Please download your agenda so that you can plan accordingly for your scheduled courses.
Download Agenda
Gary holds Bachelor and Masters degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has been recognized as one of the top 50 most influential leaders in real estate in North America and helped CREA receive gold certification from Excellence Canada. Prior to his role leading CREA, Gary ran a successful consulting practice where he assisted organizations to build practical strategic plans, strong leadership teams and confident boards of directors. His work and consulting experience span a broad range of industries and organizational settings. Having hands on experience he brings a thoughtful, practical and insightful approach to Board leadership, governance, planning, and issue management. He has facilitated and led many strategic planning sessions, Board orientations and governance reviews. At a volunteer level, he has been actively engaged in numerous community, civic and charity based organizations. It reflects his strong belief that, whether at work or at home, we all have a responsibility to contribute to making our communities better places.
Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association representing 96,000 REALTORS®. He joined OREA in 2016.
With a passion and voice for championing the dream of home ownership, Tim came to OREA following a distinguished 21 year career in politics, including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. In his role, Tim has focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most cutting-edge professional association at the forefront of advocacy on behalf of REALTORS® and consumers, and providing world-class conferences, standard forms, leadership training and professional guidance to its Members.
Under his leadership, the Association has attracted some of the most influential people to speak at their conferences, had historic wins in advocacy, including the passage of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA) in 2020, and demonstrated strong thought leadership in the real estate industry.
As part of his work at OREA, Tim was named one of the most powerful people in North American residential real estate by Swanepoel Power 200 for the last five years. In 2021, he was also named to the Government of Ontario’s new Housing Affordability Taskforce, which will explore measures to address housing affordability and job creation.
Tim is married to Deb Hutton, and together they have two daughters, Miller and Maitland. In his spare time, Tim enjoys trails less taken on his mountain bike or hiking shoes as well as grilling outdoors.
Active in the real estate profession for 16 years, Ms. Artenosi is a Broker of Record/Owner with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre with 8 offices serving Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County and Muskoka. She is a member of the Barrie & District Association of REALTORS® (BDAR), where she served as President in 2019. At BDAR, she also served as a member of various committees, including MLS & Technology, Governance, Finance, and Membership Task Force. At OREA, Ms. Artenosi previously served as a Director-at-Large, Chair of the Standard Forms Committee and as a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee.
Wendy Giroux is the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Lakes Association of REALTORS®, the newly integrated entity from the Durham Region Association of REALTORS®, Quinte & District Association of REALTORS®, Northumberland Hills Association of REALTORS®, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS® and the Kawartha Lakes Real Estate Association.
Wendy has been in the Real Estate industry for over 12 years, she has extensive Operations and Governance Training and sits on various Boards of Directors including a Credit Union.
“Father, Real Estate Broker, Music lover and motorcycle enthusiast trying to leave a trail of deliriously happy client’s and make a few dollars along the way.”
With an extensive background in tech, management, customer service and sales, Luc entered the real estate industry with a goal of providing an unparalleled experience during what is arguably one of the most significant events of one’s life. He achieves this goal with a no-nonsense approach founded in honesty and direct communication, and after more than 12 years; Luc continues to raise the bar of professionalism in the industry. In 2022, he was elected President of the Barrie and District Association of REALTORS® and led the board through its integration with the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, improving access to data for REALTORS® across Ontario and the clients they serve.
When not working or volunteering Luc enjoys time in the sun with his wife Shannon, their beautiful daughters Stella and Emerson, and their Boston Terrier Moe.
Called to the Ontario Bar in 2005, Anna C. Naud spent nine years at a large national firm in Toronto before joining a smaller full-service law firm in Brooklin, Ontario in 2013. On January 1, 2022, Anna launched True North Law Professional Corporation – a boutique business law firm servicing clients across Canada in both the for-profit and not-for-profit/charity sectors on day-to-day corporate and commercial legal matters.
