John Frostad is the President & CEO of Snack Alliance Inc., a privately owned U.S. company based in Hermiston, Oregon and Bristol, Virginia. Snack Alliance Inc. is involved in the manufacture, distribution and marketing of branded and private label snack food products throughout North America and internationally.

From its inception in 1997, Snack Alliance has focused on becoming the leading provider of private label snack foods in North America. Snack Alliance is now the market leader in the private label snack market in the U.S. with customers that include Wal-Mart, Albertson's and Kroger. This has been accomplished by both acquisitions and organic customer growth.

John became an owner of these companies via a management buy-out in 1995. He and his partners revived a regional Western Canadian food company and restructured it into a focused private label snack food company in the United States. Prior to that time, John spent several years in senior management roles in Canada and internationally with a host of multi-national consumer products companies. These companies included Agri-Link (formerly Curtice Burns Foods), Unilever Canada Limited (Lever Brothers, Lipton and Unox), and General Mills.

John is past Western Regional Chair of the Food and Consumer Products manufacturers of Canada and is past President of the Canadian Snack Food Association. John has served on several boards including B.C. Children's Hospital, The Neurological Center, The Food & Consumer Products Manufacturers of Canada, and Mission Hill Wines (The Mark Anthony Group of Companies). John has been a member of the Young President's Organization for fifteen years. In 1995, John was the recipient of the "Top 40 Business People in Canada under the age of 40" award and in 1998 successfully competed in the Subaru Canadian Iron Man competition.

John received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Business Administration from York University in Toronto. John is married with two children and resides in West Vancouver.

A strong advocate for health and wellness, Margaret Wallis-Duffy has established herself as one of Canada's foremost experts on massage therapy, infant massage and overall wellness achieved through therapeutic touch and complementary techniques. Her Brampton based clinic, Wallis and Associates Wellness Clinic, has been caring for patients for over 15 years.

Margaret's infectious enthusiasm and strong belief in the benefits of massage therapy and in health and wellness have made her a much sought after speaker, educator and author. Her popular workshops and presentations are informative, interactive and interesting. In fact, Margaret conceived and created her very successful Corporate Wellness Program which offers Lunch and Learn Seminars, exercise programs, in-chair massages and interactive wellness days. Her extensive client list includes Kodak Canada, Chrysler Canada, Winners Canada and The Investors Group.

As CTS' resident Health and Wellness Expert, Margaret brings her expertise, knowledge and methods to you. You will learn about the benefits of massage therapy - including infant massage and techniques for easing stress - as well as tips and strategies for improving your health and over all well being.

Margaret's dedication to her profession has earned her a national profile and reputation for credibility, integrity and insight. She has appeared regularly on CITY TV's City Line and on several wellness programs, including Canadian Living TV, Body and Health, and The Right Fit. She has been a frequent guest and co-host of Rogers' Daytime Show. Her well known expertise has been recognized by several publications who call on her to provide advice and information for their readers. They include Today's Parent, Homemaker's magazine and The Lodging Canada magazine.

Margaret draws on her background in kinesiology and her training as a registered massage therapist (RMT) to develop and apply techniques and treatments designed to help improve the health of her patients. She is also deeply committed to the benefits of infant massage therapy; which can help with digestive discomforts that some babies experience as well as help them to relax. She has her Certificate in Infant Massage for children with special needs and she is an International Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI). Margaret is an infant massage consultant, a Research Committee Member for Mt. Sinai Hospital and Sick Children's Hospital (both in Toronto) as well as a Research Consultant for The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami.

Margaret's commitment to giving back to the community are evidenced by her involvement with the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, the CIBC's Run for the Cure, Big Brothers/Sisters of Peel and as a Board Member of the William Osler Hospital Foundation.

A mother of two active children, Margaret is happily married and enjoys cooking, sports and training for her first triathlon.

