KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Katie Davis
Katie Davis
Connectivity Expert | Humour in the Workplace | Work–Life Balance
Keynote Speaker: Balancing Life with Humour

Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and offers creative solutions to defuse frustrations in both the workplace and at home. A hit comedian, who has opened for the likes of Seth Meyers, Bill Clinton, and Barbara Walters, Davis’ generous insight and hilarious presence is a powerful combination that helps organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

Theatrically trained in England, Davis went from a successful run on the Canadian stage to the many stages of motherhood before she found her passion for comedy. Today, she is a 12-time Canadian Comedy Awards nominee, including a nomination for the prestigious Phil Hartman Award, and the star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network. In addition, Davis has appeared on Breakfast Television, Star TV, Toronto 1, Prime, WTN, TVO, and CBC Radio's The Debaters.

On stage, Davis has performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Hubcap Comedy Festival, and the Kitchener Waterloo Comedy Festival, while also headlining across the country. During the 2008 season of Last Comic Standing, Davis’ sense of humour endured and carried her into the finals in Canada.

As a writer, Davis has been published in Today’s Parent and Mom and Caregiver magazines. She is also the author of two books, The Breastfeeding Diaries, which won the iParenting media award, and Second Best Mom: Stories, Tips, and Okay Advice. In 2019, Davis released her comedy album, House Arrest.

PRESENTERS

Maria Bartolotti
Maria Bartolotti
New Concept Management Inc.
Team Approach: Understanding the Agency Relationship

Maria Bartolotti is a native of Calgary, Alberta, and has been a leader in the condominium industry for over 22 years. She began her career in 2001 as a condominium manager and has since remained actively involved in the industry. In 2005, Maria took a courageous step and founded her own condominium management firm, New Concept Management Inc., which has since achieved remarkable success.

Maria is a dedicated member of the Canadian Condominium Institute–Southern Alberta Chapter. She serves as the Chair of the Education Committee and is also a member of the Board of Directors. Maria has been providing education and training to the Condominium Industry for more than two decades. Her commitment, enthusiasm, and experience have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, who have recognized her with the fellowship of the Canadian Condominium industry.

Maria’s areas of expertise include:
Education for the Condominium Industry
Condominium and Project Management
Creative Writing
Condo Expert Blogger and Writer
Public Relations
Mentor and Leader

Michael Bokhaut
Michael Bokhaut
Carbert Waite LLP
Partner
Panel Discussion & QA: Owners Going Rogue
Rapid Fire Legal Panel

Michael is a partner at Carbert Waite and co-chair of the firm’s commercial litigation and condominium practice groups. Michael’s litigation practice focuses on the following areas: construction, insurance, shareholder disputes, estates, and condominiums. Michael also has significant experience in oil and gas litigation and commercial landlord and tenant disputes.

Michael has extensive experience representing owners, general contractors and subcontractors in various construction matters including builders’ liens, deficiency claims, and contractual interpretation issues. Michael is well versed in relevant legislation surrounding builders’ liens and regularly teaches courses to the construction industry.

Michael has represented both insurers and insureds in various insurance related claims including fire, flood, product liability, and disability. Michael has experience providing coverage opinions. Michael regularly represents insureds in disputes with their insurance providers over coverage.

Michael also represents clients in disputes over wills, powers of attorney and other estate matters.

Michael has represented clients in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the Provincial Court of Alberta, and in mediations and arbitrations. He enjoys appearing in Court when necessary, but focuses on finding economic and sensible solutions for his clients and works tirelessly to pursue their rights.

Michael regularly volunteers his time by providing free legal advice to the local community and is passionate about mentoring junior lawyers. He volunteers for Pro Bono Alberta through the Queen’s Bench Amicus and the Civil Claims Duty Counsel projects and offers mentorship through various mentorship programs, including through the Law Society of Alberta.

Dana Bouwman
Dana Bouwman
Key Condo Management
Broker
Panel Discussion & QA: Owners Going Rogue

Dana Bouwman is the broker of Key Condo Management. Her condo management experience includes managing all sizes of residential Calgary and Edmonton condos from 40-unit townhouses to 35-story highrises. Dana is a Strategic Partner of a condominium communication app which utilizes AI and process automation to streamline condominium manager tasks and removes communication barriers for residents.

Prior to working as a condo manager, Dana worked as a mid-market construction insurance broker for an international brokerage. She's also had the privilege of serving as president of her own condo corporation, which included guiding a significant building envelope restoration project.

Dana's past volunteer experience includes serving on boards and committees in industries such as condominiums, construction, and M&A, and volunteering in political campaigns.

Laura Bracco-Callaghan
Laura Bracco-Callaghan
SVR Lawyers
Partner
Private Parts: What condos need to know about keeping things under wraps

As a civil litigator, Laura’s practice has primarily focused on matters involving complex commercial actions – including construction matters, large industrial losses and contract disputes – professional negligence, defamation and serious personal injury/wrongful death claims. Laura also maintains an employment practice and advises clients in all manner of employment, human rights, privacy and OHS-related matters. She also advises clients with respect to, and conducts, workplace investigations.
Some of Laura’s recent privacy-related work has involved advising clients on privacy issues in the workplace. This has included advice with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of employee information, and the use of cameras and other forms of monitoring in the workplace. Laura has also recently recorded two podcasts with the Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA) addressing privacy-related issues of particular interest to real estate agents.
Outside of the courtroom, Laura represents clients in arbitration proceedings, complex multi-party mediations, professional disciplinary proceedings, judicial review applications and proceedings before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta and the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Laurie Kiedrowski
Laurie Kiedrowski
McLeod Law LLP
Partner
Panel Discussion & QA: Owners Going Rogue

Laurie is a partner at McLeod Law LLP. Her practice is concentrated in multi-family development and condominium matters, including both governance and litigation.
She advises developers, property managers, and boards of directors on matters relating to land, people, and overall governance. Laurie helps these clients with their business decisions, risk management, and people relations.
She is well versed and experienced with the Condominium Property Act and Regulation, and related case law.
Laurie sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Condominium Institute, South Alberta Chapter, as well as the Canadian Bar Association Residential Real Estate Sub-Section Executive.

Bridgit Kong
Bridgit Kong
Condo Owners Forum Society of Alberta
On behalf of terry gibson
Unlock Condo Board Mastery: Transform Your Governance with Expert Insights on Roles, Resolution Strategies, and Legal Compliance

Bridgit Kong is a seasoned real estate and property management professional with a deep-rooted passion for fostering community and enhancing living experiences within condominium settings. With over a decade of experience in the real estate industry, Bridgit has carved out a niche for herself as a specialist in condominium management, embodying roles as a Condo Manager, Condo Director, Condo Owner, General Contractor, Landlord, Tenant and Occupant.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Bridgit is deeply committed to volunteerism, exemplified by her impactful roles as Education Director for the Condo Owners Forum Society of Alberta (https://cofsab.ca/). Her past volunteer experience extends to the ARK Society (https://www.arksociety.ca/) and the Canadian Cancer Society. At the core of Bridgit's endeavours is a belief in the power of community and collaboration. Whether managing large-scale property projects or leading volunteer efforts, she brings a strategic, empathetic approach to her work, aiming to create environments where individuals can thrive together.

Kate Kozowyk
Kate Kozowyk
SVR Lawyers
Partner
Rapid Fire Legal Panel

Kate’s legal practice focuses on professional negligence matters, condominium law and personal injury matters, including social and commercial host liability. She has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta, including the Alberta Court of Appeal and been involved in an Application for Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Kate acts for individuals, boards of directors, property managers and developers with respect to various condominium matters including insurance claims, bylaw creation and interpretation, bylaw enforcement and condominium disputes.

Kate was born and raised in Calgary, and started to work for Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP (formerly Scott Venturo LLP) in 2003, while taking her undergraduate degree in History at the University of Victoria; whilst an undergraduate she also worked at a small law firm in Victoria. After working at Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP full time, she went to England to study at the College of Law at Braboeuf Manor, Guildford, and was awarded her Bachelor of Laws Degree in 2011. Kate was awarded the Pennington’s Michael Fellingham Memorial Prize for best student in Private Client and the Surrey Resolution Surrey Law Prize for best student in Family Law.

In 2012, Kate returned to Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP as an articling student and became an associate in 2013.

Lauren Larre
Lauren Larre
FirstService Residential
Vice President, Community Management
Team Approach: Understanding the Agency Relationship

As Broker, and Vice President, Community Management, Calgary, Lauren oversees community management ensuring consistent delivery of market-wide programs and initiatives. An exceptional leader, Lauren provides oversight to Calgary’s regional directors and management teams, including condominium brokerage.

