"The Wealthy Barber", David Chilton

Dave Chilton is an economics graduate and in 1985 won the prestigious H.L. Gassard Memorial Award for achieving the highest score in the country on the Canadian Securities Course. Despite that, he's actually a fun guy. In fact, his forte is taking the intimidation out of financial planning by wrapping it in humour and accessible illustrations. The Wealthy Barber, Canada's all-time bestselling book, is the most well-known example of Dave's teaching techniques. The book's "novel" format has opened the personal-finance door to hundreds of thousands of Canadian households. Maclean's magazine reports "...30 years from now Chilton could be best remembered not as a bestselling author, but as the man who inspired thousands to save their way to prosperity."

Dave has also hosted two critically acclaimed specials on PBS where the Chicago Sun-Times describes his performance as "charming, unpretentious, and funny." (He loves that quote!) More recently Dave donned a new hat and published the low-fat cookbooks, Looneyspoons and Crazy Plates. They, too, have gone on to top national bestseller lists.

Dave is now engrossed in a new venture, Crazy Plates Meal Kits. Dave, along with Janet and Greta Podleski (the bestselling cookbook authors), have created low-fat, great-tasting, complete meal kits which are available in the frozen aisle at all A&P banner supermarkets. This is a true David versus Goliath story as the Crazy Plates' team takes on the multi-national, billion-dollar food companies. How did Dave go from RRSPs to importing pineapple from Costa Rica? It's a truly fascinating story.

The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton has accomplished a "publishing impossible" by selling over 2 million copies in North America. More than ten years after it was first published it still appears regularly on bestseller lists. The reason for its sustained popularity? It provides financial education in an entertaining and understandable format.
The Wealthy Barber is not full of new techniques, complex strategies, nor get-rich-quick-or-even-semi-quick schemes. Instead it focuses on the financial planning basics that, over time, have proven to be effective. It's primarily common sense—common sense that, unfortunately, in our society is not common knowledge. By using a "novel" format and strong doses of humour, Chilton has taken the intimidation and boredom out of the financial-education experience.

This is truly a great Canadian success story. From a family project, self-published in the basement of Dave Chilton's house, The Wealthy Barber has gone on to become an internationally recognized brand name, helping millions of people on its way.

Michael S. Snow

Michael S. Snow has been the Executive Director of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) since 1999, where he oversees the Council's promotional programs around the globe, and manages AHEC's overseas offices in Europe, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Previously, he served as AHEC's Program Manager for Europe, China and Japan.

In his presentation, Michael will provide his insight on the Global demand for North American Hardwoods. He will focus on the threats and opportunities both in North America and abroad.

Russell Taylor

Russell Taylor 's experience in the forest industry has included that of a forester (in the 1970s), lumber manufacturing and marketing (in the 1980s), as well as strategic business and marketing consulting with WOOD MARKETS in the 1990s and to-date. Mr. Taylor conducts wood products marketing analysis and business investment projects for numerous global industry clients and across North America. Mr. Taylor and his team travel extensively and conduct research and analysis throughout North America and in many dynamic global regions, including Russia, China, Asia and throughout the Southern Hemisphere and Europe.
                        
Russell’s presentation will address the following questions specific to the Softwood lumber sector:

• Where are the Canadian market opportunities and what will it take to initiate or exploit them? And, where are the highest priced markets (there are some!)?
• European softwood exporters to the US – down for the count or on the comeback? What is going with the Germans?
• Cost competitiveness trends – which North American regions are facing the most cost pressure?
• Strategies in a weak market – industry vs. company strategies, including having the right market intelligence and mill flexibility.
• When will the upturn likely occur?