Opening Keynote
Kelsey Harmon FiNN
Kelsey Harmon Finn serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS).
Kelsey’s vision is to bring business and student development-minded individuals together, believing the out-of-classroom experience is where skills for life are fostered and the student experience thrives. She has committed her career to creating team cultures that have a positive impact on their environment. With a focus on creating highly involved and functional staff teams that provide exceptional services, programs and facilities that foster student success and contribute to the financial health of the institution, she is viewed as an expert in moving the auxiliary services industry forward.
Prior to joining NACAS, Kelsey’s accomplished work history includes over 15 years of progressive experience in higher education. Her time in higher education has been focused on auxiliary services and student services. Kelsey held positions at the University of California Berkeley as the executive director of the ASUC Student Union, University of Nevada Las Vegas as the director of the student union & event services, Illinois State University as a conference & event coordinator and College of DuPage as the tech prep & gender equity coordinator.
Originally from Illinois, Kelsey holds her Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation and Master of Science in Education from Illinois State University in Normal IL. Kelsey and her husband Brian reside in Crozet, Virginia where she enjoys training and competing in triathlons.
Closing Keynote
DiANE J. Brisebois
Diane J. Brisebois is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and has held that position since 1995. Retail Council is the largest retail association in the country representing more than 45,000 retail establishments of all shapes and sizes from coast to coast. RCC`s membership covers all retail segments including general merchandise, fashion, grocery and pharmacy and accounts for more than 70% of all retail sales in the country excluding auto and gas sales.
Diane has been leading retail associations for over 38 years. She is a native of Montreal, Quebec and now resides in Toronto, Ontario. She holds degrees in Social Sciences and Association Leadership Management.
Diane has and continues to serve on several boards across North America:
She currently serves as a Member of the Governance and Finance Committees of the Board of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, as a member of the Board of Stewardship Ontario (Blue Box), the Advisory Boards of the St. Mary’s University David Sobey Centre for Retail, the School of Retailing of the University of Alberta and The Federation of International Retail Associations;
She also served as the Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Society of Association Executives, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, the Fair Factory Clearinghouse and The Federation of International Retail Associations;
In addition, Diane served as a Director on the Board of the Quebec Employers Council, Covenant House Toronto, the School of Retail at Ryerson University, the Business Advisory Board of the World Wildlife Federation and the Capital Fundraising Committee of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation (CAMH).
Diane received the following recognitions:
In 2002 – The Pinnacle Award in recognition of exceptional leadership and outstanding contribution to the association community and the Canadian Society of Association Executives
In 2016 – The Advancing Retail as a Career Award presented by the School of Retailing of the University of Alberta
In 2017 – The Golden Pencil Award presented by the Food Industry of Canada for outstanding leadership and contribution to the grocery industry
In 2018 – The Founders of Canada’s Digital Economy Award presented by IdentityNorth in recognition of outstanding contribution to the advancement of the digital economy
In 2019 – The Star Women Award presented by the grocery CPG industries in recognition of outstanding leadership in the industry.