EXPO Speaker

Want to learn more about the bid? Lunch-hour meeting, annual general meeting, or open house, you name it and we can get one of our dynamic speakers (listed below) to your function. Whether it is 5 or 30 minutes, whether it is a brief address or a slide presentation, we have something that fits your needs.

Our Speakers

John Chomiak is president and CEO of employee-owned Hemisphere Engineering, a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm. Hemisphere recently celebrated 50 years in business and has offices in Edmonton, Calgary and Atlanta. John's career spans almost 50 years with Hemisphere and he has been on numerous boards, culminating in many chair positions.

Jon Hall manages marketing and communications for the Realtors Association of Edmonton, a cooperative of real estate agents. Experienced in association management, Jon has worked with groups, including the Volunteer Centre of Edmonton. He has led Scouts Canada and Homeward Trust as a volunteer.

Ted LeLacheur represents the third generation of his family in Edmonton's moving business. As president and CEO of Western Moving and Storage, Ted is an active member of the Mayfield Rotary Club, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton Eskimo Football Club, and the Edmonton Executive Association.

Patricia Mackenzie chaired Alberta's Commission on Learning in 2003 and the follow-up Retrospective in 2009, which reviewed the implementation of recommendations from the report regarding the future of the province's education system. She served as an elected municipal official in Edmonton for nine years and was elected president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association in 1994-95.  Retired from Telus, where she was associate vice-president of environment and project manager of Telus's corporate social responsibility report, she now consults in the areas of education, health and corporate social responsibility reporting.

Dan Mason is a University of Alberta professor in the Faculty of Physical Education and School of Business. His research interests include international event hosting and the stakeholder relations behind such events. Dan has published his research in journals like Contemporary Economic Policy and Journal of Urban Affairs.

Maureen McCaw founded Criterion Research, now part of Leger Marketing. A University of Alberta graduate, Maureen is past chair of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Petro-Canada, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and Women Building Futures boards of directors. She has been named as a "Woman of Vision" and one of Alberta's most influential people by Venture magazine.

Michael Phair oversees community relations for the University of Alberta, having served as a city councillor between 1992-2007. His current responsibilities, in addition to being adjunct professor of education, include creating and enhancing relations between the university's campuses and their external communities in support of the university's academic plan and mission.

Debra Ward, a professional communicator, directs client relations for fusedlogic, a social media strategist company. Her long-term community involvement includes Big Brothers and Sisters, Project Adult Literacy Society and the Sexual Assault Centre. Debra is a board member of Edmonton's Canadian Public Relations Society chapter.

Bid committee members are also available as speakers.