Anna always strives to be active in her professional and personal communities, volunteering as a director, officer, and committee member with local charities and not-for-profits, including as a member of the Canadian Bar Association Business Law Section Executive (2020 – present), Canadian Bar Association Charities & Not-for-Profit Law Section Executive (2018 – present), Ontario Bar Association Business Law Section Executive (2022 – present), and the Ontario Bar Association Charity/Not-for-Profit Law Section Executive (2012-2019; 2020 – present).
Anna is a frequent speaker on matters of interest to businesses and business lawyers, participating in conferences offered by organizations such as the Law Society of Ontario, the Professional Association of Volunteer Leaders, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and the Ontario Bar Association. Anna also enjoys teaching others about the not-for-profit/charity sectors, whether as an instructor within the Not-for-Profit Management Certificate Program offered by Ontario Tech University, a guest lecturer for the Western University Law School in its Not-for-Profit and Charity Law Course, or an invited presenter for courses offered by Durham College and Seneca College.
Anna is a proud mom of two teenage daughters and two fluffy French bulldogs, a self-proclaimed governance geek, and passionate about travelling, tap dancing, and taking on new challenges.
Alan Tennant has served as the President & CEO of the Calgary Real Estate Board since 2011, representing more than 7,600 licensed real estate brokers and associates in Calgary and surrounding communities.
He has over 38 years of experience in real estate, serving in multiple leadership roles in the industry. Previously, as a career REALTOR® and former associate broker, he achieved recognition as a top producer at the local, national, and international levels.
Tennant has served as president for both the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and CREB®. He was also chair of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA), CREB® Charitable Foundation and the inaugural CREA MLS® Technology Council. Tennant has also served as co-chair of CREA’s Federal Affairs committee.
As an active member in the industry and community, Tennant has been honored for his dedication to community service. He was named CREB® 1995 REALTOR® of the Year and Honorary Life Member by both CREB® and the Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA). He is also a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, RE/MAX of Western Canada Special Service award and was named Airdrie Alberta’s volunteer of the year in 2005. He currently serves as Chair of the board of the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
As an active grandfather of four, he loves to ski, cycle, and read very quietly.
Valerie is an international speaker and consultant who works with entrepreneurs and businesses to help them grow and improve. She uses both creative storytelling and actual nuts-and-bolts content to ensure that her audiences truly enjoy the learning process. Focusing on the importance of leading with joy, marketing like a human, and growth in the midst of change, she is known for delivering encouragement and truth with my signature straightforward style and sense of humor.
Valerie has worked with brands such as RE/MAX, Sotheby’s, Century 21, and Berkshire Hathaway, led leadership workshops for Duke University and Carnegie, and consulted with clients in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. She has spent over 20 years inspiring, motivating, and educating sales and marketing professionals, helping them to challenge the traditional methods of marketing and find new ways to connect with their customers.
Ray Ferris has been a REALTOR® for 28 years. He is Broker of Record at Erie’s Edge Real Estate Ltd., a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute (FRI), 2016 Ontario Real Estate Association President, and 2023 recipient of OREA’s Cardarelli Legacy Award.
Michael Beard was chosen to lead the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the fall of 2017. He has a solid history of business leadership and management, both in Canada and the United States, with organizations such as Bell and United Technologies. Most recently, Michael served as President and CEO of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
A natural problem-solver and strategic thinker, Michael has a strong regulatory background, familiarity with the Delegated Administrative Authority model, and knowledge of how to lead an organization with a wide array of stakeholders.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) and Master of Business Administration. In 2019, Michael completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program to earn an ICD.D designation.
Jeff De Cagna FRSA FASAE, executive advisor for Foresight First LLC in Reston, Virginia, is an association contrarian, foresight practitioner, governing designer, stakeholder/successor advocate, and stewardship catalyst. In his work, Jeff advises association and non-profit boards on how they can set a higher standard of stewardship, governing, and foresight [SGF].
A graduate of the Johns Hopkins and Harvard universities, Jeff has continued his learning with the future at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Oxford University, Harvard Business School, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, BoardSource, the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, and the Institute for the Future.
