| TIME |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
| 8:00 am |
Registration and Networking Breakfast |
Grand Foyer |
| 8:45 am |
Welcoming Remarks
- Graham Sue, Town of Richmond Hill
- Mayor Dave Barrow, Town of Richmond Hill
- Franca Pomponio, Canada Business Ontario
|
Main
Auditorium |
| PRESENTATIONS |
| 9:00 am |
Zoomed in on FILM INDUSTRY
Blockbusted: The Rise, Fall and Rise of the Film Industry
Sean Cisterna, Filmmaker, Mythic Productions Inc.
- A look at how traditional filmmaking models have collapsed in the past decade, only to reemerge as something else with the advent of new - and accessible - technologies.
|
Main
Auditorium |
| |
Zoomed in on PUBLISHING INDUSTRY
Disrupt, Disseminate & Disintermediate: The Future of Voice Through
a Publisher’s Lens
Tyler Budd, Digital Growth Lead, Blue Ant Media
- An introductory look at the intersection of voice technology and the publishing industry.
|
Main
Auditorium |
| |
Zoomed in on VIDEO PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY
Working with Video Media in the Modern Age: Technical
Considerations When Planning Your Media Workflows
Jeff Simpson, F2 Technologies
- Video is a powerful communications tool. Jeff looks at the technology and tools that are in prevalent use today. From storage to switch fabrics; codecs to platforms; cloud strategies and AI; this is a look at what these technologies mean to the world of video production and distribution.
|
Main
Auditorium |
| 10:00 am |
CREATIVITY CONNECTED AWARDS
Announcement of the 2018 Creativity Connected Awards’ winners
|
Main
Auditorium |
| 10:30 am |
Networking Break with Refreshments
Meet the exhibitors at the Innovative Marketplace.
|
Grand Foyer |
| CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
| 11:15 am |
THE INNOVATION STATIONS
Presented by TechConnex
Join various roundtable discussions on how to use technology in different aspects of your business to help you connect, learn and grow! Each roundtable is 15 minutes long, so there is enough time for you to try all four stations.
No appointment necessary.
INNOVATION STATION 1
Enhance Your Business with Cloud Services
Frank Bilotta, CPA, Partner, Tax at SBLR, QMulus
- Cloud services offer your business many benefits. It allows you to set up what is essentially an online environment to give you the flexibility of connecting to your business anywhere, any time. With the growing number of web-enabled devices used in today’s business environment (e.g. smartphones, tablets) access to your data is even easier. In this 15 minute session learn about many benefits to growing your business with the cloud and online services such as scalability, business continuity, collaboration efficiency, and flexibility of work practices.
|
Plaza Suite |
| 11:15 am |
INNOVATION STATION 2
Building Your Customer Base Through Local Search Engine Marketing
Kevin D’Arcy, Chief Marketing Enthusiast, ThinkFuel Marketing
- Are you looking to build awareness and grow your customer base? During this high-paced 15 minute session, we will explore the foundation for building a strong local search engine marketing program to attract more customers and convert them into raving fans. By the end, you will walk away with tools and action items you can implement immediately.
|
Plaza Suite |
| 11:15 am |
INNOVATION STATION 3
Active Listening Skills
Pete Needham, VP, People and Performance, Next Dimension
- Do you know the difference between hearing and listening? In this 15 minute session we will discuss active listening techniques, representing a conscious effort to understand what people are really saying!
|
Plaza Suite |
| 11:15 am |
INNOVATION STATION 4
First Things First - The Customer Journey
Jonathan Landon, President and Founder, Connectiv Innovation
- Innovators and inventors often do not begin with the consumer in mind, they begin with the product in mind. We will explore the importance of customer journey mapping when bringing it into the market. This session will help you better understand the customer journey and explore how a customer-centric focus will outperform any other!
|
Plaza Suite |
| 11:15 am |
EXPERT TABLE 1
Collaborate to Innovate: Reduce Research Costs up to 80% while Accessing World-Class Researchers and Labs
Presented by Innovation York
Cheryl Giblon, Industry Engagement Manager
- Innovation York facilitates and champions the commercial, economic and social impacts of research and innovation at York University. Come to the Innovation York expert table to learn how companies, who want to solve technical or business problems, explore research questions, find new intellectual assets, or develop products and services, can collaborate with York University, gaining access to superb researchers and research facilities, as well as access to government matching grant programs to assist with funding these research projects.
Pre-scheduled sessions. Appointment confirmation necessary.
