National Race Director Summit

Saturday January 25, 2025

8:00am - 5:00pm

(plus post event cocktails and appetizers 5:00-7:00pm)

Centennial College Event Centre

Again in 2025, Athletics Ontario is excited to welcome race directors and key influencers in our running community to collaborate on best practices in effective event hosting, marketing, management, safety and execution in the running industry.

Hosted at the beautiful Centennial College Event Center, with delicious food, and elaborate space to allow for a comfortable and collaborative day filled with knowledge sharing to help you execute the best race possible.

As always, the day will end with a social cocktail hour, sponsored this year by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc!

Location: Centennial College Event Centre

Price: (includes HST, light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail hour and appetizers, and a cozy T-Shirt compliments of Axis Gear)

$120 CAD

Live Streaming Option

We know that nothing beats in-person collaboration for its opportunity to interact, engage, and collaborate. We also know that not everyone can attend in person. To ensure all those interested can benefit from the workshops/sessions, we are offering a live streaming option for those unable to join us in Toronto.

$40 Live Virtual Access (recording will be made available for both virtual and in person registrants)

Topics

The format will be a combination of presentations and breakout sessions. Below (not limited to) are the general topics to be discussed:

• Sponsorship
• Marketing
• Creating Great Content With Generative AI
• Event safety
• Breakout sessions (road specific and trail specific)
• Building diverse community through clubs and races
• Q&A

General Timeline

Final schedule will be sent to all registered participants on Thursday January 23, 2025

8:00am: Registration, light breakfast, mix and mingle

12:30pm Full Lunch

5:00pm Group Photo

5:00-7:00pm Cocktails and appetizers, mix and mingle sponsored by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc.

Emcee

Steve Fleck, Race and Event Announcer

Steve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports Race/Event Announcers in North America. Each year he is on the Microphone at over 35 running, cycling and triathlon races. He's also an in-demand Commentator in the fast-growing Live Streaming Sports webcasting business, for running, and cycling races - working closely with both Athletics Canada and Cycling Canada in this area. He's been involved in running, triathlon and cycling in one way or another since his mid-teens, as a participant/competitor and in business. He lives in Aurora, Ontario with his wife

Facilitators

Phil Dumontet - CEO Brooksee

Phil Dumontet is the CEO of Brooksee, one of the largest endurance events companies in the US, producing nine premier events and hosting 50,000 participants annually, including the Portland Marathon, Las Vegas Marathon, Mesa Marathon, and the REVEL Race Series. He is also the founder of Boulderthon, Colorado’s fastest-growing race and one of the fastest-growing marathons in the country.

In addition to expanding Brooksee’s world-class event portfolio, Dumontet spearheads the go-to-market strategy and launch of Brooksee’s new AI-driven timing technology, Laurel. This groundbreaking technology offers the world's most advanced live tracking, with timing checkpoints down to the tenth of a mile, as well as AI-driven commentary and highlight reels, enhanced safety measures, and course-cutting prevention.

Recognized nationally for his achievements and contributions to strengthen and grow the sport of running, Dumontet has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Boulder Valley 40 Under 40. He is also a contributor to The Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business Insider, Fast Company, and Inc. Magazine. Dumontet’s passion for the endurance sports industry is fueled by his own athletic pursuits, as he is a 17-time marathoner with a personal best of 2:42 for the 26.2-mile distance.

Kris Mychasiw - Sponsorship Advisor & Founder, Parea Group

Kris is a Strategic Sponsorship Advisor and Founder of Parea Group, a boutique agency specializing in sponsorship and revenue generation within sports and entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, he’s known as an industry innovator who prides himself on "making something out of nothing" by developing groundbreaking partnerships and creating new sponsorship categories.

As a pivot to better understand the digital space, Kris took on the role of Head of Global Partnerships and Sales at Gamelancer Media Corp., the largest social gaming community in North America. In this position, he strategically leveraged Gamelancer’s 40-million-strong Gen Z and Millennial audience, crafting impactful collaborations that drove brand growth and positioned Gamelancer as a powerhouse in gaming and digital media.

Previously, as Senior Director of Partnerships for Groupe CH, Kris spearheaded North America's first cryptocurrency partnership in professional sports and built a $40M portfolio with brands like CIBC, RONA, and Crypto.com. In 2024, he led sponsorships for Athletics Canada's Olympic Trials, partnering with brands like Pizza Salvatore, Cozey, and Organika.

His career reflects a blend of strategic foresight and creativity, expanding brands' reach across iconic properties like the Montreal Canadiens, OSHEAGA, the Presidents Cup, and Laval Rocket.

Fun Fact: Kris’s ingenuity is evident in his transformation of the "Beer Mile" into a sponsored phenomenon, and he even booked runner Lewis Kent on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, showcasing his knack for turning niche opportunities into high-profile moments.

Reid Coolseat - Olympian, Coach

Reid is a 2-time Olympian and 14-time Canadian champion at distances from the 5k to the marathon. After his last marathon in April of 2021 he started to focus on trail ultra marathons, winning his first one just a few months later (QMT 110km). Reid remains deeply embedded in myriad facets of the running community: he is the founder of Coolsaet Go, a personal run coaching service, and of Bayfront Endurance, a free run group in Hamilton, ON. Most recently, Reid served as the manager of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Elite Athlete Hospitality Program

Molly Hurford

Molly Hurford is a writer in love with all things running, cycling, nutrition and movement-related. When not outside, she's almost definitely writing about being outside or interviewing other athletes. She's the co-host of the weekly Consummate Athlete podcast, author of the Shred Girls series, and founder of Strong Girl Publishing. She frequently writes for outlets like Canadian Running and Bicycling Magazine, and in her spare time, races ultras.

