Meet the Experts2020-03-05T13:21:00-07:00

Meet the Experts


Meet The Experts

Addie Greco-Sanchez

President, AGS Rehab

Addie Greco-Sanchez is a recognized industry leader with over 25 years of experience and a contagious passion in the field of disability management and mental health. She founded AGS in 1999 and has led the company’s growth; surrounding herself with like-minded professionals who share a passion for helping clients by providing solutions that maximize productivity with a focus on abilities. As President, she is responsible for overseeing corporate and strategic vision.

A visionary leader, she ranked on the 2015 PROFIT/Chatelaine’s W100 Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs. Addie is often called upon as a subject matter expert in the area of mental health and is an avid national speaker. She is co-author of the newly released book, The 5-Minute Recharge, 31 Proven Strategies to Refresh, Reset and Become the Boss of Your Day. She has authored many articles in the field of vocational rehabilitation and disability management and has qualified as an expert witness as a vocational evaluator. Addie holds a Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP) designation from the Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA) of Canada, as well as a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional (CVRP) designation from the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. She is Past President of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA) of Canada. AGS Rehab has been an active participant in the recently concluded three-year Case Study Project created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. In 2017 AGS achieved Canada Awards for Excellence Gold recognition in the category of Mental Health at Work®

Amanda Nahanee (Shamantsut)

Senior Cultural Ambassador, Chinook SongCatchers

Amanda Nahanee offers cultural advising including: facilitating Aboriginal engagement; corporate Aboriginal training for tourism, education, relationship building and cross- cultural relationships; and acting as a liaison for Aboriginal business. Our services include: major event planning, coordination, marketing and social media marketing, presentations workshop, and event facilitation.

Amanda Nahanee works as a history educator, and engages in curriculum development, research, analysis, and reporting. As a Performing artist she is an actor, model, First Nations storyteller, First Nations singer, and dancer.

Prominent member of the Squamish Nation culturally, interpersonally and publicly • Extensive knowledge of Squamish lands history, and resources • Strong written and oral proficiency of Squamish language, mythology, geology, history, music, and ceremonies • First Nations Ambassador since 1992, locally/ nationally/ international, representing the connections between ideas and potential outcomes.

ngela Marshall Hofmann EXCELerate 2020

Angela Marshall Hofmann

President, World Strategies, LLC

Angela Marshall Hofmann is President of World Strategies, LLC, a certified, woman-owned government affairs and policy consulting firm that provides strategic, innovative solutions to accelerate global investment, manage risk, enhance reputation and drive significant cost savings by responsibly the leveraging chain.

For over 20 years, Angela has served as a trusted advisor to members of the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch as well as to CEOs and senior executives in complex, multi-national organizations for over two decades.

Previously, Angela was Vice President, International Corporate Affairs, at Walmart Stores, Inc. where she led the company’s external engagement in 40+ retail, ecommerce and sourcing countries around the world.  She also launched innovative public-private chain capacity building projects focused on transparency, building safety, agricultural development and women’s economic empowerment in Latin America, Asia and Africa.  Angela joined the company in 2002 as Director of International Corporate Affairs in the company’s Federal Government Relations office in Washington, D.C.  In 2005, she moved to company headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas where she led corporate affairs engagement in the Americas as well as gained operational experience in the supply chain when she was promoted to Vice President, GNFR (indirect spend) and Sourcing Services in Walmart Global Sourcing.

Prior to Walmart, she served as International Trade Counsel on U.S. Senate Finance Committee under Chairman Max Baucus.  Angela joined the Senator’s staff in 1989 as a congressional liaison in the State of Montana and in 1997, after receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana, was his legislative counsel for agriculture and trade in Washington, D.C.

Angela is a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment and continues to be active in the Organization of Women in International Trade (“OWIT”) a voluntary, non-profit association of professionals interested in international trade.  She joined the organization in 1997 and in 2005 served as President of the Washington, D.C. chapter.  From 2010-2013 she served as President of the organization which included 25 chapters and 2000+ members around the globe.

 

Bill Erichson

Owner, William Erichson Business Solutions

William Erichson Business Solutions Ltd.  helps small business owners all over British Columbia, across Canada and into the United States.  From our 1992 beginnings as a training organization, the company quickly evolved into a complete resource for small business.  We provide three primary services to our clientele: Business Training & Keynote Speaking, Business & Financial Planning, and On-going advisory services.

