Speakers

Scott Stratten is the President of Un-Marketing. He is an expert in Viral, Social, and Authentic Marketing which he calls Un-Marketing. It’s all about positioning yourself as a trusted expert in front of your target market, so when they have the need, they choose you.

Formerly a music industry marketer, national sales training manager and a Professor at the Sheridan College School of Business, he ran his “UnAgency" for nearly a decade before focusing on speaking at events for companies like PepsiCo, Adobe, Red Cross, Cirque du Soleil, Saks Fifth Avenue and Fidelity Investments.

He now has over 124,000 people follow his daily rantings on Twitter and was just named one of the top 5 social media influencers in the world on Forbes.com.

His book "UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging" became a national best-seller before it was released. It was also named one of the top business books of the year by 1-800-CEO READ and one of the top 10 books by Under30CEO.com. The paperback version is now available and to be followed by his second book in the Fall of 2012.

"An eye-opener of why, and how, we need to start shifting our marketing weight from the broadcast leg to the dialogue leg. And it doesn’t hurt one bit that he made it the funniest and most entertaining presentation we all sat through in 2010 - Tom Moradpour, PepsiCo, International Marketing Director, Pepsi.

His clients’ viral marketing videos have been viewed over 60 million times and he’s recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN.com, Inc.com and Fast Company and was just named one of "America’s 10 Marketing Gurus" by Business Review USA. Gurus" by Business Review USA.

A renowned global futurist and the author of eleven books, including the award-winning, bestsellers – The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business; Jump the Curve: 50 Strategies to Help Your Company Stay Ahead of Emerging Technology and Higher Unlearning: 39 Post-Requisite Lessons for Achieving a Successful Future. His most recent book is: Foresight 20/20: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow.

Jack is the founder and "chief unlearning officer" of The School of Unlearning – an international leadership, change management and technology consultancy dedicated to helping businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations prepare for and profit from periods of profound transformation. Clients include Fortune 100 companies, venture capital firms and state and regional governments. Uldrich is a regular contributor on emerging technologies and future trends for The Wall Street Journal, The Futurist, BusinessWeek, The Scientist, CityBusiness, The Futures Research Quarterly, and TechStation Central.

Uldrich, a former naval intelligence officer and Defence Department official, served as the Director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Governor Jesse Ventura.

As Director of the Green Enterprise Movement and a Senior Sustainability Coach with High Performance Solutions Inc., Brett Wills now spends a majority of his time helping organizations across North America accelerate their journey towards Sustainability. Brett has worked with numerous organizations across a broad sector of industries from government and health care to manufacturing and agriculture. The focus of Brett's work includes: Vision and Culture Development, Application of Lean and Continuous Improvement Tools, Energy & Water Conservation, Material Optimization, Waste Diversion, Development of Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Reduction Strategies, Developing Sustainability Plans and Corporate Social Responsibility Reports.

Brett is the author of "Green Intentions: Creating a Green Value Stream to Compete and Win" a book that presents a systematic process for organizations to go green profitably, a process that is based on lean thinking. Brett holds a BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a Professor of Green Business Management at Seneca College in Toronto, ON.

David is Senior Vice President, Food Safety and Technology for United Fresh Produce Association. In that position, David provides food safety, microbiology, regulatory and public policy assistance for the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry. He has numerous publications on food safety, and is co-editor, writer or technical reviewer for seven commodity-specific food safety guidelines. David is currently serving as coordinator of the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative and the US National Technical Working Group for GlobalGAP, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Produce Safety. David received his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from Rutgers University, his Masters degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Food Microbiology from University of Massachusetts. Previously, David has held food safety and microbiology positions with the National Food Processors Association, Campbell Soup Company, Kraft Foods and the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, where he worked with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop HACCP training courses for FDA investigators.

David Nguyen has been a part of FARSHA's team of Agricultural Health and Safety Specialists since January of 2009. His background includes an Occupational Health and Safety Diploma from British Columbia's Institute of Technology, as well as experience working as a Health and Safety Coordinator for the food processing industry with training in all levels of Occupational First Aid. David is fluent in Vietnamese.

