Bob Ianson

Diane Petryna
Diane Petryna is a passionate independent retailer who understands the challenges and rewards of running her own business. For the past 19 years she’s owned and operated Take A Hike, an outdoor lifestyle store in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Despite facing many challenges along the way, Diane’s business is thriving and she continues to do what she loves.
Diane holds a Master’s degree from the University of Waterloo, previously worked as a small business advisor at Confederation College, and for several years was self-employed as a research and planning consultant. She is one of only eight independent retailers inducted into the RCC’s Retail Hall of Fame.
Her secrets in how to build a successful independent store will be shared in an upcoming book she’s co-authoring with retail specialist Barbara Crowhurst.

Eleanor LeFave

Fred Pritchard
Fred is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants Association & the Certified General Accountants Association with over 25 years’ experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, property management, professional services, software development and retail.
Founded in 1999, Fred is co-owner of Golda’s Kitchen, Canada’s leading online retailer for cookware, bakeware and cake decorating products based in Mississauga. Golda’s Kitchen has been honoured by the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association as Kitchenware Retailer of the Year.
In 2013, Fred became a Fellow of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame by the Retail Council of Canada in 2012. In 2003 he received the CGA Ontario distinguished service award for his extensive volunteer efforts with the accounting association and the local community.
Currently is a member of the Advisory Group for the MyStore Division of the Retail Council of Canada. He is also volunteers as the Treasurer of his local Tennis club, and was elected as Treasurer of the Milton Federal Liberal Riding Association. Previously he has been involved with several organizations including acting as Treasurer of the Lesbian Gay Community Appeal, Treasurer for the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Centre, Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Refugee Information Centre. He has also acted as an auditor to the campaign of an MP and an agent to the campaign of an MPP.
He was also very active for CGA Ontario and has sat on the Discipline Committee, was a member of Discipline Tribunals, lectured, marked student assignments, and invidulated student exams. He also spent 10 years in various roles with CGA Toronto Chapter becoming Chair in 2001-2002.

Jennifer Grimm
Jennifer Grimm has 15 years of retail expertise as the owner and CVO of LUX Beauty Boutique, an independent specialty store selling high-end, selectively distributed cosmetic brands in Edmonton, Canada. A born entrepreneur, Jennifer is passionate about all matters of retail, from business strategy to store design, which culminates in creating an exceptional customer experience. Always innovating, she and her team have built sales per square foot to three times industry average, and are actively expanding to omni-channel commerce in multiple store locations. Jennifer graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Business Commerce.

Linda Maslechko
Linda Maslechko is CEO and Founder of Calgary-based Triple Flip, a dynamic girls’ activewear brand that recognized the gap in the market for great, comfortable clothes for active girls aged 6 – 14 and takes a stand for fashion that supports healthy lifestyles and positive images that develop a girl’s self-confidence. Triple Flip has achieved growth from its original Calgary flagship store in 2005, to 12 retail stores across the country, and an online store www.tripleflip.ca Triple Flip TEAM – a custom team wear division, serves more than 400 teams nationwide. Linda was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2009.

Misti Mussatto
Misti and her husband Gary left a career on the cruise lines as entertainers to begin their entrepreneurial journey with an indoor play centre called “The Gator Pit” in 1997. Soon after, their first retail store “Toy Jungle” was born of their passion to marry a children’s story they were creating to an interesting and fun retail experience. They later also purchased the second oldest toy store in Canada called the Toybox and continue to pursue creating innovative retail concepts and children’s stories.
As well as serving as co-chair for the Retail Council Independent Advisory Board, Misti also serves on the board of the Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada.

Paul Simmonds
Paul Simmonds has been in the retail clothing and footwear business for over 40 years, all at the independent level.
In 1998, Mr. Simmonds founded his own independent clothing business and has since expanded four times in different markets affiliated with the company’s core business.
Mr. Simmonds has been on the past boards of Junior Achievement, Women in Transition House and was a past member of the Board of Directors of The Fredericton Community Foundation, which serves the greater Fredericton area. This Foundation has established a fund for emerging youth, to which Robert Simmonds Clothing donates a portion of annual sales.
In addition, Robert Simmonds is associated with many local charities, from supporting the homeless, to helping many other non-profit organizations.
Mr. Simmonds has been a Retail Council of Canada member for Seventeen years and was previously a ten-year member in his last role as managing partner of an independent clothing store. Mr. Simmonds is current co-chair of the Canadian Independent retail committee My Store and a current board member of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in New Brunswick As well as VP of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Simmonds has lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick, for most of his life and graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Business degree as well from The Wallace McCain institute in the Entrepreneurs Leaders Program.

Ron Pradinuk