5th Annual Canadian Summit

PDF Registration Form

Stay abreast of developments in the evolving linen, uniform and facility services markets in Canada with participation in the TRSA 5th Annual Canadian Summit. Industry leaders from around the world are encouraged to partake in the educational sessions, tours and networking opportunities that will positively impact your personal management and production skills.

Earn CPLM Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Individuals who have earned TRSA’s Certified Professional Laundry Manager (CPLM) credential may earn one Continuing Education (CE) credit towards recertification with participation in this event. For more information about TRSA’s CPLM credential, visit www.trsa.org/cplm

Dress Code

Business casual attire for all sessions.

Cancellation Policy

Written cancellations received by October 11, 2024 will receive a full refund minus a 25% processing fee. Cancellations received after October 11, 2024 will not be refunded and cannot be credited to another TRSA program or event. We will accept substitutions. After this date, TRSA has incurred costs associated with hotel guarantees and other expenses. All cancellations will be addressed and processed within 30 business days after the event.

Intercontinental Hotel Toronto

225 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2X3, Canada

Attendees may call InterContinental Toronto Centre reservation line at 800-235-4670 and reference the 2024 Canadian Summit. All individual reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card at time of reservation. After the due date of October 1, 2024, if a guaranteed room is not canceled 72 hours prior to arrival, payment for the full rate on that room will be charged. Attendees may book directly using this link.

Room Rate/Group Code HPN- Hotel code
Reference 2024 Canadian Summit to get the TRSA room rate of $299 CAD before October 1, 2024. Limited availability. After the October 1, 2024, deadline, regular room rates will apply.

Location/Airport

The InterContinental Toronto Centre is located about 17 miles (26.3 km) from Toronto Pearson International Airport (EWR).

Paul Zikopoulos, VP IBM Technology Group Skills Vitality & Enablement, IBM

Paul is an award-winning professional writer & speaker who’s been consulted on the topic of AI & Big Data by the popular TV show “60 Minutes”. Paul’s been named to dozens of global “Experts to Follow” & “Influencers” lists, including Analytics Insight’s “Top 100 Global AI & Big Data Influencers”. Paul’s written 20 books (including “The AI Ladder” and 3 ‘for Dummies’ titles) and over 360 articles during his accidental 26-year career as a data nerd. Currently, Paul is writing an O’Reilly book on Hybrid Cloud.

At IBM, Paul leads from the front, owning accountability and strategic direction in a ‘tech years are like dog years’ world for the entire IBM Technology Unit’s (all IBM software & hardware) sales, tech sales, and partner ecosystem learning journeys and upskilling programs.

You’ll find Paul taking a very active role around Women in Technology (he’s a seated board member for Women 2.0, who he became involved with after his tweet was mentioned on the TV show, “The View”), general workplace inclusivity (completing an intensive D&I certificate at Cornell University), and Coding for Veterans. In addition, Paul sits on the world recognized Masters of Management Analytics & AI program boards at Canada’s prestigious Queen’s University.

Paul’s always keeping with his grass roots — a newbie with no computer courses before coming to IBM. He knows on his dumbest days he’s never as dumb as he feels, and on his smartest days, he’s never as smart as he feels either. Ultimately, Paul is trying to figure out the world according to Chloë — who competitively rides a horse he show-named “Better than a Boyfriend”.

Follow him on X (formally Twitter) at: @BigData_paulz.

Nick Koolsbergen, CEO, Wellington Advocacy

As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Advocacy, Nick draws on his 15 years of political experience across Canada to advise the senior leadership of some of Canada’s largest companies and associations. Prior to Wellington, Nick directed issues management for the Prime Minister of Canada, served as Chief of Staff to the former Premiers of British Columbia and Alberta, and as a political party Campaign Director.

Michele Cadario, Wellington Advocacy

Michele Cadario was the first woman in Canada to run a national election as Campaign Director for the Liberal Party in 2004 following her success as National Director for Paul Martin’s leadership campaign. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Martin and was a key member of each of his transition teams. More recently she was a senior strategist in the 2013 & 2017 BC Liberal campaigns and Deputy Chief of Staff to Premier Christy Clark until 2017. Today, Michele is CEO of Vanguard Strategy Inc., a consulting firm specializing in organizational structuring, strategic communications, and issues management and a Principal of J&M Network. Michele is also a regular political television commentator.

