Think Big! Dream Big! BE BIG!
Networking & Career Event
2021
Join us at our fourth annual networking event for youth in and formerly in foster care.
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Get the opportunity to connect to professional contacts, role models and mentors in our community!
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For youth by youth.
Come prepared for your future money moves with our networking, resume, interview and LinkedIn top tips!
Featured Speakers
Royale Godfrey
Host | Program Manager, BMO, Youth Advocate
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Christina Loc
Host | UX/UI Digital Product Designer, Youth Advocate
Valerie Le
Career Development Practitioner, Program Coordinator
Jada Finch
TBD
Rayvn Ronchin
TBD
Troy Elleston
Spoken Word Artist | RBC, Associate, Youth Mentor
Aurora Fox
Psychology BA, Research Assistant, Music Artist & Producer
Vanessa Spies
Spoken Word Artist | Operations Coordinator, Versapay | Youth Mentor
Community Mentors & Professional Leaders List:
Madeline Nwokeji-Efebuyi
Program Director, HSDC | Owner and Operator, Lala Skin Essentials
An organic skin care company in Toronto that provides natural beauty and wellness solutions for all skin
types. She has extensive experience in product development, marketing, sales and business management. Madeline began Lala Skin Essentials in 2014 while on a journey to find options that worked for her sensitive skin since nothing worked for her, and she found relief from creating natural skincare formulas. Seeing an opportunity to offer
quality, eco- friendly products to others in similar situations, Lala Skin Essentials was created. Today, she continues to lead the company in fulfilling its vision of becoming a renowned provider of premium organic skin care products both in Canada and internationally.
Joe Gurr
Labour Relations Officer |
City of Hamilton | Human Resources Department
Bio:
Jordan Taylor
Digital marketing, marketing automation professional | Oracle
An organic skin care company in Toronto that provides natural beauty and wellness solutions for all skin
types. She has extensive experience in product development, marketing, sales and business management. Madeline began Lala Skin Essentials in 2014 while on a journey to find options that worked for her sensitive skin since nothing worked for her, and she found relief from creating natural skincare formulas. Seeing an opportunity to offer
quality, eco- friendly products to others in similar situations, Lala Skin Essentials was created. Today, she continues to lead the company in fulfilling its vision of becoming a renowned provider of premium organic skin care products both in Canada and internationally.
Constance Ratelle
Urban planner and Designer, Registered Professional Planner | Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Constance has worked as an urban planner and designer at a consulting firm in the GTA since 2015. She prepares planning reports, drafts zoning by-law and official plan amendments, represents her clients at the Ontario Municipal Board, and liaises with municipal and conservation authority staff on development applications in Oakville, Milton, Brampton, and Hamilton. She oversees preparation of drawings, and works with her clients to design residential subdivisions and mixed-use sites in Halton, Peel, Durham, York, and Ottawa. Constance is a Registered Professional Planner and a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Regina Goze
Employment and Community Settlement Specialist | HMC Connections
Currently working for 8 years now at HMC Connections formerly Halton Multicultural Council with work experience as Employment Specialist and Community Settlement Specialist. I am also a Lead Instructor- International language, Filipino at Halton Catholic District School Board. I have previous work experience in Industrial Engineering field and have worked with various manufacturing companies; the last one was with National Steel Car for 10 years.
Akeem Gardner
CEO & Co-Founder, Lawyer Candidate | Atlas365 Incorporated
As CEO of Atlas 365 Inc. he has spent the last two and a half years working hard to propel Atlas 365 Inc to a leadership position in the industrial hemp and social enterprise industries in Ontario. He has been able to recruit a credible team of leaders and farmers to push Atlas to the top of the industry and has spoken to hundreds in a short time about industrial hemp as an essential tool to fight climate change. Co-founder of Canurta™, a novel cannabis extract enriched with cannabis polyphenols which shows promise to provide dual inhibition of the bodies pro inflammatory molecules; centred around goal to empower people and animals to live with elevated health and wellness. Akeem earned his BA from University of Ottawa before receiving his LLB from University of Canterbury in Kent, though he is not yet a practicing lawyer. In 2019 he was named a Brampton 40 Under 40 and he serves as Co-Chair to the Brampton Environmental Advisory Committee for term 2019-2022.
Vincent Kumar
Program Manager | BMO Benefits & Wellness
Vincent Kumar has been with Bank of Montreal (BMO) for 10 years, starting from a role in the Call Centre and joining the Workplace Transformation team in 2019. Vincent loves bring creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking to the structured world of strategy, and applying thoughtful solutions forged in a resolve to be inclusive and simple. Outside of work, Vincent enjoys spending time alone doodling and drawing and putting a spicy twist to classic comfort food in the kitchen.
Ryan Chambers
Sr. Sales Manager | Advanced Utility Systems
Ryan Chambers, Sr. Sales Manager Advanced Utility Systems Spent the last 13+ years in technical fields. From leading the training, development, and resourcing for Bell Canada's tech department to managing the sales for one of the leading software companies targeting utility billing.
Jennifer Gilbert
Vice President, Operations, Finance, Systems & Strategic Projects, Automotive Finance | Scotia Bank
Jennifer Gilbert has over 30 years of experience in the Wealth Management and Finance industry. Jennifer joined Scotiabank in 2001 as Associate Director ScotiaMcLeod Mutual Funds. Holding progressively senior roles including, Vice President, Direct Distribution. In 2019, Jennifer was appointed her current role, responsible for the strategic direction, leadership and oversight for Automotive Finance in Canada ensuring business strategies, plans and initiatives are delivered.
Jose Guido
Vice-President, Secured Lending and Small Business Risk | Scotia Bank
Provides strategic direction, leadership and oversight for the Automotive, Residential Mortgage, and Small Business portfolios. Prior to this, Jose as held various leadership positions in Canadian and International Banking and has a broad range of expertise in leading major multi-national initiatives and enterprise wide frameworks across North American and Emerging Markets. Jose holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Toronto and has completed the Executive Management program at Queen’s University. Jose sits on the boards of the Halton Children’s Aid Foundation as well as on the Advisory Council of the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business’ Analytics Graduate program.
Elaina Bahm
Coach, Motivational Public Speaker | Bahm Holistics
Elaina provides holistic health, fitness, and lifestyle programs packed with easy to follow strategies to help you out of your rut and start living the life you want to live. She is a sought after motivational public speaker and a mentor for students, business owners and executives. She is devoted to helping ordinary men and women live extraordinary lives through personal and professional development and economic empowerment. Elaina has a McMaster University Degree in Sociology and is Certified at a Holistic Life Style Coach Level 3 and Certified Corrective Exercise Coach through the CHEK Institute.
Alisha Brooks
Outreach and Engagement Coordinator| CHEERS peer mentorship program
Alisha Brooks has been an advocate in the vulnerable sector for 12 years starting with the Community Education Program at the June Callwood Centre. Alisha is a former mentor through the PEACE project a mentor program through the covenant house that works with young woman from human trafficking and abusive relationships. Alisha has been an ambassador for the Children’s Aid Foundation Of Canada for the past 4 years an advisor with the former Advocacy office of Ontario; a grad from The Niche program at York university and currently an outreach and engagement coordinator for the CHEERS peer mentorship program through Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre. Alisha is currently getting her Insurance license and helping young families learn about generational wealth. Alisha is building her own personal brand 1 day at a time. And hopes her own business Resilience Is success will be in homes soon.