OHC2024
SPEAKERS
SPEAKER BIOS
Janet Babin
Director of Business Development, Empyrean Merchant Services Inc.
With over 20 years of leadership experience in partnership and product development, Janet Babin is the Director of Business Development at Empyrean Merchant Services. In the past five years, she has specialized in financial technology for the hospitality and restaurant sectors, focusing on fraud protection and chargeback prevention.
Janet is passionate about payment security and educating clients on best practices to prevent financial threats. She has been instrumental in developing innovative products, such as SecurePay, which helps businesses streamline secure payment processes.
At Empyrean, Janet leads initiatives to align cutting-edge fintech solutions with client needs, fostering growth and lasting partnerships. Her extensive expertise makes her a trusted advisor and frequent speaker at industry events, where she shares insights on the future of payment security.
Rory Burke
Director, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities, Government of Ontario
Rory Burke is a seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership experience in the private sector in addition to the federal and provincial government. Rory has a Master’s in Political Science and Public Policy from Carleton University in addition to receiving his executive education at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Rory is currently the Appointed Accessibility Regulator for the Province of Ontario where he provides executive leadership and regulatory oversight to over 400,000 public sector, business and non-profit organizations across the province. Rory has held increasingly progressive leadership roles within the Ontario Public Service where he has led and delivered on complex and transformational government priorities in policy, operations, finance and corporate governance roles. Previously, Rory was appointed as the Chief Building Official for the Province of Ontario and a Director at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Rory has been recognized for his commitment to public service and is known for being an authentic, inclusive, and collaborative leader, trusted partner, and progressive thinker.
Liana Carniello
Human Resources Director, The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Marriott International
President, Hospitality Human Resources Professional Association
LIANA CARNIELLO, CHRL Director, Human Resources -The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Marriott International President-Hospitality Human Resources Professional Association Growing up in Niagara Falls, Canada, the gateway for young adults entering the workforce was to journey through the Travel &Tourism sector; Liana began the right of passage and never left! A strategic business partner in hotels, she brings her background in operations to every decision and guidance she makes within the Human Resources Competency Framework. She leads with data and facts to break barriers in overcoming change yet recognizes it’s the emotional and behavioral mindset shift that ultimately moves metrics. Liana has attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree(McMaster University) and a post graduate Human Resources Management Certificate(George Brown College).In 2023, Liana additionally was awarded an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration Honorary Degree for GBC for her years of contributions to students in the Hospitality sector. As a Certified HR Professional and Leader, Liana was selected to join the Hospitality Human Resources Professionals Association (HHRPA) Board of Directors as Vice President, Special Projects in 2018 and in 2021 she was elected to Chair the Office of the Association where she continues to do so as President of The Board.
David Coffey
Detective, Financial Crimes Unit, Toronto Police Service
David Coffey is a Detective for Toronto Police Service, assigned to the Financial Crimes Unit since 2020. His primary duties are supervising the Central Fraud Intake Office and promoting Community Engagement through fraud presentations, media relations and social media presence.
He joined the TPS in 1999 and has spent the majority of his career in investigative units including divisional Criminal Investigative Units, Fraud offices and the Intelligence Unit.
He’s a fervent believer in educating the public to make them aware of potential threats from fraudsters and providing best techniques on how not to be victimized. He feels strongly that the most impactful weapon in the war against fraud is knowledge and awareness.
Donna D'Andrea
Labour Relations and Employment Lawyer, Hicks Morley
Donna D’Andrea is a management-side labour relations and employment lawyer at Hicks Morley’s who provides practical and strategic advice to employers in all matters related to wrongful dismissal, human rights complaints, employment standards claims, union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration and occupational health and safety.
Donna leads the firm’s Hospitality & Gaming Practice Group. She serves as chief spokesperson for most major hotel chains in their negotiations with unions and is known for her expert negotiation skills. Donna regularly appears before the Human Rights Tribunal, the courts, grievance arbitrators and the Ontario Labour Relations Board. She also participates in the employment and labour law aspects of business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and business restructurings.
In addition to speaking at employer organization and industry meetings, Donna conducts in-house seminars for clients on such topics as harassment, discrimination, accommodation, terminations, performance management and management/union relations.
