Our format includes informative workshops led by business experts, an exclusive fireside chat with Don Bell, Co-Founder and former Co-Chief Operating Officer of WestJet, where he will share his remarkable business journey and engaging networking activities designed to create meaningful connections.

 KEYNOTE Speaker

 

Don Bell co-founded WestJet in 1996 and played a key role in quickly growing it to become Canada’s second largest airline. Don’s vision, ideas and leadership were instrumental in creating a powerful company culture based on employee engagement and empowerment. Don served many roles in WestJet including Co-Chief Operating Officer, EVP of Customer Service and as a Boeing 737 Captain. Prior to WestJet, Don spent 18 years as President and owner of a Calgary-based company that developed, installed, and supported specialized software systems for enterprises. Don is now partner in a very successful property development business in BC, a Helicopter business in Alberta, and has sat on the boards of multiple successful organizations from Public companies to non-profits. Don has his ICD.D designation and lives in Alberta. Don has a beautiful wife and four great children, stays busy with many business interests, loves to ski in the winter and cycle in the summer, and is still an active aviator both fixed and rotary.

Fireside Chat with Don Bell: A Masterclass in Business Leadership and Culture
Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Don Bell, a visionary entrepreneur and one of the founding minds behind WestJet Airlines. Don’s incredible journey from co-founding a start-up airline to building it into a powerhouse in just a decade is a story of raw innovation, bold decision-making, and relentless focus on people and culture.
In this intimate and engaging session, Don will share his insights into:

• The Power of Culture: Learn how to cultivate a workplace culture rooted in strong values, mutual respect, and a shared vision to drive unparalleled success.
• Innovation at its Core: Discover the strategies and mindset that fueled WestJet’s business model, redefining the Canadian airline industry.
• Investing in People: Understand the art of empowering teams, building loyalty, and fostering an environment where employees feel valued and inspired.

This is more than just a conversation—it’s an opportunity to learn from one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs. Whether you're a seasoned leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or curious professional, Don’s story will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable takeaways to implement in your own business journey.

 

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 WORKSHOP Leaders

Your choice of three workshops to attend!

Workshop 1 (everyone):

An entrepreneur at heart, Glenn has had a sales mindset going back to his early teen years. Whether selling produce at his own roadside stand or upselling motorists as a full-service gas attendant, Glenn was a natural talent. His ability to understand the market and maximize results from its potential in conjunction with his sales expertise made for a successful combination.
He began his automotive career in February of 1984 at 19 years of age. His early years provided the opportunity to observe and learn from others’ success and failures. Beginning at a dealership bought through receivership, which in turn was the #1 volume Ford dealer the following year, was a crash course in what drive, focus, strategy, and effort could achieve with the right team in place. Glenn’s first official sales role came the summer of 1987, and he pushed himself forward from there.
By March of 1991 he found himself in a senior sales leadership role as the General Sales Manager of a metro Vancouver Toyota dealership. While Glenn was successful, he was not satisfied that he was being as effective as he wanted as a manager. Three years later he took the bold step of returning to a front-line sales role to hone his leadership skills. This was a key turning point in Glenn’s career wherein he embraced leadership of others compared to personal success. He knew that to lead a sales team effectively he had to understand their roles, be a proven performer and develop his skillsets so he could effectively transfer his knowledge to others.
In August of 1998 life events provided the opportunity for change. Glenn made the difficult decision to leave the world of personal success in sales to lead a team of sales professionals once again. Equipped with his learnings from the previous four successful years in sales Glenn realized significant performance improvements almost immediately. Over five years he was the Used, New and General Sales Manager at a Calgary CDJ franchise. The prospect of bigger opportunities with a larger organization led him to nine years at a Calgary GM dealership. As the General Salles Manager Glenn and his team enjoyed tremendous success, in fact within six months of Glenn becoming the GSM the dealership was the #1 volume dealer for GM in Calgary for the first time in its long history.
In 2012 Glenn began to seek a General Manager role, and ownership opportunities, leading him to Airdrie where he joined the Davis Auto Group as their Managing Partner at Davis CBG. Glenn retired from his role with Davis on August 1st, 2024. His passion for sales continues and he is excited to share his insights with us on effectively leading a sales team to successful high performance. It all starts with understanding that in sales, as their leader, you work for your team and need to flip the org chart on its head!

Workshop 2 Options:
    

    
Matt Carre  has been a dedicated Real Estate Agent for 18 years, building his team around the principle of giving back to their communities, including supporting local businesses.  When introduced to The Working Genius framework, Matt embraced it as a transformative tool, enhancing both his real estate business and his personal life. Now, he shares this powerful system with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their potential. Matt's mission aligns with his motto: Real Estate with Real Purpose

Specializing in The Six Types of Working Genius, Mike Dueck is a coach and facilitator who is dedicated to helping teams unlock their full potential. Having facilitated workshops ranging from small teams of 3 in the not-for-profit sector to larger groups of 40 from a Crown Corporation, Mike’s goal remains the same: to equip participants with a tool that will elevate their ability to lead towards better team collaboration & communication.

 

OR

 

Workshop 3 Options:

Driven by a strong curiosity for solving business challenges and a passion for building meaningful conversations, he brings to the table a degree in Communications & Business.
Throughout his career,  Bob has gained extensive experience in human resource management, marketing, advertising and real estate.   
In 2019,  he played a pivotal role in the successful launch of Peninsula, Canada's largest provider of HR and Health & Safety services tailored to small and medium sized businesses.
Building on strong business growth and key professional partnerships, Bob continues to support entrepreneurs, directors, and non-profit leaders with innovative and affordable people-management solutions.



OR


Melissa Martin is a Strategic Edge Facilitator and Business Advisor.
Melissa founded Wean Green in 2009 while on maternity leave. Inspired by the need for an eco-friendly storage solution for her homemade baby food and toddler snacks, she identified a gap in the market. Armed with her Mr. Sketch markers, she sketched out a business plan centered on infinitely recyclable glass containers—a concept that has stood the test of time through a decade of challenges and growth. Now, instead of cooking up her business strategy in her kitchen she is executing an international brand that manufactures in South Korea and is distributed on most continents.
Melissa has actively contributed to numerous organizations, including the Children’s Wish Foundation, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, 10,000 Kids Charity, SDSU, SAIT, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She has also served as a mentor for companies at District Ventures, an accelerator program founded by Arlene Dickinson, one of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs. Additionally, Melissa has been a dedicated board member of Believe in the Gold charity, where she played a key role as chair of their annual gala.
Today through her company, Melissa's enthusiasm is focused on eliminating single use plastic that is often found in lunches at school and work. She works with organizations around the world to help advocate for the curtailment of plastic waste and encourage consumers to purchase sustainable products.

 

FOOD

Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.
 

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ATTENDEE Swag Bag

 MEDIA

INNOVATOR
COLLABORATOR