Speakers

Jon Montgomery captured the hearts of Canadians--and the attention of everyone--during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. After years of hard work, training and perseverance, Montgomery won a gold medal in the skeleton, securing his place in history as one of the best. His celebratory walk through Whistler showcased his passion, spirit, and sense of humour--traits that he brings to every platform, whether in front of a live audience or acting as the host of The Amazing Race Canada.

Ashleigh Frankel is a leadership and well-being coach, certified applied mindfulness and meditation teacher, and a dynamic facilitator and speaker.
Ashleigh began her career as a securities lawyer, practicing on Bay St for 8 years. While practicing law, Ashleigh began to nourish her entrepreneurial spirit as well. Driven by a passion for creative problem solving and innovation, Ashleigh has designed and launched products and services that support women on their journey to thrive. She was the co-founder of Flex Legal Network, a first of its kind freelance legal services business in Canada, as well as the first women-focused co-working space in Toronto, Whitespace Common.

Matt is responsible for developer partnerships in Canada, working with global software brands and FinTech companies to drive best-in-class customer, product and GTM experiences.

Brian is one of the co-founders behind Blueprint Accounting – one of Canada’s most exciting new cloud accounting firms. Excelling in automation for everything from onboarding to e-business cards feeding a CRM, Brian excels at building world class processes through automation and using the latest in tech to do it.

Jas has over a decade of leadership experience in the software development, digital marketing and accounting/finance industries, developing effective outsourcing solutions across the world to scale businesses in Canada and the USA. Jas bring a wealth of domestic and global experience in business development, infrastructure development, business process/knowledge process outsourcing. Currently at SourceDesk Global, Jas lead all facets of the company’s operations, including its strategic direction and execution, finance and industry relations.

Dianne Mueller is a Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB), business consultant, speaker and thought leader on all things related to small business and bookkeeping. Over the past 25 years, she has earned a reputation for helping entrepreneurs keep their financial position up front and central to their business. Dianne is passionate about the bookkeeping profession, so much so, that in 2007 she co-founded the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC).
Dianne has been the recipient of both North American and International bookkeeping awards for her work in the industry. She was awarded the “LUCA”, by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) their “Oscar” of bookkeeping in London, England. She was recently named a Top Ten Influencer in Canadian Bookkeeping 2018 and a Distinguished Service Award for 2018 from IPBC. She has three grown children, two of which are bookkeepers, and resides on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada with her husband of 44 years.

Musician, Published Author, Chartered Accountant, world traveller, technology nerd, husband, and proud dad to two beautiful girls ... you could say Jason Hastie is one busy guy. If you'd ask Jason, he'd just say he's somewhat "unfocused" but all that know him understand that he is a serial entrepreneur at heart who is driven by passion, discipline, and adventure.

Brenda has over 22 years of experience at the CRA. She first began her career as an employee in GST Rebates Processing at the Summerside Tax Centre. In 2000, Brenda relocated to Ottawa and has held various positions both within the region and at headquarters where she was a testing analyst for systems, and a programs officer within the GST/HST Returns and Business Number program areas. She is currently the manager of the T2 Systems Development section; her section is responsible for the analysis of legislative changes and T2 system development and enhancements.

Janeen brings more than 30 years in diverse tax, financial, and business consulting experience to the table. She has gained extensive accounting experience through her senior roles in public practice as well as CEO/COO/CFO roles in a variety of companies. Janeen extensive expertise allows her to provide outside the box strategies and solutions in addition to comprehensive accounting services, including individual, corporate, partnership, non-profits, income tax returns, compilations, reviews, audits, business and strategic plans, business financing. With a love for technology, she brings a special focus to cloud accounting solutions. She is the innovator of the Grant Thornton Cloud Accounting solution.

Damien is the Vice President of Global Accountants’ Programs at  Receipt Bank. He’sresponsible for helping accountants around the world understand and realize the benefits of  Receipt Bank in their firm. Damien started out as a customer of Receipt Bank at Frederiksen Crawford, CPAs, and now helps accounting firms of all sizes who want to leverage cloud technology to transform their firm. Damien was also Director at 2020 Group USA, a membership and consulting organization specifically for accountants, which was acquired by Panalitix in 2016. Damien speaks to state and national accounting associations around the world on topics including change management, marketing and technology implementation.

Sean is one of the co-founders behind Blueprint Accounting, one of Canada’s fastest growing cloud accounting firms. Starting from zero monthly recurring revenue in January 2018 - to now six figure yearly business in under one year, Sean excels in the online space. Client empowerment is important to Sean and he has made this into the main mission of Blueprint Accounting.

