Supplier/Member Welcome Reception
Join us to kick off this year’s meeting just steps away from the hotel at one of Halifax’s most popular pubs, The Lower Deck.

Breakfast

Welcome to the 2017 Canadian Leadership Summit
Peter Macgillivray, President, Nova Truck Leasing, a NationaLease Developing Member

Opening Remarks
Dean Vicha, President, NationaLease

How Energy Efficiency Can Help Make You Competitive & Profitable
An energy efficient facility is not only good for the environment, it helps save you money. Donald Dodge works with all sorts of businesses to help them improve the efficiency of their facilities, save money, and help the environment in the process.
Donald Dodge, Business Development Manager, Efficiency Nova Scotia

Economic Update
Where is the Canadian economy and transport marketplace headed? How can you best position yourself her take advantage of the trends? Dawn Desjardins joins us to share his insights into the trends in transportation, as well as the industries that affect it, and what to expect for business in the last quarter of 2017 and beyond.
Dawn Desjardins, Vice President & Deputy Chief Economist, RBC

Break

Supply Management Update – Closed Session
Rob Garcia will discuss Supply Management programs with a focus on new and enhanced programs, as well as those programs currently under review. He will also look at relevant trends and projections related to the Supply Management programs.
Rob Garcia, Vice President of New Business Development, Supply Management, NationaLease

Maintenance Best Practices
To keep your vehicles road-ready, you need to ensure your maintenance team is up-do-date on the latest shop efficiencies, technologies and products. Yves Provencher will detail how the PIT Group helps in this effort by evaluating technologies that promote efficient energy use. Get the information you need to take back to your maintenance team to select the best technologies to reduce costs and environmental impacts and to provide safe, efficient, and sustainable vehicles.
Yves Provencher, Director, Market and Business Development, PIT Group

Supplier Round Table
All suppliers are invited to this open discussion, which is centered on supplier interaction with the NationaLease membership. Topics will include:

• Member accessibility
• Communication channels
• Sales opportunities
• Product promotions
• Suggested industry speakers
• Canadian market-specific challenges and opportunities

Rob Garcia, Vice President of New Business Development, Supply Management, NationaLease

Lunch

Open Networking
Join us for an open bar and open networking prior to our new Speed Networking event!

Speed Networking
This year, join us for something a little different, as we combine our Trade and Technology Fair, our Supplier Presentations, and a touch of “speed dating.” Every member and supplier will have a chance to meet individually during this time, and cocktails will be served!

Tour and Lobster Boil
Buses will leave from the hotel lobby to take us for a tour of Nova Truck Leasing’s brand new facility. From there, we will head over to VEL NationaLease’s facility for a traditional Lobster Boil. This is something you won’t want to miss! Transportation will be provided from VEL back to the hotel at the end of the evening.

Breakfast

Supplier Round Table Recap
The key points recorded during the supplier round table discussion will be presented to the NationaLease membership. General topics will include: member accessibility, communication channels, sales opportunities, product promotions, suggested industry speakers or event functions, and the specific challenges and opportunities in the Canadian market.
Rob Garcia, Vice President of New Business Development, Supply Management, NationaLease

Corcentric Marketplace
The new Corcentric Marketplace is here! What is that, you ask? A new user-friendly way to purchase through the NationaLease Buyers Guide. Scott Marzec will update you on the new programs functionality along with the ways that you can utilize it to save time and money.
Scott Marzec, Member Programs Manager, NationaLease

Winter is Coming
Our economic menace is staring us right in our face; however, governments seem oblivious to this stark reality. Our politicians have taken to flinging open the doors to the treasury, each with new and creative ways to spend our tax dollars with the greatest political gain. The number one priority for CFIB’s 109,000 members across Canada, consistently, is reduction of the overall tax burden. The clearest path to this is through alignment of public sector wages and benefits to private sector norms and an overall reduction of the size of the public service. In other words, reduce the cost and the size of government. In his talk, Jordi Morgan will outline what governments must do now to address this emerging threat to every Canadian's standard of living, if we are to avoid sentencing our next generation to a cold, bleak future, on the other side of “the wall”.
Jordi Morgan, Vice President, Atlantic, Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Break

How I Hired Technicians from the Philippines
Faced with the technician shortage, Location NRJ decided to think outside the box. Nicole Coderre will tell us how she managed to find a new pool of qualified technicians—in the Philippines! She will explain how the process worked and her success in hiring these technicians.
Nicole Coderre, President, Location NRJ NationaLease

Succession Planning
What will happen to your business when you are no longer able or willing to run it? Adam Peters joins us to share his insight on how to create a succession plan for your business that will serve you both now, and well into the future.
Adam Peters, Regional Manager, TD Wealth

Lunch

10 Things You Need to Know About Social Media
Just how popular is social media and with whom? How can I use it for my business? What is a hashtag, anyway? If I decide to join social media, where do I start? Anita Kirkbride will answer these questions and more to help you walk away with a simple plan to put social media to work for you.
Anita Kirkbride, Owner, Twirp Communications Inc.

Employment Law Fundamentals: What You Need To Know As a Small Business Owner
From the day your employees begin their tenure with your company till the day they depart, you need to know the steps to take to give your company the legal protection necessary. Join Courtney Barbour for an overview of these most important steps including written employment agreements, how to handle a variety of employee requests and what to do when termination becomes necessary.
Courtney Barbour, Associate, Barteaux Durnford

Break

Member Services Update
Find out what’s happening at the NationaLease home office. Jane Clark provides an update on new programs and services available through NationaLease, as well as an introduction to new members.
Jane Clark, Vice President of Member Services, NationaLease

Canadian Regulations
The laws and regulations around our industry seem to be changing at a record pace. Jean Marc Picard will share the latest on what the government is requiring and what to expect in the near future.
Jean Marc Picard, Executive Director, Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association

Awards Dinner
You won’t want to miss the views from the top, as we present awards for the Canadian MVP and Canadian Supplier of the Year. Enjoy panoramic views of the beautiful Halifax Harbour from the top floor of the Delta Hotel.