General Sessions

Keynote Presentations & General Sessions

Gain expertise and insight on macro-level issues in corporate travel and how they affect your day-to-day operations. Keynote and General Session presentations given by well-known, respected leaders in travel and business will challenge your thinking and provide you with innovative intelligence. Check back often for updates presenters and session content.

Monday, 19 November 8:30 – 10:00

Michael Furdyk
Technology Entrepreneur

Keynote Address:  We’ve Only Just Begun:  The Digital Revolution’s Impact on the Future of Your Business, Your Job.

Through his entertaining and highly interactive presentation Michael will take the ACTE audience on a journey into the world of the digital revolution. He will explore the implications for individuals, businesses, and communities of the sweeping changes taking place in the wired, and wireless worlds, and the major new technologies that are likely to set the pace in the years ahead while carefully weaving throughout his discourse the issues and concerns of the Canadian business travel industry.  Touching on a range of topics from viral marketing to entrepreneurship, Michael will focus on the importance of continued investment in new technology and new skills. Think the digital revolution has come and gone? Think again as you are both informed and inspired by one of the leading young entrepreneurs who is helping the future to arrive.

Michael Furdyk is one of Canada's leading technology entrepreneurs and a brilliant commentator on the impact of new technologies on business and society. . He has co-founded and sold two successful Internet-based companies - MyDesktop.com and BuyBuddy.com, both of which leveraged the power of new technologies to create unique and compelling experiences for customers. His most recent venture, TakingITGlobal, has over 300,000 users in more than two hundred countries, and is leveraging the pervasive power of technology to provide a platform and community to connect youth globally and help them get involved in projects to better their local and global communities.  Its partners include the UN, and major corporations interested in helping young people become more directly involved in the changes affecting the planet.

Companies such as Xerox, CIBC, IBM, and Microsoft have turned to Michael Furdyk for his expert advice on leveraging new technologies to better connect with key target markets. Drawing on an understanding of technological developments and trends that few can match, he is able to help organizations pinpoint the most important issues facing them in adapting to both the promise and the threat of technological change.  



Jennifer Corriero
Executive Director, TakingITGlobal

Keynote Address: Fully Wired and Fully Mobile: Understanding Generation Y

Fully wired and fully mobile, today's youth are on the cutting edge of communication technologies and are increasingly fueling the transition from old school to new school in terms of global interaction and worldwide relationship building. Companies and organizations are increasingly facing the challenge of engaging some of the most sophisticated users of technology on the planet. Drawing on her own experiences as a young social entrepreneur and consultant, as well as innovative research, Jennifer Corriero will provide insight on how to connect with the youth demographic, both as customers and emerging workforce.

Jennifer Corriero is a young innovator and leader, bringing tremendous insight into understanding, reaching out to and motivating youth. In all of her varied experiences, her focus has been on two things: helping youth around the world to realize the potential of technology, and working with companies to show them what they need to do to connect meaningfully with young people.

At age19, Corriero was a senior consultant to Microsoft, and has since done consulting work with Hewlett-Packard, Nike, and McDonald's. She has been involved in conferences around the world as presenter, facilitator and panelist in India, Ghana, Egypt, Sweden, South Africa, Switzerland, Malaysia and Australia. Recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Global Leader of Tomorrow in 2002 and as a Young Global Leader in 2004, she recently completed her Master's at York University with an area of concentration on Youth Engagement and Capacity Building Across Cultures.

Monday, November 19  12:15 – 13:45

Tim Breithaupt

Keynote Luncheon Presentation: Success Essentials - Getting More of What You Want

Success in life is neither magical nor mysterious. There really is no “secret”. It is the natural outcome of applying basic fundamentals. To that end, Tim delivers real-world wisdom by using a lively blend of simplicity, logic and humor. His trademark delivery style is referred to as enter-train-ment. He will share his simple, proven approach to getting more of what you want in life. Learn the five essentials to turning untapped potential into awesome performance. His keynote will foster both personal and professional development.

Tim Breithaupt is founder and President of Spectrum Training Solutions based in Calgary, Alberta. For 15 years Breithaupt has partnered with Fortune 500 companies sharing his unique formula for business success with thousands of professionals. He is a practitioner of business with thirty years experience which gives him the opportunity to address best practices and identify future business trends. His seminars are content rich coupled with practical tools and insights for success in today’s chaotic world.

As a graduate of the University of Toronto he developed his business skills working for notable companies such as Schneider Foods and Control Data. Now as an entrepreneur, his business savvy continues to evolve from both his successes and his failures. Breithaupt believes his greatest lessons came from experience. Life is not a spectator sport. He feels if you’re not achieving your dreams, then perhaps you’re oversleeping.

Tim Breithaupt is the author of the international bestseller “Take This Job and Love It, The Joys of Professional Selling”. His book earned rare endorsements from notable authors such as David Chilton (The Wealthy Barber) Jay Levinson (Guerrilla Marketing) and Brian Tracy. His book was recently published in the US (and Romania!!) and distributed throughout North America.

Tuesday, November 20 10:15 – 12:00

Alexander Fritsche
Economist, Conference Board of Canada

Snapshot:  2008 Economics & Spend Trends
 
Looking at the big picture, the Canadian economy, influenced by North American and international economies, impacts how your business runs in today’s marketplace.  But where are we going in 2008?  Where does Canada stand?  What are the driving factors you need to be aware of?  Alexander Fritsche, Economist for the Conference Board of Canada will paint the picture of the 2008 economic overview profiling profitability outlooks within the accommodations, transportation sectors and more.  Plus, for the first time, Alex Fritsche will reveal the story showcasing the results of the ACTE/Conference Board of Canada Business Travel Outlook Survey – 2008. Touching on business travel segments important to all delegates, this informative session is your opportunity to get a jump start in business in 2008. Rick Erickson, Principal, RP Erickson & Associates will share his expertise and provide his insights into the trends and strategies of Canadian air carriers.

Alex Fritsche is a seasoned forecaster and analyst. Since joining the Conference Board of Canada in 1999, he has contributed to a number of areas within the Board’s forecasting group. He possesses an in-depth understanding of the Canadian and international economies and played a key role in the development of the financial forecasting model used to forecast the profitability of the Canadian tourism industry. Since joining the Canadian Tourism Research Institute (CTRI), Alex has been chiefly responsible for producing metropolitan, provincial, national and international tourism forecasts, while contributing extensively to CTRI's wide range of custom research projects.


Rick Erickson
Principal, RP Erickson & Associates

Rick Erickson, a former professor and Executive Director of the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of Calgary, is principal of RP Erickson & Associates.  The company provides professional consulting services to the aviation industry in disciplines including market research, strategic planning, economic and statistical analysis, government policy and policy formation, corporate and external communications and strategic advocacy. Since 1995 RP Erickson & Associates have worked with a wide range of Canadian air carriers, airports, trade associations and various levels of governments; the firm has also worked abroad for a similar client base, as well as, the supranational agencies of ICAO and UNDP.  Within Canada, Mr. Erickson is frequently called upon by the print, radio and television media for his views on aviation events.