Taking Flight delivers thought-provoking educational sessions. With programming tailored to multiple career and interest levels, you will experience powerful learning opportunities. This value-packed conference will provide you with knowledge, leading edge solutions, and competitive advantage you need to take your business to the next level of success.
Meeting the immigration challenge – Strategies for recruiting talent
internationally Speaker: Mark Surrette, President, Robertson Surrette
As a result of seismic demographic shifts, the labour market in Atlantic Canada continues to
tighten. Without question, access to talent will be a significant challenge for Atlantic
Canadian organizations in the coming years. One part of the solution is the many skilled
workers from foreign countries with an interest in coming to our region. How can
organizations reach these workers and take advantage of this opportunity? In this session,
Mark Surrette will provide insights from Robertson Surrette’s recruitment experience
working with organizations to meet the immigration challenge. Surrette will present
strategies for HR leaders to effectively source, integrate and manage these talented
individuals into our organizations and communities.
Mark Surrette
Mark Surrette has worked hard to earn the distinction of being one of Atlantic Canada’s Top
50 CEOs five times during his career. As President of Robertson Surrette, Mark leads the
dedication of excellence, client satisfaction and quality service in the areas of recruitment,
career transition and human resource consulting. He also sits on the national Board of
Directors for Ray & Berndtson and KWA Partners, two strategic national partners of
Robertson Surrette. Whether recruiting a CEO to the area or spearheading a national
initiative, Mark’s enthusiasm and confidence in the Atlantic Canada business community is
obvious. Leading the charge from his firm's head office in Halifax, Mark's mission continues
to be cultivating world-class HR services and recruiting world-class talent to Atlantic
Canada.
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Why do smart executives fail? Examining the causes and mitigating the
risks Speaker: Anna Stuart, Partner, Robertson Surrette
Corporate research studies tell us that between 30-50% of newly appointed executives
leave their new roles in the first 18 months. Why do so many smart executives fail? A big
part of the answer lies in the on-boarding experience of these new executives. In this
session Anna Stuart will present key insights from Robertson Surrette's research survey of
recently placed executives in Atlantic Canada where we heard first hand what works - and
what doesn't. The emerging best practices for on-boarding could save your organization's
time, money and reputation.
Anna Stuart
Throughout her 20-year career, Anna Stuart has provided recruitment, strategic and
operational advisory services to a range of government departments and agencies in Nova
Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island along with a range of private sector organizations. From strategic planning to organizational design and people development, Anna has helped organizations and leaders identify, plan, and realize their goals. As a partner in the executive search practice at Robertson Surrette, Anna is committed to providing strategic talent leadership guidance. Her past experience as a senior professional within the public service and as an advisor to senior public sector leaders across Atlantic Canada has given her first hand insight into the rewards and challenges of the Atlantic Canadian economy.
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Turning a New Leaf: Linking Benefits to Your Engagement Strategy
Speaker: Annette Patterson, Director, Health Management Solutions
Medavie Blue Cross
Downsizing, corporate restructures, a maturing and shrinking workforce, technological
advances and the struggle for work-life balance have been catalysts of change for the
Human Resources community – a call for renewal of focus and purpose in
protecting/nurturing an organization’s most important investment – it’s human resources.
As a result, today’s HR professionals are called to play a pivotal role, beyond traditional
administration, in the development and success of an organization’s strategic plan by
ensuring the human component is kept in sight of the financial, innovation and business
growth objectives.
Our session will bring answers to the following questions:
• How do the unique skills of the HR professional contribute to an organization’s
strategic planning, with a focus on meeting or exceeding financial targets?
• What impact does a workplace health and wellness culture have on the bottom line
and how can this be measured to ensure sustainability and buy-in from the top?
• What tools are available to support development and success of strategic plans?
• What questions should be asked in assessing an organization’s current needs,
identifying opportunities, implementing change and measuring success?
As well, we will also focus on empowering HR professionals in taking an active role in
leadership development that will result in an engaged, healthy and productive workplace.
From this discussion, the impact on the corporate culture of an engaged leadership will be
highlighted followed by an exploration of strategic solutions for unhealthy workplace
symptoms such as presenteeism, absenteeism and reduced productivity.
