Howard J. Sniderman, K.C.

Partner - Witten LLP, Barristers & Solicitors

Howie Sniderman is a partner with the law firm of WITTEN LLP in Edmonton and served for many years as chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. His undergrad studies were at the University of Calgary and the University of Manitoba. He received his law degree from the University of Alberta in 1981 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1982. Howie has a commercial litigation practice with an emphasis on Commercial Landlord/Tenant lease litigation with supporting areas of practice in Bankruptcy & Insolvency; Security Priorities & Enforcement; and Builder’s Lien and Construction litigation. 

He acts for numerous national and local developers, property managers, landlords and tenants. He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta on trial and appeal matters. He was a Sessional Lecturer on Trial Advocacy at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law for 17 years and is a past chair of the Commercial Leasing Section of the Canadian Bar Association. Howie has lectured extensively on all aspects of the landlord & tenant relationship; insolvency; and trial advocacy for the Law Society of Alberta; Legal Education Society of Alberta; International Council of Shopping Centers; Building Owner Managers Association; Canadian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Professionals; and the Canadian Bar Association. He has been a member of the board of the Edmonton Chapter of the Credit Institute of Canada for many years, serving as chair of the Bylaws & Legislation Committee. Howie has participated in numerous seminars on a variety of topics for the Credit Institute locally and nationally over the years.

Topic: Do I have to sue?  And when I do, will I win?

This session will discuss why you should/shouldn’t pursue a claim in court and, 

when you do, some tips and ideas to keep in mind to have the best chance of success.

Rhonda T. Fox-Miles, LIT RSW CIRP

Founder, Fox-Miles & Associates Inc.

Rhonda obtained her diploma in Social Work and General Arts & Science in 1992 from Grant MacEwan Community College and is a Registered Social Worker.
She is a licensed Alberta trustee in Bankruptcy, and a Registered Social Worker.  She has a broad range of insolvency experience.  She has dealt with a variety of corporate insolvencies including engagements in the forestry, real estate, employment agency and retail industries.  She has also conducted investigations and initiated legislation to trace and recover assets as well as negotiating proposals under the BIA.

Topic: Insolvency, what does this mean for the corporate credit manager, and what can you do?

Rhonda will address the new bankruptcy laws for commercial companies, and how the corporate credit manager can get out in front of this action.

Scott Harwardt, Statute Administrator, Service Alberta

 

Scott Harwardt is a Statute Administrator with Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. He is responsible for several regulated areas, including collection practices, credit reporting, cost of credit, high-cost credit, and payday lending, providing guidance to regulated businesses and the public.

Scott holds a J.D. from Queen’s University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta and practiced law for over a decade in both Ontario and Alberta. His practice encompassed the areas of administrative law, construction law, and commercial and general litigation. Scott brings his legal background to bear in ensuring the fair regulation of businesses in the Province of Alberta.

 Topic: Commercial collection practices, credit reporting, and other regulated areas.

Graham Maclachlan, Managing Partner, Global Trade Credit

 

 Topic: Discover how trade credit and political risk insurance works, is this the right process for you?

Andrea Browne, CPA, CMA, CCP

 

 Topic: Credit Decisioning through Financial Statement Analysis.

Andrea Browne, CMA, CPA, CCP - is a finance and credit specialist with a passion for transforming complex financial concepts into clear, actionable insights. With nearly 30 years experience across various industries, Andrea brings a fun, engaging approach to problem solving. Earning her CCP designation in 2018 was a natural complement to her finance background, further enhancing her ability to balance risk and opportunity. Whether driving business performance, optimizing credit strategies, mentoring colleagues through technical concepts or building high performing teams, Andrea delivers clarity, energy and a touch of humour to every discussion. When not crunching the numbers or chasing the cash Andrea is turning pages in the latest fiction novel faster than a customer requests a credit increase or she is heroically attempting to keep up on the Pickleball court - because balance isn’t just for the financial statements!