Recognizing the importance and need for critical business functions (bookwork!), Carrie began a sole proprietorship in 1999 focused on providing just that, professional bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and taxation. She now has a full (and fun!) Team of Professionals who help new and established businesses across Canada maintain their business books properly, and easily.
Since 2014, Carrie’s firm has launched many new businesses in the cloud, and implemented countless cloud conversions for customers who were using traditional industry approaches. The term disruption has been applied to the cloud-shift, and while it has been a disruption in the sense of it being a monumental shift in approach and practice, the results have only been positive and exciting for her customers, and her firm. In the fall of 2017, Mulrooney & Associates was awarded as Canada’s Bookkeeping Firm of the Year by the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada. Most recently, Intuit and K2E Canada awarded Carrie as one of the Top Ten Influencers in the Canadian Bookkeeping World.
Carrie holds several industry designations including certifications through the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC), and the Canadian Institute of Bookkeeping (CIB).

Devon is a social entrepreneur and the Chief Changemaker of SheNative Goods Inc, a handbags and accessories brand. Devon built SheNative to help empower and change perceptions of Indigenous woman and girls. Shehas been nominated for various entrepreneurial and leadership awards,receiving recognition at the CBC Future 40 Under 40 designation in 2015. Devon also represented Canada at the G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance (YEA) Summit in Istanbul, Turkey in September 2015.

Melika Hope began her professional career at RSM Richter LLP where she earned her Chartered Accountant designation. She then pivoted to the software industry, gaining experience with desktop accounting products before moving to Intuit where she is now managing QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed. Melika is a self-employed personal trainer on the side and is a passionate advocate for the success of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Canada.

Jyll Saskin Gales is an International Growth Consultant at Google. In this role, she focuses on helping Canadian companies grow their businesses internationally. An avid sidepreneur, Jyll is also an MBA admissions consultant, helping top candidates get into top business schools. Jyll holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Psychology and Child Development from Tufts University.

Tanis Young is the founder of Maven Bookkeeping Inc located in Okotoks, AB where she journeys alongside her clients to bring life to their finances. Her credentials include Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Pro Advisor for both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online.
Tanis has a passion for education, proudly wearing the “trainer” hat for Quickbooks Online and coaches accountants, bookkeepers and small business owners across the country on the power of clouding accounting.
Work / life balance is of top priority so if she’s not in her tourquoise office, Tanis can be found on her road bike, hiking in the mountains or walking her fur-baby Skoki.

Andrea owns and operates an accounting firm in Whitby, Ontario, which provides accounting, tax, and advisory services to a diverse range of small businesses, across the GTA.
As a CPA, she has a passion for sharing her knowledge and helping her industry peers, as well as clients, embrace the tech revolution.
In addition to supporting her client base, Andrea shares her passion with others through her work as a Professor at Durham College, and as a trainer for Intuit Canada.

Jann Arden catapulted onto the Canadian music scene with the release of her debut album, Time ForMercy. She boasts 19 top-10 singles, and has received eight Juno Awards, including “Female Artist of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year.”

Of course, never one to settle on a single discipline, Arden is also the author of several books, including her memoir, Feeding My Mother, as well as a returning co-host of CTV’s The Social.

Brady Wilson is a co-founder of Juice Inc. His vision is to create a world where businesses pulsate with creative energy. For 20 years, Brady has inspired some of the world’s largest Fortune 500 companies to consider the possibilities beyond traditional HR strategies; unlock latent organizational energy and harness employees’ potential to go above and beyond the call of duty. He has spent the last two years researching the brain science behind employee engagement and in 2015, Brady released his fourth book, Beyond Engagement.
An animated and pragmatic speaker, Brady shares practical tools and the know-how to excite and inspire audiences to create a sustained approach to positive change and better business results.

Named a “Top 30 under 30” by Marketing magazine, Bram Warshafsky is the co-founder of 5Crowd (Acquired by SGS), a Canadian startup that connects marketing departments with top freelance professionals in over 150 cities. 5Crowd serves small and medium businesses along with an ever growing list of industry leading companies like Labatt, Microsoft, Twitter, and McDonald's. Before 5Crowd, Bram held various roles within brand management and digital marketing at Johnson & Johnson.

Scott is a 20-year veteran of the accounting software industry and Intuit Canada’s “voice of accountants and bookkeepers”, where he focuses on building relationships and being the champion of the Canadian ProAdvisor community. Previously, he led the Canadian QuickBooks product management team. Scott has always been dedicated to accountants and bookkeepers, leveraging his knowledge of accounting technology to empower these professionals. Scott lives in Georgetown with his wife and their two lovely daughters.