Over the years, his work as a health and safety professional has enabled him to assist many agricultural commodities in BC’s Lower Mainland, including mushroom farming, ornamental nurseries, greenhouses, berry growers, dairy and many others, with great success.

His main goal is to help prevent injury and illness. Through education and training, injury and illness to agricultural workers can be drastically reduced or prevented. By accomplishing this goal, employers can be assured their operation will reap significant rewards, including; increased product quality and efficiency, enhanced worker morale, and improved goodwill and industry reputation.

Dr. Ruby Lee completed her M.Sc. in Microbiology, Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology, and Postdoctoral Scientist in Animal Science from Iowa State University, with focus on the development of rapid microbial methods, the mode of action of food-grade phosphates used in the meat industry, and the application of food irradiation in the food industry.

After extensive experience as Laboratory Director and HACCP Project Leader of Boehringer Ingelheim, Biovet, and Tyson Foods in the USA, Dr. Lee moved to Canada and joined Guelph Food Technology Centre in 2002. As the Chief Microbiologist & Senior Food Safety Project Manager, Dr. Lee provided training services by creating and delivering GFTC and customized microbiology and HACCP workshops. Meat Processors, and Women In Food Industry Management. She provided consulting services via microbiological program assessments, troubleshooting, HACCP program development and validation, and provided auditing services. In April 2011, Dr. Lee established Lee Food Microbiologists Inc., and acted as Senior Food Safety Specialist of Guelph Food Technology Centre.

Dr. Lee has been invited to speak at annual food safety conferences organized by the Agrifest, Alberta Food Processors Association, Canadian Meat Council, Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety, Guelph Food Safety Seminar Series, Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives, Manitoba Food Processors Association, 3M Food Safety, Ontario Food Processors Association, Ontario Independent Meat Processors, and Women In Food Industry Management.

Initial education was mechanical engineering, with additional specialisation in air conditioning and ventilation.

From 1973 until 1993, he was Sales Manager Special Products for NOVENCO Holland. In that capacity he developed equipment for the mushroom industry starting in 1974.

During those years he was intensively involved in the air technical developments for compost production (Phase 1; 2; 3) and adequate growing systems.

From 1993 until 1997, Jan was the Director of Engineering and Sales at GICOM Composting Systems. From 1998 until 2009, he was Director of Engineering and Sales at CHRISTIAENS CONTROLS, member of the CHRISTIAENS GROUP.

Currently, Jan is a freelance consultant for the mushroom industry.

Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D., F.A.C.P., graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He is Associate Professor of Health, Behavior & Society, with joint appointments in the Center for Human Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Cheskin is founder and Director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center. His research has included the effects of medications on weight, the efficacy of mHealth (texting) interventions to assist weight control, how smoking relates to dieting and weight, and the efficacy of lifestyle changes and food substitutions, including mushrooms in place of meat, for weight loss and maintenance. He is the author of four books: Losing Weight for Good, New Hope for People with Weight Problems, Better Homes and Gardens 3 Steps to Weight Loss, and Healing Heartburn. He has appeared on a number of TV news shows and lectured to professional and lay audiences on diet and weight control.

EXPERIENCE is mistakes already made.

In 50 years, you can make a lot of mistakes.

The good thing is that they don’t need to be repeated. Peter was born in Melderslo in North Limburg, then a small village with a population of 800 and 80 mushroom growers. For pocket money, he filled mushroom cells. On poor sandy ground and small plots of land, mushroom growing was a solution for big families.

In 1975, he and his brother Jos laid the basis for the Christiaens Group. At first, just machines. In 1988, they bought Rens BV in Sevenum, which designed buildings. In order to sell complete projects, they bought Janssen-Kessel in 1995. That company provided the climate installation with computer control. Around 2000, Munckof and Chrisco were bought for the smaller machines.

