Phil Doublet, P.Eng. helps companies grow by raising capital through private equity investors or arranging debt and other financing. In addition, assisted with performing due diligence (for either the buyer or the seller), assisting entrepreneurs in making their enterprise “investor ready”, and/or “buyer ready”, and providing clients with strategic advice in regards to marketing, finance, technology and growth. His extensive business background includes high technology, distribution, manufacturing and other industries, providing clients with competitive advantages, increased revenues, enhanced profitability and overall superior results. Co-owner of a Calgary-based manufacturing company and owns/ operates a management consulting practice.

Craig Elias is an entrepreneur and salesperson, with almost 20 years of success. In that 20 years he has won Tim Draper's Global Billion Dollar Idea Pitch contest and collected a $1 million prize. He also coached two Canadian teams to top 10 finishes in the same contest. Because of his achievements he has received coverage on NBC News, The New York Times, Business 2.0, Sales & Marketing Management magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The Nikkei Marketing Journal. Craig’s passion is helping entrepreneurs and start-up companies outsell larger more established players and win business plan competitions like TEC VenturePrize. His philosophy is 'Integrity above all else', and his motto is 'No Regrets'.

Peter Kinkaide is a Vice President with MNP Corporate Finance Inc. He assists the Firm’s private, mid market clients in seeking value maximizing strategies through financing or divestiture transactions. He has led transactions of +$100 million in aggregate value. Since joining the Firm he has worked on a multitude of finance and consulting assignments, including: equity and debt financings, divestitures of owner managed businesses, economic development analysis; business plans, FOFI projections, due diligence, investor presentations and valuations. He spent a year in London, UK working with an MNP affiliate, leading transactions overseas. He enjoys delivering lectures on maximizing value in a business, raising finance and selling a business. He has worked with clients in a variety of industries and niches. Peter graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta with a major in finance and a minor in marketing. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2006.

Lisa Deutscher owns and manages Checkone2 Enterprises Inc., which she started in 2007, a consultancy providing business management services to a wide range of Calgary business owners and industry leaders. Prior to this, as a professional accountant, Lisa served as corporate officer and director, CFO, and VP of Finance for owner-managed companies in Calgary since 1989, participating from start-up, development, through significant growth and divestiture in senior finance roles. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, and serves on the faculty of the SAIT School of Business. She is a member of the Certified General Accountants Association of Alberta, and participates directly in preparing and assessing CGA candidates through the credentialing process.

Marty Park founded Evolve Business Group Inc., and has since remained its president and a participating business coach. As an Action International business coach, Marty was awarded the 2002 Business Coach of the Year for North America at an international conference in New Zealand. Marty also received the National Award for the Coach of the Year two months later. In 2003, Marty received the Award for Global Contribution to Action and to the coaching profession. He is recognized internationally for his work developing both business coaches and their practices around the world, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. In addition to international recognition, Marty has been selected as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Business Professionals under 40 in 2004 by Calgary Inc. magazine. More recently, Marty was awarded the CYBF Canadian Mentor of the Year for 2005 in Toronto. The co-owner and operator of five successful businesses, Marty is presently involved in operations in Calgary and the United States. He has been a crucial player in all phases of start-up, including corporate strategy, sales and marketing, and financial operations.

David Saxby, President of Spark Communications helps businesses professionals develop innovative marketing and sales approaches and deliver powerful sales presentations. He has been a trainer and a sales and marketing consultant for over 30 years. David speaks internationally, giving presentations in an attempt to inspire innovation in business leaders to help them achieve success in their marketplace. He enjoys sharing insights he’s gained from his hard-learned lessons in the marketing and advertising world as well as the knowledge he has gained as a visionary business leader. David has worked with a wide range of industries including beverage and liquor, land development, real estate and construction, media and marketing, education, legal, medical, and financial professional services as well as with the small business sector.

Fernanda Badano is a marketing professional with more than six years of business management, marketing, consulting and strategy experience. She has been working with iSoftStone, a management consulting firm with headquarters in China and offices in Seattle, for the last three years in a variety of roles including strategy consultant and account manager. She now serves as a Director in the Consulting Services Delivery team of iSoftStone where she provides marketing and project management services to Microsoft, her primary client. Mrs. Badano holds a BS in Economics from Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay and an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business. She lives in Edmonton with her husband Sebastian and travels to Seattle monthly.

Colin Christensen, a seasoned entrepreneur with a degree in “outrageous tenacity” from the school of hard knocks. Put together financial packages for institutional lenders, private equity groups, Angels and individuals. Raised over $1,000,000 for a local start-up in 2yrs from a dead stop. Success in running a business with little to no capital through 2008-2009 economic downturn. Experience in grass roots marketing and sales strategies (pre-sold 800 memberships before the business opened). Several years of experience in recruitment, process improvement, and branding as well.

Bill Cogan, over the last 30 years, has worked as a business manager, corporate engineering manager, manufacturing manager, HR Manager, and management change consultant. As a management change consultant Bill employs many different methods to facilitate change, including consultancy and strategy, soft skill programs which address personal development, outdoor development programs, and other tailored programs to address specific needs of organizations. He has been involved in the electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering, public sector retail, communities, education and financial sectors as well as working with sports teams and athletes.

