MAPLE® receptions are an opportunity to learn from fellow businesses and member organizations about a wide variety of topics relevant to Canada-U.S. cross-border investment, trade and entrepreneurship. To request a copy of one of the presentations, please fill out the form below. Thank you for your interest.
QA Testing for Emerging Technologies
Bill Klages, Vice President, Head of U.S. Western Region at Toronto-based software testing company, QA Consultants (QAC), explains their testing services that include classic QA/testing & advanced advisory services, autonomous & connected vehicle testing & system integrated testing (SIT), and inclusive accessibility compliance testing. QAC has developed a proprietary testing solution called “xCog” that automates and executes test cases for the thousands of permutations of decisions that AI software makes to operate robots or autonomous vehicles. MAPLE Southern California Online Summer Reception ‘21
Fx Strategy and CAD-USD Dollar Pair Analysis
Richard Flaglor, Regional Sales Director for West North America at global payment solutions provider, AFEX, discusses the meteoric rise of the Canadian dollar across the major G8 currencies, as well as the parallel weakening of the USD over the last 12 months. The importance of budget planning in relation to the volatile nature of these currency pairs, and how risk management mitigation can be achieved with a diversified FX strategy will also be shared. Richard also discusses the upcoming acquisition of AFEX by Fleetcor Technologies and what this means to AFEX’s offering going forward. MAPLE Southern California Online Summer Reception ‘21
IPO and SPAC readiness: Navigating the transaction process
Operating in today’s economic environment can bring a variety of challenges, not the least of which is raising capital. Don’t underestimate the level of effort required to plan, strategize, and execute a successful IPO or special purpose acquisition (SPAC) merger. Steven Edwards, Partner, National Capital Markets Service Leader and David Mao, Director, Valuations Services, of audit, tax and consulting firm, RSM, discuss. MAPLE Southern California Online Spring Reception ‘21
IP Due Diligence: Getting Ready for IPO & SPAC
And when preparing for a merger and acquisition, public offering of stock, or other major transactions, your company’s IP will be subject to scrutiny by third parties. These parties include the inventors, underwriters, and SEC. Learn the actions that your company should take to be ready for such scrutiny.Join us to learn more about important factors to consider, required steps, and potential pitfalls. Dan Altman, Partner, and Vlad Teplitskiy, Partner at leading IP law firm, Knobbe Martens, discuss. MAPLE Southern California Online Spring Reception ‘21
Rethinking Cx Needs
The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need for businesses to rethink their CX needs more urgently than ever. The pandemic has put pressure on businesses to test and validate how their services are delivered in a continually shifting omnichannel landscape. JP Holecka, founder/ceo and Priscilla Ho, lead UX researcher and designer at Vancouver-based digital design agency, POWERSHIFTER, discuss the role of Lean Service Design. As we move into a new era of delivering digital products and services, Lean Service Design will become an essential way to drive business outcomes and make a real impact. They’ve included some additional resources to learn more about the practical applications of Service Design, Lean Service Design, and the power of simplicity. Discover a faster way for organizations to change customer touch points, work culture, thinking, and old habits to not only survive but to thrive in the post-COVID era. MAPLE Southern California Winter Online Reception ‘20
Think You are Cyber Secure - Think Again
Did you know that you have been hacked on all your platforms and on most of your apps? It is only the computer hacks that cause severe financial impacts that are reported in the press. RSA, the backbone of the first contact between devices is about to be broken by quantum computers. RSA keys are basically large numbers (the public keys) composed by multiplying two gargantuan prime numbers. These prime numbers are private keys to decrypt data. University of Waterloo Professor Jesse Van Griensven who is the co-founder and Chairman of TAURIA, an end-to-end encrypted zero knowledge web collaboration platform for messaging, video calls and filesharing, profiles the business communication landscape in the context of privacy and security or the lack thereof. MAPLE Southern California Winter Online Reception ‘20
Get to Know Tech in Montréal