In 2003, the Christiaens Group emerged and in 2009, after achieving the best results they had ever had, Peter decided to retire and started Christiaens Consultancy – so that he could share 50 years of - EXPERIENCE. Customers have always been the most important thing for him.

• APR Accredited Public Relations Professional
• College of Fellows – Canadian Public Relations Society
• BA (Radio & Television) – Ryerson University
• Certificate (Crisis Management)
• Advanced Facilitation Certificate – Facilitation First

As CEO of Communication Solutions, Sharon is responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the company. Before starting her own firm in BC in 1996, she consulted with marketing, PR and advertising agencies in Toronto and Halifax.

She has been recognized nationally and internationally for the marketing communication strategies and programs she has led. She is among a small group of PR professionals within Canada to be designated as "Fellow" of the Canadian Public Relations Society. She’s also been recognized as one of Canada's top women entrepreneurs by Profit Magazine.

Her crisis communication consulting experience over the past 25 years has included everything from evacuation of an off shore oil platform to high profile executive dismissals and everything in between – most often related to health and safety.

Sharon presented a workshop on crisis communication planning for the Canadian Mushroom Growers in BC in 2010 and will share current and immediately applicable strategies, advice and tools with NAMC conference delegates

Donald Cooper is respected as a “thought leader” and passionate visionary. His benchmark work on business Vision and leadership fundamentally transforms businesses…and business people. He brings to any results-based discussion a rare balance of reality, integrity and possibilities.

Donald has helped clients to create a more extraordinary business by doing the right thing extraordinarily well. Specifically, his focus is on creating clarity of purpose and direction, a compelling competitive advantage, a top-performing team and long-term profitability.

As a world-class innovator and communicator of ideas, Donald has been awarded the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional designation, the highest earned designation in the world of professional speaking.

As a Professor of Mushrooms my research and extension programs cover all aspects of mushroom growing, from composting through production, including disease management. Recently we secured a 5 year, $1.4 million grant from the USDA to study mushroom flies and diseases; a project that is a collaboration of researchers at Penn State in Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Entomology and Food Science. Other ongoing research projects include the reuse of compost and casing to produce a second crop of mushrooms; alternative materials for mushroom substrate and the study of cultural factors influencing a new mushroom pathogen, identified as Syzygites megalocarpus. My extension program includes grower educational workshops and the annual Mushroom Short Course.

Travis received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law and Justice from Central Washington University in 2003, and a Master of Arts Degree in Health and Human Services from Concordia University in 2005. He has been working in the Safety and Health Field for the past 10 years and is a seasoned Safety Professional. He believes that through effective risk management, safety education and a strong company safety culture, employers can reduce and or eliminate costly accidents.

Through professional on-site risk consultations and safety program evaluations, Travis has been assisting companies in the Pacific Northwest with development of effective Accident Prevention Programs. He has the knowledge of both General Industry and Construction safety regulations and believes that one accident is too many.

Travis is also a designated University of Washington OSHA Education Center Safety Specialist and a qualified trainer in numerous essential safety and health related topics. Including but not limited to: Competent Person Fall Protection, Competent Person Confined Space, Competent Person Trenching Excavation, Medic First/Aid/CPR/AED and Blood borne Pathogens Instructor and a Master Medic First/Aid Trainer Instructor, OSHA 10/30 Hr. Construction Safety, Ergonomics, Hoisting and Rigging and Job Hazard Analysis.

Dr. Dave Sauchyn is Research Professor at the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC) at the University of Regina. His research expertise is the climate and hydrology of the past millennium in Canada’s western interior and how knowledge of the past can inform scenarios of future climate and water supplies. Dave has been an invited expert witness on climate change in the Canadian Senate and House of Commons, and at forums hosted by provincial premiers and environment ministers. Dave is currently co-directing a five-year study of vulnerability to climate extremes in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and the Canadian Prairies. He is senior editor and co-author of the book The New Normal: The Canadian Plains in a Changing Climate published in 2010.