York Technology Alliance Calendar

Downtown CEO- Peer Group Meeting: (17 May 2012)

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:30:00 GMT

High growth technology companies are constantly in a fast-paced hunt for new customers, clients or partners. Join the Downtown Tech CEO peer group as CEO participants share their experiences – successes and set-backs – in effectively opening the channels to customers’ share of wallet and peace of mind.

This month YTA Chairman John Kitchen will lead off the discussion with a brief presentation of his experience at Esri Canada as they developed and refined a partnership program that includes over 100 Canadian Business Partners and a network of over 2000 Global Partners.

Thursday, May 17th 7:30 am to 9:00 am.

Kindly hosted for the YTA by Andrew Nunes at the offices of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP: 333 Bay Street- Suite 2400- Bay Adelaide Center, Toronto.

CFO Peer Group Meeting (18 May 2012)

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES

Join us as Michael Badham, President and CEO of FundingStore.com, provides insight into new, innovative sources for funding businesses, operations and the trading of shares in the secondary market.

Michael will outline the emerging opportunities for new funding sources provided by internet based channels, giving businesses access to institutional and private funding sources not traditionally available. He will also provide background on the developing area of “crowd funding” – the concept of micro level funding for early stage companies that will get an official boost under the new U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act.

Michael Badham, B. Math, CA, CBV, CF has significant experience providing clients with advice and guidance with respect to M&A transactions, financings, infrastructure and corporate growth related transactions.

His background includes building corporate finance and M&A advisory businesses at Peat Marwick (KPMG), CCFL Advisory and Deloitte & Touche and providing training in areas of business valuation, mergers & acquisitions, relationship building and trusted advisor skills. For the past two years Michael has been a course lecturer and facilitator for the CICA's Advanced Corporate Finance Program.

Michael is also currently Executive Director of the International Institute of Business Valuers and a partner with Strateva Partners, a strategic advisory and consulting firm serving growth oriented mid-market businesses in Canada.

Fred Peters, BASc., MBA, CFA, CGA will facilitate May's CFO peer group meeting.

Legal Perspectives Peer Group (22 May 2012)

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Canadian and US Immigration Law

"Join us Tuesday May 22nd at 8:00 – 9:30 AM to participate in an interactive discussion with Eamonn Flaherty, a Partner with the law firm of Miller Thomson LLP (Markham), and Eileen Martin, a Partner with the law firm of Hodgson Russ LLP (Buffalo, NY) to learn about Canadian and US Immigration Law issues. The session will cover temporary entry of employees into the US and Canada, obtaining work permits, NAFTA issues, business visitor activities and dealing with Immigration officers at the ports of entry. This will be invaluable for companies that have cross-border sales, activities or interests requiring business travel between the two countries."

Export Developments Peer Group (23 May 2012)

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Check back here soon to see this month’s topic.

We look forward to seeing you and remember, if you are not yet a YTA member, please call the YTA office @ 905-415-4558 to register. Members, please use the “Register” button at the left to secure your seat.

YTA Leadership Awards Luncheon (24 May 2012)

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:30:00 GMT

YTA 2012 Leadership Awards

Join us as we celebrate the success of tech companies from the Greater Toronto Area that are helping make this tech community one of the greatest and most innovative in the world.

At the lunch, awards will be presented to:

Start-up Company of the Year
Momentum Company of the Year
Technology Company of the Year

The founder or CEO of each winning company will give a brief talk on the lessons learned while building and growing their company and be available for questions during a panel discussion.

Sponsored By:

Schedule:

Registration and Networking -11:30am to 12:00pm
Lunch - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Awards Presentation and Panel - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

We welcome the participation of Start-Up Canada at this year's Technology Leadership Awards.

Meet the team traveling across Canada to gather insights directly from entrepreneurs as they prepare to report to the Federal Government on the state of start up across the country.

For directions to the Richmond Hill Country Club, please click here.

Digital Strategies Peer Group Meeting (24 May 2012)

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:30:00 GMT

Digital Strategies Peer Group
The internet has opened up a new world of tools for building and growing businesses. The Digital Marketing Strategies Peer Group will discuss the innovations and technologies that are being used help businesses be more efficient and better connect them to customers, improve sales, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

If you're the person responsible for your company's online presence, come prepared to network, share and learn with your peers! Topics for discussion include:
- Social media marketing techniques
- How to measure and report your online presence
- How to build products that people want to talk about
- The best online tools and resources
- Does great content always translate to great numbers?

Space is limited so please email or call asap to reserve your spot. 289.846.3101

Technical Project Management Peer Group Meeting (25 May 2012)

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Project management tools and techniques to aid Project Managers.

- Review of standard documents such as business requirements, technical requirements, architecture design.