Trina Casey-Myatt, Regional Director at Robert Half , Alberta

 

Trina has been active in the recruitment industry in Calgary for over 20 years, with the majority of that time with Robert Half International. During her tenure, she has held various leadership positions and is currently the Regional Director for Alberta. She has been instrumental in building and maintaining key relationships with many of Robert Half’s top clients. Through her dedication to service excellence, Trina holds her team accountable to ensuring that processes are upheld to the highest degree. She takes a keen interest in developing a relationship with all clients interacting with Robert Half, and has been recognized on a global platform for her teams’ accomplishments.

Her consistency in processes and the ability to identify opportunities has positioned Robert Half Alberta in an enviable position in the marketplace. Trina continues to grow and develop the footprint that her team is making by providing exceptional service to both clients and candidates.

Trina is also actively involved with several of the associations that Robert Half is partnered with – CPA Calgary, Credit Institute of Canada, Calgary Chapter along with several post secondary institutions. Because of

Trina’s knowledge of the employment market, she often asked to speak at various conferences to share her insights.
 
Topic: “The MultiGenerational Workforce”.

Behind every successful company or department is a highly skilled, high performing team. Yet finding and keeping top employees can be challenging, especially in today’s everchanging climate.

This presentation offers advice on maximizing your recruitment process, tips on evaluating candidates and finalizing your hiring decisions, and useful techniques for motivating and managing your employees to ensure that you build and keep a top-notch team.

Kelly Paisley, President and CEO of The I.T. Company Ltd

 

Kelly Paisley is the President and CEO of The I.T. Company Ltd. With a strong background in sales and business development, Kelly has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and expanding its market presence. Kelly is known for his strategic vision and ability to build strong client relationships. His leadership and expertise have been pivotal in positioning The I.T. Company as a leading provider of I.T. solutions in western Canada.

Outside of work, Kelly is passionate about self-growth and raising his EQ. 

An involved father, he enjoys spending quality time with his son, boxing and reading comic books. 

 Topic: "AI readiness".
In this presentation we explore the key components of AI readiness, including: Understanding AI capabilities, debt management, and ethical considerations!
   

Lee Schumacher, Principal Consultant, Equifax Canada

 

Lee is a Principal Consultant with Equifax Canada. For the last 11 years he has worked with financial institutions across Canada, helping them maximize the value from data and analytics. He’s worked across multiple industries including asset-based lenders, credit unions, regional banks and fintech’s. With extensive knowledge in fraud and risk management, Lee has been responsible for the creation and implementation of several business intelligence tools including scorecards and fraud detection tools.

Prior to joining Equifax, Lee developed successful customer acquisition and retention strategies while leading a risk and analytics team. Lee holds a Chartered Professional Accountants, (CPA, CMA) and Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) designations as well as participates on an industry roundtable on how financial institutions will meet sustainable financing goals.

Lee currently resides on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia and enjoys the outdoors, riding his motorcycle and scuba diving.
   

Eli Costea, Chief Operating Officer at NetNow

 

Eli Costea is the Co-Founder and COO of NetNow, where he leads the development of innovative fintech solutions for modern credit departments. His hands-on experience managing Accounts Receivable and Credit functions in his family’s distribution business gave him unique insights into the challenges facing credit professionals today. This practical background drives his passion for transforming traditional AR processes through digital automation and efficient credit management tools.

Nauman Hafeez, Chief Executive Officer at NetNow

 

Nauman Hafeez is the CEO of NetNow, a pioneering fintech company revolutionizing B2B trade credit operations. Under his leadership, NetNow has developed cutting-edge solutions that streamline the supplier-buyer credit relationship, enabling credit departments to make faster, more informed decisions. His entrepreneurial vision focuses on modernizing credit management through digital transformation, helping businesses adapt to evolving AR trends while maintaining strong customer relationships.

Mashiyat Shah, CTO of Nectarine Credit

 

Mashiyat Shah is the CTO of Nectarine Credit, bringing over 20 years of leadership to both startups and large technology teams. He has worked in financial technology at RBC and served as Director of Technology at ChangeVU, an innovative platform for digital change management tools. Shah also contributed to academia as a University of Toronto Lecturer, teaching thousands of students.