Lauren is especially proud of the dedication the dynamic teams under her care bring to their roles and client boards. An active leader Lauren is at the forefront of creating and improving processes and ways for enhanced efficiency on her team.

Lauren volunteers her time as a board member with the Canadian Condominium Institute South board of directors, providing expertise in various areas including board/owner education, conflict resolution, coaching, training, and development.

Dionne Levesque
Dionne Levesque
SVR Lawyers
Lawyer
Private Parts: What condos need to know about keeping things under wraps

After graduating from law school, Dionne articled and practiced at a prominent Calgary law firm where she maintained a practiced in construction, condominium, real estate and corporate law. In 2016, Dionne joined to Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP where she became a partner in 2020. She now focuses primarily on condominium law and regularly represent individuals, boards, managers and developers with respect to various condominium and home-owner association matters including:

o bylaw creation, interpretation and enforcement
o governance and director obligations
o insurance and D&O claims
o construction disputes
o home warranty claims and litigation

Dionne is Co-Chair of the CBA Calgary South Alberta Real Estate Law Subsection and is a Board Member for the Alberta Real Estate Association (“AREA”) Service Corporation. She was a member of her own Condominium Board for 13 years where she has worked through developer issues, warranty issues, and the standard “people, pets and parking disputes”. In addition to being a frequent presenter for CCI-South, LESA, ACMEC, ACR , she participates in ongoing government consultations with respect to future amendments to the Condominium Property Act and Regulation.

Dionne lives in Calgary with her husband and three daughters.

Jeffrey Louie
Jeffrey Louie
Morrison Hershfield now Stantec
Building Energy Consultant
Journey To A Greener Condo - Choose Your Own Decarbonization Adventure!

Jeffrey is an energy modeler who has worked on ASHRAE energy audits, NECB code-compliance energy models, and energy studies in Canada. He has a background in mechanical engineering with hands-on building operator experience overseeing the HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical, and fire safety systems as a Power Engineer.

Jorge Molina
Jorge Molina
ACMS
Condo Manager
Community Building Within Condos

Jorge (George) joined ACMS as a licensed consultant and brings over 22 years of diverse property management experience to the team. Prior to joining ACMS, Jorge commanded a regional office as a Director and oversaw 5 million sq.ft. plus of retail assets in major regions in Alberta and Manitoba based out of Calgary as a key portfolio in Western Canada for one of Canada’s largest commercial real estate landlord and REIT. Jorge has also held General Manager roles with regional developers and third-party management groups involved in retail, office and condominium management. To be effective Jorge has an interest in continued education and strongly believes in maintaining an awareness of the issues affecting all industry stakeholders which interests have allowed him to obtain the RPA designation from BOMI as well as previously holding the Broker of record title in British Columbia and in Alberta overseeing portfolios in these markets and owning his own Commercial Brokerage. Jorge currently holds the associate Broker status while at ACMS and assists the team in all business interests to ensure clients continue to receive the high level of competent professional service they have come to expect. When not spending time with his family, Jorge’s other interests include sports, motorcycling, fly fishing and exploring new things.

Sharanya Reddy
Sharanya Reddy
Morrison Hershfield now Stantec
P. Eng
Journey To A Greener Condo - Choose Your Own Decarbonization Adventure!

Sharanya has more than six years of technical design experience in energy efficient HVAC and plumbing design in commercial, government, industrial, multi-residential, education, and hospitality sectors. Her experience encompasses all phases of the project lifecycle, from feasibility analysis through detailed design to construction support to project closeout.

Joshua Selby
Joshua Selby
MILLER THOMSON LLP
Partner
Rapid Fire Legal Panel

Josh Selby’s practice focuses on real estate law. Josh’s practice includes real estate transactions (acquisition and disposition), leasing, condominiums, real estate development, and real estate financing (especially development financing). Josh also has experience in planning law and subdivision and development appeal boards. He has acted for developers of shopping centres, subdivisions, and numerous condominium projects including towers, mixed-use sites, phased projects, bare land projects, retail condominiums, office condominiums, and industrial condominiums.

Josh is also actively involved in the real estate development community. He is the Chair of the BILD’s Multifamily Committee, is a former member of BILD’s Commercial and Industrial Committee, is a member of BILD’s Urban Redevelopment Committee, is chair of the South Alberta Canadian Bar Association Commercial Real Property Subsection, and is a member of the executive of the Municipal Law Subsection. Josh has presented on real estate related topics for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, on leasing law for ICSC and Haskayne School of Business, and on condominium law for the Canadian Condominium Institute.