- Work break down structure sessions and project schedule.

The YTA Peer Group Program is where technical project managers in the fast-growth technology sector come to learn from experience. Leveraging dynamic meetings, expert workshops and offline knowledge exchanges, Peer Group Program participants meet regularly to network, learn and lead their companies to greater success.

Striking an effective balance between structure and flexibility, volunteer group facilitators work on behalf of participants to moderate discussions, find subject matter experts and arrange workshops.

CEO - Technical Peer Group (01 Jun 2012)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Where fast-growth technology company leaders connect to discuss common yet unique issues in their businesses, share best practices, and expand their business network of trusted peers. To determine if your company would be a good fit for this peer group please contact the YTA Executive Director, Patrick Shaw, at 905.415.4558; some restrictions on attendance apply.

M&A Bootcamp: Corum Group - Selling Up | Selling Out (04 Jun 2012)

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:30:00 GMT

YTA Presents the Tech Sector M&A Bootcamp of 2012: Corum Group - Selling Up | Selling Out

The Corum Group will present this definitive M&A education session for the tech industry taught by the world's most experienced merger professionals.

Leader for this workshop is Bruce Milne, the CEO and founder of Corum Group. Bruce has overseen more M&A transactions than anyone in the world over the past 22 years! Bruce has served on advisory boards for Microsoft, IBM, and Apple, and has been a board member or founding investor of some of the most innovative firms in their field, including Blue Coat, Bright Star and Sabaki.

Selling Up Selling Out: Agenda highlights

Profiting From Preparation
The New World of Buyers
Positioning For Price
Valuation Models Now
Tax Optimization Today
Structuring For Success
Strategizing Negotiation
Contracts, Contracts, etc.
Due Diligence
Landmines
Mapping Your Integration

Having spent many long years building your company, invest a few short hours to learn how to handle the exit properly. The Corum Group will show you how to achieve an optimal outcome, complete with a free 100-page tutorial, and help you to not be one of the deal disasters that befall many self-managed M&A efforts.

Hosted at the Toronto offices of YTA Board Member Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Marketing Leadership Peer Group (06 Jun 2012)

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Please check soon for this month's topic.

Women in Technology Peer Group (07 Jun 2012)

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Taking your Brand Public: Online Personal-Branding

Join us to learn about extending your personal brand online. In this seminar you will learn;

• Ways to brand yourself online
• The online branding do’s and don’ts
• Tips and tricks to maximize your marketing message online

Facilitator: Donna Whitney

Cloud Computing Peer Group Meeting (08 Jun 2012)

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Cloud Computing Peer Group Meeting

The YTA Cloud Computing Peer group is designed for executives and managers of software and services companies who are providing cloud based offerings to the market. The sessions will be business focused and will concentrate on topics that are relevant to operating and growing a cloud based business. Each session will include a guest speaker – either a customer that has transformed their business by leveraging cloud based offerings or an executive from a software or services company that is transitioning their organization to take advantage of the opportunities in the cloud. It will then be followed by a peer/group discussion on how to leverage these insights to drive profitability in your business.

The Cloud Computing Peer group will be held on the second Friday of every month and its facilitator is Muneer Hirji, President of 3.0 Corp. Please reach out to Muneer at Muneer.hirji@3point0.ca if you would like to join.

HR Perspectives Peer Group (14 Jun 2012)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The YTA Human Resources Peer Group meetings are where business leaders, HR professionals, and those looking to gain a competitive advantage through their talented people come together. They investigate the most effective new approaches, sharpen their skills and learn about programs that add to productivity while controlling the highest cost function in the tech business - our people costs.

Sales Bootcamp: Lessons From Frontline Leaders (14 Jun 2012)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Sales Bootcamp: Lessons From Frontline Leaders

Case study based workshop presented by YTA member salespeople who regularly attend the monthly YTA Sales Peer Group. These five case studies dive into topics that reflect the principles and lessons learned and shared within the YTA Sales Peer Group expertly facilitated by Andrew Ford of Sales CoPilot.

Each case will include a presentation by the salesperson accountable for the results, a companion workbook in support of the content, and a brainstorming session to synthesize the lessons learned into actionable items for workshop attendees.

Bootcamp Trainer: Andrew Ford, Sales CoPilot
Exercises Covered:

·         Winning the Big Deal
·         Building a Sales Pipeline
·         Sales Team On-Boarding: Getting Productive Faster
·         Positioning Your Sale for Executive Relevance
·         Sales Sheets that Shorten Sales Cycles

Who Should Attend:
Sales Executives, Sales Representatives, Tech Company Founders, CEOs and CFOs of small and mid-size tech companies, Marketing managers, and anyone interested in knowing what goes on in the last link between your company and your customer before revenue is realized!

