Join local experts to get answers to your business questions!
The Ask the Experts Expo is an opportunity for small business owners to access personalized advice from knowledgeable professionals. Five local experts will lead interactive roundtable discussions with small groups of participants. Each discussion will focus on the information you want and need to know and offer the opportunity to get answers to your questions. Topics to be covered include Legal, Finance, Accounting, Insurance, and Digital Marketing. Choose the subjects best suited for your business needs and prepare to learn!
The session will be held on Thursday, October 24, at Monora Park Pavilion from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The $10 fee includes continental breakfast.
Meet the experts
![A headshot of Jason Self A headshot of Jason Self](/en/economic-development/resources/Images/Interior/Workshops%20and%20Events/Ask%20the%20Experts%20-%20Jason%20Self.png)
Legal
Jason Self
Stutz Brown & Self Professional Corporation
Meet Jason Self |
Jason Self is the managing partner of Stutz Brown & Self. Called to the bar in 2005, Jason has a general solicitor's practice with emphasis on residential and commercial real estate, wills and estate planning, estate administration, corporate and small business. His diverse client mix includes many local businesses and individuals. Stutz Brown & Self is a full-service law firm located in Orangeville. The firm provides a wide range of legal services, including real estate, civil litigation, corporate/commercial, wills and estate planning, estate administration, and general law. Established in 1976, Stutz Brown & Self Professional Corporation has been an integral part of the Dufferin County community for well over 40 years. |
![A headshot of Gillian Fairley A headshot of Gillian Fairley](/en/economic-development/resources/Images/Interior/Workshops%20and%20Events/Ask%20the%20Expert%20-%20Gillian%20Fairley.png)
Finance
Gillian Fairley
Community Futures South Georgian Bay
Meet Gillian Fairley |
Gillian Fairley is the General Manager of Community Futures South Georgian Bay. For over 12 years, she has assisted businesses in the community, providing mentoring, resources, and advice during all phases of business start-up, development, and growth. She has also participated in numerous economic development initiatives that have supported community and business growth. Gillian has extensive project management, economic development, and management consulting experience. She has worked with organizations throughout the Unites States, as well as in the U.K., Germany, and Sweden. Gillian has consulted for the public and private sectors, including the automotive, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, and real estate sectors. She is passionate about supporting small business and community development. Community Futures South Georgian Bay is a federally funded not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and growth of businesses in the region. Its mandate is to develop and diversify the local economy, by being a one-stop business resource for new and expanding businesses. Community Future South Georgian Bay accomplishes this through business loans, a coaching/mentoring program, business counselling, and support for community economic development. |
![A headshot of Gerry Hogenhout A headshot of Gerry Hogenhout](/en/economic-development/resources/Images/Interior/Workshops%20and%20Events/Ask%20the%20Expert%20-%20Gerry%20Hogenhout.png)
Accounting
Gerry Hogenhout
Hogenhout & Associates
Meet Gerry Hogenhout |
Gerry Hogenhout is the founding principal of Hogenhout & Associates. Gerry began his career in the tax department at Deloitte and Touche Chartered Accountants before entering the investment world. He eventually become the only Canadian to be licensed in all five of the different and separate regulated investment marketplaces (stocks/bonds, mutual funds, private equity, mortgages, and insurance) while also holding a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. During his investment career Gerry has become a prominent real estate investor while creating many of the real estate investment structures offered within Canadian Investment Services. With this unique investment background, as well as a desire to ensure investment clients have their best interests properly served, Gerry became the founding principle of Canadian Investment Services, a division of Hogenhout & Associates Incorporated. Hogenhout & Associates provides tax preparation services and investment advice to corporations, holding companies, trusts, businesses, families and individuals. The company goal has been to provide professional service to its clientele with the belief that taxes and investment advice should be used as a basis for investment management. |
![A headshot of Amanda O'Keefe-Major A headshot of Amanda O'Keefe-Major](/en/economic-development/resources/Images/Interior/Workshops%20and%20Events/Ask%20the%20Expert%20-%20Amanda%20O'Keefe-Major.png)
Insurance
Amanda O’Keefe-Major
Absolute Insurance
Meet Amanda O’Keefe-Major |
Amanda O’Keefe-Major is an insurance broker at Absolute Insurance. For four years, Amanda has been helping clients purchase insurance policies that are tailored to their individualized situation. Her areas of specialization include personal home and auto insurance along with builder’s risk and small business owners’ insurance. Absolute Insurance Brokers provides advice clients need to make an educated decision when purchasing insurance for cars, houses, business, work vehicles, farm operations and life insurance. |
![A headshot of Tim Boock A headshot of Tim Boock](/en/economic-development/resources/Images/Interior/Workshops%20and%20Events/Ask%20the%20Experts%20-%20Tim%20Boock.png)
Digital Marketing
Tim Boock
Treefrog Inc.
Meet Tim Boock |
Tim Boock is the VP of Sales at Treefrog. With over two decades in the business, Tim’s background encompasses marketing and digital transformation. He works with Treefrog clients to turn small and midsized businesses into big players. Outside of digital transformation, he helps clients to improve their integrated digital marketing strategies. Treefrog Inc. is a Newmarket based digital transformation agency providing digital solutions to help businesses prosper. In business for over 30 years, it has empowered over 500 companies by improving their online brand, processes, and offerings. |