SPEAKERS

We are pleased to present the following speakers, panelists and instructors.

BRENT BAROOTES
President and CEO, Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists

For over three and a half decades, Brent Barootes has been at the forefront of sponsorship and partnership marketing in Canada. As President and CEO of the Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists®, he has worked directly with municipalities for over 15 years to create and optimize their sponsorship strategies and revenues.

Brent's expertise is further underscored by his Amazon Canada best-selling book, "Reality Check – Straight Talk about Sponsorship Marketing." A seasoned speaker, Brent is known for his engaging style and has presented at numerous conferences, as well as delivered a compelling TEDx talk on "Busting the Work-Life Balance Myth." He currently resides in Nanaimo, BC.

JAMES O’CONNOR
Vice President, Partnerships at A&C Inc.

James brings the discipline, dexterity, and skill of his former career — a professional dancer with the Boston Ballet and National Ballet of Canada — to successfully landing some of the most high-profile partnerships in Canada.

Notable deals include category partnerships for the revitalized Union Station, Meridian Credit Union’s naming of Meridian Hall and Meridian Arts Centre, Virgin Mobile’s sponsorship of Yonge Dundas Square, and TD Bank’s presenting sponsorship of Bike Share Toronto.

Like all A&C members, James has consistently chosen to work with worthy organizations, including Harbourfront Centre, the Royal Conservatory of Music and AIDS Committee of Toronto.

SCOTT ELLIOTT

Scott Elliott joins us from the City of Peterborough where he has successfully developed and grown a Sponsorship Program that is now generating more than 1-million dollars annually in non-tax revenues. Scott has more than 25 years’ experience working in the public sector sponsorship industry, including time with provincial government programs and his role with the City of Peterborough.