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Event Details
Courtyard Toronto Mississauga/West
290 Derry Road West
Mississauga, ON L5W 1N6
Event Overview
2025 Small Business Forum
Theme: Empowering Small Businesses: Insights, Strategies & Celebrating Excellence
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Event Overview
Join us for the 2025 Small Business Forum, a half-day conference that celebrates innovation, leadership, and resilience in the small business community. Hosted by the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT), this event brings together government leaders, economic experts, and successful entrepreneurs to provide actionable insights and meaningful networking opportunities.
Agenda
7:45 AM – 8:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast
Enjoy coffee, refreshments, and a light breakfast while networking.
8:30 AM – 8:40 AM | Opening Remarks
Trevor McPherson, President & CEO, MBOT
8:40 AM – 9:15 AM | Keynote Address & Fireside Chat
Hon. Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business
Moderated discussion on government supports, policies, and opportunities for small business in Ontario.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Networking Break
Engage with peers and visit exhibitor booths.
9:45 AM – 10:40 AM | Economist Keynote & Q&A
Speaker: Pierre Cleroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC
Topic: “Economic Trends Shaping Small Business in 2025 and Beyond”
- Inflation & interest rate forecasts
- Sector-specific insights (retail, food services, tech)
- Strategic planning amid uncertainty
- Q&A with the audience
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Panel Discussion: Real Stories, Real Growth
Moderator: Jamohl Rutherford,
Panelists:
Tina Capobianco, Senior Vice President | J D Factors Corporation
Jeremy Cruz | Area Manager Small Business Banking GTA West | TD Business Banking
Ritu Kohli | Managing Partner| Greater Toronto Executive Centre
Topics:
- Leveraging community and culture to build a loyal brand
- Talent retention and employee well-being
- Accessing capital and managing cash flow
- Using AI and digital tools for business growth
- Lessons learned from building and scaling in Mississauga
- Rick Matharu, Founder, Rick’s Good Eats (MBOT Small Business Award Winner)
12:05 PM – 12:50 PM – Keynote Address & Fireside Chat
Hon. Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) as well as MP Mississauga-Streetsville
12:50 PM – 2:00 PM | Networking, Lunch & Booth Networking
Continue networking with attendees, panelists, and sponsors.
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CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Purchasing Tickets
Event Sponsors
Event Notes
Credit card payments:
Online registrations will be processed automatically. All other registrations will be processed as they are received, and receipts will be e-mailed to the registrant.
Refunds:
Refunds will not be issued for cancellations less than 48 hours prior to the event.
Photography Disclaimer:
MBOT reserves the right to photograph its events, and from time to time we use these photos in our publications. By registering for any of our events, you understand and acknowledge that your photograph may be taken and used, per MBOT's discretion.
Attendees
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Faisal ALJadir | Misk Accounting and Tax Limited |
| Gopal Jawahar | BIZTBAA Inc. |
| Parush Mann | Parush Mann Law P.C. |
| Dyan Duan | Triple J Canada Consulting Inc. |
| Jonathan Borrelli | Keyser Mason Ball, LLP |
| Sumeeta Kohli | Greater Toronto Executive Centre |
| David DiPaul | Growth.ca |
| Jaime Trujillo-Ramirez | MLHC |
| George Torok | Superior Presentations |
| Bhargavi Rajesh | Schooley Mitchell |
| George Benedett | Power-Plex Electronics Inc |
| Mana Nikaeen | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Jeremy Cruz | TD Business Banking |
| Jamohl Rutherford | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Pierre Cleroux | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Ritu Kohli-Sethi | Greater Toronto Executive Centre |
| Nina Tangri | Nina Tangri, MPP | Mississauga-Streetsville |
| Rechie Valdez (MP - Rechie Valdez) | MP - Rechie Valdez |
| David Prowse | The Shaughnessy Group |
| Angelo Carvelas | Ascencia Group Inc. |
| Wray Carvelas | Ascencia Group Inc. |
| Joyce Hughes | Corpex Computer Inc |
| Ugur Erdogan | Corpex Computer Inc. |
| Peter Spitzer | Corpex Computer Inc. |
| Mat Smith | Desjardins Insurance |
| Brian Lai (Desjardins Insurance) | Desjardins Insurance |
| Kelly Ralston | Port Credit BIA |
| Christian Hernandez | J D Factors Corporation |
| Upjit Kansal | J D Factors Corporation |
| Walter Kritzky | All Star Game Rentals Ltd. |
| Carol Heslin Leigh | The Sole Point Reflexology |
| Yolanda Brooks | OMB Wallpaper Consultants |
| Donna Heslin | City of Mississauga |
| (City of Mississauga) | City of Mississauga |
| (City of Mississauga) | City of Mississauga |
| (City of Mississauga) | City of Mississauga |
| (City of Mississauga) | City of Mississauga |
| Solange Barcena | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Chelsea Capunitan | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Anna Adams | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Ms. Katelin Mowder | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Stephanie Giorgio | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Ann Cozzi | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Mr Trevor McPherson | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Mr. Brett McDermott | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Anthony Ferreria | Mississauga Board of Trade |
| Anaina Charette | Ville de Laval |
| Bonnet Huor | Ville de Laval |
| James Kennedy | HFG Hynek Financial Group |
| Michael Pearce (HFG Hynek Financial Group) | HFG Hynek Financial Group |
| Neeraj Garg | RoadToEV Inc. |
| Kavita Tiwary | P3 Consulting & Coaching |
| Raychelle Fowler | Alterna Savings and Credit Union |
| Lesya Babiy | Alterna Savings and Credit Union |
| Masood Atchekzai | Peel pool and spa |
| Suzan Rabi | DBNC - Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre |
| Bibi Mohamed | DBNC - Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre |
| Aaron Habete | LD Human Resources |
| George Vassallo | Bothwell-Accurate |
| Anthea Gomez | SAIGE LEADERSHIP CONSULTING |
| Fatima Rasheed | Zephry Jewels |
| Christine Hull | 100 Women Who Care Mississauga |
| Jeff McPhee | JD Accounting & Business Services |
| Anthony Ierullo | IG Wealth Management |
| Michael Freckleton (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| Armen Rego (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| Don Manson (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| Paul Da Costa (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| Patrick Carson | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) | Doane Grant Thornton LLP |
| Brian Ballman | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Sindi Mandri (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Faysal Khaled | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Etienne Marot (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Michael Wolfer | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Matthew Kerry | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Michael Veibl (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Khurrum Khan (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Blake Johnston (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Kam Purba (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Shikha Ahuja (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Immad Arif | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Karan Tarika (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Patricia Isaza | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Nikita Choudhary (Business Development Bank of Canada) | Business Development Bank of Canada |
| Dina Savaglio | J D Factors Corporation |
| Tina Capobianco | J D Factors Corporation |
| Hapreet Singh (J D Factors Corporation) | J D Factors Corporation |
| Numair Habib (J D Factors Corporation) | J D Factors Corporation |
| Siham Haddad | J D Factors Corporation |
| Upjit Kansal | J D Factors Corporation |
| Christian Hernandez | J D Factors Corporation |
| Pauline Young | J D Factors Corporation |
| Syd Budhu | IG Private Wealth Management |