Jeff is the 32nd recipient of ASAE’s Academy of Leaders Award, the association’s highest individual honor given to consultants or industry partners in recognition of their support of ASAE and the association community.
Jane is driven to help organizations and leaders achieve their goals. By leveraging her experience as a board member, chartered accountant, regulator, entrepreneur, and her passion for leadership development, Jane brings a breadth of experience to individuals and teams.
Halford Consulting Inc. serves boards and CEOs to accelerate performance and improve the success of their incoming leader. She also speaks and teaches on governance, leadership, and executive transitions.
Jane is an active board member of Farm Credit Canada (Chair), Alpha Phenomics (Chair), United Way (Past Chair), Delta Genomics Centre, Institute of Corporate Directors Edmonton Chapter (Past Chair), and Sawridge Group of Companies.
Hamza Khan believes the future of work is more human, not less. He’s on a mission to help organizations achieve inclusive and sustainable growth by rehumanizing the workplace. Khan shows leaders how to embrace a bold “people first” approach to better support diverse, engaged, and connected teams in a hybrid environment. In doing so, they’ll unlock the tremendous upside of a loyal, thriving, and innovative workforce.
Khan is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, and world-renowned keynote speaker whose TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading” has been viewed over two million times. He has spoken on various global stages, including the World Youth Forum, and his clients have included some of the world’s most dynamic companies and organizations, such as Microsoft, PepsiCo, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Salesforce, TikTok, and hundreds of colleges and universities. These leading organizations trust Khan to inspire modern leadership, unleash purposeful productivity, transcend burnout culture, and embrace constant change. He is also the bestselling author of The Burnout Gamble: Achieve More by Beating Burnout and Building Resilience and Leadership, Reinvented. Through his writing, speaking, teaching, and executive coaching, Khan empowers people to evolve and thrive in the future of work.
Hailing from Canada, Eddie has established himself as a celebrated author, certified virtual speaker, seminar leader, and corporate trainer with international recognition. His outstanding work has recently been acknowledged with the esteemed Vistage Canada Speaker of the Year 2022 award.
This accolade highlights Eddie’s remarkable influence on Canadian business leaders through consistently impressive ratings, uplifting member feedback, and significant contributions to the TEC Canada business community.
Eddie’s unparalleled success stems from his unique ability to connect business outcomes with personal growth, motivating individuals to realize their full potential. With an extensive background of over 40 years as a distinguished professional speaker and accomplished business executive, Eddie’s firsthand experiences lend credibility and relatability to his presentations.
Recognized for his expertise in changing demographics, diversity, performance development, and productivity enhancement, Eddie fosters leadership, employee engagement, attraction and retention, resilience, and the psychology of success.
As Eagle’s Flight’s VP, Global Facilitations, Debi’s vibrant and charismatic personality takes every audience she leads and engages them with the undeniable fun that is experiential learning. Her unrivaled commitment and excitement inspire Eagle’s Flight’s team of 45 world-class Lead Facilitators and 40 Support Facilitators throughout Canada and the United States.
For over 20 years, Debi’s beloved personality and dynamic presence has made her one of the most frequently requested Senior Lead Facilitators. While events today present many facilitators with challenges, such as appealing to a cross-generational audience or reigning in technological distractions, Debi has proven unique. After years in the industry, which includes her time spent as the Director of Conference, she adapted her techniques in order to deliver the same level of engagement she has always been committed to.
Debi is keenly aware of the potential every meeting, event, conference presents. More attuned than most, she knows it’s possible to create an event that empowers, engages, and excites. This vast facilitation and leadership experience it has made her some of Eagle’s Flight’s largest clients most trusted partner for their biggest and most important events.
Before starting at Eagle’s Flight Debi attended Sheridan College for Deaf Studies. She currently lives in Barrie, Ontario with her husband and three children. The entire family eagerly awaits the Canadian summers which are spent at their cottage in Ontario.
Bill obtained his Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa and has been practising law for the last 40 years. He was a litigator for 14 years before joining the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) in 1993. In his role as General Counsel with CREA, he provided advice, opinion, and support on a wide range of legal issues to the CEO, the executive, the Board of Directors, and real estate Boards and Associations across Canada.