Bill Erichson is a noted business trainer, consultant and business planner. He has over thirty years of experience helping small and medium sized business owners grow and develop their businesses.  Bill’s approach blends the development of the Marketing, Operational, Financial, and Human Resource aspects of the business.  Unlike the ‘specialist’ approach of many business advisors, Bill determines the next strategic direction required for the development of the business and plans around the Key Business Sector as developed through a detailed business diagnosis.

Bill is an author and instructor, having developed materials in business planning, finance, human resources, and marketing.  Bill graduated from Simon Fraser University in Commerce and Mathematics, and has worked in retail, banking, and service industries. 

Brandy Ferrer

President & CEO, Pathfinder Strategies

Brandy Ferrer has developed corporate training departments, organizational development initiatives, strategic planning, and national training programs. Her experience spans the public and private sectors; small local business and large national corporations in a variety of industries. Brandy has over a decade of experience in professional development including leadership and management coaching, team building, talent development and culture strengthening.

Brandy has a certificate in Adult Learning and a certificate from the Association of Talent Development for Managing the Learning Function. Brandy is certified as an Emotional Intelligence practitioner with Multi-Health Systems.  She is also a certified practitioner and analyst for Behaviors and Motivators through Target Training International. Brandy is the only certified practitioner and coach of the BioCode System™ in the western United States.

 

Carol Schulte

Founder, Living Big

As founder of The BRĀV Institute, Carol has been educating, empowering, and entertaining audiences globally for almost a decade. She is committed to getting you out of your comfort zone and into your B.R.A.V.E. Zone ~ where you show up more powerfully, and get into action long before you feel ready. 

She holds a BFA in Theatre Performance, an MA in Communication, two postgraduate certificates in coaching and mentoring, and has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, International Associations, and thousands of individuals to get their brave on. Whether it be asking for a raise or promotion, nailing a presentation, or climbing Africa’s highest peak, her clients attribute her insights and inspiration to achieving what they never thought possible. 

Carol is a published author, been featured in numerous magazines and podcasts, and is a returning guest expert on Rogers TV. Having lived and worked in 16 countries including Ashrams in India and vans in New Zealand, rocked dreadlocks in Thailand and shaved her head for breast cancer, she walks her talk and brings a global perspective to all she does. When she’s not traveling or speaking, you can find her volunteering, training for her next triathlon, or practicing her serious carpool karaoke game.

Chala Dincoy

CEO and Founder of Coachtactics

Chala Dincoy is the CEO and Founder of The Repositioning Expert (division of Coachtactics). She’s a Marketing Strategist who helps service providers to the F&B industry reposition their marketing message to successfully intercept more ideal F&B clients.

In her former life, Chala was an award winning marketer at companies such as Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Frito Lay, Diageo, Playtex and BIC Inc for 20 years. Now she’s a successful entrepreneur, the author of Gentle Marketing: A Gentle Way to Attract Loads of Clients, a speaker featured on major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, as well as a writer in the National Post, and the Ottawa Citizen.

 

Frida Owinga

Founder, PassionProfit

Frida Owinga is the Founder of PassionProfit in Nairobi, Kenya, Frida is a leader in building thriving businesses to reduce poverty and create employment and economic growth. Through practical mentoring and coaching sessions, PassionProfit provides small and growing business the skills and tools to create, manage and grow successful world class organizations so that they can create jobs and reduce poverty. Featured in a candid book about women doing business in Kenya, Frida offers insight in differences between the USA and Africa.

 

Lorna McLaren

Founder, McLaren Formula Training

Lorna McLaren is an award winning Corporate Trainer and Bestselling Author. She specializes in communicating with diplomacy, impact and confidence – especially during conflict and stress.  Lorna has 16 years helping individuals and organizations from non-profits to Fortune 500 corporations throughout 7 countries.  She is the Author of #1 Bestseller “Before it Hits the Fan” Communication strategies to get control before it gets out of control, and the Producer of the 5-minute Podcast series “Quick Communication Tips: helping busy professionals master the moment. Lorna has also been quoted in various magazines such as, The Lawyer’s Weekly Communicating with PowerPoint, The Glass Hammer Women in Business, First for Women & Hitched Building Better Relationships, and Cosmopolitan ‘Why Some Men Prefer to Date a Bitch’.

