Learn more about our speakers!

Every month Small Business Club Niagara offers our members a great guest speaker to assist our members in their small business ventures. Take a minute to read more about some of this year's speakers.

Martin Perelmuter, President April 20, 2005 (7-9 pm) Four Points Sheraton Suites, Thorold ON Martin Perelmuter worked as a lawyer at the international law firm Goodman Phillips & Vineberg, where his practice was focused in the areas of corporate, commercial and securities law. He has also worked as an in-house legal advisor to Ault Foods, Canada's largest dairy; and Four Seasons Hotels, the world's largest luxury hotel chain. A recipient of several academic awards and scholarships, Martin is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Western Ontario, in London, and the Faculty of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, in Toronto. Martin's views on the speaking industry have been reported in various television and print media, and have been published and read by meeting professionals in over 60 countries. He has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, George Brown College and Centennial College. Martin lives in Toronto with his wife and business partner Farah, and their children Jade and Cole. He is an avid reader and traveler, and can be found cycling or playing baseball and basketball in his spare time.   back to top

Yvonne Camus, Eco-Challenge Adventurer October 20, 2004 (7-9 pm) Four Points Sheraton Suites, Thorold ON Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. There is no better individual example of this than Yvonne Camus. On the surface there is nothing remarkable about Yvonne Camus. She works for a living, is a single mom to twin boys, and worries about many of the same things that we all do. Yet, when Yvonne gets in front of an audience, magical things begin to happen. Drawing on her experiences in the Eco-Challenge, the world championships of adventure racing, she connects with audiences in a profound way, helping them see the potential for greatness in themselves, their co-workers, and their entire company. Much of what she shares has come from hard-won experience, through rising to the challenges of training, preparation and execution of her goal to compete in the Eco-Challenge, while working as a senior executive and raising her sons. Yvonne Camus delights her audience with messages of success and survival highlighted by her experience at the World Championships of Adventure Racing - Eco-Challenge. Valuable insights about teamwork, commitment and enthusiasm for life are entwined in this presentation full of spectacular visuals and humorous stories. Ten years as Senior Executive in a chain of top health and fitness clubs has given her insight into motivation that comes from existing each day in a living laboratory of human behaviour. A fascination with the creation of performance excellence has led Yvonne to deliver presentations in the areas of service, sales, motivation, teamwork, leadership and life balance that have benefited companies such as Bayer Canada, Ceridian, Marsh Canada, The CN Tower, Entourage and GlaxoSmithKline and others all over North America.   back to top

Mike Mandel, Hypnotist & Brain Software Speaker May 19, 2004 (7-9 pm) Four Points Sheraton Suites, Thorold ON Learn the art of influence from a master hypnotist. Mike Mandel draws from a quarter century of real-world experience with "words that change minds". Attendees will gain the ability to influence and persuade others in a wide variety of settings, from presenting to groups to one on one meetings. Content includes: Power Language: Subtle words that sway and change behaviour Inroads to the unconscious mind Rapport: Entering the world of another person Techniques to diffuse aggression and frustration Accurately determine when you are being lied to Gain the advantage through counter-manipulation Seven magic words that put you in control Mike consults to all levels of government and has trained a wide variety of groups including veterinary surgeons, computer programmers, nurses, social workers, therapists and salespeople. He also teaches Advanced Tactical communications including hostage negotiation to police officers world-wide, and is one of the few civilians consulted by the RCMP. Mike Mandel is a self-described "reasonably normal guy with a really weird job". A uniquely qualified communicator, he has a gift for being simultaneously fascinating and hilarious!   back to top

Alvin Law, Inspirational Speaker April 21, 2004 (7-9 pm) Four Points Sheraton Suites, Thorold ON When Alvin Law was a child, having no arms was little more than an obstacle. His family taught him he could be whatever he wanted to be and that anything was possible with a lot of hard work and a proper attitude. Alvin is one of Canada's most highly sought after inspirational speakers. He was one of Canada's first "Thalidomide Babies", a term given to those born with body deformities due to the infamous morning sickness drug. Alvin was born without arms and was given up for adoption. His foster parents taught him to use his feet and made him believe that anything is possible with the right attitude. Alvin tells his audience, "When you believe in yourself, any handicap can be overcome, the key is your attitude." Alvin's infectious attitude is one everyone should be a witness to. Alvin has been featured in two award-winning documentaries for CBC's National Network and for PBS Frontline, which was nominated for an Emmy. Another short story on ABC's Frontrunners received an Emmy but his favorite is the guest spot he held in FOX's X-files. He has also been selected by Profit Magazine as one of Canada's 10 hottest speakers. "There's No Such Word As Can't" will give you honest observations into Alvin's life while incorporating humour and sincerity into the presentation. Audiences will enter into his life and feel both the pain and elation that all human beings experience.   back to top

Mr. John Young, Canada's Presentation Guru January 21, 2004 (7-9 pm) Four Points Sheraton Suites, Thorold ON John Young is well known for his intuitive sense of marketing. A strategic thinker with a wealth of experience in business, marketing and publishing, John's creative bent has been the cornerstone of his diverse career. As Group Publisher and General Manager of over twenty community and regional news publications from 1972 through 1996 he brings to his client base the expertise that can only be garnered through directing the operations of multifaceted media disciplines. John began his career in the advertising and marketing side of publishing and later moved to the business side of the industry. He has been directly responsible for the operations of multi-divisional publishing organizations for Southam Incorporated and The St.Catharines Standard Corporation. During these tenures he directed the business planning, marketing and financial responsibilities of these companies in the Niagara Region and beyond. During these early years, as director of advertising, marketing and sales, John worked with a variety of local, regional and national accounts including Zellers, IGA, Shoppers Drug Mart and Commisso's Food Stores. For his creativity in advertising design and campaigns he received both provincial and national awards. And later as publisher his news products continually won both national and provincial awards for content and presentation. John's grasp of the news media and understanding of surviving in shark-infested waters has served him well in dealing with challenging public relation scenarios. Balancing both irate readers and other media on such sensitive issues as the Phillip Environmental dump site (Taro) in the Hamilton market toughened his resolve in the media arena; As did having to deal directly with difficult union demands and grievances. In the mid nineties John left the publishing industry to pursue his own consultancy. The experience gathered in nearly twenty years of business was to be shared with his clients to grow their enterprises. He has worked with scores of small to medium sized businesses of all types. His work has been channeled through JCY associates, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the Business Development Centre at Niagara College. For the past four years John has taught marketing, advertising, communications and entrepreneurship for The Business Development Centre at Niagara College as well as small business counseling in the Ventures Division. JCY associates focuses on the marketing disciplines and public relations of the regional and national companies he works with. As a volunteer, John has consistently served on not-for-profit boards for the past twenty years; including seats with the E.J. Freeland Community YMCA, the Ontario Community Newspaper Association, the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, and most recently with The Adult Literacy Council of Greater Fort Erie. Described as a transitional leader with the creative ability to motivate, lead and convey ideas, John Young exemplifies a proven marketing achiever.   back to top