Bryn Dergousoff after graduating from the University of Alberta’s School of Business, joined Xennex – a management consulting firm. Xennex focuses on business strategy and human resources for small and medium sized businesses, working with clients in a number of industries including marketing, transportation and logistics, software development, executive recruitment, architecture and engineering, financial services, and construction. Bryn will be attending the Masters of Professional Accounting Program at the University of Saskatchewan in 2009.

Ted Heidrick is presently Ernest E. and Gertrude Poole Professor in Technology Management – a joint appointment with the Faculties of Engineering and Business. Ted has over 25 years of experience managing the development of new products, process and services and is responsible for coordinating the MBA in Technology Commercialization. In addition to technology commercialization he teaches new venture development and intellectual property subjects to the MBA’s and to senior level engineering students. Ted’s experience developing and commercializing technology based products with industry includes the technical, marketing, intellectual property, and business planning.

Tracey Scarlett is the CEO of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, a not-for-profit organization that provides a range of business services to help women across Alberta become successful entrepreneurs. Tracey has 20 years of work experience in entrepreneurial environments including business start-up as the co-owner of an electrical contracting business that she and her husband grew from a home-based start-up, to a firm with 20 employees and over two million dollars in annual revenue , over a five year period. Tracey has also worked with several  life sciences and technology spin-off companies to evaluate their market positioning and has performed feasibility analysis in the development of business plans for these ventures.

Wayne Peters has more than 30 years of business experience. He has done everything from grunt programmer up to and including CEO of medium sized companies. Wayne has worked mostly in the consulting industry, providing business and technical expertise to clients across most sectors of industry and in government. He served as managing partner for Woods Gordon’s (now Cap Gemini Ernst & Young) Toronto IT strategy and delivery practice for 9 years and was a senior manager with DMR Vancouver for more than 10 years. Wayne has assisted numerous startups and ongoing organizations in most sectors of the economy. Examples of startups assisted are eCommerce sites, database companies, cooperative datacenters, software firms, and many more. He has particular experience in formulating marketing and sales plans, business plans, and financial projections. Wayne has implemented numerous plans as well as developing them.

Pierre Cormier is a seasoned business coach with experience in building successful organizations in achieving aggressive business growth, for the past 22 years. Pierre’s sharp and comprehensive research skills have been effective in identifying business trends and consumer needs. As a business professional and volunteer, Pierre has coached and mentored over 100 entrepreneurs to help them reach optimal potential and performance in several sectors: manufacturing, technology, environmental, educational, non-profit, retail, food services and consumer packaged goods. Pierre consults with all aspects of an organization, such as marketing, financial, and operational questions, to deliver a balanced outlook on a project.

Brian Goheen has been a CMA since 1987 and a CGA since 1985 and President and CEO of Chiro since 1988. Chiro has 600 employees, annual sales of over $30 million and is headquartered in Edmonton. Brian has been a TEC VenturePrize mentor for the past three years. Brian has a great deal of experience in accounting, finance, management theory and marketing, as well as commercial law. He enjoys helping entrepreneurs crystallize their business plans.

Van Konrad is a senior business analyst, management consultant and has been a mentor for the TEC VenturePrize Competition since its inception. As the CEO and Founder of a management consulting company, his job description ranges from management and business consultant to analyst and project manager. Throughout Van’s professional career his assignments and projects have been fast-paced, challenging and broad in scope - requiring strong technical, management and strategic planning capability.

Glynis Middleton is the president and founder of G. Whiz Business Services Inc., a firm dedicated to empowering businesses. With her MBA at Queen’s University, Glynis applied her business expertise with the Toronto Dominion Bank as a Commercial Lender. Working with a variety of professionals, Glynis developed proficiency in assessing business plans and coaching her clients to fulfill their financial objectives. She enjoyed increasing her responsibility as an Assistant Branch Manager with specific responsibility for mortgage development. Glynis has spent more than 15 years helping numerous businesses and individuals develop their entrepreneurial dreams, assess opportunities, secure financing and build enduring business.

Dennis Pommen, since 1990 he has operated successful management and out-sourcing consulting companies. Dennis provides organizational direction, executive level recruiting services, action-orientated business plan modeling workshops and has implemented budgetary restraint policies for clients. He also has experience in developing strategic initiatives to enhance excellence in customer and pubic relations and has also run mediation services. In addition, Dennis has provided leadership, advice and recommendations to local governments and the Board of Education regarding short and long-range financial planning and community development.
 

Mark Salopek is the Manager of Technology Transfer and Commercialization for GRAND NCE (Graphics, Animation and New Media Network Centre of Excellence), a consortium of 24 Canadian research universities.  He primarily facilitates and directs the transfer of technology out of the university computing labs to private sector digital media firms, developers and studios. Mark Salopek earned his Ph.D. at Cambridge University and completed his Masters and undergraduate degrees at the University of Alberta. His research interests include business strategy and corporate management, knowledge transfer, knowledge management, and distance and online learning methodologies and technologies.