Greater Montréal has established itself as an important international hub for tech companies in the last few decades. Through a mix of an aggressive corporate tax regime, relatively low operating costs, high-quality multilingual talent, and cutting edge university research, the city has reached the top 5 in North America for its concentration of tech jobs. In the ITC sector, companies such as Google, IBM, Facebook, Samsung, Behavox, Ericsson, and many more have opened R&D centers. In gaming and VFX, multinational companies such as Take-Two Interactive, Google Studio, Ubisoft, Framestore, Pixomondo, and Scanline, among others, have chosen Montréal. Learn about Montréal’s unique tech ecosystem. MAPLE-Fasken-Montreal International Webinar December 2020
Ontario’s Economy: The Road Ahead Post-COVID and Why Ontario Will Continue to be an Attractive Destination
Chelsea Peet, Consul & Senior Economic Officer with the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in California speaks to Ontario’s approach to economic recovery post-COVID, including its resilient industry and technology ecosystem, and why it will continue to be a destination for companies looking to grow and scale their businesses. MAPLE Fall Online Reception ‘20
Leveraging Toronto's Tech Ecosystem as part of a Software Nearshoring Strategy
Bill Klages, VP Partner & Influencer Relations at Toronto-based QA Consultants profiles how the company leverages the talent-rich tech ecosystem of Toronto to provide U.S. clients with the advantages of a nearshore solution for software quality assurance. Bill discusses the company’s founding by Alex Rodov, a Russian immigrant to Canada, the advantages of the company's legacy Toronto location for access to software talent, and the advantages of a nearshore software testing solution for its clients in Canada and the U.S. MAPLE Fall Online Reception ‘20
Intellectual Property Procurement & Protection - A Discussion by Knobbe Martens (Webinar Slides)
Noted IP law firm Knobbe Martens represented by partners, Dan Altman, Vlad Teplitskiy, and Marko Zoretic, provide an overview of patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright procurement and protection in a presentation for a July 23, 2020 webinar with MAPLE Business Council co-founders Stephen Armstrong and Robert Kelle. This is an excellent introduction to IP procurement and protection for scaling businesses within the United States and for businesses in Canada planning their U.S. expansion.
20/20 - A Vision for Future Proofing Technology in the New Decade (Webinar Slides)
Canadian technology leaders, BlackBerry-Cylance, QA Consultants, and xahive, talk networking, software quality and cybersecurity. Special guest speaker: Mr. Todd Siegel of the Department of Homeland Security in San Diego (see below for related materials). MAPLE Business Council is proud to co-host this webinar with the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles and the Canadian Consulate in San Diego. MAPLE Webinar - April 29, 2020
Homeland Security Investigations COVID-19 Fraud (1-Sheet)
S.T.OP. COVID-19 Fraud - Strategic Targeted Outreach Program. Recognize. Protect. Report COVID-19 Crime. Online shopping red flags, financial red flags, prohibited pharmaceuticals and medical device red flags, and related tips from Homeland Security Investigations. MAPLE Webinar - April 29, 2020
Alert (AA20-099A) - COVID-19 Exploited by Malicious Cyber Actors- Original release date: April 08, 2020 (Letter)
This is a joint alert from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This alert provides information on exploitation by cybercriminal and advanced persistent threat (APT) groups of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. It includes a non-exhaustive list of indicators of compromise (IOCs) for detection as well as mitigation advice. This letter is being made available from Homeland Security Investigations. MAPLE Webinar - April 29, 2020
The 3 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make
High-Impact Firms have a disproportionate impact on American and Canadian economies. Each year, barely 2% of Canadian mid‑sized businesses succeed in becoming large businesses. So what are the mistakes CEOs make that limit the growth of their business? Glenn Yonemitsu, Managing Director, Executive Advisors, Ontario High Impact Firms from BDC Advisory Services, will share the insights that led to the creation of BDC’s Growth Driver Program. Learn how the Business Development Bank of Canada supports Canadian businesses and discover the three important areas to focus on, if you want to pave the way for growth. Please click here to request this presentation. MAPLE Spring Receptions ‘20 Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
USMCA Trade Agreement