Josh has particular experience in the following areas:

Leasing: Josh has acted for numerous retailers including a major grocery store, fast food franchises, restaurants, and clothing retailers. He also acts for industrial landlords, and retail and office landlords.

Condominium: Josh acts for condominium developers and condominium corporations; he also advises owners in disputes with condominium corporations.

Municipal and planning: Josh has acted on the construction of a neighborhood shopping centre and an enclosed shopping centre in excess of one hundred thousand square feet. He has also acted for a developer of a large mixed-use project and for numerous condominium and suburb developers.

Josh is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Commercial Real Estate subsection. He has lectured extensively on condominiums, condominium development, and leasing. He has prepared papers on mixed-use leasing for the International Convention of Shopping Centres’ legal conference in Toronto. He co-hosted a round table on medical leasing. He has lectured on mixed-use condominium projects to the Canadian Condominium Institute. Josh is also involved with the Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) on the topics of new home construction and condominiums. Josh edited the “Remedies” section of the Real Estate Fundamentals materials for LESA. Josh has also written articles for the University of Calgary Law School’s blog. Finally, Joshua has presented at the ACMA/CCI/REIC Conferences in 2014 and 2015.

Darren Soltes
Darren Soltes
Blue Jean Property Management
Senior Vice President Corporate Development & President of Blue Jean Property Management
Panel Discussion & QA: Owners Going Rogue

Darren Soltes is an entrepreneurial business leader who is passionate about building substantial business opportunities with great people and solid values. After joining Homes by Avi full time in 1997, Darren has embarked on a career that included the Corporation’s development of the current Information Technology Systems, Human Resource practice, and various Business Development opportunities.

In 2010, Darren and his family moved to Austin, Texas, to assist in growing the US division of the company. In 2018, Darren returned to Canada to focus on the improvement of corporate division structure and the various offered services. Continuing with his love for new opportunities, he is currently leading the Blue Jean Property Management team and the development of this new business.

Diane Stevenson
Diane Stevenson
Windfields Condominium
Business Owner at It's YOUR Life Coaching
Community Building Within Condos

Diane has spent her work life in several different industries. She has held various management roles that have demonstrated her leadership abilities. Diane has also held several positions on community boards and has risen through the ranks to become Board Chair (President) on most of them. Diane has a history of building consensus and bringing people together to determine and achieve common goals. Diane is currently a Certified Life Coach with additional Certifications in Leadership, Wellness and Workplace Culture. She loves to help people to become their best selves. Diane likes to go on long walks and lift weights in the gym. She is a firm believer that age is just a number, not a state of mind. She is a firm believer that we need to Live Young.

Abbie Thurgood
Abbie Thurgood
Three by Three Inc.
Associate Broker
Team Approach: Understanding the Agency Relationship

Ms. Thurgood comes to CCI as an Associate Broker and Business Development Manager for Three By Three Inc. Her skillsets range from project management, public speaking to negotiation and coaching. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Three by Three Inc, a boutique condominium management firm while currently engaged as the Vice President for CCI Alberta South.

Justin Tudor
Justin Tudor
Keller Engineering
President
Journey To A Greener Condo - Choose Your Own Decarbonization Adventure!

Justin is the President and Senior Project Manager at Keller Engineering, a multi-discipline building science and envelope firm which has been providing tailored engineering investigatory and project management services with a focus on condominium restoration since 1982.

He has more than 15 years of experience in the field of building science and structural engineering. Justin has overseen and completed hundreds of reserve fund studies, building conditions assessments and technical audits, while leading building element investigation including odour transfers, cladding failures, water infiltration, concrete, masonry deterioration and membrane replacements.

Stephanie Whyte
Stephanie Whyte
McLeod Law LLP
Partner
Rapid Fire Legal Panel

Stephanie is a litigator with a focus on:

condominium law
foreclosures
debt recovery
personal injury

Stephanie represents condominium corporations, boards, and property managers with collections, foreclosures, bylaw enforcement, bylaw interpretation and opinions, and access issues. She represents banks, financial institutions, and private lenders in foreclosure, and secured and unsecured debt recovery. She also assists parties in obtaining compensation when they are injured through no fault of their own.