Keynote Speaker
Cameron Herold, Founder of BackPocket COO & Former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
For over 20 years Cameron Herold has been coaching, speaking to, or helping entrepreneurs build companies. As the founder of Backpocket COO, he works with young, fun, entrepreneurial, high growth companies to make their dreams happen. He is one of the country's most innovative business leaders, and was a leading force behind one of the most successful businesses of the decade, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?.
As Chief Operating Officer, for just under seven years, his innovative business leadership helped enable 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to build a presence in 46 states, 9 provinces, and 4 countries. Herold helped this leading-edge company grow from $2 Million to $105 Million in revenue in six years with no debt or outside shareholders. Canadian Business Magazine ranked them the “2nd Best Company to Work for in Canada”, and BC Business Magazine rated them “the #1 Company in BC to Work for” twice. Also during his tenure, numerous MBA programs studied the company, including Queen’s University in Canada and Harvard University.
Throughout his career as a senior executive, Herold has been involved in the sale, branding and integration of 450+ franchise locations with three franchisors. He has worked on the development and deployment of e-commerce and Internet strategies, negotiation of corporate acquisitions and development of numerous strategic partnerships. He has a unique understanding of business and helps others grow their companies through his knowledge of Operations, Marketing, Public Relations, Strategic Alliances, Sales, Call Centers and Franchising.
Insurance Guest Speakers
Robin Spencer, President & CEO
Robin was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Canada Inc. in July 2007.
As President and CEO of Aviva Canada, Robin leads and provides strategic direction for Aviva’s general insurance businesses in Canada. He also represents Canada on the Aviva North America regional team.
Robin is a member of the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Board. He also sits on the Property & Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC) Board and is a member of their Audit Committee.
Prior to becoming CEO, Robin was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Vice President (EVP) of Aviva Canada, a role he assumed in January 2005.
Prior to his appointment as CFO and EVP at Aviva Canada, Robin was global finance transformation director for the Aviva group.
Before that, he worked in group finance in London and held numerous senior finance roles with Norwich Union Insurance, including Finance Director for London & Edinburgh, a subsidiary of Aviva. Prior to joining Aviva in 1995, Robin spent five years with Procter & Gamble in the UK.
Robin is a Chartered M Management Accountant (ACMA) and holds an MA in Economics.
Alain Thibault, President and Chief Executive Officer
Alain Thibault is Executive Vice-President, Insurance, TD Bank Financial Group. He has responsibility for the Life and Property and Casualty insurance operations of the Group, and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TD Insurance Meloche Monnex since January 1999. Mr. Thibault graduated in 1975 from Laval University with a B.Sc. in Actuarial Science and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. He has been active in the insurance field for more than 30 years in both Canada and the United States.
Prior to joining Meloche Monnex in 1987, Mr. Thibault worked with both Government and Industry in different roles. This includes actuary for the Inspector General of Financial Institutions - Government of Quebec ; actuary and assistant vice-president, personal lines underwriting, for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in both San Francisco and Toronto; and consultant for Optimum Group Inc. He was an advisor to the Canadian Government House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs during its examination of the regulation of financial institutions in 1985. He also acted as consultant for a number of private and public entities, including the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and the Saskatchewan Public Utilities Review Commission. In 2003, he was invited by Alberta Finance to take part in the Automobile Insurance Reform Implementation Team addressing complex insurance issues in order to provide the Government with recommendations on how to implement its decisions.
Mr. Thibault has been an active participant in insurance industry affairs and has served on a number of industry boards. He has also been involved in community causes, such as United Way, the Montreal Heart and Stroke Institute Foundation, the Mount Stephen House Foundation and the Fund Raising Cabinets of Laval University and of the University of Sherbrooke.
Marilyn McLaren, President and Chief Executive Officer
Marilyn McLaren assumed her current position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Manitoba’s public auto insurance company on October 1, 2004. Manitoba Public Insurance is a non-profit Crown Corporation that has provided basic automobile coverage since 1971. Our services are available throughout Manitoba in claim centres and Customer Service centres. Our staff of about 1,700 is dedicated to working with Manitoban’s to reduce risk on the road and keeping vehicle insurance rates low.
Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg. Since she became President, Manitoba Public Insurance has led the successful fight against auto theft and improved service and value to Manitoba drivers with a new driver’s licence system and extended service network. Driver and vehicle licensing services are available at more than 300 Autopac brokers around the province. Later this year, Manitoba Public Insurance expects to continue to enhance value with an improved merit discount/surcharge system, streamlined Autopac renewal process and a new, high tech one-piece driver’s licence.
Manitoba recently became the first province to offer enhanced identification (travel documents) to enter the US by land or water. This is an important initiative as most Manitobans travel to the US by car and are less likely to have passports. This new ID will be less than 1/3 of the cost of passports.