The US, Mexico and Canada have ratified the new NAFTA agreement/United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). While USMCA made some necessary reforms and removed some trade barriers it also erected new ones most notably in the automobile manufacturing sector. RSM Canada’s economist, Alex Kotsopoulos, provides a historical overview of the US-Canada economic relationship, describes the key changes in USMCA and outlines implications with a focus on bilateral trade between Canada and California, which stands at over $50 billion. He also provides a Canadian perspective on USMCA and discuss the impact of the current trade dispute between the US and China on Canada and the North American economy. MAPLE Spring Receptions ‘20 Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
Critical Financial Planning Issues Business Owners Don’t Have Enough Time to Address
Small business owners have many responsibilities including generating revenue, managing expenses and optimizing profits. Often issues like employee benefits, company retirement plans, executive compensation & benefits, and business insurance do not make the top 10 list in terms of interest, expertise or desired time commitment. Yet these issues are very important to the success of any business. Coordinated, comprehensive, holistic planning services for businesses with a focus on suitability, pricing and tax advantage can be a game-changer for small business entities. Jamie Smith, JD and Mark Rooney CLU, ChFC, CFP, managing partners at The Business Strategies Group of Southern California, outline the opportunity for small business owners to address these critical business needs. MAPLE Winter Receptions ‘19 San Diego/Irvine/Long Beach
Seeking Competitive Advantage in Divergent Immigration Systems: An Overview of Canada and U.S. Immigration
Andrew Cumming, founder and managing partner of Toronto-based immigration law firm, Cumming & Partners, discusses how to utilize a North American immigration platform to obtain a competitive advantage for your business through an overview of the strengths (and differences) of the U.S. and Canadian immigration systems and how they can be used together to facilitate a superior global mobility strategy. MAPLE Fall Receptions ‘19 - San Diego/Los Angeles/Irvine
International Business Expansion - Canada
Todd Trowbridge and Ernie Nagratha, partners at Trowbridge Professional Corporation, a leading cross-border tax firm based in Toronto, provide a general understanding of the various tax issues a US company will face as a result of business travelers working in Canada/transferred to Canada and how to avoid penalties from non-compliance. MAPLE Fall Receptions ‘19 - San Diego/Los Angeles/Irvine
The Power of Intentional Disruption
The power of intentional disruption in an organization. What is it and when does an organization need it? Deborah Hartnett Kennedy, Southern California partner at Unstoppable Conversations, addresses the opportunity for businesses to disrupt the status quo to discover untapped opportunities. Unstoppable Conversations was founded in Edmonton, Alberta and their unique work allows organizations and people to see hidden constraints within their own thinking that have dramatically limited the effectiveness of their people and the resources they already have. MAPLE Summer Receptions ‘19 - Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
Riverside County Office of Foreign Trade: Past, Present and Future!
Jaime Hurtado, Manager of Trade Delegations and International Business Matching shares an overview of the work of Riverside County's Office of Foreign Trade which has the distinction of being the first trade office opened by a county in the United States. With longstanding trade ties to Canada, Mr. Hurtado provides overview of his office's mission, scope of work and future plans as well as an overview of exports and imports in the County. MAPLE Summer Receptions ‘19 - Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
Understanding Opportunity Zone Funds
From the law firm, Snell & Wilmer LLP, partners Garth Stevens and Marc Schultz provide an overview of Opportunity Zone Funds. These funds are the subject of an exciting new IRS-sponsored incentive program that promotes capital investment in economically disadvantaged areas throughout the country, including substantial portions of Southern California, by providing qualified investors with the potential for substantial federal income tax savings. The Opportunity Zone Fund program has already triggered a groundswell of business development and investment activity in the past six months and may end up as one of the most significant government-backed investment initiatives of the next decade.
MAPLE Spring Receptions ‘19 - San Diego/Irvine/Los Angeles
Canadian Capital Markets for U.S. Growth Companies
While going public may not be on the radar of most SoCal companies, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange are a unique funding and listing platform for high growth US companies looking to raise Series B+ capital. This presentation by Ms. Delilah Panio, vp capital formation - Southern California from TMX Group, owners of the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, highlights how to use the public markets for growth, the key considerations for going public, and why companies (and their investors) with early revenue, strong management team, and a growth strategy to get to Nasdaq should consider the Canadian capital markets as an alternative that may be the right fit. MAPLE Winter Events ‘18 - La Jolla/Pasadena/Costa Mesa
Navigating North-South Moves
Not many people are aware of the financial implications of a Canada/US cross-border move. Yet, it can have a long-term impact on their financial well being. Regulations and tax reporting requirements concerning investments can be complicated. Security selection and currency are other factors that come into play. This presentation by Ms. Bernardine Perreira Financial Advisor, Certified Financial Planner at Perreira Hurly Wealth Advisory of Raymond James (USA) Ltd. (Member FINRA/SIPC), will provide some timely recommendations on how Canadians living in the United States and Americans moving to Canada can navigate what sometimes feels like the 'white waters' of cross-border financial management. MAPLE Winter Events ‘18 - La Jolla/Pasadena/Costa Mesa
Get to Know Avison Young in Commercial Real Estate
Avison Young is the fastest growing commercial real estate firm in North America. Through organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and a client service model that is unique in the industry, Avison Young is expanding its global footprint from its roots in Canada. Southern California is a key market focus. In this presentation, Avison Young profiles their growth and their client service model. MAPLE Fall Event ‘18 LA/Anaheim
Get to Know New Brunswick, Canada - Cybersecurity, Digital Health & Workforce Strategy
The province of New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada is more than a great place to live, work and play. It is a dynamic sandbox environment for global businesses and start-ups to create, innovate and grow by tapping into New Brunswick's ecoystem of academia, enterprise, talent, and government who are all 'a phone call away' in this intimate bilingual and collaborative region. Learn more about the advantages New Brunswick has to offer and their initiatives in cybersecurity, digital health as well as the workforce strategy services of Opportunities NB. MAPLE Summer Event '18 San Diego/Irvine/LA
How to Navigate a Successful Cross-Border Move
D'Alessio Law Group profiles the U.S. and Canadian immigration options that are available to executives, entrepreneurs, creative talent, and highly skilled workers in the current political/immigration landscape within the United States. MAPLE Summer Event '18 San Diego/Irvine/LA
Cybersecurity & Business Email Compromise
xahive, inc. is an Ottawa-based cybersecurity firm with a growing presence in Southern California including an office in Los Angeles. In her presentation to the MAPLE Spring 2018 events in Southern California, co-founder and ceo, Sem Ponnambalam, shared how businesses can protect themselves from Business Email Compromise (BEC). In this presentation, you will understand:
What is Business Email Compromise and who is often targeted?
Why should you be concerned about BEC?
What are the costs associated with your business email being compromised?
How are cybercriminals using AI & social engineering to target you for BEC?
What steps should you take to prevent BEC?
Who should you report BEC?
MAPLE Spring Event '18 San Diego/LA/Irvine
Cannabis in Canada
The Cannabis industry is growing in Canada and the synergy between the industries in California and Canada will only increase when adult use of cannabis becomes legal across Canada in July 2018. BLG lawyers and cannabis industry experts, Dr.David Wood and LuAnne Morrow, discuss the intersection of regulations and business, how US companies are taking advantage of the opportunities the changes in the law presents in Canada along with branding and advertising cannabis for medical and adult use, licensing, patents and technological innovation in the cannabis industry. MAPLE Winter Event '17 LA/Irvine/San Diego
The Changing Workplace of Today
In a future with technology that allows nearly everyone to work from anywhere, do you think people will still travel to office to work? What is the office of the future going to look and feel like? In addition, the pressure for workplace change is for higher than ever before impacting every organization at all levels. Teknion's workplace strategists have been studying these issues and share their point of view. Ron Frantz, Regional Vice President of Teknion in Southern California, presents an overview of this exciting topic. MAPLE Winter Event '17 LA/Irvine/San Diego
Corporate Resilience: A Business Lawyer's Guide When Bad Things Happen to Good Companies
Garth Stevens, partner at the law firm, Snell & Wilmer, LLP, and board member of MAPLE Business Council, shares recommendations at to actions that companies should (and should not) take from a business law perspective when faced with adverse situations that may give rise to legal disputes or claims. Viewed through the lens of "corporate resilience" and the framework of leveraging systems, processes, and culture to effect holistic change, topics covered include best practices for dealing with contact breaches, litigation threats, data security breaches, regulatory violations and investigations, and employee misconduct. MAPLE Fall Event '17 San Diego/Irvine/LA
Tax and Legal Considerations for Globally Mobile Employers
Mo Ahmad, founder of Vancouver-based, Westmark Tax, discusses U.S. and Canadian tax issues for companies with employees who are working or moving across the border including permanent transfers and short-term or business travelers. Global mobility is a complex topic encompassing a number of different legal disciplines (tax, employment, securities rules, corporate compliance, immigration, etc.). Laws vary by country and by provinces/regions within each country with numerous multilateral agreements and treaties. Increasing complexity and scrutiny is making it more difficult to send people to work outside their home jurisdiction. The presentation also covers personal tax issues and executive compensation plans from a company perspective with best practices identified. MAPLE Fall Event '17 San Diego/Irvine/LA
Opportunities New Brunswick
Learn about one of Canada's most dynamic regions, the Province of New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada. Ideally situated to connect with business in Europe and across North America in the same day, New Brunswick offers many advantages for businesses to locate and grow. In this presentation from Opportunities NB, we discover some of the primary market advantages that IBM, Salesforce, Siemens and many other leading multinational firms are already benefiting from. Discover New Brunswick's talent, ecosystem and momentum. New Brunswick - North America's Nearshore Business Services Capital. MAPLE Summer Event '17 San Diego/LA/Irvine
The Story of allura printing inc.
In this presentation, Mr. David Gagnon, President/CMO of Costa Mesa-based allura printing, inc., shares the Québec, Canada roots of the commercial and book printing business he co-founded with his brother René. The presentation also includes data on Ebook and printed book sales trends. allura is now celebrating their 10th anniversary providing printing services for a diverse clientele of leading brands, publishers and self-published authors. MAPLE Winter Event '16 Irvine
Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti - Economic Development
Mr. David Reich, Deputy Director of International Trade at the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, provides an overview of the trade, investment and tourism relationship that Los Angeles and Canada enjoy. Profiles of the work of the International Trade Team and the other departments that comprise the Mayor's Office of Economic Development (MOED) are also presented. MAPLE Winter Event '16 Los Angeles
Why Invest in San Diego?
Economic Development Director for the City of San Diego, Mr. Erik Caldwell, shares an overview of some of the noteworthy successes and innovations that originated in San Diego as well as information on the City's strengths in talent, innovation, convergence, global connectivity, quality of life and entrepreneurship. What can you make a little better in San Diego? MAPLE Winter Event '16 San Diego
Tax Credits for Businesses
Mr. Stefan Joyner, Business Development Manager in Southern California for Armanino, LLP, sheds light on key tax credits available to businesses, some of which that are not well known or understood. His presentation covers R&D Tax Credits, R&D Payroll Offset Opportunities and Partial Manufacturing/R&D Sales Tax Exemption. Armanino is the largest CPA and consulting firm in California. MAPLE Winter Events '16/San Diego/Irvine/Los Angeles.
