This Skills Development in Tourism Workshop is an interactive and educational event designed to ignite the passion for travel and explore the vast possibilities within the tourism industry. This workshop provides a platform to enhance your knowledge about the world of tourism, its significance, and the various career opportunities it offers.
LOCATION:
Elmhurst Inn & Spa
415 Harris St., Ingersoll
AGENDA:
1:00 PM: Welcome & Networking
1:30 PM: Opening Remarks from Ontario’s Southwest
OSW, Kelleagh Alexander & Joanne Wolnik
TIAO, Carol Greenwood & Leni Bram
OTEC, Kelly Harris
2:15 PM: Keynote Presentation, Steven Tooshkenig
3:15 PM: Facilitated Networking
4:00 PM: Event Close
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS
Keynote Speaker: Stephen Tooshkenig
Stephen W. Tooshkenig currently resides within Bkejwanong Territory. As a business owner in the Tourism/Culture Industry, Stephen has been offering opportunities to travellers across the world to visit his Traditional Territory.
Stephen has been consulting for over 15 years as a professional speaker along with facilitation and workshop development with a focus on advocating for youth. Stephen is also currently an Indigenous Business Advisor with Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) and sits on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation, for the RTO 1 Region. Stephen has had a successful career as a professional athlete and was the first Indigenous golfer to be featured in Score Magazine, a publication distributed across North America. When he’s not online via zoom or in person for a speaking engagement, Stephen and his family can be often found along the blue waters of Bkejwanong via Pontoon.
Kelly Harris
Kelly is the Industry & Community Liaison at OTEC and is responsible for creating and fostering ongoing relationships within Tourism SkillsNet Ontario’s (TSNO) diverse membership. She works with external organizations including businesses, communities, non-governmental organizations and the public sector, in a coordinated approach, through the TSNO regional working groups as well as additional community and industry outreach, to promote OTEC and TSNO initiatives.
Kelly has a marketing background and prior to being at OTEC she worked as Manager of Marketing & Special Projects at a DMO. Kelly is also the Chair of the Board for RTO3, Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Organization
Kelly is an energetic professional with exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, combined with superior leadership, team-building, communication and presentation skills. Kelly holds a Honours Bachelor degree in Sociology from the University of Guelph.
Carol Greenwood
With over 30 years of experience of leadership in the hospitality and tourism industry, Carol is a seasoned professional who is passionate about promoting and advocating for the interests of the sector. Her core competencies include event management, partnership development, membership relations, and revenue generation. Carol is currently the Vice President of Membership & Business Development at Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), where she works with a diverse and dynamic team to ensure the representation and voice of the industry to the provincial government.
Carol is motivated by the mission and vision of TIAO and strives to bring innovative and collaborative solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry in Ontario. Carol has represented many hospitality brands throughout North America, in addition to her consulting firm, G.A.P Solutions. Carol has assembled teams, opened hotels, provided training for sales professionals, and management training for leaders in the hospitality network. conducted business audits, rebuilding teams through hiring, coaching & success focused development. Carol is grounded in listening to the operators and building critical key relationships to allow for a stronger collaboration to support TIAO's advocacy message.
Leni Brem
Leni Brem is the Project Manager for TIAO's Tourism Workforce Sustainability Program. Leni has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and now does project work and consulting in tourism and hospitality. Recently she's worked for Indigenous Tourism Ontario and worked on projects with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association and Ontario Culture Days. She sits on the Board of Directors for York Region Arts Council and Central Counties Tourism. She's passionate about her vision for Ontario's tourism industry - to be one that authentically represents the diversity of people who live here.