Annette Patterson
Since joining Medavie Blue Cross more than 20-years ago, Annette has held several
management positions in the areas of Claims, Audit, Provider Affairs, Managed Health Care
and Group Product Management. Today, as the Director, Health Management Solutions,
Annette is responsible for leading a cross-functional team of professionals who engage
stakeholders from various professional backgrounds in collaborative dialogue to develop and implement health promotion and prevention strategies resulting in healthy benefits
programs that support organizational health strategies.
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Creative Techniques for Recruiting Top Performers
Speaker: Brenda Fair, Principal, Fairwinds Training and Development
Two words capture the essence of this workshop: Labour Shortage.
Growth and sustainability of today’s organizations will be increasingly challenged by this
issue. In this interactive, facilitated session, we will explore creative techniques for
recruiting in the new marketplace. Examples and tips will be provided and with the hopes
of sending you on your way with a renewed sense of hope and energy. Be sure to bring
your own innovative ideas and experiences and share them with your peers!
Brenda Fair, CHRP
Brenda has been a principal with Fairwinds Training and Development since 1995. She sits
on the Board of Directors for the Human Resource Association of Nova Scotia. Brenda
regularly recruits for her clients and has first-hand experience in successfully managing the
dramatic changes in the labour pool over the last five years.
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What are the costs and benefits of an Applicant Tracking
System for your organization?
Speakers: Mary Kelly and Jean Nadeau, CareerBeacon
Up until recently, Applicant Tracking Systems were a costly HR solution that only large
organizations could afford. Today, any Recruiter or Hiring Manager with access to the
Internet is able to implement and use the features of corporate Applicant Tracking Systems
(ATS). Lengthy and expensive set up, programming and software is no longer required.
Using local case studies and examples, the presentation will focus on how an ATS can be
implemented and used in small and medium sized organizations.
Whether you are a Recruiter, an Administrator or a Hiring Manager, this presentation will
provide insightful information on how an ATS can enhance your recruiting practices by
storing, sharing, managing, searching and communicating with applicants.
Mary Kelly
Mary Kelly, Manager - Online Recruitment Services with CareerBeacon.com, has lead
numerous projects and initiatives over the last six years to enhance the overall results for
localized online employment advertising for both employers and users alike.
Calling upon her 15 years of experience in client services and business, Mary now
specializes in consulting with employers on the best recruiting practices for Atlantic
Canadian employers as well as recognizing the needs of career seekers and end-users, she is a key contributor in making CareerBeacon.com a leader in the industry.
Jean Nadeau
Since 2003, Jean Nadeau leads Brunswick News’s Careerbeacon.com, the largest human
capital recruitment web site in Atlantic Canada.
Prior to joining Brunswick News, he was Vice President Sales & Marketing then President
and CEO of e-com inc., a web-based software development company. Previously, he
served as Economist and Executive Director of the Conseil économique du Nouveau-
Brunswick.
Jean has served on various boards, including the Premier’s Round Table on eNB, Service
New Brunswick, LearnSphere – Canada, Université de Moncton, and the Memramcook
Institute. Mr. Nadeau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Economics.
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Creating a Corporate University – How HR can turn Orientation into a
Brand-Builder Speaker: Leanne Taylor, PropertyGuys.com
How is PropertyGuys.com doing it?
The first Atlantic Canadian company to win the Canadian Franchise Association Award of
Excellence continues to break records, turn heads and grow market share in an ultra-
competitive industry. As accolades accumulate for this Moncton-based private sale leader,
one can’t help but ask, “How?”
One key element is internal branding, spearheaded by Leanne Taylor and the team that
created PropertyGuys.com University. Through this corporate university, the faculty
addresses training and cultural indoctrination - transferring the vision of CEO Ken LeBlanc
with experiential learning and esprit de corps vital to the PropertyGuys.com brand. If you believe harnessing Human Capital is key to your company’s growth, you won’t want
to miss the story of PGU.
Leanne Taylor
With an extensive education and background in business management, Leanne Taylor
functions in Program Development and Advanced Coaching with PropertyGuys.com. She is
a valued and dedicated resource for PropertyGuys.com franchise owners; always ready to
assist with any element of the business, from start-up to maturity. As a respected member
of the management team, she is responsible for developing curriculum for PGU as well as
developing and applying best practices, ensuring that the PropertyGuys.com system
continues to strengthen and grow.
