HRPA Meeting Details

Canadian Sports Hall-of-Famer | Toronto Argonauts Vice-Chairman Few people exemplify the qualities of personal excellence, teamwork, community leadership, and overcoming the odds better than CFL legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons. With boundless energy, Pinball’s talks centre on the potential for each of us to achieve anything we set our minds to. Unabashedly emotional and impactful, he shows audiences how to put heart into everything they do.

Pinball joined the National Football League in 1987, and the Toronto Argonauts (and the CFL) in 1989. He was nicknamed “Pinball” because of his running style: his diminutive size and extraordinary balance allowed him to “bounce” between defensive players, drawing comparisons to a pinball machine. In 1990, he was honoured with the CFL’s “most outstanding player” award, after setting the single-season record for all purpose yards. He played his last game as an Argonaut in 2000, before becoming head coach of the team. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and in 2016, Pinball was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Pinball stepped down as head coach to become the Chief Executive Officer; in 2009, he was appointed to Vice- Chair of the team. That same year, he founded the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation, which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth. He is also currently working with Marc and Craig Kielburger, founders of Free the Children, in an initiative to build schools and clean water systems in Africa.

Pinball is a member of The Order of Ontario and a Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient.

Climbing Mount Everest is considered one of humanity's greatest feats of endurance. The grueling expedition to the top of the world's highest peak is a project filled with unparalleled physical and mental challenges and some of the roughest, most extreme conditions imaginable. In 2008, Alan Mallory took on the challenge and set a world record with three other members of his family after an incredible self-guided expedition on the mountain. The expedition challenged the mental, emotional and physical limits of their entire beings and at every stage of the ascent demanded an unwavering commitment to resilience and perseverance. Alan's dynamic presentation focuses on developing leaders and strengthening teams by reinforcing the professional development and leadership skills that are essential for success. It reinforces the importance of numerous leadership qualities such as strategic planning, effective communication, risk management, teamwork and development of trust within professional relationships as well as the mentality and passion involved in conquering one's own Everest, whatever that may be. By controlling our focus and concentrating on the areas we are most passionate about, we are capable of accomplishing great things.

Sean Fitzpatrick is President and founder of TalentMap and has a wealth of experience developing and implementing employee and customer measurement systems.

Throughout his career, Sean has worked with such firms as: Corus Entertainment, CBC Radio, Armtec Income Fund, Bayer Canada, Arthritis Society, Athabasca University, Calgary Airport Authority, Canon Canada, City of Edmonton, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Western Bank, Deloitte, EPCOR Utilities, Erb Transport, Foresters, Geosoft, Great West Life, House of Commons, McMaster University, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ontario Medical Association, SickKids, Stantec, Surescripts, CSA Group, Guelph Community Health Centre, Legal Aid Alberta, Lifelabs, MacKenzie Financial, QNX Software Systems, Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), SaskWater, Unison Health Center, Canada Post and other public and crown corporations to name a few.

His extensive experience across multiple industries with various organizations of all sizes gives him a particular insight into how organizations work and how they can improve and change as they grow. In addition, to growing and developing TalentMap, Sean sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance). CATA is Canada’s leading and most influential entrepreneurial technology alliance. Sean has also authored a number of articles on measurement in the workplace and he enjoys presenting on the topic.

He recently completed authoring Employee Engagement for Dummies, in which he discusses some of his research findings and practical experience anecdotes, as well as TalentMap’s 7 steps to successful engagement surveys, based on their surveying best practices. The popularity of his book will see a new version published in the fall of 2016

In today’s fast-moving world many people are overwhelmed by rapid changes and difficult problems. It’s not what happens to us but what we do about it — how we respond — that makes a world of difference. It’s all about perspective or how we frame difficult situations. These mindsets and approaches are contagious. They determine the quality of our personal and professional lives and workplace health. A central theme of this session is that leadership is an action not a position.

We all need to be leaders regardless of our formal title or role. This starts with inner self leadership and moves outward to influence, guide, support, and lead others .

Since his first leadership presentation in 1975, Jim’s practical leadership approaches have been inspiring action and achieving results across the globe. His keynote presentations, workshops, management team retreats, seven best-selling books translated into many languages, articles, blog, and newsletters have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Jim is a popular columnist and a regular guest on radio and television programs.

Jim is recognized as a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) by the Canadian Society for Training and Development. Jim has been Practitioner in Residence for the masters (MASc) and doctoral (PhD) students in the University of Waterloo’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program.