True Confessions Speakers for 2010

Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music Group
Terry McBride is the CEO and one of three founders of the Nettwerk Music Group, which includes Nettwerk Productions (Canada's largest independent record label), Nettwerk Management (artist and producer management), Nettwerk One (publishing), and Artwerks (graphic and fashion design). Founded in McBride’s apartment in 1984, Nettwerk has corporate offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Boston, Hamburg and London. Over the years Nettwerk Management has helped develop the careers of Avril Lavigine, Barenaked Ladies, Coldplay, Dido, Jars of Clay, Jamiroquai, Katherine Jenkins, Sarah McLachlan, Stereophonics and Sum 41 among many others.

Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of Gap Adventures
In 1990, Bruce Poon Tip founded Gap Adventures in order to deliver an authentic travel experience to travellers, who, like himself, craved adventures that went beyond all-inclusive resorts.  He started the company with 2 credit cards when no bank was willing to give him a loan. Since then, Gap Adventures has grown to become a world leader in adventure travel, offering more than 1,000 small group experiences on all seven continents to more than 100,000 travellers a year.  Gap Adventures' revenue now totals over $150 million and the company has offices around the world.

 
Tami Simon, Founder of Sounds True
Tami Simon is the founder of Sounds True, a multi-media publisher dedicated to disseminating spiritual wisdom. Over their 22 year history, Sounds True has produced over 600 titles, been nominated twice for the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing companies, and is North America's leading publisher of spoken-word spiritual teachings.

Past SVI speakers have included:

David Berge, Underdog Ventures
Adrienne Maree Brown, The Ruckus Society
Mark Deutschmann, Village Real Estate
Amy Domini, Domini Social Investments
Mark Finser, RSF Social Finance
Margot Franssen, Body Shop Canada
Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm
Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation
Valerie Hussey, Kids Can Press
Alice Klein, Now Magazine
Susan Kurz, Dr. Hauschka Skincare
David Levi, Working Opportunity Fund
Julia & Ed Levy, QLT Inc.
Alison Lawton, Mindset Media
Lisa Lorimer, Vermont Bread Company
Drummond Pike, Tides Foundation
Jonathan Poneman, Sub Pop Records
Bruce Poon Tip, G.A.P. Adventures
Russel Precious, Capers
Peter Robinson, Mountain Equipment Co-Op
Peter Roy, Whole Food Markets
Aqueela Sherills, CSDI
Greg Steltenpohl, Odwalla
Nina Utne, Utne Reader
Julius Walls, Greyston Bakery
Judy Wicks, White Dog Cafe
Bill Young, Social Capital Partners
Tamara Vrooman, Vancity
Aaron Lamstein, WorldWise
Arran and Ratana Stephens, Nature's Path

"I appreciated that the participants came from such a variety of industries, causes, and walks of life. There were small entrepreneurs and large real estate developers and investors. However, the atmosphere created by SVI and Hollyhock created a sense of fellowship and solidarity amongst all the participants. I felt I could sit down and strike up a conversation with anyone in the room. Everyone was willing to listen, help, and contribute to each other."

-SVI 2009 Participant