 

Mafalda Arias

Founder & CEO, Mafalda Arias and Associates

Mafalda Arias is the founder and owner of Mafalda Arias and Associates. She was born, raised and educated in Peru; has worked for over 15 years in the mining and mineral exploration industries in Canada and Peru; and, has travelled extensively in the Americas and Europe. This diversity of experiences and contact with different people has fuelled a passion for the meaning of culture. Ms Arias has a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Relations from the University of the Pacific, has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Universidad de Lima and a post graduate certificate in International Commerce from ESAN. She is fluent in Spanish, English and French.

Mafalda Arias and Associates work and collaborate with selected associates and professionals throughout the world in order to provide optimal global and diverse professional expertise.

 

Marty Britton

President & CEO, Britton Management Profile Inc.

Marty Britton is the President & CEO of Britton Management Profile Inc, the first ever reference checking company in Canada. Incorporated in 1974, Britton Management Profiles is celebrating 45 years in business this year.  Marty truly is an ambassador to the industry. She took over the company from her father, the late David Britton 25 years ago, the only service the company offered at that time was reference checking, with their specialty being executive reference checking.

Marty has since added a wide range of pre-employment screening services to their list of products from criminal and credit checks, global sanctions, fingerprinting, education & employment verifications, and exit interviews. In addition to this, they are excited to now offer social media checks by using the power of artificial intelligence to complement and enhance the ability to spot employment risk in advance of a hire. Britton Management Profiles is a member of the Professional Background Screeners Association and Marty is currently the Chair for the Canadian Council. The company is also a diverse supplier and is certified members of WBE Canada and WEConnect International. She is also a proud member of Women’s President Organization, a peer-to-peer advisory committee board in which Marty is actively involved in. Finally she is a recipient of the 2014 Enterprising Women of the Year award.

Michèle Soregaroli

Co-Founder, Master Certified Coach, Transformation Catalyst

Over 30 years of entrepreneurship, including door to door sales, professional cold calling, real estate (ownership, investment and residential sales), and financial advisory services with Canada’s high-net-worth families. Extensive experience coaching primarily SME founders and entrepreneurs, C-suite Executives, and senior level managers in organizations of all sizes. Over the past 20 years, professional expertise focused on Differentiation Strategy, Value Propositions, Competitive Positioning, and Creating Market Advantage.

 

Dr. Maymunah Kadiri

CEO & Founder, Pinnacle Medical Services

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri popularly referred to as “THE CELEBRITY SHRINK,” is a multiple award winning Mental Health Physician & Advocate with over 15years experience. She is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist – In – Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Nigeria’s leading and foremost Psychology and Mental health hospital prominent in the application of innovative clinical approaches in the management/treatment of a wide range of psychological, emotional, and behavioral related disorders.

“She is the only Nigerian with the 10Ps…..Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Practitioner (NLP, BFB, NFB), Public Speaker, Publisher, Producer(movies), People oriented and Passionate about God and life.”

The founder of Pinnacle Health Radio, African’s #1 online health radio and a non for profit organization, “Pinnacle Medicals SPEAKOUT Initiative” which is geared towards creating Mental Health literacy in Nigeria and beyond.

The Executive producer of award winning movies, Pepper soup (focused on drug abuse) and Little Drops of Happy (focused on depression, postpartum depression and suicide) and creator of the most innovative mental health app in Africa, HOW BODI.

As a forerunner in the practice of Mental health and other novel therapy techniques in Nigeria, she continues to be the most sought after Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist in Nigeria and beyond.

A Goldman Sachs scholar, Vital Voices Fellow, an Ashoka change maker, a global thought leader and has been recognized locally and globally for her movement in the field of health and wellness, especially mental health.

She is a global affiliate of Work Place Options (United States and United Kingdom) and provides Critical Incidence Stress Management (CISM) and other forms of employee assistance programs to corporate organizations worldwide.

 A graduate of Entrepreneurial Management with the Enterprise Development Center of Pan Atlantic University and China European International Business School. A trained and certified Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist from Albert Ellis Institute, New York, and Beck’s Institute for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Philadelphia, USA.

Her driving force is to live, to learn and to impact generations positively. When not working as a Physician, she loves to tour the world, work on disruptive innovations and talk fashion.

She is a member of several professional and social organizations locally and internationally. 

A life coach, an inventor and married with 3 lovely children.

