Ontario Summit + ARIDO AGM

Kara Morgan is a serial entrepreneur and the Owner and Founder of PlanIt! Efficiency Solutions Inc. - a boutique consultancy in Southern Ontario that she founded in 2012. Her business provides efficiency products and services to growth-oriented service providers. Using a end-to-end approach, her products support energy conscious and efficiency seeking businesses that know the importance of comfort and how the environment can impact productivity.

Through automation and simplified workflows, they help business owners automate and scale their businesses by focusing on operational efficiency, energy efficiency, client comfort and engagement.

The Social Purpose division helps racialized single income mothers become financially independent through business ownership and self employment in the construction and tech industries where they are noticeably underrepresented and the target of racism. Systemic anti-racism education is one of the endeavours undertaken by this division.

She has been an Anti-racism Educator and Facilitator for over 30 years and has delivered anti-racism workshops and webinars to adults and children, in private organizations, and school boards in Alberta and Ontario. Through advocacy work in the Black and broader community, Kara hopes to promote a unified understanding of racism to challenge what is currently prevalent in the media and popular culture which prevents us from seeing the bigger issues around anti-Black systemic racism.

In addition to running her business, she is also an Expert Advisor for #StartupChats - a live monthly Twitter chat since 2013, The Director of Operations and Secretary for the Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA), and an Instructional Facilitator, Industry Expert and Lead Mentor at Innovation Guelph, a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in the agricultural, innovation and tech industries. She facilitates the Rhyze Ventures program at Innovation Guelph which is an incubator that supports women entrepreneurs through mentorship and training. The module she delivers is the Psychology of Decision-Making and Unconscious Bias which focuses heavily on systemic racism.

Kara holds a BA in Psychology, and certifications in Project Management, Technical Writing and is completing her certification as a Business Process Architect. She is an avid biker and loves to be in nature. She is a community builder and advocates for children, youth and single income parents. She is an avid biker and loves to be in nature. She is the mother of two sons whom she describes as her greatest teachers.

Natasha Fritz is the owner/operator of Natural Carpentry, specializing in custom home framing and structural renovations to century homes in the greater Toronto area. After graduating from the two-year Heritage Carpentry and Millwork program at Algonquin College, she worked as a carpenter for 8 years before founding Natural Carpentry in 2014.

Natasha has worked in many different sectors of the industry, including residential renovation; commercial construction; set carpentry for television, films, concerts and conventions; and historical restorations. She has also gained experience as an educator by teaching technical skills part time at George Brown College, where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for the industry with the students.

Graduating from Ryerson University in Toronto, Gloria worked in the Fashion Industry for 11 years, prior to streamlining her career into Interior Design. She headed her own design firm for 15 years, before transitioning to Benjamin Moore as their Architectural and Design representative since 2012. She holds certification as a LEED Green Associate as well as the designation of MPI II Architectural Coating Specialist.

Jacquie is emerging as one of Canada’s top professional speakers whose authentic and dynamic personality quickly captivates her audiences. This highly sought-after Expert Speaker and Professional Sales trainer and coach is a graduate of the University of Toronto, she is also a Certified Sales Professional and Television Host.

She achieved her level of expertise after spending over 25 years in the sales and marketing industry, building start-ups and managing salesrooms for multimillion-dollar corporations. She is passionate about educating, inspiring, and empowering people!

As an award-winning expert within the Sales and marketing industry and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, Jacqueline delivers a series of training programs and riveting talks that have left her audiences captivated, inspired, and empowered. Jacqueline’s experiences and successes have not been limited to Canada but have also reached the United States.

In 2008, she volunteered her expertise in scriptwriting for the Barack Obama Campaign’s telephone outreach program with brilliant success, and as a result, was invited to attend the Democratic National Convention as an honoured guest.

Jacqueline’s professional speaking skills have also allowed her to host the fast growing television show “Ordinary People (Can do Extra-Ordinary Things)” on the Rogers TV Network. She has proven to be a genuine humanitarian, rooted, and grounded in the principles of grace, mercy, and kindness. When Jacqueline is not working within her career role. She runs a series of seminars and workshops on the topics of Sales Training and Development, Black History and Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, Jacqueline donates her time to speak to female groups, as well as mental health clinics to inspire and encourage all.

Lucy Traetto is a Sales & Marketing Representative at Blum Canada Ltd. and she has been with the company for 23 years.

Lucy dedicates her time educating manufacturers, designers, architects, students and end consumers on Blum’s innovative products and functional solutions.

In addition, she provides an in-depth analysis of Blum’s Research and Development which focuses on improving ergonomics and optimizing storage space in the home.

Her Aging/Living in Place presentation will give you insight on some of the changes that occur as we age. Demonstrations with Blum’s AgeExplorer suit compliment her Inspirations and Aging in Place seminars which allows her audience to experience first-hand what movement restrictions can occur over time and let people “Know TODAY what will be needed TOMORROW!”

Lisa is a highly skilled consultant whose commitment to workplace well-being and equity radiates into all her projects. Having worked for more than 30 years in the Real Estate, Interior Design and Workplace Strategy, she brings an intersectional lens to uncover systemic barriers that often impede the development of an organization. As a consultant and educator, she helps clients re-imagine future states that bring more energy to their organizations. As a facilitator and accredited coach, she works with leadership and teams to work through areas of tension to create harmony and higher performance through her business Lisa MacVicar Consulting & Coaching Inc.

