Rise CPA @ Tri-Cities Economic Summit 2022

We were happy to be a part of this year’s Economic Summit organized by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. The event topic this year was “The Labor Force and The Future of Work.” The panelists had lively discussions about recent disruptions in the labor market due to COVID and its effect on businesses. Our own Rise CPA Managing Partner, Adam Plank gave the welcome speech and introduced the keynote speaker, Vaughn Palmer.  

Vaughn is Vancouver Sun’s Provincial Political Columnist. Mr. Palmer has examined an extensive range of issues, personalities and scandals that have come to define BC’s political scene. His insights on the current political climate in BC and its effect on labor and housing were remarkable.

Economic Summit 1

He then moderated a panel discussion with the following speakers:  

  • Dr. Kathy Denton – President and CEO at Douglas College. Kathy has published papers on self-deception, moral reasoning, social support, and leadership.  
  • Adel Gamar – Co-Founder and CEO at GLG Ltd, a boutique leadership and management consultancy. He served as an education specialist at UNESCO and policy fellow at Harvard Law School. 
  • Jerry Gratton – CPO and Co-Founder at Trailblaze Partners. He has owned four businesses and helped countless others realize the benefits of a highly engaged culture.  
  • Kari Lamotte – General Manager at Envol Strategies, a boutique talent acquisition and employee experience firm. She is an active mentor and advisor to founders and business leaders across Canada.  
Economic Summit 2

After a Q&A session, the final speaker took the stage. Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist from the BC Real Estate Association. Brendon specializes in housing market analysis and macroeconomic forecasting. He has authored several BCREA monthly and quarterly publications and was recently named one of the most influential economists in BC by Business in Vancouver Magazine. His presentation was both informative on the state of the current housing market and entertaining. 

We thank everyone for taking the time to join us at the Economic Summit and we hope to return next year.  

Your Business. New Heights. 

Rise CPA provides professional accounting, tax and business advice to help you make the right decisions at the right time. Since 1979, we’ve been helping clients create businesses and lifestyles they envision by delivering expert insights and financial guidance. At Rise, we excel at advising business owners and their families in a caring and personal way. Our services cover a wide range of Tax Planning, Auditing, Accounting, Estate Planning, and Business Advisory. Please call (604) 936-4377 or use the online contact form to book an appointment with one of our accounting professionals.