Getting Exit Ready
The Ultimate Guide to Succession Planning and
Preparing Your Business for a Sale
Clear strategies to prepare your business and yourself for the future.
Date
November 24, 2026
Time
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue
Miller Thomson
40 King St. W, Suite 6600
Toronto
Brought to You By:
KEYNOTE
Your exit may be years away. The forces shaping it are already here.
BDC Chief Economist Pierre Cléroux will explore the economic and demographic shifts driving one of the largest transfers of business ownership and wealth in Canada’s history. From changing demographics and trade uncertainty to the economic forces affecting business value and succession, discover what’s ahead—and what business owners should be doing now to prepare.
A Must-Attend Forum for Leaders Preparing to Make Their Business
Exit-Ready and Maximize Its Value.
Why Attend
A successful exit starts long before you’re ready to sell.
Learn what makes a business more valuable, transferable, and attractive to buyers—and what you can do now to get there. From market conditions and maximizing value to tax, legal, financial, operational, and people considerations, you’ll gain practical insights to help you reduce risk, strengthen your business, and exit on your terms.
Future-Proof your Business
Develop strategies to ensure long-term business sustainability
Maximizing Your Exit Value
Learn how to optimize your business valuation
Planning Your Financial Path Forward
Create a comprehensive financial roadmap
Have a Succession Plan for your Business
Build a succession plan that prepares your business for a successful transition.
Who Should Attend
The Getting Exit Ready Event is designed for CEOs, business owners, and senior leaders who want to take control of what comes next. Whether you’re two years or ten years from a transition, you’ll gain practical insights to help you build business value, strengthen your succession or exit plan, and prepare for a successful transition on your terms.
Business Owners (SMEs to Mid-Market)
Founders Preparing to Exit
Family Business Leaders
C-Suite Executives
Meet Our Speakers
Expert practitioners with real-world experience
Keynote Speaker
Vice President, Research and Chief Economist
Pierre Cléroux was appointed Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC in 2012.
Pierre leads a team of experts who analyze economic data to identify business and sector trends impacting Canadian entrepreneurs. A seasoned speaker, he helps business owners understand the risks and opportunities presented by the economic environment.
Mr. Cléroux is also responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Bank’s senior management team, and supervises all marketing and industry research activities. Over his 25-year career as an economist, he has held several influential positions that had a direct impact on entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad.
Session Speakers
Terry Mocherniak
Managing Director
Apex Capital Advisors
Terry Mocherniak is the founder and Managing Director of Apex Capital Advisors. Apex is a Toronto based boutique M & A advisory firm specializing in working with small to mid-sized companies in the B2B business service, industrial and technology sectors.
Terry has over 25 years’ experience in the technology and business service sectors and is a serial entrepreneur having founded and grown several businesses with two successful exits including one to global giant Siemens. He has extensive M & A, venture capital and corporate transaction experience having been directly involved in transactions with a value in excess of $400 million.
Terry currently serves as an Advisor at MaRS, is a Director and investor in 2 software start-up companies, member of the Presidents Club at St. Mikes Hospital and previously held the role as Executive Director at York Angels. Mr. Mocherniak is a corporate lawyer by training and has an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Scott Syrja
Senior Wealth Advisor
Syrja, D’Amours & Associates Private Wealth Management
With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Scott Syrja CFP®, RIS®, CIM®, RRC®, CPCA®, MFA-P has become a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs, executives, and high-net-worth individuals navigating complex financial landscapes. Scott brings a rare depth of expertise in wealth management, risk mitigation, and strategic financial planning.
Scott is known for his ability to translate intricate financial concepts into clear, actionable strategies that empower clients to make confident decisions – especially during pivotal moments like business transitions and succession planning. His approach is deeply personalized, focusing on preserving and growing wealth across generations while aligning financial plans with each client’s unique goals and values.
At Syrja & