SUCCESSion: The Business of Selling your Business

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SUCCESSion: The Business of Selling your Business

May 21, 2025
Universal EventSpace
Vaughan, ON

Presented by

Annex Business Media
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 BOOK NOW AND SAVE $100! Early bird rate ends April 30 

May 21, 2025
Vaughan, ON

A must-attend conference for SME ownership and executives looking to sell their business.
BOOK NOW AND SAVE $100! Early bird ends April 30.

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What is SUCCESSion?

SUCCESSion 2025 is a one-day gathering of Canadian SME ownership and executives who are looking towards the future. The conference-style event will see company decision makers, who are early on in the process of successfully transitioning their business, come together for a day of learning, networking and practical takeways as they journey along their own personal path of succession.

At SUCCESSion, attendees will learn valuable information to ensure they have a clear strategy for transitioning leadership and ownership, if and when the time comes.

Why Attend?

Attendees will walk away from SUCCESSion with information that will help them:
  • Maximize business value
  • Ensure business continuity
  • Mitigate risks
  • Identify critical team member roles
  • Protect family and legacy
  • Develop future leaders
  • Navigate legal, compliance and financial issues, concerns, opportunities and hurdles
  • Measure and adapt their succession plan

Who Should Attend?

  • Business Founders, Owners & Operators
  • Senior Executives & Key Decision-Makers
  • Entrepreneurs Planning for Future Exits
  • Financial, Legal, and Operational Advisors
  • Business Stakeholders (e.g., family members, board members, investors)

Speakers

Alessandro Bertucci
Chris Hutchinson
David Turnbull
Edward Fitchett
Manny LoVoi
Mark MacLaren
Mike Fotheringham, MPA
Nathan Choran
Paul Hogendoorn
Robert Bezede
Scott Jamieson
Tammy Buss
Thomas Bevilacqua
Tiara Letourneau

Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor
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Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
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Registration Sponsor
Supporting Partners

Schedule

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM

Registration and Breakfast

9:15 AM – 9:25 AM

Welcoming Remarks

Speaker: Scott Jamieson – CEO – Annex Business Media

9:25 AM – 10:20 AM

Opening Keynote: The Power of 3: Family, Business, Ownership

Join Tammy Buss, founder of BlueRoots, as she provides insights into how family business owners can navigate the complex intersection of family, business, and ownership. With over 75% of family businesses facing succession and conflict challenges in the next 10 years, this session will provide practical tools to align your vision, improve communication, and establish effective governance structures—ensuring long-term success. Through interactive learning, real-world applications, and expert insights, you’ll gain strategies to strengthen relationships, streamline decision-making, and prepare for generational transitions. Don’t leave the future of your family business to chance — start building a legacy with clarity and confidence!

Keynote Speaker: Tammy Buss, founder, BlueRoots Inc.

Watch Video

10:25 AM – 10:55 AM

Session 1 – Preparing for a Sale – Best Practices With Real Life Case Studies

Whatever path you chose, it can take two or more years to properly prepare a company for sale to maximize both your after-tax returns and ensure the company’s future success. Thomas and Robert will walk through pre-sale best practices and common mistakes to avoid, leaving you with a detailed template for your own succession.

Watch Video

Moderator: Paul Grossinger, Group Publisher, Annex Business Media

Panelists:

  • Thomas Bevilacqua, Harmony Succession Partners
  • Robert Bezede, Harmony Succession Partners

10:55 AM – 11:25 AM

Coffee Break & Networking

11:25 AM – 12:00 PM

Session 2 – Timing & Valuation: Why and When to Sell and for How Much?

When it comes to succession planning (i.e., selling your business), there is typically a complex interplay between timing, motivation, and valuation. This session will explore not only the “why” of selling, but also how to identify market conditions favourable for selling, internal business indicators that signal readiness to sell, and strategies for creating a flexible exit timeline. This session will also help you understand the key factors that drive business value.

Speaker: Chris Hutchinson, Partner and Senior Vice President, Ernst & Young Orenda Corporate Finance Inc.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Session 3 – A Little T&L: Taxes and Legal

This panel discussion will delve into the critical tax and legal considerations that business owners must navigate when planning for succession. Whether you’re contemplating passing your business to family members, selling to employees, or exploring external sale options, our panel of tax and legal experts will share key information to help you navigate all of the potential tax and legal hurdles you may face along your succession journey.

Moderator: Adam Reiterowski, Vice President of Finance and Administration, Annex Business Media

Panelists:

  • Nathan Choran, Partner, Zeifmans​
  • Manny LoVoi, Founder, ELPC

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Session 4: EOTs: The employee ownership option

A fireside chat directed by Tiara Letourneau, CEO and co-founder of Rewrite Capital Advisors. Tiara is intimately involved in Canada’s EOT journey and has been involved in transitioning many companies to employee-owned entities. She is joined by Mike Fotheringham, CEO of Taproot Community Support Services, a BC company with a long experience in ESOPs and now moving to the new EOT model; and Scott Jamieson, CEO of Annex Business Media, a hybrid Employee-Management Partnership (EMP) formed in 2024. They will discuss opportunities, pitfalls, and best practices based on their time in the trenches.

Moderator: Tiara Letourneau – CEO and co-founder of Rewrite Capital Advisors

Panelists:

  • Mike Fotheringham, MPA – CEO, Taproot Community Support Services | Formerly WJS Canada
  • Scott Jamieson – CEO – Annex Business Media

2:15PM – 2:45 PM

The Price is Right? Understanding Buyer Motivations

Putting a price on a business is challenging, yet understanding its value is crucial for a successful deal. The “right” price varies depending on the buyer—competitor, strategic buyer, insider, or professional investor. This presentation will demystify the process of establishing fair market value and explore how buyer motivations can influence the price. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on business valuation and the impact of buyer motivations.

Speaker: David Turnbull, Head of Private Company Advisory, IG Private Wealth Management

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2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Coffee Break & Networking

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Session 5 – Just Sold: Succession Success Stories

Join us for an inspiring session that highlights real-life success stories of business succession, showcasing how effective planning and strategic foresight can lead to seamless transitions and continued growth. This session will feature a diverse range of case studies from various industries, illustrating the unique challenges and triumphs faced by business owners as they navigate the complexities of selling their respective business.

Moderator: Scott Jamieson, CEO, Annex Business Media

Speakers:

  • Paul Hogendoorn – former founder, owner and president of OES Inc. and FreePoint Technologies Inc.
  • Mark MacLaren – former founder, owner and President of the MacLaren Group;
    Strategic Advisor at Heart Consulting
  • Edward Fitchett, Founder & Former Owner & President, Fitch Security Integration Inc.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Closing Remarks

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Reception & Networking

Venue

Universal EventSpace
Vaughan, ON

6250 Hwy 7,
Vaughan, ON
L4H 4G3

Contacts

Content

Paul Grossinger
Group Publisher / Director of Production
Annex Business Media
p 416-510-5240 | c 416-564-2513
pgrossinger@annexbusinessmedia.com

Sponsor

Adam Reiterowski
CPA, CA, MMPA, CFE | Vice President of Finance and Administration
Annex Business Media
p 416.510.6810| c 647.531.7268
areiterowski@annexbusinessmedia.com

Event Logistics

Tara Jacobs
Director of Events
c 226-931-0177
tjacobs@annexbusinessmedia.com

Presented by
Annex Business Media
All Events » Professional Services » SUCCESSion: The Business of Selling your Business