Description

Agenda: 

7:30 – 8:00 am | Registration and Networking

• Breakfast

8:00 am | Welcome & Open Remarks

• Karen Cross | Chief Executive Officer, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce

8:05 | City Update

• Paige Agnew | Commissioner, Growth & Development, City of Kingston
  
  As the head of Kingston’s Growth & Development Services, Paige will provide an inside look at the major developments transforming our city — what’s on the horizon, how these changes will impact our community, and how her team’s innovative, collaborative approach is driving Kingston’s economic future.

8:30 am | Keynote - Leadership

• Michael Rossi | President of Voce Leadership
  
  Michael Rossi is a proven business leader and executive coach with over 20 years of experience, driving performance and building strong organizational cultures. In this session, he’ll show you how purpose-driven leadership and brand strategy can fuel growth even in competitive markets. Drawing on his track record in transformation and innovation, Michael will share practical insights to help your organization thrive while staying rooted in its core values.

9:15 am | Keynote - Employment Law

• Andrea Risk | Partner, Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP
  
  Andrea Risk, Partner at Cunningham Swan, alongside her colleagues, will break down today’s most pressing employment law issues. With extensive experience advising employers and leaders, they offer a clear and practical perspective on navigating workplace rights and responsibilities. 

9:55 am | Technology and AI as drivers of value creation

• Patrick Egbunonu | President & Chief AI Officer, Informanos Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Inc.
  
  Patrick Egbunonu brings over 20 years of expertise in AI, analytics, and business innovation. His work bridges technology and people, showing how AI can empower leaders, organizations, and communities to create real value and lasting impact. He brings a practical perspective on how businesses can turn emerging technologies into growth opportunities.
  
  
• Jose Ribau | Founder & CEO, R5 Innovations
  
  Jose Ribau is a digital-first leader with deep expertise in AI, data, and innovation. With experience guiding companies from startups to global enterprises, he shares how organizations can harness technology to navigate disruption, accelerate growth, and create lasting value. He brings deep expertise in marketing, technology to strengthen competitiveness, drive revenue, and create differentiated customer experiences.

10:35 am | Keynote - Branding

• Brian Dodo | Creative Director & Founder, BMDodo Strategic Design
  
  Brian Dodo is a branding and strategic design leader with over 20 years of experience. He has guided award-winning projects for organizations like Kingston Symphony, United Way KFL&A, and Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Brian will share how thoughtful design and brand identity can transform complexity into clarity, helping organizations connect, engage, and grow.

11:25 am | Closing

• Karen Cross | Chief Executive Officer, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce

For over 45 years, Small Business Week has been dedicated to honouring the incredible diversity of local businesses and entrepreneurs to our economies. 

This year, in celebration, the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Business Summit, taking place October 23th from 7:30 am to 11:30 am in an interactive and engaging event highlighting the vibrant and thriving business community. 

Join us for a business conference dedicated to bringing together Kingston’s industry leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators who drive our community. Get inspired, create connections and engage in rich conversations with dynamic industry leaders from numerous different sectors. 

Participants can look forward to interactive and enlightening presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and much more. This is an event business owners and their employees (of all sizes) within Kingston and area won't want to miss. 

Great News: Booth Opportunities. Only 10 booths (SOLD OUT!) to promote your business at the event!!

Many thanks to Title Sponsor, MNP, Partner Sponsors, KEYS Job Centre, Supporting Sponsors, Veritasa Law Office Professional Corporation and ReStart, Breakfast Sponsor, Enbridge Gas Inc., and Decor Sponsor, Bennett's Furniture for their support on this program. 

Be sure to use your email connected to your Chamber membership to receive member-discounted pricing. Cancellations must be received two weeks prior to the scheduled event for a full refund. Lastly, please reach out to info@kingstonchamber.ca if you have any allergy/dietary restrictions or problems accessing the discounted pricing. 

Exhibitors at the 2025 Business Summit:

- Alta Quero

- Enbridge Gas

- The Vowstead Wedding & Event Agency

- Futurpreneur

- BGC South East

- Rogers Media

- Museum of Health Care

- Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge

- Scent of Nature

- Ladder HR Solutions Inc.

NOTICE OF FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

When you enter a Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce (“GKCC”) event or program, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording and streaming may occur.

By entering the event premises, you consent to being interviewed, photographed, audio recorded, video recorded and streamed at the event. You grant to the GKCC, its representatives and any GKCC designated person or entity the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any media now known or later developed, including but not limited to print, broadcast, electronic, digital and social media. These may be used for promoting and publicizing the event or other GKCC events and the work the GKCC does, and for any other purpose deemed fit by the GKCC, its affiliates and representatives. You release the GKCC, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the aforementioned activities.

By entering the event premises, you waive all rights to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, distribution, web casting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibiting, broadcasting, web casting, or other publication and irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by the GKCC or a GKCC designated person or entity.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please get in touch with us on info@kingstonchamber.ca seven (7) business days prior to the event and we will do our best to accommodate your request. However, please note that if you're scheduled to be a speaker, moderator, host, or the chief guest for any event, adjustments may be challenging to accommodate.