Sofiia Dmytrenko
Guest Recognition Coordinator, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Sofiia Dmytrenko is a Guest Recognition Coordinator at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, where she has built a diverse career since 2021. She has experience across Housekeeping, Residential Operations, and Central Reservations before stepping into her current role.
Sofiia began her hospitality journey as a Guest Environment Expert at Delta Grand Okanagan Resort during her college studies. She graduated from Humber College in 2022 as an international student with a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management. Her broad experience and dedication to guest service highlight her commitment to the hospitality industry.
Michelle Furgiuele
Director of Training, TC Online Institute
Michelle Furgiuele is a Canadian speaker, consultant, and social advocate with personal experience in Human Trafficking and the Sex Trade.
For over eight years, Ms. Furgiuele has been educating various sectors on the reality of Human Trafficking in Canada and internationally. She focuses on bringing awareness and education to schools, service providers, police, and law enforcement agencies.
Michelle's educational content sheds a unique light on sex trafficking from the victim's perspective.
Michelle has co-written several manuals on how to detect Human Trafficking, as well as assists victims in crisis as a Peer-Support worker at a Canadian Safe House for Victims of Human Trafficking.
Stanley Goodman
President/COO, Metro Diner
Stanely Goodman is an experienced owner and operator of hospitality operations and was appointed President/COO & Investment Partner for Metro Diner September 2016.
Prior to joining Metro Diner, Mr. Goodman held the position of Chief Operating Officer for the Baton Rouge Steakhouse Chain in Canada.
Mr. Goodman has over 40 years of restaurant experience in both Canada and the USA., including being a Joint Venture Partner for both Besito Mexican as well as Metro Diner.
Formerly Mr. Goodman was instrumental in developing the first Outback Steakhouses outside of the US, in Canada as the Joint Venture Operating Partner. These were the first restaurants developed outside of the USA. Over his career Mr. Goodman has been involved as both an Owner and Operator in a variety of Hospitality and restaurant projects in both North America and South Africa where he completed his MAP at WITS University Business School South Africa.
Mr. Goodman is also the past Chairman of the Ontario Hotel and Motel association as well as having sat on the board as a director for numerous years.
Prempreet Grewal
Events Coordinator, Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites
Prempreet “Prem” Grewal is an Events Coordinator at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, where she acts as an intermediary between customers and the hotel's commercial and operational teams. Prempreet holds a diploma in Hospitality Management from Humber College, where she completed a 2-year program, graduating with honors. Over the past three years, Prempreet has gained valuable experience through roles at Chipotle, Humber College’s Student Success & Engagement department, and an internship at Hilton Toronto Airport. Her expertise includes communication, organization, project management, and event planning.
Cristiano Guedes
Conference Assistant, KPMG Canada
Cristiano Guedes dos Santos is a dedicated Food & Beverage Management professional, with a strong academic background and over a decade of experience in hospitality and business management including with restaurant companies Cactus Club and Eataly. He Recently graduated with distinction from George Brown College’s F&B Management program, Cristiano has been recognized on the Dean’s Honour List and received accolades such as the Baxter Student Ambassador Program and the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts award. Currently working for KPMG Canada as a Conference Assistant, Cristiano is committed to enhancing guest experiences and driving operational excellence in the hospitality industry. He actively contributes to the Future Hospitality Society, supporting new members and fostering industry innovation.
Chef John Higgins
George Brown College
Engaging, Entertaining and Irreverent with Decades of Hospitality Industry Experience…. Chef John Higgins!
He’s cooked for Royalty, guided the careers of thousands and always leaves those around him with insight and wisdom.. Chef Higgins who recently retired as Director of Hospitality and Culinary Enterprises at George Brown College, was television personality on “Chopped Canada” and is globally recognized as a leading Canadian contributor to the development of thousands of hospitality professionals while also helping to raise tremendous sums in support of industry education, will lead the conference’s events. John will share his witty, yet pointed views on where the industry is headed and how to navigate successfully through the current environment.
Keely Hyatt
Generative AI Office, Deloitte Canada
Keely is a leader in AI Strategy within Deloitte’s Generative Artificial Intelligence office. Keely has deep expertise in helping organizations through complex data and technology transformations, working with them to assess, utilize and enhance their data to unlock valuable insights.