 

Sajedeh Zaki 

Poet

Sajedeh Zaki came to Canada as an unaccompanied minor at the age of 12 from Afghanistan. she will be graduating from high school this year and would be studying political science. Based on her life experiences in Afghanistan and here in Canada, she is a passionate advocate for marginalized immigrants and refugee youths. She is part of the Vancouver Foundation Fresh Voices Initiative Youth Advisory Team, and the winner of 2015 National Fresh Voices Artivism Award. She enjoys expressing herself through Art, poetry and dance. She has spoken at events for Former Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Margaret Trudeau, U.S ambassador Bruce Heymen, and many more. She would like to create change or spark a mind that does! The big dream is to one day, work in the United Nation for Women and Children’s rights in war torn and third World countries.

 

Sonya Kunkel

Head, Enterprise Purpose & Customer Experience Marketing & Strategy, BMO Financial Group

Sonya Kunkel is the Head of Enterprise Purpose & Customer Experience at BMO Financial Group. Sonya is responsible for the enterprise effort to integrate Purpose into BMO’s strategy, culture and brand by ensuring our BMO’s enterprise tools, frameworks and behaviours align to our Purpose; and guiding the creation of enterprise enables to reinforce Purpose in our culture. Most recently, in January 2020, Sonya’s mandate grew to include leading Marketing Sponsorships across the bank. Since joining Marketing & Strategy in 2017, Sonya, with her team and LOB partners lead the revamp of how BMO captures the voice of the customer and measures customer loyalty, all while making it simpler, cheaper, and more reliable.

Prior to this most recent appointment, she was Chief Inclusion Officer and Vice President, People Strategies & Insights, BMO Financial Group.  She had enterprise-wide responsibility (Canada & U.S.) for key enterprise people strategies, including people strategy planning, diversity and inclusion, and employee insights and engagement. Sonya joined BMO in 2011 as Director, Diversity and Inclusion, following a decade of research and consulting where she specialized in understanding the experiences of women, visible minorities, and Aboriginal peoples, particularly their experiences in the workplace.

Formerly Vice-President, Public Affairs and Business Development for Environics Research Group, she led Environics Institute’s 2010 Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study (uaps.ca). She served as Senior Director of Catalyst (2001-2007), where she worked with former President Susan Black to build the Catalyst Canada office. Here, she held responsibility for Catalyst Canada’s Advisory Services and key research streams. Sonya has an undergraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, an M.A. in Political Economy and an MBA in Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business.

 

Trish Tonaj

Founder, Owner of Phaze2inc. and shareyourstories.online

Trish Tonaj believes in the power of storytelling…

As a speaker on Mentorship, Trish knows that sharing stories creates an environment of business innovation and collaboration that supports effective leadership. As an published author, she has two books: Breaking Barriers 10 Entrepreneurial Women Share Their Stories and A Diary of Change 12 Personal Tools. Trish is the blog host for the Share Your Stories series and invites you to share your story!

With a love for writing, she has co-authored an e-magazine, W2 – Wealth and Wellbeing and is a regular contributor to theThrive Global network and canfitpro magazine.

Celebrate your passion, live with purpose and support your core values

by navigating the business of your business.

Mentorship…sharing stories to inspire great ideas.

 

Vania Sakelaris

Principal, VAS & Associates Inc. & Markham, Toronto Chair, GroYourBiz Ltd.

Vania Sakelaris is a seasoned executive with over 25+ years of experience in healthcare administration, governance and government relations.  She is the founder of VAS & Associates (VAS) a management consulting firm which provides customized advisory, coaching and training services to corporate executives, their boards and their teams. As a solution catalyst, the firm supports systems, organizations and people in managing growth and impactful change using a values-based approach and building on decades of experience developing and implementing regional strategies.

Vania’s lifelong passion for capacity building has been reflected throughout her career and inspired her coaching work and the launch of her business.  Vania shares her extensive experience as a public speaker, as an adjunct university lecturer and as a case writer with a focus on strategy, leadership, operations and entrepreneurship. 

Vania chairs two GYB Chapters (Toronto and Markham/ Richmond Hill).  She also provides business coaching for University of Toronto student entrepreneurs.

Vania holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School and is a graduate of Rotman’s Executive Leadership Program, and Not-For-Profit Governance Program.  She studied at the Coaches Training Institute and is Certified through Ivey Academy’s LIFT Advanced Coaching Program.