Csek Creative and NowMedia are pleased to announce the names of the regional community leaders that will be joining the eight world-class speakers at Level Up 2019.
The Okanagan’s business development event of the decade would be incomplete without strong representation from some of the most important figures in the region’s economy.
That’s why it’s crucial – and extremely exciting – to be bringing on board such a rich sample of local talent to discuss exactly what leadership means in our unique part of the world.
They will be joining the likes of former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper, marketing superstar Omar Johnson and former NBA player Walter Bond.
The local speakers are:
Don Bell, co-founder of WestJet
We are so excited that Don will be attending Level Up 2019.
He will be speaking at the Level 4 Luncheon.
Up until 2007, Don was instrumental in establishing the customer service principles and corporate culture at hugely successful airline WestJet.
Don also held the roles of co-chief operating officer and Boeing 737 captain.
“It is very nice to see this calibre of event in Kelowna,” Don said.
“I look forward to sharing the early story about creating an envied culture of employee engagement and customer service at WestJet.”
Tracy Medve, president of KF Aerospace
We are delighted to announce that Tracy will be joining Don as a speaker at the Level 4 Luncheon.
In May 2013, Tracy was appointed as the president of KF Aerospace – a multi-faceted heavy maintenance, cargo, military flight training and aircraft leasing organization founded in Kelowna.
Tracy is also the former chairman of the Air Transportation Association of Canada and the first woman in the country to be inducted as an honorary life member of ATAC.
Nick Arkle, CEO of Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd.
Nick will be speaking at the Level 5 VIP Luncheon.
His background is in woodlands management, and he is an extremely well respected and well connected figure in the community.
He also has experience as a director of the charity Hope for the Nations, which helps children at risk in the developing world. Its current focus is the training of “tomorrow’s leaders” in Nepal and Northern India.
It is very exciting to have him as a speaker at Level Up 2019!
“We are so thrilled to be able to add three community figures to the leadership lineup,” Karen Montgomery, operations manager at NowMedia, explained.
“Our hope with Level Up was always to make a significant impact to our community by bringing in world-class leaders – but to now be adding some of the biggest names in local leadership represents one of the most important developments for the conference.”
The eight main stage speakers are:
Mr. Darren Hardy: Today's pre-eminent success mentor, a highly sought-after keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and former publisher and editor of SUCCESS magazine.
His work has given him unprecedented access to interview, investigate and publish the stories of the most successful people on the planet, including Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Howard Schultz, Steve Wynn, Jack Welch and many more.
He has unlocked the secrets to their success – and now uses them to empower millions of entrepreneurs around the world.
Video from Darren Hardy
Mr. Omar Johnson: Former CMO at Beats by Dre, former VP of marketing at Apple, entrepreneur and keynote speaker. Adweek named Johnson a “brand genius” in 2013 and Business Insider named him one of the “Most Innovative CMOs” in 2016.
Under Johnson’s tenure, Beats grew from a $180-million company to a $1.1-billion global icon and industry leader, becoming the #1 premium headphone brand in North America, the UK, France, Germany, South Korea and Singapore.
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper: Canada’s 22nd prime minister, in office from 2006 to 2015. The longest-serving Conservative leader to hold the position since Canada’s founding prime minister, John A. Macdonald, died in 1891.
Mr. Harper created the modern Canadian Conservative Party and won three successive national elections – in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
Video from Mr. Harper
Mr. Walter Bond: A former NBA player and current motivational maestro. Walter’s mastery of two wildly different global industries has made him an authority on peak performance.
Walter’s passion for personal development is anchored by his professional basketball career. Although a reserve throughout his college days at the University of Minnesota, Bond miraculously built an eight-year career while spending time as a shooting guard for teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons.
This is where he learned truths about peak performance that he now applies to his spectacularly successful speaking career. Bond’s college basketball career did not say NBA at all. Only self-belief, obsessive dedication and relentless toil got him there. That is the mentality he wants to share with Kelowna.
Video from Walter Bond
Ms. Cybele Negris: The CEO and co-founder of Webnames.ca Inc., Ms. Negris has been director of Royal Canadian Mint since October 18, 2017. She is on the Board of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs. She has been recognized by PROFIT W100 as one of Canada's Top Women Entrepreneurs several times (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).
She was also the recipient of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women award in 2011, 2012, 2014 and in 2015 was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Ms. Zahra Al-Harazi: Founder and director of Foundry Communications and co-founder of Skillit. The road to real leadership is rarely a straight one. Among Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs, few have faced more obstacles than Zahra Al-Harazi. With a no-holds-barred attitude, Zahra helps people and organizations realize their potential for success. She draws on her experience as a pioneering woman in the business world with a unique approach to attitude, leadership and success, as well as her experience as a refugee, immigrant, entrepreneur and community builder.
Zahra’s accomplishments have earned her many accolades. She was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 (2009), Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by Chatelaine magazine (2011), and one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women by WXN (2012). She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to Canada (2012) and the RBC Top 25 Immigrants to Canada Award (2013).
Zahra is now the Canadian Ambassador to UNICEF and recently authored Degrees of Freedom, set to be published by HarperCollins in 2019.
Video from Zahra Al-Harazi
Mr. Lane Merrifield: A tech superstar with Kelowna roots. Mr. Merrifield was just 28 when he sold his first company for $350 million and accepted his next challenge as one of the youngest executive vice presidents at the Walt Disney Company.
Eager to return to entrepreneurial life, he moved back home to Kelowna in 2012. He launched FreshGrade, a learning assessment tool that connects teachers, parents and students to help both personalize and improve learning. It is currently being used in 80% of school districts across Canada.
One year later, he founded Wheelhouse, an organization that invests in and supports early-stage tech companies and entrepreneurs through mentorship, access to capital and connections to global business networks.
He was also listed as one of the Hollywood Reporter's Top 35 Executives under 35 and is currently one of the Dragons on the popular CBC TV series Dragons’ Den.
Video from Lane Merrifield
The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien: One of the most influential and beloved world leaders in modern history. Born in Quebec, Canada, the son of a paper mill machinist, he knew he was destined to lead. Trained as a lawyer and serving as Canada’s 20th prime minister, he made his mark as a legislator and raised his country’s presence on the world stage.
Political prominence and longevity – Chrétien’s career spans more than 40 years in public service, through six prime ministers – he held virtually every major cabinet post until he eventually led Canada as prime minister for more than a decade, becoming one of the most respected world leaders of the last 25 years.
Video from Jean Chrétien
The one-day event will be held on September 27, 2019.
More information and tickets can be found at: https://www.levelupleadershipconference.com/
About Csek Creative
Csek Creative is the largest and only full 360 marketing agency in the British Columbia Interior. The agency is celebrating 20 years of doing business in the Central Okanagan. Under the Csek Creative banner, the agency operates as a business-to-business print and signage solutions provider.
About NowMedia
NowMedia is a media company with platforms in cities throughout the British Columbia Interior including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Prince George and more. NowMedia’s flagship platform, KelownaNow.com, reaches thousands of readers daily and has the largest social reach in the Okanagan. NowMedia also publishes magazines under NowMedia Publishing.
NowMedia Inc. is wholly owned by its parent company, Csek Creative Inc.
For more information, please email Karen.
