Speakers 2026

Michael Vickers

Executive Director

Summit Learning Systems

Michael Vickers inspires success! Michael redefines the possible for sales professionals, leaders, and managers. Whatever the sales or business opportunity, Michael will enhance the odds. Every person who has an idea to promote, a team to motivate, or a competitor to challenge will attain a new level of success after an event with Michael. Whatever result you are striving for, if it involves influencing others, or achieving success through others, Michael will build your confidence and accelerate your team's performance.

A popular speaker, consultant and educator, Michael coaches thousands of professionals across Canada and the United States, every year to grow individual and organizational performance. Summit Learning Systems, Michael's training organization, brings leading-edge strategies to clients in every sector of the North American economy.

Michael's success is completely grounded in and built on his personal experience. A consummate entrepreneur, Michael is a graduate of his own franchised retailing enterprise, a manufacturing and distribution company, and a highly successful publishing venture. A ceaseless innovator, Michael is constantly researching leading companies, searching for best practices, and distilling the experience of success, many of which can be found in his best-selling books entitled, "Becoming Preferred: How to Outsell Your Competition", and "Dance of the Rainmaker: Creating Authentic Differentiation in Today's Competitive Marketplace".

Michael also shares weekly insights as the host of the podcast, "Becoming Preferred," available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Michael's unique gift is his mastery of the art of influence, and his ability to translate that mastery into practical, powerful techniques anyone can use. His presentations are entertaining, intimate and unabashed. He is hilarious in his stories, boundless in his enthusiasm, and relentless in his message that success is available to everyone!

Zack Newton

Senior Director, Investments

Wittington Investments, Ltd

Zack is currently on the investment team at Wittington Investments, Ltd., the holding company for the Weston group of companies. At Wittington, one of his responsibilities includes the Made in Canada program which seeks to make equity or debt investments in companies or projects that improve Canadian food resiliency. Previously he held roles at organizations including Thomvest and Torys and he has served on several boards of directors.

He received a J.D./M.B.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. (Honors) from Cornell University. Zack has been actively involved with several community organizations, including as Vice Chair of Canada’s National Ballet School and as past Co-Chair of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s AGO Next program.