Karen Sencich is a Professional Organizer, speaker and writer and owner of Havoc to Harmony. Clients call her “The Universal Remote” to life as she has helped them click through life transitions since 1999. Dealing with a new job, a new home, a birth or death can be very stressful. Karen’s philosophy is that organizing is an essential life skill and it’s never too late to learn.

As an award winning, hands on organizing expert, Karen offers organizing sessions through Humber College and national teleclasses. Her work has been featured in Chatelaine, Today’s Parent, The Toronto Star, on Canada AM and Roger’s Daytime.

She is the author of several organizing related publications including the new “Tackle it Now” easy reference guides which feature easy-to-implement tips and techniques to juggle responsibilities at home, work and school.

www.havoctoharmony.com

Donna Dooher is a cook with over 25 years of professional experience in the kitchen. A graduate of the culinary program at Ottawa’s Algonquin College, she began her apprenticeship with The Ritz III Group there, working her way up to the position of Chef before moving to Toronto in 1983.

Donna opened her first business, Avant-gout Catering in 1986 and her wildly successful Mildred Pierce Restaurant three years later. In 1998, she pioneered the hands-on approach to cooking instruction when she opened The Cookworks Cooking Studio, offering informative classes and workshops which explored the practical aspects of cuisine. Her popular Food Network show ‘The Cookworks’ which grew out of this initiative is currently aired in over 120 countries worldwide. Her many public appearances include local and national spots on CBC, CTV’s Canada AM, City TV and Rogers Cable Stations. Donna continues to support the fundraising events of such groups as the Willow Foundation, Knives and Forks and The Aquarians in Toronto and the James Beard Foundation in New York. She has served as executive in residence for the University of Guelph’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

As food editor of Wish magazine, Donna authored the best-selling ‘Market to Table’ cookbook adding to her previous triumph with “Out to Brunch”, a book of the most popular Mildred Pierce recipes and the winner of Cuisine Canada’s cookbook of the year in 2003. That same year she was awarded the Ontario Hostelry Institute Media and Publishing Award.

Donna is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Cuisine Canada, Women Chefs and Entrepreneurs, James Beard Institute and is a charter member of Slow Food Canada. She is co-chair of the George Brown Chef School expansion Capitol Campaign, and a passionate supporter of local food production.

Her personal motto is ‘Cook with Love and Reckless Abandon’

In a world of send, reply and you've got mail, Jo'Ann Alderson, President of Progressive Communications Inc., shares the inside scoop on which buttons to press and when to reach more prospects, close more sales, and delight more customers in the smartest way possible - without eye contact, body language or facial expressions.

A respected and knowledgeable seminar leader and accomplished speaker on sales and business communication, Jo'Ann has counseled and inspired sales professionals and customer service teams in many of the nation's leading corporations, large and small business, and the governments of Japan, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Through her innovative work and aptitude in her chosen field Jo'Ann's clients have measurable exceeded their sales targets, attained the highest levels of customer satisfaction in their industry, increased productivity and reduced costs.

On the Board of Governors and Patient Care Quality Committee of Mt. Sinai Hospital Jo'Ann's professional career is enhanced with a Performers Certification from Trinity College, University of Toronto; studies with Second City; Certification in Leadership and Sales Effectiveness from Management Resource Group, Boston and The McQuaig Institute in Toronto. Jo'Ann is a marathon runner and a Professional Member of the Canadian Speakers' Association.

Rose Reisman is a savvy entrepreneur whose strength lies in recognizing the ever-changing needs of the marketplace. She began by self-publishing a general cookbook in 1988, but in 1993, she realized the need to change her own lifestyle was definitely part of something much bigger. Her hunch hit the mark. Her 1993 cookbook, Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking sold over 400,000 copies to a more health-conscious society. It was at this time that Rose Reisman began donating proceeds from all of her book sales to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF). To date, she has written more than 16 books and has raised over $1 million for breast cancer research. Over the past few years, Rose Reisman further diversified and now runs two distinct companies, both geared at sharing her passion for the art of living a balanced lifestyle.