Expanding San Diego's Global Presence
In this presentation, Dr. Nikia Clarke, Executive Director of the World Trade Center San Diego discusses global trends in trade, the work of the WTCSD and the depth of the relationship between Canada and the San Diego region. MAPLE Fall Event '16 San Diego
Canada - San Diego's #1 Business Partner
Mr. Frédéric Fournier, Head of Office for the Consulate General of Canada in San Diego, shared an overview of the trade commissioner service at work in San Diego. MAPLE Fall Event '16 San Diego
The Role of The Immigration Attorney in Cross-Border Business Today and Tomorrow
D'Alessio Law Group managing attorney, Lorraine D'Alessio, with partner attorney Liz Profumo and attorney Jack Sung, shared perspectives on the role of the immigration attorney in cross-border business in the context of the opportunities that increasing globalization offers to businesses and to our economy. MAPLE Summer Event '16 - Los Angeles/Irvine/Carlsbad
RBC Canadian Economic Update
RBC Wealth Management provides an excellent high-level overview of the Canadian economy with key trends on currency, GDP, employment and housing. MAPLE Summer Event '16 - Los Angeles/Irvine/Carlsbad
How to Bankrupt Your Lawyer
Based on over 20 years of practice in complex M&A and other transactional work, as well as serving as outside general counsel to a large number of companies for corporate and business matters, Garth Stevens, partner at Snell & Wilmer, has assembled a collection of suggestions for things that businesses of all sizes can do to reduce, if not eliminate, legal problems and the associated costs that come with them. MAPLE Summer Event '16 - Los Angeles/Irvine/Carlsbad
Why Software Sucks
Software design, development and implementations are inherently flawed because humans are themselves flawed. In this presentation, Stuart Sherman, CEO of Toronto-based IMC, discusses the inherent biases which shape how we look at problems and how we design software to address. MAPLE Spring Event '16 - Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
County of Riverside Economic Development Agency Trade Focus
In this presentation, Richard Dozier, Economic Development Specialist at County of Riverside's Economic Development Agency, discusses the breadth of work that the County has undertaken to engage its manufacturers in growth through trade as well as the region's outreach internationally as the first county in the United States to open an Office of Foreign Trade. MAPLE Spring Event '16 - Los Angeles/Irvine/San Diego
Taking Franchises Global Successfully
Based on over 40 years of international experience and having helped over 30 franchise brands enter 68 countries, William Edwards, CEO and Founder of Edwards Global Services, a MAPLE Business Council member, shares his perspectives on Canada and international markets as well as some key considerations for planning an international expansion. MAPLE Winter Event - Irvine/San Diego.
Knowing Canada Cold - Purolator International
Part of Canada Post Group and MAPLE Business Council member, Purolator provides a breadth of shipping and logistics services for businesses moving goods and freight to/from and across Canada. An overview of Purolator's services and insights on Canadian consumers and the Canadian market are covered in this presentation. MAPLE Winter Event - Irvine/San Diego
Cross-Border Wealth Management and Tax Considerations
In this presentation, MAPLE Business Council member, Cardinal Point Wealth Management, identifies some of the portfolio considerations executives and their families should be aware of when they have assets in both Canada and the United States. Elements of a Wealth Management Action Plan, marital tax issues and common U.S. tax issues are identified. MAPLE Winter Event - Irvine/San Diego
How Should U.S. Businesses Approach Canada?
In this presentation from MAPLE member organization, Media-Corps, we look at the differences in American and Canadian media consumption with a wink to some of the stereotypes and perceptions that shape how each country regards the other. The underlying message is that market plans for Canada need to reflect both cultural nuances and fundamental differences in media usage and costs in order to be successful. MAPLE Fall Event - Irvine/LA.
FX Exposure and Risk Management - Focus on Canada
An introductory discussion by HSBC on USD/CAD FX risk, CAD influences, hedging opportunities and FX risk management. MAPLE Fall Event 2015 - Irvine/LA.
Cross-Border Success Case Study
Cerritos-based Omni-Lite Industries is a successful precision components manufacturer who began operations in Calgary focused on a single idea: how to make a better golf spike. Now Omni-Lite supplies the U.S. Military and Fortune 500 companies as a leading provider of cold-forge components. Discover how one company with Canadian roots has created market success in Southern California. MAPLE Fall Event 2015 - Irvine/LA.
Protecting Your Start-Up: Patents
An introduction to intellectual property considerations for start-ups prepared by MAPLE member organization, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP. MAPLE Summer Event 2015 - Irvine.