2023 Women Driven Event Speakers & Hosts

Thunder Bay September 14

The Factory Image by Scott Webb Photography

Toronto September 21

The Factory Image by Scott Webb Photography

Toronto Guest Speaker

Jennifer Valentyne, Television Personality

Jennifer Valentyne has been a TV and radio morning show host in Toronto for over 25 years. She’s best known as a former host of Breakfast Television, Global News Morning, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette After Show, Movie Date, Q107’s morning radio show, and The Parenting Show. With her infectious enthusiasm, Valentyne will inspire Women Driven attendees to reach their full potential.

Over the course of her career, Valentyne has interviewed celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Billy Crystal, Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, and Harrison Ford, but her passion has always been for people in the community. She has an exceptional gift of unearthing their fascinating stories and sharing them in a meaningful way.

In 2017, Valentyne launched the Mother Daughter Date online community with her daughter, Georgia. It has since reached over 10 million video views across social media. She also hosts The Mother Daughter Date podcast.

Toronto Dealer Host

Laura Zanchin
Principal and Executive Vice President with the Zanchin Automotive Group

Barrie Guest Speaker

Bev Goodman, President and CEO at Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited

Bev Goodman is president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, appointed to the position in February 2021. She leads Ford of Canada’s operations across the country, including a national headquarters, three regional offices, three vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, two parts distribution centres, two R&D sites, and three Connectivity and Innovation centres. Ford employs approximately 7,000 people in Canada, while an additional 18,000 people are employed in the more than 400 Ford and Ford-Lincoln dealerships across the country.

Goodman began her career at Ford of Canada in 1996 as an intern on the finance team and has remained with the company ever since. Over the past 25 years, Goodman has served in a variety of functions including finance, parts and service, and sales and marketing. She previously held the role of general manager in the eastern market area, and most recently was Ford of Canada’s director of marketing communications. Goodman completed her undergraduate degree at Queens University prior to completing her Master of Business Administration at McMaster University.

Barrie Dealer Host

Christy Fines, General Manager at 400 Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ltd

Ottawa Guest Speaker

Chi Nguyen, Executive Director of Equal Voice Canada

Chi is on a lifelong mission to challenge the way “gender” impacts the work, home, and schooling of Canadians. She continues to model to both of her sons the balance of parenting and professional life so that they can see women bringing their whole selves to work. Chi is a community engagement expert, public policy nerd, and specialist for gender equality and inclusion.

She has worked for some of Canada’s most respected institutions and charitable organizations to develop public policy, engage citizens, and end systemic and cultural inequality. Recently, Chi was a provincial candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in the riding of Spadina-Fort York. In 2019-2020, she was the inaugural Director of Social Innovation Canada, a new national network to support social innovators to roll up their sleeves and make sure that our planet is protected and that people reach their full potentials. Chi has also received the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons’ Case (2004) and YWCA Toronto’s Young Woman of Distinction Award (1999).

Our traditional ways of solving problems are not enough to deal with the intractable problems of the day. What we need now is courage to experiment, to learn from our successes and failures and to keep pushing ahead.

Ottawa Host

Kristine Fair,Mike Fair Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Ltd

London Guest Speaker

Christine Mitchell, President of The Car Lady Canada

Christine’s relationship with the industry started early with a passion for knowledge she was a licensed technician and has since built a company in the automotive space from the ground up. Armed with extensive knowledge and a dedication to education, she is an advocate for women in automotive and has been a mentor to many. She recently spoke at Ford Canada’s event on The Habits of Success.

London Dealer Hosts

Amy Schlueter, Vice-President, Schlueter Group

Amy Schlueter is a successful entrepreneur and lifelong learner. She earned her MA in history from the University of Waterloo before joining her family’s business as a 3rd generation automotive retailer. Her career started in the parts department and she worked her way up to become an executive leader within the organization.

During her time in the automotive industry, Amy developed a range of skills in leadership, organizational culture, training, strategy, and customer experience. In 2008 Amy was honoured to be ranked #10 on the PROFIT W100 list, Canada’s largest celebration of entrepreneurial achievement by women. She also gained valuable experience outside of the industry, co-creating Girl Possible, an empowerment program for 6-9 year olds that worked to help broaden their understanding of self, friendship, and teamwork.

Kelly Schlueter, Vice-President, at Schlueter Hyundai & GM at Genesis Kitchener-Waterloo

Kelly Schlueter has grown up in the automotive industry and is the third generation of her family to be in the business. Born and raised in Waterloo, Kelly earned a BA from Queen’s University and a Diploma in Public Relations from Humber College. She is currently Vice-President at Schlueter Hyundai and General Manager at Genesis Kitchener-Waterloo.  Outside of work Kelly enjoys reading, cooking and curling and loves spending time with her husband, two kids and their Portuguese Water Dog, Rio.

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