CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Our program is packed with insightful, educational and inspiring content around growth and transition delivered by local business owners and experts.

Attending the BTF Winnipeg conference provides you with invaluable insights, experiences and actionable strategies for growing your business, managing transitions, and executing successful acquisitions so you are ready for the eventual exit of your business. 

Manitoba lawyers may consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your mandatory annual Continuing Professional Development Plan as required by the Law Society of Manitoba. The Law Society of Manitoba has discretion over eligibility.

This conference is recognized by the Family Enterprise Canada for 3 hours of professional development for FEA designations. CPAs may also report 7 verifiable CPD hours.

Clear features

Events

May 16, 2025 , 2025

08:00 AM – 08:10 AM

Plenary

Forum Overview By Conference Chair

547510 Minutes

Don Montgomery

Founder & Sr. Advisor

True North Mergers & Acquisitions

April 04, 2022 , 2022

05:30 PM – 07:00 PM

Networking

VIP Welcome Reception – By Invitation Only

Join us for an evening of drinks and appetizers at our VIP Welcome Reception. This exclusive INVITE ONLY event offers a unique opportunity to connect with Alberta’s top entrepreneurs and industry leaders in a relaxed setting. Make valuable connections, and set the tone for a successful conference experience.

90 Minutes

April 05, 2022 , 2022

07:15 AM – 08:00 AM

08:00 AM – 08:10 AM

Plenary

Forum Overview By Conference Chair

Introduction by: Tabreez Lila, Managing Director, Growth and Transition Capital, BDC Capital

10 Minutes
Chair

Allison Maher

Co-founder

Family Wealth Coach Planning Services Inc.

Tabreez Lila

Managing Director, Growth and Transition Capital

BDC Capital

08:10 AM – 08:40 AM

Plenary

Opening Keynote: The Big Picture-Overview of Canadian Business Going Forward and the Impacts of COVID 19

What do economic conditions and market trends look like in a world recovering from COVID? How has the pandemic affected your business and will the economy rebound to pre pandemic numbers? This session will provide insights into both a macro view of the economy, as well as provide insights on regional and industry sector differences. You will also get an understanding of the current mergers and acquisitions environment and factors which might impact it in the future.

30 Minutes

08:40 AM – 09:15 AM

Plenary

The Roadmap Checklist: How to Build a Saleable Business

Whether the sale of your business is on the horizon or many years away, most experts agree that it can take years to optimally structure a company to increase the probability of a successful sale. Who’s to know if and when there may come a knock on your door? What exactly should you be doing now in order to get your business ready?

This session will provide you with an understanding of the extensiveness of the process and how much advanced planning is required so that you can build your own roadmap with exactly what you need for a successful transition.

  • A bird’s-eye-view of the mechanics of selling and/or transitioning a business
  • At what stage should you be considering hiring advisors or other transition experts
  • How to mitigate risk to maximize reward and successfully exit your business with confidence
35 Minutes

Shane Dunn

Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions

EY Orenda Corporate Finance

Jon Spencer

Managing Director

TriWest Capital Partners

09:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Plenary

Lessons (and Ideas) from Seasoned Buyers

What do buyers look for when assessing a potential acquisition? Growth prospects, financial health, management team, COVID impacts and strategic fit are just a few of the considerations.

In this panel strategic buyers and private equity purchasers will discuss the metrics that matter most to them, lessons they have learned along the way and what to consider if you are just looking for liquidity options (ie, you just want to take some cash off the table).

60 Minutes
Moderator

Steve Chen

VP & Head

First West Capital

Mark Brodkin

Private Equity National Head

Roynat Capital

Cheryl Grant

Managing Director

Bison Peak Capital Advisors

Chris Hooper

Chief Investment Officer

Alberta Indigenous Opportunity Corporation

Don Montgomery

Founder & Sr. Advisor

True North Mergers & Acquisitions

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM

Networking

Networking & Coffee Break

30 Minutes

10:50 AM – 11:50 AM

Breakout

Lessons Learned in Building a Successful Multi-generational Business

Family businesses are unique in that transitioning them to the next generation is a complex, often deeply emotional, endeavour. How do you prepare for a generational business that is resilient, while keeping the legacy you have built intact. Building capacity in the next generation needs to begin early on, and you may also need to consider outside, non-family executives.

  • What measures do you need to be taking to professionalize your family owned and operated firm?
  • How are you supporting a shift in leadership?
  • How do you ensure you have the right governance in place?

In this fireside chat, Russell Love will share his unique story about building a family business with his father and brothers so that you can successfully plan for your own family business transition.

60 Minutes
Moderator

Allison Maher

Co-founder

Family Wealth Coach Planning Services Inc.

Russell Love

CEO

Cask Global Canning Company

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