NAPA AUTOPRO National Convention

Master of Ceremonies

David Myles

Singer-songwriter David Myles will be the MC for the NAPA AUTOPRO’s 40th anniversary celebrations!

Having lived in Halifax for many years, David recently returned to his hometown in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Known for his folk-jazz style and eclectic collaborations, he is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Juno for Instrumental Album of the Year in 2022. He is also a collaborator of rapper Classified and their song “Inner Ninja,” recently went 6X Platinum. David has hosted many events, the popular East Coast Music Hour show on CBC, and currently has his own podcast, Myles From Home.

In addition to being a skilled storyteller, David is perfectly bilingual and will be leading our plenary sessions as well as our Saturday evening gala.

Keynote speaker

Jim Harris

Jim Harris is a world-class keynote speaker. He gives talks and offers consulting services on leadership, corporate change management, customer relationships, innovation, and green transition, among others.

A prolific author, Jim has published many books, including the bestsellers Blindsided! and The Learning Paradox, which offer different perspectives on how we can adapt to disruptive technological innovations. We only need to think of the growing importance of online sales to understand that we, too, must adapt to new realities in our sector of activity.

Our industry is also undergoing other changes that we will soon have to face, especially when we consider the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles and the development of autonomous vehicles. Jim will talk about the challenges facing our industry and how we can prepare not just to meet them, but to take advantage of them as well!

Keynote speaker

Tareq Hadhad

Tareq Hadhad left his native Syria in 2012, after his home and family chocolate company were destroyed by the war. He arrived in Nova Scotia with his family in 2016, and has since become one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs in Canada.

For Tareq, entrepreneurship is a way to connect with his community and be a vehicle for positive change. The adventure may not be easy, but it is always rewarding. Driven by a desire to relaunch his family business with a focus on philanthropy, he opened Peace by Chocolate. Based in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the business currently ships its products all over North America and to other parts of the world as well.

A model of leadership, empathy, social responsibility and resilience, Tareq will share his entrepreneurial expertise as well as his vision of the role of businesses within their community.

Keynote speaker

Jon Tattrie

Jon Tattrie has been fascinated by Halifax since his ancestors arrived here in 1752. Well, his own interest started more recently, but his passion for his home stretches back beyond its founding and into all of its modern marvels. His biography of a Mi’kmaw elder unlocked the ancient Mi’kmaw history of Kjipuktuk, or the Great Harbour. He dug deep into the archives to write the definitive account of the city’s founding and will tell you about how they built the first roads and began connecting Halifax to the wider world.

He’s written a novel set in the Halifax Explosion and can tell you what you would have seen outside on that dreadful day in 1917. From his biography of Eddie Carvery, one of the greatest political protesters in Canadian history, he will bring you the lost world of Africville. Halifax will become your home.

Jon Tattrie is the editor of Atlantic Books Today and the author of two novels and six nonfiction books, including Black Snow: A Novel of the Halifax Explosion, and Peace by Chocolate: The Hadhad family’s remarkable journey from Syria to Canada.

Simon Boulanger

Simon Boulanger is a strategic planner and partner at Reservoir Advertising and Consulting, an agency he co-founded in 2005. The brains behind NAPA communications since 2017, Simon developed the advertising strategy that showcases the NAPA Auto Parts and NAPA AUTOPRO banners during National Hockey League television broadcasts. The synergy between the two brands is the reason NAPA dominates this prestigious national property. Simon has also contributed to the success of other major brands in Canada, having worked with advertisers such as General Motors, Petro-Canada, CPA Canada, the Barreau du Québec, and Bayer. He has been fascinated with brands for over 30 years and believes they can “create a lasting connection with consumers when fuelled by enthusiasm and bold thinking.”

The power of strong brands

Many experts suggest that brands are a company’s most valuable assets. Brands maximize their value when they’re able to establish a strong emotional bond with consumers, forging a relationship of trust that goes deeper than the company’s products and services. Drawing on NAPA’s latest research data, Simon explores why advertising is crucial to building the trust that characterizes strong brands and how it can persuade consumers to try a product or service for the first time. Ultimately, the value of a strong brand lies in its ability to foster loyalty among consumers that has a lasting impact on the success of the company and its partners.

David Barnett

David C Barnett has been working with small- and medium-sized businesses for over 20 years and has been helping people buy and sell them since 2008. He’s helped several auto-repair businesses change hands in his work as a business broker and consultant. Barnett has also written seven books on the topics of buying and selling businesses, which are available on Amazon. He hosts a YouTube channel with over 500 videos on the topics of buying, selling, financing, and managing small businesses.

Thinking of selling your business: Here’s what you need to know

At the NAPA AUTOPRO convention, Barnett will be taking attendees through a case study of what the selling process looks like, how long it can take, the timelines for preparation and what to expect an offer from a qualified buyer to look like. One of the biggest reasons small businesses don't sell in a timely manner is because many inexperienced business sellers don't know how to recognize a realistic offer.

Murray Voth

Murray Voth spent 20 years as an owner and operator of service stations with repair bays. During that time, he trained extensively and provided dealer development training for several large oil companies. From 2006 to 2018, Murray was head trainer and coach for a large Canadian automotive aftermarket training company. In 2018, he formed RPM Training and launched RPM Mastermind Groups and his SMART course. Currently, his business is growing faster than ever due to today’s challenging demands on our industry. RPM Training is now offering the 3-day SMART course live in person as well as online.

Is Your Business Healthy?

Many shop owners track their sales, and expenses, and maybe even their margins on a monthly basis. That is helpful to find out what happened, but it is not enough information to find out how to improve it. In this breakout session you will Learn how to test the health of your business in 15 minutes. Using a handful of business numbers and the NAPA AUTOPRO Health Check Tool you will find what you need to improve your business health and implement changes instantly.

Musical Performance

SQUID

The band SQUID will open the gala celebrations on Saturday evening with a frenzied musical performance! This Nova Scotian group transforms traditional bagpipe and drum music into a multi-sensory rush of excitement. Come dance with us!

Musical Performance

uRequest Live

The interactive music group uRequest Live will provide the tunes for a dance party where you control the playlist! Submit your song requests online, and uRequest Live will take care of the rest.

Welcome cocktail at Cable Wharf

We kick off the festivities at the cozy Cable Wharf with a welcome cocktail so you can relax and get to know the other attendees. Located on one of the waterfront wharfs, this place offers a breathtaking view of the beautiful harbor of Halifax with the city in the background.