Ilana Ben-Ari is the founder, CEO and lead designer of Twenty One Toys. Her first product, The Empathy Toy, is a 3D abstract puzzle used as a tool for empathic learning and creative education for people of varying ages and abilities. Already in thousands of schools, homes and offices worldwide, it was featured in TIME as one of six new technologies shaping classrooms and offices of the future. Ilana’s ingenuity has won her multiple awards, including C2MTL's emerging entrepreneur award.

Scott McGillivray is the award-winning TV host and executive producer of Income Property on HGTV and DIY Network. A recognizable face on many HGTV’s hit series, Scott is also the author of the bestselling book, How to Add Value to Your Home, where he offers top tips for homeowners looking for the best return on their home improvement investments. With a passion that lies in educating people to make smart renovation decisions, Scott draws on his wealth of experiences to inspire people to change their perspective, think strategically and take action to pursue their dreams.

Graham Sherman and his business partner, Jeff Orr, are two “high level geeks” who met in Afghanistan working on US government and military contracts. During deployment, they aimed their high level geekery at mastering the craft of brewing beer. Only four years after the very first batch was brewed, Tool Shed Brewing Company beers are sold in over 1,000 locations across Western Canada. Hear about Graham and his business partner’s rise in the industry at QuickBooks Connect Toronto!

Jeff Cates is the President and CEO of Intuit Canada. Under Jeff's leadership, Intuit Canada has risen to become one of the top places to work in Canada, as ranked by the Great Place to Work Institute. He is responsible for helping the company become recognized as the nation's undisputed financial solutions leader in every market it serves, by leading a team of more than 400 employees dedicated to simplifying the business of life. Cates joined Intuit in 2011, with a background that includes innovative marketing, partner management and entrepreneurship.

Rich Preece is Senior Vice President within Intuit’s Small Business Self-Employed Group. He is responsible for driving growth across all Intuit products and services designed for small businesses, the self-employed, developers and accounting professionals.

Juliet has been an Accounting professional for over 20 years and is the founder and co-owner of AIS Solutions, a cloud-based bookkeeping, QuickBooks training and small business advisory firm located in Burlington, Ontario. In 2015, AIS Solutions, led by Juliet and her team of Kninja bookkeepers, was presented with the “Business Excellence” award by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.
She has written curriculum and testing material to help Bookkeepers improve their skill levels in all areas and most recently created the curriculum for QuickBooks Online being used in Colleges across Canada.
Juliet, a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, was also a pioneer of cloud bookkeeping and in 2010 launched AIS Cloud, a remote “cloud Accounting and Bookkeeping solution” that enabled her clients to access their desktop data via cloud technology.

Bob Wang is the founder and President of Legacy Advantage. Bob went into business for himself in 2015 with a goal of creating a bookkeeping brand people can trust. In two years, they grew to 15 staff, over 1m$ in revenue and just opened up a second office.

Jennifer launched Jetstream Administration Inc. in the summer of 2008 to address what she viewed as a major gap in the accounting systems of entrepreneurial and owner-managed businesses. She firmly believes that every business should have access to highly qualified bookkeepers and cloud technology. In 2017, she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Cloud Accountants and Jetstream was named in the Top 19 of Intuit’s Global Firm of the Future.
Today, Jennifer’s passion is to successfully bring customers and colleagues to the cloud where they can reap the benefits of real-time accounting. And the next ten years? Will be focussed on improving the profitability of all entrepreneurial and owner-managed businesses.

Susan Watkin is the owner of Watkin Small Business Services, an accounting, bookkeeping, and small business education firm in southern Ontario. In her business, Susan specifically works as a strategist for start-up business, financial analyst for growing businesses, and an onboarding specialist.  She is a determined educator and enjoys working with fellow professionals and business owners, educating about accounting, taxation, and business practices.  Susan is proud to be a member of the Intuit Accountant’s Council and the Trainer/Writer Network.

Marnie is an Advanced Certified ProAdvisor, TWN member, and all-around QuickBooks geek. She collaborated on the desktop to QBO conversion guide, and Intuit has her on speed dial for product feedback and input. Students and customerslove Marnie's energetic teaching style, impressive QuickBooks knowledge, and modern approach to bookkeeping.

