Each year the Goodman School of Business presents a panel of industry experts to discuss business topics of interest to the community.
The Business Matters series is supported by the D.G Willmot Lecture Fund
2023 Business Matters
A discussion on the ever-changing landscape of social media
The event was held virtually on March 28.
Panelists

Carly Snider
Strategy Director,
Hughes & co
Carly Snider is the Strategy Director at Hughes&Co, a digital marketing agency and Hubspot Partner Agency in Thorold, Ontario. She leads a team of talented marketers on exciting marketing projects for small, medium and enterprise companies both locally and internationally. Her extensive experience and education in media, communication and language, coupled with her ability to spot new market opportunities, has helped her clients grow and take their businesses to the next level with strategic marketing plans and deployments.

Christina Garnett
Marketing Media Maven LLC & HUbspot
Award-winning community builder and advocacy strategist Christina Garnett uses audience intelligence and social listening to learn more about audiences and determine needs and behaviors. Her work serves to help brands better connect with their current customers, potential customers, and fans.
Christina is featured in HubSpot Academy’s Social Media Certification course and social listening courses, Semrush Academy’s social listening course, and is a partner for On Deck’s Community Builder Program, teaching a module on advocacy as a community growth lever.She has been a speaker for events like the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Hubilo-BizBash), INBOUND, Digital Summit, Social Fresh, Adapted Digital Media Summit, and MnSearch Summit. You can also find her featured in HubSpot, Social Insider, and Talkwalker ebooks and articles in Adweek, The Next Web, and Meltwater.

Meg Shannon
Communications Manager,
Broadbent Institute
Meg Shannon is a writer, communicator, and project manager based in Toronto. She has more than 12 years’ experience working with organizations and individuals to share their stories with their audiences. Meg is passionate about authentic connection and meaningful content and has a knack for distilling complex ideas into easily digestible content. She has worked with theatre companies across Canada, at a national think tank, and lent her expertise to a labour union and the NDP.
When she’s not working or writing, she can usually be found watching Premier League soccer, checking out a new craft brewery, or yet another playthrough of Stardew Valley.Past events:
Operating in a changing climate
A conversation on sustainable business practices
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 – Webinar and Q&A
Thank you to our panelists:
-Jessica Blythe, Assistant Professor, Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
-Gabriel Demarco (BSc ’13), Winemaker and Viticulturalist at Cave Spring Vineyard
-Natalie Lowe, President of Celebrate Niagara and the Sustainable Events Forum
-Mikayla Richards (BBA ’19), Sustainability Analyst at EcoVadis
inclusive decision-making matters
A conversation on what it means to be inclusive when making decisions.
Thursday, April 13, 2021 – Webinar
Thank you to our panelists:
- Leela MadhavaRau, Director, Human Rights and Equity at Brock University
- Ivana Musich, VP, Managing Director, Digital Products at No Fixed Address Inc. | Founder of Nomad
- Yvonne Nasri, Founder & CEO of Victory & Co.
- Mark Dockstator, Member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames | Professor at Trent University
Crafting the Brand
A conversation on what it means to take an artisanal approach to business.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 – Goodman Atrium, Brock University.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Conrad Davies, General Manager at Breakwall Brewing Company
- Geoff Dillon, President of Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers
- Tamara Jensen, Brand Strategist for Form & Affect and proprietor of Dispatch restaurant
- Nadia Senchuk, Co-founder of Leaning Post Wines
Women in Business Matter
A discussion on the importance of women as entrepreneurs and business leaders to building a vibrant economy.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 – Scotiabank Atrium, Brock University.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Bonnie Lysyk, Auditor General of Ontario
- Shawna Chen, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Goodman School of Business
- Taylor Book, Co-owner, Beechwood Doughnuts
- Mishka Balsom, President and CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Making Business Matter
A discussion on social responsibility in the business world.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Shannon Passero, Owner, Shannon Passero Design
- Jim Letwin, CEO Jan Kelley
- Betty-Lou Souter, CEO, Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold
- Dr. Todd Green, Associate Professor of Marketing, Goodman School of Business

Innovation Matters
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
- Jim Treliving, one of five judges on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and Chairman and Owner of Boston Pizza International Inc.
- Bruce Croxon, co-host of BNN’s The Disruptors and CEO of Round13
- Deborah Rosati, corporate director and co-founder of Women Get On Board
- Jason Sparaga, co-founder and co-CEO of Spark Power Corp. and founder of Spara Capital Partners.
Music Matters
Thursday, March 19, 2015 – Sean O’Sullivan Theatre
- Alan Cross, host of “The Ongoing History of New Music”
- Murray Foster, musician
- Paul Morris, HTZ FM Music Director
- Noah Mintz, an audio mastering engineer who has worked with some of Canada’s most successful acts and
- Eric Alper, director of media relations for eOne Music Canada and well-known music commentator.