets focusing on business, his imprint and influence have been widely recognized.
Business Transition Panel Speakers
Elizabeth Petticrew
Vice President & Market Leader, Senior Portfolio Manager & Senior Wealth Advisor
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.
Kimiko Comeau, CFA, FEA
Director, Business Advisory & Transition Planning
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.
Holly Castle, CPA, CA, CFP®, TEP
Tax and Estate Planner
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.
Nicco Bautista, B.A. (Hons), M.A., LL.B
Director, Estate Planning
Aligning family dynamics, tax efficiency, and financial flexibility to mitigate tax and other risks is Nicco’s specialty. He brings experience working with teams to prepare estate plans, including wills and trusts, enabling families to achieve their goals across different generational and cultural philosophies.
Jamie S. Wilson,
Estate & Insurance Advisor
A member of the Estate and Advisory Services team, Jamie works collaboratively with The Petticrew Group to align strategies with investment and retirement plans. In his work with individuals, families, and privately owned Canadian corporations, Jamie augments estate planning matters with unique financial strategies and sophisticated planning structures.
Alex Melnikov,
Senior Director
Alex has 10+ years of commercial banking experience in BC and Ontario and joined BMO in September 2016. In that time, he has worked in various positions in Commercial Banking and as a director, he provides strategic support for significant corporate transactions. Alex holds an MSc., and BBA in Finance from Simon Fraser University, and is a CFA Charter holder.
Session Speakers
We will be frequently be releasing the names of our esteemed session speakers in the coming days, so keep an eye on this page!
Matthew Cordova
Matthew joined the Washington State Sheet Metal Apprenticeship at 19 years old (2005). Through apprenticeship classes he gained formal BIM training, before being hired at Hermanson Company as an HVAC Detailer. There he was was tasked with drawing and coordinating ductwork on various projects. As he progressed through the VDC department, Matthew started running MEP Coordination, took on integrated design projects, and helped transition the company from legacy software like AutoCad to drawing full time in Revit. In 2020, Matthew was promoted to Director of Construction Technology in where he works with VDC group, shop, and field to streamline workflows when leveraging BIM models and various software platforms.
Kate Campbell
Kate Campbell entered into the skilled trades in 2005 when she applied to a three month Enhanced General Carpentry program, “Women In Skilled Trades” (WIST) and has since worked in the television and renovation industry. She can be seen as part of the crew for HGTV’s “Holmes On Homes”, “Holmes in New Orleans”, “Holmes Inspection”, “Decked Out”, and “Deck Wars”. Kate was also one of the hosts of HGTV’s “Custom Built” and most recently participated in HGTV Canada’s hit show “Home to Win” and “Family Home Overhaul.”
When she’s not working with HGTV, Kate runs her own renovation company – Kate’s Contracting Inc., She specializes in real estate investment and rehabbing run down properties. Kate is focused on “changing the face” of the skilled trades and is passionate about being an advocate for women.
Jodi Huettner
As an engineer in the field, struggling with ill-fitting PPE, Jodi Huettner makes it her mission to change the narrative for workplaces across North America. During a stint of field work on the coast of BC Jodi discovered the challenge of ill-fitting PPE, and so launched her passion for designing women’s safety clothing that actually fits. She’s spent the past eight years as CEO of Helga Wear Inc – designing and supplying women’s safety coveralls and has been the driving force behind the Inclusive PPE Standards movement in BC.
She has degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in computer integrated manufacturing, and a law minor, and now uses that knowledge to inform her advocacy work.
Bill Ferreira
Bill Ferreira has played a leading role in Canada’s construction industry for nearly a decade. Bill assumed the role of Executive Director at BuildForce Canada in August 2017, after serving as Vice-President, Government Relations and Public Affairs at the Canadian Construction Association. Bill has also served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Government and was Director of Government Affairs at the Forest Products Association of Canada.
Carolyn Stern
Carolyn Stern is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, professional speaker, and university professor. Carolyn’s emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities in North America. She has also provided comprehensive training programs to business leaders across the continent.