Tiffany Stewart began her foray into public accounting in Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies.  While being an accountant to a wide range of clients in the Caribbean, she was, personally, offered a position with the Accountant Generals office by Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Although tempting, she realized that she could make more of a difference in her community working with local businesses rather than working for the government.  This belief continues to be a guiding principle for Tiffany as she continues to be an active community member and volunteer.   Tiffany returned to Canada with her husband, Jude, and enjoys owning her own practice in Milton, Ontario.   She serves small, medium and large businesses in North America as well as personal tax clients.  She provides a personal and nurturing environment for her clients to learn, grow and succeed.

Gisèle Doucet has a Bachelors Degree in Business, specializing in Accounting, and over 15 years of experience providing Advisory Services to Business Owners, Accountants and Bookkeepers. Gisèle is known for her drive and ability to develop and implement effective cloud accounting solutions and efficient processes and workflow in business operations. Gisèle's passion is to collaborate closely with other experts, CPA's and industry leaders to troubleshoot and problem solve for continuous improvement for her clients.

Dawne Leaney Davidson is co-administrator of the thriving QB-HQ Facebook community, and Vice President of Marabirch Inc. She has been working as a bookkeeper for over 25 years and has had her own practice since 2013.
Dawne is also a member of Intuit Canada’s Trainer/Writer Network and is passionate about helping to guide fellow bookkeepers and ProAdvisors on their cloud journey and growing their businesses.

Michael is a CPA, CMA with a strong background in training and technology. Over the yearsMichael has written dozens of training materials and has taught QuickBooks, ProFile, Microsoft Office and other software applications to thousands of individuals. When not teaching or writing you'll often find Michael in various coffee shops, in both Ottawa and Montreal, discussing business and technology with clients, entrepreneurs and, even, perfect strangers

Esther Friedberg Karp is an internationally-renowned trainer, writer, business consultant and speaker, who was named one of the Top 10 QuickBooks ProAdvisors in the world by Insightful Accountant.Basedin Toronto, Esther has the unique distinction of holding ProAdvisor certifications in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. She has authored materials and delivered educational and certification courses for Intuit around the world, and has appeared on behalf of Intuit in several countries. She has speaking credits at events such as Thrive, Scaling New Heights, QuickBooks Connect, as well as events hosted by various accounting and professional organizations, and she has written countless articles for Intuit Global.Esther counts among her clients many international companies, as well as accounting professionals seeking her out on behalf of their own clients for her expertise in multicurrency and various countries’ editions of QuickBooks Desktop and Online.Esther holds a BSc from the University of Toronto in Actuarial Science and Mathematics, and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Schulich School of Business.

Sherri-Lee Mathers -this CPB leverages her two+ decades of business experience and marketing background to boldly go in areas not travelled by the average bookkeeper...with a quirky sense of humor, she’s a self professedearly adopter who embraces technology tending to ‘cannonball” right in the ‘deep end of cloud tech pool’... dog paddling her way to ‘work smarter-not harder’.Sherri-Lee founded Balsam Way Bookkeeping in 2009. As a business owner herself, she understands bookkeeping is about more than just the nuts and bolts; it’s about keeping lifelong dreams well-funded and running smoothly. Her combined love of teaching, tech & taprooms certainly is a benefit to her clients in the craft brewery industry which is whereshe is quickly developing a ‘niche’ for automating back offices. Sherri-Lee has a Business Administration Diploma in Accounting, Advanced Certified in QuickBooks Online as well, she’s certified & proficient with a number of business and accounting apps.Recently, Sherri-Lee had the honor of joining Intuit's Writer Trainer Network, where she’ll give back to the bookkeeping community. Her recipe for success is liberal doses of passion, touch of humor and sprinkles of non-stop energy to present accountingtechnology to the next generation of bookkeepers & accountants.

"Darrell Keezer builds businesses with digital marketing. He owns a handful and lends his talents to hundreds more—all over the globe.     His story has a tinge of irony. See, the lowest grade he ever earned in college was the in Online Advertising course. But in the real world, he’s mastered the field like few others and earned straight A’s. In fact, a few years later, Darrell was inducted into Sheridan College’s Business Hall of Fame for his work in building an award-winning agency. His agency ranks on Macleans’ Growth 500 of the fastest growing companies in Canada, was named Entrepreneur of the Year by two organizations, and won two Awards of Excellence in Business from the Governor General of Canada. His gigs include: Candybox Marketing—Darrell is the CEO and founder of this butt-kicking marketing agency focused on helping companies grow their sales by mastering search and social media marketing. Launch48—Darrell’s new website design company is red hot. Launch48 delivers killer websites in two days. Keynote speaker—Darrell speaks about digital marketing innovations 50-plus times each year at events across North America. Author—Darrell wrote 37 Ways Your Website Died—And How to Resurrect It, a must-read. "