He has extensive experience in corporate and governance issues, organizational ethics, and the drafting and interpretation of bylaws, rules and policies.
Now retired from the practice of law, Bill provides governance support to the tng leadership group.
With his philosophy that you shouldn’t take anything too seriously, Bill’s presentations are engaging, entertaining, and easy to grasp.
An accomplished speaker and facilitator, Erin’s particular expertise is in the business of the membership association. In over a decade of working with membership organizations, Erin has observed that the not-for-profit organization is a business and must be operated in a business-oriented manner to be sustainable.
David Kurt is a Broker- Owner of Lake City Realty Ltd., in Sudbury, Ontario. He has been involved at a volunteer capacity at all levels of real estate including; president of his local board, director at OREA, and volunteer on CREA committees.
Amie is a 3rd generation REALTOR®, broker and business partner at Erie’s Edge Real Estate Ltd Port Dover, Ontario, inaugural chair of OREA’s YPN, Past President (Simcoe & Dist. R.E. Board) & Past Chair (ORTIS). Amie carries both her Accredited Buyer Representative & Seller Rep. Specialist designations.
Laura Leyser is no stranger to the real estate profession. As Past President of the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association, she continues to take an active role to represent the industry on boards and committees across North America.
As a Certified Instructor & Facilitator, Laura presents in a high-energy real-life format through-out Canada and the U.S.A.
She candidly shares her many experiences first hand during her presentations. Her involvement in a variety of civic and charitable organizations have allowed her the break often needed when working full time in real estate.
Paul Feuer is Senior Competition Counsel for CREA, and has significant experience in competition and corporate law with the Canadian Competition Bureau, the European Union’s competition authority in Brussels, Belgium, in Toronto as competition counsel at a major national law firm, and at a major international corporation.
Paul takes the lead on competition and consumer protection law and policy advice to CREA and its Member Boards and Associations. He provides guidance on programs, policies and activities, and provides riveting presentations and courses on competition compliance to REALTORS®, Boards, and Associations to help ensure that CREA’s members know how to stay on the right side of the law.
Laura has built two highly respected firms which respectively provide proactive HR law and HR consulting advice designed to minimize workplace law challenges, maximize employee engagement and boost bottom line performance. Laura is also a seasoned workplace investigator, routinely engaged to conduct complex workplace investigations, and is recognized for specific expertise in investigations related to equity, diversity and inclusion. As a professional speaker, Laura regularly delivers keynote talks on topics relevant to entrepreneurs, business leaders, HR professionals and lawyers. Laura has recently launched a podcast for business leaders and HR Professionals called, We Thrive Forward – Conversations with Laura Williams which is available on all major platforms.
Juanita Gledhill is an award-winning Human Resources (HR) professional providing public, private and broader public sector organizations with strategic and operational business solutions to improve organizational effectiveness. Her experience includes operational and executive leadership in not for profit organizations, private sector technology firms, and community social and health services.
As Principal of MCC Group Inc., founded in 2002, Juanita has provided a full range of services including strategic business planning and leadership development. A skilled facilitator and accomplished public speaker, Juanita has delivered workshops and education sessions for staff, management and boards of directors on a wide range of subjects related to Human Resources, Leadership Skills, Strategic Planning, and Governance Practices. She is adept at bringing the lens of the client to her work. She is able to effectively engage people in one on one conversation and in large group settings maintaining focus and energy to achieve desired outcomes.
Content and activities for Leadership 201
Content and activities for L300: Enhancing Leadership Skills
Personal resource for identifying how you want to apply what you’ve learned
Presiding Like a Pro resource on how to handle motions using Robert’s Rules of Order
Presiding Like a Pro resource on how to handle amendments using Robert’s Rules of Order
Presiding Like a Pro resource for using at meetings to help maintain orderly discussions
A step-by-step worksheet to help association decision-makers exercise diligence on major planning decisions and on urgent and important decisions.
