Catalyst Schedule
| Date | Time | Agenda Item |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | ||
| Oppidan Room | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Registration & Opening Night Cocktail Reception |
| May 5, 2026 | ||
| Court Garden Room | 8:00 am – 8:45 am | Registration & Networking Breakfast |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 8:45 am – 9:00 am | Welcome & Opening Remarks – Jonathan N. Strauss, President & CEO, PPPC |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 9:00 am – 9:45 am | Keynote Session: Anil Arora – Canada at Crossroads: Making Sense of it All |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 9:45 am – 10:30 am | Interpreting Canada’s Trends Through an Industry Lens – A Panel Discussion. Following Anil Arora’s keynote, this panel discussion moderated by Steve Pons, CEO, McCabe Promotional Advertising Inc, alongside industry experts: Shane Brett (Stormtech), Neil Whalen (Staples Promotional Products), and Dave Rehg (Facilisgroup), will connect the dots around how the Canadian promotional products industry can support Canadian businesses and adapt to a rapidly evolving environment. |
| Foyer | 10:30 am – 11:00 am | Networking Break |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm | Keynote Session: Vanessa Ribreau, Leadership & Performance Coach, Unlocking a Culture of Performance. |
| Court Garden Room | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Networking Lunch |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Keynote Session: Craig Dowden, PhD, Positive Leadership. Leadership: From an Individual Perspective |
| Foyer | 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Networking Break |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Keynote Session: David Siekanowicz, Director, Creative, 7 Communications. Insights from Members Reshaping the PPPC Rebrand. |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm | Interactive Roundtable Discussions: Connecting the Dots of Day One: What Today’s Insights Mean for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Moderated by Erin Harris, Member-at-Large, PPPC Board, Catalyst Committee Chair and Vice President of Sales, McCabe Promotional Advertising Inc. and Paul Wieleba, PPPC Chair, Catalyst Committee Member and Owner, {W.E.} Promotional Advertising. |
| Court Garden Room | 7:00 pm | Kitchen Party – O’Reilly’s Pub | Sponsored by Facilis |
| May 6, 2026 | ||
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 7:00 am – 7:45 am | Walking Club with Erin Harris, PPPC Chair-Elect & Paul Wieleba, PPPC Past-Chair. A 45-min 45-minute walk along The Battery – St. John’s iconic and stunning neighbourhood perched at the entrance to the harbour, known for its colourful homes, steep paths, and incredible views. Includes a stop at The Battery Café. |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 8:00 am – 8:45 am | Networking Breakfast |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 8:45 am – 9:00 am | Recap and Review |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 9:00 am – 9:45 am | Keynote Session: Mark Collett, CEO, Crosbie Group – Adversity as a Catalyst: A Canadian Business Success Story. |
| Foyer | 9:45 am – 10:00 am | Networking Break |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Roundtable Discussion moderated by Jonathan N. Strauss, PPPC President & CEO. The Industry Pulse: A Catalyst Interactive Roundtable Discussion Shaped by You. |
| Avalon & Battery Rooms | 11:00 am – 11:45 am | Keynote session: Elizabeth Wimbush, Director of Sustainability & Responsibility, PPAI. Future-Proof with Sustainability: Prepared Beats Perfect |
| Court Garden Room | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Networking Lunch |
| Court Garden Room | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Leadership Exchange: AI In Action & Industry Impact. Moderated by Jonathan N. Strauss, PPPC President & CEO and Sergio Munoz, Senior VP of Sales, SRG & PPPC Board Member. Full-room discussion and based on the pre-event AI survey shared with attendees. |
| Court Garden Room | 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Closing Remarks |
| Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland – Lobby | 3:15 pm | Complimentary Airport Shuttle to St. John’s Airport |
*Note: Schedule is subject to change.
*Airport shuttle only available at 3:30 pm on May 6.