For information about our Sales Leadership Peer Group please click here

CFO Peer Group Meeting (15 Jun 2012)

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The topic for this session will be announced shortly.

The meeting will be facilitated by Peter Ott, CA, CBV.

Leaders of Emerging Companies Peer Group Meeting (19 Jun 2012)

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:00:00 GMT

The YTA Peer Group Program is where founders, innovators and leaders of fast-growth and newly-emerging technology companies come to understand and expand their businesses. Leveraging dynamic meetings, expert workshops and offline knowledge exchanges, participants network, exchange ideas and leads, and learn about what it takes to move their organizations to greater success.

Please download and complete the following exercise and bring along with you:
Customer Scorecard.pdf

Sales Leadership Peer Group Meeting - Advanced Sales Habits: Learn the Habits of Super Stars (20 Jun 2012)

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Sales Leadership Peer Group Meeting - Advanced Sales Habits: Learn the Habits of Super Stars

The YTA Peer Group Program is where fast-growth technology sales managers and representatives from across the GTA come to sharpen their skills. Leveraging dynamic meetings, expert presentation and offline knowledge exchanges, participants network, learn and lead their organizations to greater success through increased sales performance.Meetings provide a collaborative and supportive environment for honest, constructive discussion of hot-button topics serving as an excellent place for all members of the sales team to find help closing business.

Downtown CEO- Peer Group Meeting: (21 Jun 2012)

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:30:00 GMT

The topic for this session will be announced shortly.

7:30 am to 9:00 am. Kindly hosted for the YTA by Andrew Nunes at the offices of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP: 333 Bay Street- Suite 2400- Bay Adelaide Center, Toronto.

Technical Project Management Peer Group Meeting (22 Jun 2012)

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Project Completion reviews and Lessons Learned Sessions

Legal Perspectives Peer Group (26 Jun 2012)

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Legal Perspectives Peer Group

Topic to be updated shortly. Thank you

Export Developments Peer Group (27 Jun 2012)

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Check back here soon to see this month’s topic.

Digital Strategies Peer Group Meeting (28 Jun 2012)

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:30:00 GMT

Digital Strategies Peer Group
The internet has opened up a new world of tools for building and growing businesses. The Digital Marketing Strategies Peer Group will discuss the innovations and technologies that are being used help businesses be more efficient and better connect them to customers, improve sales, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

If you're the person responsible for your company's online presence, come prepared to network, share and learn with your peers! Topics for discussion include:
- Social media marketing techniques
- How to measure and report your online presence
- How to build products that people want to talk about
- The best online tools and resources
- Does great content always translate to great numbers?

Space is limited so please email or call asap to reserve your spot. 289.846.3101

YTA Annual Golf Networking Event (23 Aug 2012)

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE!!

Likely one of the most affordable tournaments you will see this summer, the YTA Annual Golf Networking event is also one of the most popular. A regular sell-out the tournament brings together leaders from tech companies and tech-enabling organizations from throughout the Greater Toronto Tech Cluster.

Based on the great feedback from last year we will again host the event at Pheasant Run Golf Club. Join us and enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers while playing one of the top public golf courses in the region.

For sponsorship opportunities please contact Pat Shaw at 905-415-4558 or by email.

Schedule, additional information and registration coming soon!

For directions to Pheasant Run Golf Club please click here.

Women in Technology Peer Group Meeting- Work Life Integration: How to do the Right Things with Less Time (06 Sep 2012)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Work Life Integration - How to do the Right Things with Less Time

In this session we will learn the skills and tools to achieve work-life integration. Specifically this workshop will cover;

• How to find meaningful work
• Uncovering the balance (integration) between work and personal life
• Technologies that enable quality of life and those that undermine balance
• How to best utilize your time
• How to maximize “personal outsourcing” – you may be able to do it all, but you don’t need to.
• Control-enthusiasts – how to get over the fear of letting go
• Architecting the perfect support network

Facilitator: Donna Whitney

Women in Technology Peer Group Meeting- Genuine Networking: Networking that Works (04 Oct 2012)

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Genuine Networking - Networking that Works

Join us for a workshop dedicated to instructing women on the art and skill of networking. Participants will walk away with;

• The best Networking tools and how to use them properly
• Getting in to, and the most out of LinkedIn
• The detached to overly-familiar networking scale, how to strike the right balance

Facilitator: Donna Whitney

Women in Technology Peer Group Meeting- The Heart of Mentorship (01 Nov 2012)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Heart of Mentorship

Join us to uncover the heart of mentorship. In this session participants will learn;

• Forming formal and informal mentor relationships
• The value of personal and professional coaches
• How to be an effective mentor
• Establishing the most effective mentoring relationships