Her deep curiosity about well-being led her to become a yoga and meditation instructor. She has certificates in Diversity and Inclusion, Psychological Safety in the Workplace and Change Management. She is a Fitwel Ambassador, WELL AP, WELL Advisor and has been on WELL Faculty since 2016. During her time on Deloitte’s Workplace Strategy team, she co-authored two ground-breaking papers on Well-being and ESG.

Jane is both Founder and Principal Consultant with Optimal Performance Consultants. Jane is a former professional tennis player, certified teaching professional, Physiotherapist & strategic consultant. As one of Canada’s first Professional Ergonomists & Accessibility Consultants she and her team of consultants’ partnerships with companies such as RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, the Cooperators, Apotex, Grand River Hospital etc. has led to consistent measurable results using unique KPI’s for human performance and health outcomes. With more than 31 years of deep and strategic experience in several industries, Jane continues to lead her consulting team towards merging the science of Ergonomics/Human Factors Design with Accessible and Inclusive designs and processes.

During a time where corporations require optimization of human performance in the workplace for employees of all abilities, age, gender and culture, Optimal Performance continues to seek and work with architects, engineers, designers, CRE who understand their role in design of form with Optimal’s design for function. This is the only proven and researched approach which will ensure corporations, Universities, Healthcare and industry are able to grow their businesses sustainably using the approach of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA).

Jane is Best Selling Author of three books on the topic of ergonomics and accessible design. She is a sought after speaker interested in changing the paradigm from separation of design from the science of humans towards designing for humans of all sizes, shapes, age, ability, language and culture.

Samantha Ryan (Proulx), C.E.T., RHFAC. BCIN is the principal of ABE Factors Inc. and Co-Founder of ProHara Inc. She is a leading Canadian Technical Accessible Built Environment (ABE) Specialist, an Inter-Provincially trained Building Code Consultant and an RHFAC Professional Assessor.

She has been working in the accessibility sector for over 12 years and has worked on and specializes in some of the most complex and diverse building facilities in Canada including international airports, sports stadiums, office towers, distribution centers, universities and more. Samantha has been recognized as an expert in her field and sits on several technical committees at the national level (NRC, CSA, ASC, RHFAC).

Samantha aims to help clients and the industry at large connect the dots between compliance and going above and beyond the Code in order to build a world that allows people to fully function and flourish in their surroundings, anywhere.

As Director of Sustainability Communications at Shaw Industries, Tara Currier helps to amplify Shaw’s sustainability strategy throughout the company’s commercial, residential, and specialty brands. Working alongside the technical sustainability team, Tara understands the rigour and complexity of having Shaw’s products certified to various standards, and how the material ingredients and lifecycle of products can impact both people and the planet. She simplifies that information into impactful and meaningful content that Shaw’s brands can more easily communicate to their customers.

“Tenacious and Versatile” is the mantra of the Grey and Simcoe Forester Regiment. Al has been a member of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Honorable Guard for ten years.

Al began his career with London Life in 1996 and is currently the President of A. Jones Wealth and Estate Planning Inc. in Barrie. Al has maintained a longstanding affiliation with Advocis and is an active member of the Simcoe Muskoka Chapter. Nationally, Al is a Past Chair of the The Financial Advisors Association of Canada Board and a Past Chair of the Institute. Al earned his Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation in 2018 and was recognized by his peers as class valedictorian of the Director Education Program. The ICD.D designation represents a lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom.

Al is a Qualifying Life Member of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) “Non-Solis Nobis” Passionate about giving back to his community and a trail blazer, Al was a two-term President of the Innisfil Chamber of Commerce and a past Chairman of the Board of the People’s Credit Union, the first person of colour to chair all the forementioned boards.

Always enjoying a good dram, he is a Past-Convenor of the Simcoe Scotch Nosing Society, and a long-time supporter of Theatre By Bay, a local theatre company in Barrie. In December 2022, Al was appointed to the rank of Honourary Colonel of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Regiment. He had originally been appointed as Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Regiment, in April 2019, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Al is committed to the regiment’s goal to promote, educate and support our Canadian Armed Services. During the first appointment, Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) approached Al and his son Adam to be highlighted in a promotional video focussing on families who serve. The Jones family has a significant military history dating back to the Empire Loyalists. He is married to Sue and together they have raised their sons Adam and Connor. “Tenacious and Versatile”

Andrea Hayman is the City Manager at the Cosentino Toronto Showroom. After graduating from University of Western Ontario, Andrea attended the International Academy of Fashion Merchandising & Design. She started her career in fashion and quickly moved to real estate, fueled by an appreciation for architecture and sales. She developed her experience in marketing, customer experience and sales through her work with brands focused on contract seating, luxury lighting, and fabric.

Andrea enjoys connecting with people and helping customers find the perfect solution for their surfacing needs. As the lead for the Cosentino Showroom brand experience, Andrea uses the showroom to build strong relationships with her colleagues, A&D accounts, and industry partners.