Keely currently leads the Generative AI client Lab program where she brings together business executives, industry leaders, and subject matter experts in an immersive experience to learn and explore the potential applications of generative AI for their businesses.
David Hopkins
President, The Fifteen Group
David has over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He began his career in restaurant management after graduating with an honors business degree from Queen’s University. From 1990-1997, David held various senior management positions within some of Toronto’s top restaurant companies. In 1997, David joined SIR Corp. to lead the financial/accounting department of one of their most profitable divisions, Signature Restaurants. During his 5 years with SIR Corp., David reconstructed the division’s information processing into a centralized accounting department and helped the division grow from 4 restaurants to 9, each with sales of over $4 million annually.
In 2001, David left SIR Corp to form The Fifteen Group Inc., one of North America’s leading hospitality consultancies. With offices in Toronto and Vancouver, they have over 30 industry experts who cover all aspects of restaurant operations, from developing new restaurant concepts to maximizing restaurant profits through effective sales generation and disciplined cost control management. The Fifteen Group’s clients range from owner/operated establishments to multi-unit restaurant corporations.
Mike Josifovic
Director of Safety and Security, Toronto Downtown West BIA
Mike Josifovic is currently the Director of Safety and Security for the Toronto Downtown West BIA, Toronto’s central hub for entertainment, arts, culture, hospitality, sports, nightlife and business. Mike worked for 34 years in a number of roles for the Toronto Police Service(TPS), retiring in2022 as a Detective and joining the Toronto Downtown West BIA in September of that year. During his time with TPS, Mike worked in several offices/positions including general uniform duties, Community Response Units, and Investigative Units. In these roles, he investigated many cases involving general criminal matters and major Sexual Assaults, Child Pornography, Human Trafficking, Frauds, and Professional Standards (Internal Officer Investigations).Mike has spoken at various organizations’ events on safety and security matters including specifically those of hospitality related priorities and concerns.
Rob Martin
Vice President of Operations, Lone Star Group
Rob is Vice President of Operations for the Lone Star Group of Companies and has over 30 years involvement in the hospitality industry. He has a background in accounting and got his start in the industry in college when he started bartending. All these years later he thoroughly enjoys the Hospitality Business and has a continued passion for food and beverage and has been involved in introducing new business segments including Frankies Nashville Hot Chicken and most recently, The Cantina.
Rob enjoys setting strategic goals and collaborating with the teams to grow and enhance their respective business. Overall he understands the 'secret to success' is the people and he continues to promote employee engagement at all levels and work with the teams to build the leaders of tomorrow.
Prof. Andrew Middleton
Professor, Conestoga College
Andrew Middleton, has been a Professor in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Faculty for the past 15 years and has lead most of the programs offered by Conestoga College. He had completed a 4-year Hotel management Training with Impey Hotels in Worcestershire in the UK, F&B Management training with Hilton in France and has 20 years experience as a General Manager, and is a Graduate of the Hotel management School of Lausanne, Switzerland; the first hotel school in the world.
He arrived in Canada in 1997 and have opened and managed 4 different businesses: a country Inn, a bakery, a pub and a chicken restaurant.
Catherine Mercille
Operations Manager, Deloitte Greenhouse
Catherine is a leader in strategic operations for the Greenhouse Experience Program, specializing in systems design, productization and continuous improvement nationally, and is responsible for the operationalization of our Generative AI offering.
Catherine brings along a background of 14 years in the hospitality industry, working with various hotel chains and independent properties. Throughout her career, Catherine has successfully managed multiple departments, oversaw property renovations and openings, and led her teams to excellence.
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Timea E. Nagy
Founder, TC Online Institute
Timea E. Nagy is human trafficking survivor, author, speaker and social advocate, After immigrating to Canada in 1998, Her nightmare unfolded in Toronto in that same year after arriving from Budapest, Hungary in the hopes of finding meaningful employment. The daughter of a Hungarian policewoman, Timea was held hostage FOR THREE TERRIFYING MONTHS at the hands of traffickers and was forced to work in the sex industry. Thankfully, she escaped and started life anew. Ten years later, Ms. Nagy founded ‘Walk with Me’, a non-profit organization to assist victims of human trafficking and law enforcement agencies. Between 2009 and 2015, her organization helped over 300 victims and over 500 human trafficking-related investigations throughout Canada.