Melanie Murzeau - Black Runners of the GTA, Founder

As the driving force behind Black Runners of the GTA, Melanie Murzeau is more than a runner; she’s a catalyst for change. What began as a love affair with running has blossomed into a movement centered on inclusion. Established in 2020, Black Runners of the GTA is a vibrant tapestry of diversity and resilience that holds space for a community of runners by building spaces where everyone belongs; finding joy in movement; and watching this community flourish.

Melanie is a Community Ambassador for Canada Running Series, a former Ambassador for the Pride & Remembrance Run, and is the founder and planning partner for the Scarborough 5K.

Anoke Dunston - Canadian Community and Event Specialist, On

Anoke /”Ahh noke”/ Dunston is a co-founder of Ubuntu, a Toronto-based non-profit initiative focused on improving access to outdoor spaces for BIPOC communities. Together with co-founders Quinton Jacobs and André Morgan, Anoke helps lead “The Fewer Roads” program, which organizes trail runs for people of color to break barriers in outdoor recreation. Ubuntu also runs a Monthly Meals program, providing community support through volunteer-cooked meals for those in need. Their work promotes inclusivity, transportation access, and a sense of belonging in the outdoors.

Kevin Jones, Odyssey Medical

Kevin Jones is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Odyssey Medical. Odyssey provides event medical and risk management services for the mass gathering industry in Canada. Kevin has extensive experience in risk management, emergency communication and event operations. Kevin’s experience spans from remote wilderness expeditions to large scale urban events. He has led event medical programs for many large obstacle course events, live music events and triathlons. Building on a background in insurance and education, he is committed to evidence based decision making and systems development.

David Basacco - Race Roster, COO Race Roster - State of the Industry

After spending six years working with Race Roster at an agency level, David joined the company in April of 2022. He now serves as the COO of Race Roster & ASICS Apps helping oversee registration operations globally as well as the ASICS Runkeeper app.

Pei-Shan Hsia - Senior Product Manager

Ronald Caughlin - President and Managing Partner at BRAND>eD

Ron has over 25 years of marketing, digital and brand experience in both the agency and client side of the business working with Destination Ontario (OTMPC)/ Director, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) / Director, DQ /VP and The TDL Group Corp. (Tim Hortons) Regional Director. His area of expertise includes marketing, brand strategy, digital, public relations, sports marketing, and social media. Ron is currently a Professor at George Brown College and the President and Managing Partner at BRAND>eD, a brand marketing and digital marketing agency. Ron works with many Travel Tourism and Sports organizations as a strategic brand and digital resource. Ron led some very notable clients, including McDonald’s, DQ, and Microsoft Xbox 360, Moosehead, GoodLife Fitness, Laura Secord, CTC, RIM, Atlantic Lotteries and Parks Canada. Ron is no stranger to Athletics Ontario, as a 4-time OUAA Triple Jump and Team Champion, 2-time CIAU champion and silver medalist and gold medalist at the Ontario Summer Games.

Kate Van Buskirk, Road & Trail Running Coordinator, Athletics Ontario

Kate Van Buskirk is a 2020 Olympian who spent 17 years as a member of the Canadian National Team. During this time she was a 3-time Canadian Champion, set a Canadian record, and won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Prior to her professional career, she was an NCAA All-American and Team Captain for Duke University in North Carolina.

Kate served as a member of the Athletics Canada Board of Directors from 2019-2022, and is a passionate advocate for mental health and gender equality in sport. In recent years, she has become a prominent voice in sport media: she is a CBC Sports analyst, a commentator for Canadian and American professional broadcasts, a live stadium P.A. announcer, and was the host and producer of Canadian Running Magazine's The Shakeout Podcast for 5 years. Kate is thrilled to continue her passionate work in helping to grow and improve athletics in Ontario through this role.

Paul Osland, CEO Athletics Ontario

Paul has been a competitive athlete in the sport of Athletics for a number of years. He was a member of the Canadian National team (1987-1992) at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and many other international events. He currently holds the Ontario Open Indoor 600m record, which he set back in 1985.

Paul brings a wide-range of experience in business development and corporate experience combined with his entrepreneurial venture capital experience, and these skills will help him drive the continued development and promotion of athletics in Ontario. Additionally, he has 25 plus years of progressively responsible leadership roles in both the business world and athletics community.

Sheryl Preston, Associate Manager Road & Trail Running Athletics Ontario

Sheryl is the primary organizer of this event. With Athletics Ontario, Sheryl helps to build bridges in the road and trail running community provincially, and nationally. She connects race directors, clubs, athletes and members with credible resources to ensure the safety and accuracy of events with the ultimate goal to increase participation in our sport of running. Providing provincial sanctioning and race day insurance is also a large portion of her role. As a retired Canadian national team rower and having completed over 20 road marathons/ultramarathons throughout Canada and the US, and as a member of a few running clubs in Ontario and BC, Sheryl deeply appreciates the positive impact that races and our connected running community can have.