Media Appearances:
Rose Reisman has served as the host of weekly TV series on the Life Network-Lighten Up with Rose Reisman (1998-2000), and Free for the Asking (1997-1998).
She is a regular guest on CityLine with Marilyn Dennis (CityTV) and has made numerous appearances on national TV and radio shows such as Today (NBC), Balance: Television for Living Well with Dr. Marla Shapiro (CTV), and Canada AM.

Rose meets with Tricia Ryan to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being an entrepreneur. From cook book author to media guru and now serving meals to thousands of Torontonians searching for healthy good tasting food on the run. Learn what inspired Rose and resources that she used to augment her success.

Cora Mussely Tsouflidou

For the founder of Chez Cora and Cora's Breakfast & Lunch restaurants, initiative, perseverance, self-confidence and boundless energy have been the main ingredients in her recipe for success.

Cora Mussely Tsouflidou was born into a modest family in Caplan, a little village in the Gaspe peninsula. Cora had all the ingredients for success right from the very start. In 1960, she enrolled at Montreal's Cardinal Leger Institute, promising to pay for her education. There she studied Latin, Greek, literature, art and other courses that would prepare her for a professional career. But destiny had other plans: Cora was now expecting her first child, so she quit college during her final year to devote herself to her new family, and to the two other children who would soon follow. Cora abandoned her plans for a career to become a loving full-time mom.

When her husband left her ten years later, Cora was suddenly a single mother with three teenagers to support. With her characteristic aplomb, Cora bought a small neighbourhood canteen, worked hard, tripled its value and sold it. Not one to rest on her laurels, she became a hostess in a well-known Montreal restaurant, where she worked her way up the ladder as a day manager, general manager and junior partner. For the next five years, Cora perfected her knowledge of the foodservice industry until she mastered all aspects of the hospitality trade. In May 1987, Cora bought a defunct snack bar on Cote-Vertu Road in the Ville Saint-Laurent district of Montreal and embarked on a venture that would take her further than she'd ever dreamed.

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the network, Cora remains up to date in the industry and regularly visits restaurants. She ensures that her standards of quality are being respected by remaining in contact with her customers, her main source of inspiration and motivation. Cora takes to heart and remains implicated in the creation of new dishes by testing and evaluating new recipes in order to better introduce them in the restaurants.

In the business world, Cora is the best example of a "self-made business woman". In 2003, she wins the Governor General's award. She has also won several awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Manufacturing / Consumer Products Category, the Pinnacle Award and the Tops in Hospitality Award from Food Service and Hospitality magazine. The Cora Franchise Group Inc. network has annual sales of over $100 million. The "Chez Cora" banner is recognized as the leader in the breakfast industry in Quebec, and Cora's Breakfast & Lunch is well on its way to becoming a preeminent leader across Canada.

Donna Messer is President of ConnectUs Communications Canada, one of North America's largest and most effective business matching companies. When it comes to building relationships, Donna Messer and ConnectUs are "The Experts"! With a database of companies from around the world, Donna Messer is an excellent candidate to consider for corporate sales kick-off functions, employee events, etc. She is a world renowned, engaging, entertaining and inspiring speaker and author of the Canadian best selling book, Effective Networking Strategies.

Donna has worked on 4 continents and spoken to more than 500,000 people. Donna has worked with companies and organizations around the world. Her clients include: Royal Bank, Cassels Brock, Bell Canada and IBM. She has been profiled in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The London Telegraph, South African Times and Chatelaine magazine. She has appeared on TV's Second Chance, The New Economy, and has hosted and been a guest on many radio programs. Today, it's not just about selling a product or service; it's about bonding, about building a rapport. The majority of the world wants to know they can share their needs with someone who will understand, respond and react. Donna Messer can help you understand and deal with what is now becoming the way of building business for the future.