Rebecca Dutcher, President, RED66 Marketing

Rebecca is the founder and president of RED66 Marketing. The RED comes from her bold hair. And, the 66 was her jersey number when she was the first girl to play football at 8 years old. Prior to starting her own firm, Rebecca worked for leading agencies in West Michigan.

Since the start of RED66 in late 2016 with Rebecca and 1 contractor, the agency has grown to a team of 17 marketing professionals, serving clients across the US and Canada. Their work focuses on helping clients understand their prospects and customers to create content strategies that connect with audiences where they are in their buyer’s journey. All of which is delivered through comprehensive marketing and communications.

She is a self-proclaimed Marketing Nerd. She has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, mostly agency side, working with various clients and industries, primarily in the B2B space. She always enjoys talking about ways business challenges can be met and overcome with marketing, and even using marketing content to shorten sales cycles.

She is involved in local organizations as a 3.5-time President for the American Marketing Association West Michigan Chapter, on the Steering Committee for Davenport University’s Marketing Department, and most recently completed 7 years as a board member for GROW, an entrepreneurial organization primarily for women, which is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

She received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award from Davenport University, Donald W. Maine School of Business.

When not working, you can find her at a kickboxing class, spending time with her family, and filling up on industry thought leader blogs, books and podcasts.

Cherine Zananiri, Talent Strategist

Cherine brings over 25 years’ experience in career development, organizational effectiveness, talent acquisition, teaching, training, and facilitation. Recognized as a career influencer and speaker, she has led multi-disciplinary teams, strategic recruitment initiatives, conferences, consulting mandates while being exposed to a broad array of industries and business leaders. She has a gift for building relationships by ensuring a commitment to excellence, by taking a big-picture view of business and executive leadership, and by striving to deliver exceptional client service. Her experience is strengthened by managing consulting practices, leading Human Resources in professional services, by establishing from the ground-up the Career Centre at John Molson School of Business and lecturing part-time at Concordia University and other institutions.

In 2017, Cherine directed her professional efforts as a Strategist in Talent and Career Management supporting private and public organizations and contributing to the development of various United Nations Agencies abroad such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Since 2019, she has collaborated with WHO primarily in the Middle East (EMRO countries) on over 9 missions dealing with learning and development, capacity building, staff surveys, Country Functional Reviews, WHO Academy and advising as the lead consultant for the pilot project for SuccessFinder in Iraq. She provides coaching Emerging Leaders in Emergency Zones. She also leads the Office of Experiential Learning & Cooperative Education at Concordia University focusing on developing programs and initiatives that deliver hands-on next gen learning.

She aligned her passion for influencing careers and people development as well as organizational efficiency thanks to consulting, coaching and conferences/ workshops. She has taught over 4000 students, advised/coached hundreds of middle-senior management to reach their potential and the foresight to determine what skills will be needed in the future.

Cherine holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing and a Graduate Management Diploma, both from McGill University. She is known to be a mentor/coach and has supported and advised entrepreneurs, job seekers, executives, and students on developing their potential and managing their careers. Cherine is and has been on various boards and community organizations in addition to acting as a mentor and coach.

Kevin Schwalb , Textile Rental Services Association, Alexandria, VA, Wednesday, November 10, 2021. (Photo by Max Taylor)

Kevin Schwalb, Vice President of Government Relations, TRSA

Brian Varner, Owner & Consultant

Brian has an extensive background in Safety and Risk Management serving in multiple industries including Linen. He served as VP of Risk and Safety for Compass Group North America for 14 years prior to starting his own company, Safety Solutions for Healthcare. His mission continues to be focused on reducing workplace injuries and exposure through a robust safety and risk program. His leadership has earned him and his team prestigious awards such as the “Teddy Roosevelt Award” (issued by Risk and Insurance Magazine) for demonstrating a significant reduction in workers’ compensation claims through innovation and collaboration with field operators.

Brian’s background in auditing and compliance started after becoming a certified ISO Auditor. He recognized that compliance was one of the keys to having an effective safety and compliance program. Over his career he has created point scored compliance audits for the linen industry and authored many Linen compliance manuals, training, and awareness programs to promote safety and compliance. As a result of his commitment to compliance and safety he was the dual recipient of the 2023 TRSA Safety Excellent Award.