2019 Room To Grow Conference

2019 Room To Grow Conference

JOIN US FOR THE 2019 RMA ROOM TO GROW CONFERENCE

From October 15 to 18, 2019, at the stunning Rimrock Resort Hotel in beautiful Banff, Alberta, this event is to encourage and facilitate discussions between Sourcewell suppliers and the RMA regarding business expansion into Canada. This exclusive event is by invitation-only. Check your email to see if you were invited and follow the registration steps outlined within it. This page will be updated regularly with further information about the conference as it becomes available.

In addition to the business meetings, there will be an outdoor social activities, a pub night, a presentation from Sourcewell, an update from RMA on the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, as well as speakers Dr. Marvin Washington, Associate Dean, Executive Education & Professor at the University of Alberta School of Business, and Carlos Murillo, Senior Research Associate, Energy and Environment Policy with the Conference Board of Canada.

Accommodations

Rimrock Resort Hotel
300 Mountain Avenue
Banff, AB T1L 1J2 Canada
403.762.3356
Toll Free 1.888.RIMROCK (746.7625)

Agenda

We strongly encourage you to book your one-on-one meetings in advance so you can ensure you will get the opportunity to meet with the RMA and Sourcewell team. Please email Sheila Ashton to book your meeting.

October 15
Time	Activity	Location
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with RMA *Limited spots available	Rimrock Hotel: Boardroom

October 16
Time	Activity	Location
8:00 am – 12:00 pm	Pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with RMA *Limited spots available	Rimrock Hotel: Boardroom
11:00 am – 1:00 pm	Registration Opens	Rimrock Hotel: Lobby
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm	Afternoon Activity: Bus Tour of Banff (Meet in hotel lobby)	Rimrock Hotel: Lobby
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm	Welcome Reception	Rose & Crown

October 17
Time	Activity	Location
7:00 am – 8:30 am	Breakfast	Rimrock Hotel: Salon C
8:45 am – 9:15 am	Welcome and Introduction: RMA	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
9:15am – 10:00 am	RMA Presentation: Raman Khabra, Legal Cousel	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
10:00 – 10:15 am	Break	Rimrock Hotel: Wildrose Prefunction
10:15 am – 11:00 am	Sourcewell Presentation: Jeremy Schwartz & Tom Perttulla	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
11:00 am – 12:00 pm	Keynote Speaker: Stephanie Dion	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm	Lunch	Rimrock Hotel: Salon C
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm	Keynote Speaker: Carlos Murillo	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm	Break	Rimrock Hotel: Wildrose Prefunction
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm	Acklands-Grainger Presentation: Michael Gerstel	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm	Wrap Up	Rimrock Hotel: Salon A
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm	Gondola Ride & Self-Guided Tour	Banff Gondola Summit
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm	Dinner & Presentation from Dr. Marvin Washington *The last gondola departs the mountain top at 8:30 pm	Sulphur Mountain top

October 18
Time	Activity	Location
8:00 am – 12:00 pm	Pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with RMA *Limited spots available	Rimrock Hotel: Lobelia

Speakers

DR. MARVIN WASHINGTON
Marvin Washington is a full professor in the Alberta School of Business and Associate Dean of Executive Education at the University of Alberta. Dr. Washington’s research, teaching, and consulting focus is on processes of organizational and institutional change. He has worked with a variety of organizations such as Enbridge, AIMCo, Blue Cross, YMCA, Parkland Fuels, Syncrude, and SportChek, many ministries and departments in the Country of Botswana, the state of Oregon, Government of Alberta, and the City of Edmonton.

Prior to life in academia, Dr. Washington was a manufacturing manager for Procter and Gamble where he was responsible for Zest Bar Soap.

DUANE GLADDEN, MBA
Director of Business Services; RMA
Duane holds the Position of Director of Business Services with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, which has a total revenue of approximately $120M. Within the scope of this position, Duane oversees all business functions and holds the roles of senior executive of RMA Fuel and RMA Insurance, and is the Principal Attorney for the Genesis Insurance Reciprocal. Duane holds a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce Degree.

DAVID DEXTRAZE, CET
Manager of Vendor Relations; RMA
Dave is the Manager of Vendor Relations for RMA Trade. Prior to working with the RMA, Dave was the Director of Public Works overseeing utilities, waste management, bridges, fleet management, and road infrastructure for the County of Wetaskiwin. While with the county, Dave took part in the first NJPA equipment purchase with RMA in Western Canada. Dave is one of the past presidents of the Alberta Municipal Supervisors Association (AMSA), as well as a past chair for the RMA Trade Advisory Committee. He has also worked for the City of Wetaskiwin and City of Swift Current as their public works superintendent / manager.

RAMAN KHABRA, BA, LLB
Legal Counsel; RMA
Raman studied political science at the University of Alberta and graduated from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in 2010. Called to the bar in Nova Scotia (2011) and Alberta (2012), Raman joined RMA in July 2017 after working in private practice as a civil and commercial litigator. As Legal Counsel for RMA, Raman manages and litigates insurance claims, reviews commercial agreements, and oversees the trade group’s procurement practices with a focus on legislative compliance.

STEPHANIE DION
Strategic Sourcing Specialist; Manitoba Hydro
Stephanie Dion has been working in the public sector for 18 years. She was previously employed as a Procurement and Contract Specialist at the City of Red Deer and a Procurement Advisor for the Government of Yukon. Stephanie has a teaching degree and has been developing and delivering training to professionals and businesses at local, national, and international events. She volunteers with United Way and NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. Stephanie received the Spirit of Kaishi award from NIGP in 2014 and the Mayor of Red Deer Special Award in 2016 and 2017. Her first article was published in Purchasing B2B magazine, October 2018 edition, and the second one in October 2019.

CARLOS A. MURILLO
Senior Research Associate, Energy and Environment Policy; The Conference Board of Canada
Mr. Murillo assists in conceptualizing and developing new research opportunities, undertakes complex research projects, and helps in expanding the profile of the Conference Board of Canada’s energy and environment research portfolio. Prior to his current role, he was an economist in the Industry Economics group at The Conference Board of Canada, overseeing the analysis of Canada’s energy industries and providing expertise on all issues related to energy economics. He also has experience analyzing and interpreting the various complex factors impacting Canada’s regional and national economies.

MICHAEL GERSTEL, MBA
GPO Sales Manager, Government & Healthcare; Acklands-Grainger Inc.
Michael Gerstel is the GPO Sales Manager for Acklands-Grainger, based in Montreal. Mr. Gerstel holds an MBA from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, Montreal, and an undergraduate business degree from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Across Canada, he works closely with senior leadership and the Commercial Sales team, and oversees all GPO activities, including: contract acquisition, relationship management, growth initiatives and sales performance, manufacturer partnerships, and GPO marketing and promotion

JEREMY SCHWARTZ
Director of Operations and Procurement/CPO; Sourcewell

TOM PERTTULLA
Manager of Contract Administration; Sourcewell