Time-permitting, people without appointments will be accommodated.
|
Corporate Lounge |
| 11:15 am |
EXPERT TABLE 2
How to Assess Business Potential of a Creative Idea
Presented by the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre
Fariba Niroui, Small Business Consultant
- Every business venture starts with an idea and you will need to decide if your business idea has profit potential. This is something most business owners find very challenging. By researching your customers, industry, and competition before launching your business, you can determine whether your business idea will be viable. During this one-on-one short session, you will be provided with an expert insight on how to research your business idea to determine its market potential.
Pre-scheduled sessions. Appointment confirmation necessary.
Time-permitting, people without appointments will be accommodated.
|
Corporate Lounge |
| 11:15 am |
EXPERT TABLE 3
How to Navigate Your Way Through the Process of Starting Your Own Business
Presented by the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre
Alexandru Horghidan, Small Business Consultant
- Are you thinking of starting up your own business? Do you need to know whether to register or incorporate? Do you know who to contact to learn about permits and licences you need, what resources are available to you to start or expand your business, and what local organizations are there to help you? If you are looking for answers to these and other business start-up questions, this one-on-one expert advice session is for you.
No appointment necessary.
|
Corporate Lounge |
|
Sean Cisterna
Filmmaker, Mythic Productions Inc.
 Sean Cisterna is an award-winning feature filmmaker. He recently directed the critically acclaimed youth romantic drama Kiss and Cry (2017), which topped the English-Canadian box office upon its release, and was one of Netflix U.S.'s most popular films. Kiss and Cry is the true story of Carley Allison, a young woman with a 1 in 3.5 billion form of sarcoma. The story made national headlines when it was revealed that Carley was being played by her real life best friend, actress Sarah Fisher. The film is currently screening on the international festival circuit. Cisterna's 2015 project Full Out, starring the iconic Jennifer Beals, is a feature film based on the true story of American gymnast, Ariana Berlin. Full Out is available on Netflix, and also broadcast on NBC in the U.S. and on Disney Europe. In 2011, Cisterna directed the feature film Moon Point, a road trip comedy that played the international festival circuit to great success, winning several awards. Cisterna is also a successful television producer/director, currently working with TLN Television/Corus Entertainment on the new preschool series My Name is Ripley, which is to set to air nationally in 2019. For more information, visit www.mythicproductions.ca
Tyler Budd
 Digital Growth Lead, Blue Ant Media
Tyler builds communities and develops strategy for major consumer brands, entertainment companies and artists. He started deep down the social rabbit hole growth hacking audience acquisition for one of the largest CPG brands (Coca-Cola), developing content strategies for theatrical releases and entertainers (JWoww, Starz, Roadside Attractions) and is currently a Digital Growth Lead at Blue Ant Media. He also holds a Master's Degree from Berklee College of Music and is a Remix Project alum.
Jeff Simpson
 Director of Sales, F2 Technologies
Jeff has enjoyed working with some of the most innovative companies in the Media and Entertainment space. From groundbreaking work in electronic field production and the development of High Definition camera systems at Sony, through to non-linear editing and networked media platforms at Avid Technology, Jeff has worked with his clients to build solutions that deliver. The next wave promises to be full IP based systems that will enable a new generation of content production and delivery technologies. Jeff and the F2 team are excited to help their clients make this transition.
Cheryl Giblon
 Industry Engagement Manager, Innovation York
Cheryl joined York University in September 2012, where she now works as the Industry Engagement Manager, responsible for advancing industry-academic research collaborations and partnerships, as well as managing our start-up accelerator space at the IBM-Markham Convergence Centre. Dr. Giblon has over 25 years of experience in global technology sales and marketing, engineering, and operations management at several start-up and multinational technology companies, including Compaq Canada (now HP), Borland Software, ATI Technologies Inc., Stetron International, eNation Corporation, Allied Signal Aerospace (now Honeywell) and Bell Sygma, Inc..
Dr. Giblon currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Richmond Hill Board of Trade as Past Chair, and has been Chair of the Board of the Markham Public Library and Vice Chair of the Board of the Markham Board of Trade.
Fariba Niroui
 Small Business Consultant, Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre
Fariba has experience working closely with small and medium-sized businesses, start-ups, non-profits, and newcomer organizations. She is currently a Small Business Consultant at the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre. Fariba is passionate about supporting small businesses and start-ups by assisting and guiding them with everything from a business plan development to international expansion. She is excited to bring her passion and expertise to start-up and scale-up businesses.
Alexandru Horghidan
 Small Business Consultant, Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre
Alexandru previously owned his own start up in the Health IT space before joining the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre. Since then, he has helped over 150 business owners start up and expand their businesses. Alexandru specializes in business planning, online and mobile products, and helping businesses accelerate through the start-up phase. He is passionate about having business owners succeed with their venture.
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