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People at their Best
Speaker: Paul Theriault, Vice President of Human Resources, NB Power
NB Power was identified last year, by MacLean’s magazine, as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employer. The single most important contributor to that prestigious distinction was their Comprehensive and Integrated Human Resources Strategy. Their innovative approach to human resource management is anchored around a vision of “People at their Best” which is supported by four fundamental core Principles, and eight unique program philosophies. You will hear things about recruitment, compensation, diversity, leadership, relationships, safety, well being and labour relations that will be absolutely stimulating and thought provoking.
Their methods completely deviates from conventional HR practices, and over the years have yielded truly amazing results.
Paul Theriault
Paul Theriault is the author of the NB Power HR Strategy, and Vice President of Human Resources. He has been part of the human resource business for 30 years, and his efforts have been recognized both provincially and nationally. Paul will share their strategy, the journey in getting there, and some of their accomplishments.
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The Seamless Brand – Make and Keep a Promise that Matters
Speaker: Darren Sears, VP Operations, Fundy Group
Could it really be that simple?
Whether it’s getting your brand noticed, recession proofing your business or attracting and
engaging talent – there’s only one constant. The way you reach customers always starts
from the inside out.
As an HR Professional and a member if the executive team, you play a fundamental role
clarifying and strengthening the promise your brand is making. In terms of getting seen and
heard externally – even the most creative marketing will only produce short-term results if
it lacks an internal foundation to support a relevant message that stands for something.
Join Fundy Group’s Darren Sears and dig into specific steps you can apply to assess and
strengthen your brand in a meaningful way. Discover what it takes to create a promise that
sets you apart – and how to design a blueprint to make your brand “seamless” – one that
makes and keeps a promise that matters.
Darren Sears
With a background in education, human resource and management coaching, Darren brings unique perspective to any table when it comes to identifying that special “intangible” that speaks to the heart of an organization’s brand promise. Perhaps of greater significance is Darren’s work in creating the critical path that enables executive teams to implement their
own seamless brand process.
As someone who continues to challenge the status-quo, Darren began his career in sales
and customer service in the insurance industry and eventually pursued his interest in
education as a classroom teacher before obtaining a Masters degree in Education with an
emphasis on Curriculum & Instruction. Over the years he has steadily built a reputation as a
brand development expert, specializing in implementing branding initiatives from the inside
out. As Darren himself puts it, “Great brands are understood at their core by those at the
highest level who possess the courage to take a stand for what they believe in.”
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Topic: Leading From the Middle Head, Heart and Hands
Speaker: Patrick Hartling, President, HRANS
Most of us are not always Leaders all the time. In fact, the reality is that while many of us are Leaders in some ways or roles - we are Followers in many other roles. Traditional Leadership Theories often seem to work as if we can only achieve if we lead. Another question about Leadership is how it relates to values. And finally, how do we Lead when we are partners and team members in settings where what we need to do must be aligned and integrated with others.
This session explores the familiar topic of Leadership from these several unique and significant points of view. We will:
• Consider the three different learning and action styles of Team Members, Clients and Customers – and how to harness all three for more effective projects, services and outcomes
• Consider the importance of understanding the top principles and meaning of ‘follower ship’ when exercising, planning and/or assessing leadership.
• Consider the reality of our contemporary work and organizational worlds, where we are often seeking ways to become more effective partners, more aligned with business objectives, and possess a lens with which to review and resolve conflicts, obstacles and boundary disputes.
Valuable for those attending who wish to gain new insight into how HR Teams, the HR Profession, and how Individual Professionals can immediately become more effective as leaders, and how we can Lead From the Middle – in terms of our physical, and our emotional and logical centre.
Patrick Hartling
Patrick Hartling, CHRP, has over 20 years of experience in the human resources profession. He has created and introduced Organizational Development Services, proactive Health and Wellness Strategies and contemporary HR services for Managers, such as Succession Planning and Performance Development, in a number of organizations ranging from 1000 to well over 2000 employees in the public, health and service sectors. In 2003, Patrick founded S.P.L. Development Services, to promote and develop best practices in Strategy, People and Leadership Development. He has taught university courses at Dalhousie and Mount Saint Vincent Universities, the University of Alberta, and as part of the Saint Mary's University Program in Nunavut. Patrick is currently President of HRANS [elected] and is active at the leadership level in several other community organizations.
