Inspiring keynote-style presentations offering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Located at Saisons Ballroom.
The REDTalks this year will be hosted by
Erik Clevering and Mike Rampf: How to host a party: it started with a simple idea
Erik Clevering (E&V Courtenay) grew up in a small town in the Netherlands, and he knew he wanted to explore the world. During his bachelor degree in sport, management and business at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, he had the opportunity to study abroad. He first went to several countries in Europe, then went down under to the University of Newcastle in Australia, and finally, he did a marketing internship on Vancouver Island. The moment that he arrived on Vancouver Island, he knew that the Netherlands was no longer home. After returning to the Netherlands, finishing his internship and completing his degree with a nomination (from peers and professors) as one of the most outstanding students, Erik started his career as a sales manager at Samsung Mobile. However, Erik and his partner became homesick for Canada; the Netherlands is beautiful, but the mountains were just too far away. In 2015 they moved back to Canada, living first shortly in Vancouver, but moving back permanently to the Comox Valley in 2016. After settling down in the Comox Valley and completing the immigration process, it was time to make the next move. He learned of Engel & Völkers, an international company based out of Germany that had a reputation for quality and integrity. With his European background, sense of professionalism, desire to help people, and interest in real estate, working for Engel & Völkers at its Courtenay location was a natural move.
Sarah Vandenbelt: The Commercial Sector: Residential Real Estate’s Quiet Cousin
Sarah Vandenbelt (Paradigm Commercial Real Estate) is a licensed broker in the commercial real estate industry since 2014. With a family background in real estate, she has thrived in the field and built meaningful client relationships. Sarah’s focus is on serving her clients’ real estate needs and acting as a trusted advisor to private investors, business owners, and non-profit organizations.
She spent four years at Facilities Commercial Realty, where she worked directly for an active investor and property manager. Following her successful tenure at Facilities, Sarah joined Koble Commercial, where she dedicated five years to exclusively working with owner-occupant purchasers and vacant listings.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sarah is also actively involved in volunteer work within her community and industry. She has contributed to organizations such Habitat for Humanity and The Dementia Society. Additionally, she a active board member of Building Owners & Managers Association. Sarah cares deeply about her clients and always seeks to build genuine relationships with them. Her relentless drive, positive attitude, and unique perspective allow her to provide her clients with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
Susie Maloney: How to Negotiate and Influence in Any Situation
Susie Maloney (President, BluBonsai Negotiations) and a member of the DAS SWAT team for commercial transactions, Susie is highly trained in the areas of negotiation and influencing strategy and process. Through using Tactical Empathy, she focuses on reaching the Preferred Outcome by craftfully persuading the other party to willingly choose our preferred outcome as their own.
Often described by clients as their best kept secret, Susie works both the front lines and behind the scenes, around the world with governments, the largest of multi-nationals and conglomerates on high stakes interactions often resolving difficult, multi-lateral issues involving diverse stakeholders with disparate needs.
The tools and techniques, models and frameworks are grounded in research and theory, born from behavioral science and psychology then honed and refined through a highly practical experience-based approach. Susie doesn’t teach nice theories – she discovers fundamental concepts through practical application and the analysis of what works.
She is an adored Keynote Speaker, a frequent Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at the Business School level and an esteemed Judge for the Halloum Negotiation Competition at UC Berkeley, California. She is in the final stages of publishing her first book titled W.I.N. (Women In Negotiation) . W.I.N. is an in-depth analysis and overview of the many ways women can successfully influence and achieve a successful negotiation. W.I.N. examines 5 key negotiation bedrock concepts, what characteristics skilled negotiators exhibit with respect to those concepts and the distinct advantages women have to win in the negotiation arena.
Her ability to see the indisputable uniqueness’ women bring to the influencing process and how they are strengths – or can be – in the negotiation milieu is a great provoking presentation. Susie lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco, California Susie speaks English and French and was on the Canadian Olympic Equestrian Reserve Team 1992.