Ms. Nagy has provided training to numerous agencies in Canada, the U.S. and Europe – reaching hundreds of thousands of people within various sectors such as Law Enforcement, Financial Institutions, Hospitality, Real Estate, Tech companies such as Facebook and Airbnb and many more. She has also served on the United Nations Financial Task Force against Slavery
Ms. Nagy’s work and the story has been featured in FORBES Magazine, CNN, NBC, Fox News, The Social, and all the major Canadian media outlets and has been recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Attorney General.
Her memoir, Out of the Shadows, was released in May 2019 and became a National Bestseller within 6 days of release.
Media appearance:
CTV Morning News, CTV National, The Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Life
Nicole Nguyen
Senior VP, CBRE Limited
Nicole Nguyen is the Senior Vice President with the CBRE Hotels Valuation and Advisory Services group in Canada. Nicole has over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry spending the early years of her career in various upper management positions with Marriott Hotels and Resort in Canada. Over the last 12 years Nicole has worked in Canada and the Caribbean in hospitality consulting practice areas including market and financial feasibility studies; accommodation needs assessments, asset management, asset evaluation and strategy, appraisals and valuation as well as franchise and management contract review and negotiation.
Vince Sgabellone
Director & Foodservice Industry Analyst, Circana
Vince Sgabellone has been a foodie since long before that became a word, developing his passion for food and cooking in his Italian mama’s kitchen. Vince has excelled in numerous roles across the food and foodservice industry for more than two decades, from sales to marketing, distribution to product development, for manufacturers to operators. As Director and Foodservice Industry Analyst at Circana (formerly The NPD Group), he shares his unique perspective on food and the foodservice industry, and helps clients unlock business growth by bringing clarity to the complexity of consumer behaviour. Vince is a regular commentator in the media, having appeared on CTV, BNN, and CBC and quoted in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Canadian Press on numerous occasions.
Dr. Altaf Sovani
Founder & CEO, Alzen Inc.
Altaf is the founder and CEO of Alzen Inc, a Boutique Consulting firm specializing in Hospitality, Tourism and Event industry. He has over 25 years of experience in academic leadership and as a professor in post-secondary institutions.
Altaf is an award-winning author of the book “Labor Crisis in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Industry” Finding innovative solutions for recruitment and retention of Millennials.
Altaf was recognized as one of the “30 Most Influential Educators In Global Hospitality 2023” by the International Hospitality Institute. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his exemplary work in the field of education and an award from Meetings Professionals International (MPI) for National Meetings Influencer. He holds a DBA from California Southern University and an MBA from University of Guelph.
Benjamin Tabesh CPP, PSP, H.BSc
Founder & CEO, Condor Security Inc.
Founder of Condor Security & Security Industry Leader serving for over 20 years, Benjamin is passionate about education, developing new concepts, and application of best practices for the betterment of safety and security in communities. He is a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP) and Verbal Judo Tactical Communication Instructor. Benjamin is fortunate to have always worked alongside professional team members and associates who share similar values to facilitate goals, objectives, & promoting continuing education in the Security Industry.
Abraham Tieh
Director of National Hotel Tax Division, O’Connor & Associates
Abraham Tieh is the Director of National Hotel Tax Division at O’Connor & Associates, one of the largest property tax consulting firms in the country. He is a Licensed Senior Property Tax Consultant with over40 years of real estate, tax & financing experience. With Extensive experience in commercial real estate valuations, portfolio management, & risk assessment the company has achieved over $100 million in tax savings collectively for clients during his tenure at O’Connor.
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Laura Williams LL.B, CSP
Lawyer, Workplace Strategist, Speaker, Educator
Laura Williams is not your average professional; she is a dynamic force and visionary thinker who blends her near three-decades of experience in law, business and corporate strategy to help leaders and organizations navigate the ever-evolving complexities of today’s workplace. With a track record of success that speaks volumes, she's not only founded but nurtured two highly regarded firms: Williams HR Law LLP and Williams HR Consulting Inc. Laura is a sought after thought leader, keynote speaker, corporate educator, media contributor and innovator who has become one of the go-to voices helping workplaces reshape perspectives and recalibrate strategies