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Fireside Chat (All attendees)
Pat Cashion
Born and educated in Calgary, Pat Cashion holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1977, becoming a partner in a national accounting firm by 1979. In 1981, he founded a management consulting practice, advising organizations on strategy, governance, and performance.
In the early 1990s, Pat was asked to take over a failing venture that was little more than a stock promotion. By securing a first-of-its-kind contract with the Alberta Liquor Control Board and building strategic partnerships with Owens Corning and Johns Manville, he transformed the idea into Vitreous Glass—designing and launching a glass-crushing facility in Airdrie that has operated profitably since 1995. The company remains a long-standing example of turning stalled concepts into sustainable businesses through disciplined execution and stakeholder alignment.
Alongside his business career, Pat has led numerous community and public-interest organizations, including as Chair of CUPS, Chair of the Alberta College of Art and Design, and chair of a coalition of seniors’ service agencies advocating for policy change. Grounded by a long-standing partnership with his wife, Meredith, and a close-knit family of four grown children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren, he brings a practical, human perspective to leadership conversations. That perspective is shaped by entrepreneurship, governance, service, and the realities of balancing responsibility at work and at home.
Darcy Forbes
Darcy Forbes began his career at Vitreous Glass working in the maintenance department and completing his journeyman millwright certification through the company’s training program. Over the following years, he played a central role in modernizing the production facility: doubling throughput, addressing critical safety and air-quality challenges, and significantly reducing operational downtime.
In 2006, Darcy stepped in as interim manager during a leadership transition and was soon appointed permanently. Under Pat Cashion’s leadership, the organization has maintained a strong commitment to continuous learning. This environment enabled Darcy to earn an Executive MBA from the University of Calgary, supporting his progression from operations management into executive leadership and partnership with Pat. He has since further strengthened his governance expertise by completing the ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Darcy is currently Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vitreous Glass, with full responsibility for all day-to-day operations. In recognition of his leadership and impact, he was named the 2024 Airdrie Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year, an award Pat Cashion was the inaugural recipient of in 2010.
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Workshop 1 (Option A)
Clayton Faulk
Clayton Falk, M.A., Registered Psychologist and Canadian Certified Counsellor with Airdrie Counselling Centre and Effective Solutions Counselling and Consulting Inc.
Clayton is the founder and co-owner of Effective Solutions Counselling and Consulting Inc., and the co-founder and co-owner of Airdrie Counselling Centre Inc. He has led and grown these practices since 2011, bringing more than fourteen years of leadership experience and over seventeen years of counselling experience to his work.
His professional journey began in the electrical trade, which shaped his practical, grounded approach to therapy. Clayton has also served as a volunteer and paid-on-call firefighter and emergency medical responder with the former Airdrie Emergency Services, and as a correctional officer and youth correctional service worker. These roles strengthened his understanding of human resilience, adversity, and the complex realities people face.
Throughout his career, Clayton has supported children, youth, adults, couples, families, and organizations. He now focuses on counselling adults and couples, drawing on his depth of knowledge, understanding of human behaviour, and empathy to help clients create meaningful and lasting change in their lives and relationships.
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Workshop 1 (Option B)
Margaret Palmer
With experience spanning 30 years and involving thousands of people from more than 40 different countries around the world, Margaret brings a unique perspective and deep understanding to the conversation about what it means to communicate and lead effectively. She believes deeply in the potential and capacity of every human being and emphasizes the need to make sure people feel valued and appreciated. That said, Margaret has little patience for “fluff,” is not big on scripts and formulas in communication, and has been labeled the “least touchy-feely” trainer many have encountered in the field of Leadership and Communication. Margaret’s acclaimed I Care, You Count Principle®, developed through her work over the past two decades, has found success from the breakfast table to the battlefield to the boardroom while working with groups spanning multiple sectors from corporate to non-profit to military. Margaret is committed to helping others create possibility one conversation at a time, and her passion and dedication to growing inspired and engaged communities is infectious. When training and speaking, Margaret uses an experiential and interactive approach, drawing on her extensive international exposure and using personal stories and anecdotes to complement current literature and practices. She has helped thousands of people, from independent entrepreneurs to military generals, become stronger, more effective communicators and more powerful leaders. When followed correctly, her Five Practices will open up the possibility of success in both personal and professional relationships beyond your wildest imagining.
Margaret holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Training and has completed work towards a Masters in Security, Defence Management and Policy. She is a private pilot, holds a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, and enjoys running, sailing, kayaking, hiking and travelling. She currently lives near Calgary, Alberta with her husband Ryan and their daughters Kennedy and Makenna.
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Workshop 2 (Option A)
Jay Raymundo
Jay Raymundo is a corporate wellness strategist, fitness entrepreneur, and community leader with over 15 years of experience designing impactful wellness programs for organizations across Canada. A graduate of the Asper School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Jay is the founder of NRG Fitness Inc. and a recognized leader in workplace wellness innovation. Since 2008, he has partnered with companies such as Caneda, Cole, Purolator, Trimac, Flynt, Sport Chek, Canadian Tire, Marks, and Agrium to deliver customized wellness solutions that drive engagement, retention, and performance. As a former Executive Board Member of the Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jay brings a unique blend of business acumen, community insight, and hands-on experience to every initiative he leads.
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Workshop 2 (Option B)
gregT
GregT is a web designer, entrepreneur, and communicator with more than three decades of experience helping people say what they actually mean. He’s the founder of The Image Stop and the author of Stop Being So Damned Canadian, a book that challenges polite habits and replaces them with honest, direct communication that builds stronger relationships.
Known for his mix of humour, straight talk, and practical strategies, gregT helps leaders, teams, and organizations cut through noise and communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose.