Welcome the CEO EDGE Podcast! In this episode we talk with Norm Bacal, author of Breakdown: The Inside Story of the Rise and Fall of Heenan Blaikie.
Norm Bacal joined Smart & Biggar’s Toronto office in October 2016 as Co-chair, IP Strategy. Previously, Norm was national co-managing partner of Heenan Blaikie until the end of 2012, where his role was to build the firm from a series of regional offices to one of Canada’s best known law firms.
Norm is considered a leading expert in tax issues relating to the entertainment industry. Formerly, his clients included film studios and broadcasters, as well as a number of emerging technology companies. Norm was a member of the Board of Directors of Lions Gate Entertainment for almost ten years. Fluent in both English and in French, he is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Barreau du Québec. He is actively involved in community activities, is a member of the Canadian Board of Governors for the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal, and has been honored by the Shaare Zedek Hospital and the Reena Foundation.
Welcome to the CEO EDGE Podcast! In this episode we talk with Robert Pratt, President of One Hospitality and long time MacKay CEO Forums member.
Robert Pratt has been a hotel industry leader for more than 30 years. He joined ONE Lodging Management in 2015 as President, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operations of all hotel properties in the ONE family, including the 80 properties currently owned by American Hotel Income Properties (AHIP), for which ONE is the exclusive hotel manager.
Before joining ONE, Robert served as President of Coast Hotels Ltd, a collection of over 40 hotels throughout Canada and the U.S.
After graduating from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration with a Bachelor of Science, Robert spent 17 years with Westin Hotels and Resorts holding progressively senior roles in sales, marketing and hotel operations eventually serving as General Manager of Westin Hotels properties in Ottawa and Edmonton. He then joined SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts (formerly CHIP Hospitality) as the Regional Vice President of the Pacific Northwest region. He subsequently held positions as Senior Vice President of Operations and Executive Vice President at SilverBirch where he was responsible for operations of 40 hotels coast-to-coast operating under 12 franchised brands employing 4,000 staff before being appointed President and COO of SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts in 2007. From there he joined Westmont Hospitality Group in Toronto as Chief Operating Officer where he oversaw operations of 160 hotels across Canada operating under 10 franchised brands employing 10,000 people.
As a dedicated contributor to the community, Robert has held senior volunteer positions with the United Way of Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton and is active in his local church. He is a current Board member of the Hotel Association of Canada, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and is chair of the HR committee at Destination British Columbia. He sits on the advisory committee of the University of Guelph and is an admissions field interviewer for the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Robert was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of American Hotel Income Properties.
Welcome to the CEO EDGE Podcast! In this episode we talk with long time MacKay CEO Forums member, Gary Zlotnik, Chairman & CEO of ZLC Financial.
After graduating from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Garry Zlotnik began his career as a Chartered Accountant at a national accounting firm. In 1981 Garry left the firm and joined forces with his father, Harold Zlotnik, at Zlotnik, Lamb and Company, later renamed ZLC Financial.
Today Garry serves as the Chairman & CEO of ZLC and is recognized as a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Financial Planner, a life and qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and a 21 year member of Top of the Table, an organization that recognizes the top 2% of individuals in the industry.
In 2010, Garry was recognized for his community service and was awarded a Community Service Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Garry was also recognized by the accounting community for his exemplary service to the profession and was given an FCA designation.
Garry participates actively in the financial industry by regularly conducting seminars with major accounting and legal firms and speaking at events such as the annual Top of the Table annual meeting.
Garry also offers additional wealth management services as an Exempt Market Dealing Representative through our affiliate ZLC Wealth.
Garry has earned the following designations, and is, or has been a member of the following organizations:
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His global client list gives him a front row seat to the high velocity change that is occurring as disruption comes to take hold of every industry and every organization. With that insight, and the customized research that he undertakes for every engagement, he helps to transform growth-oriented organizations into high-velocity innovation heroes!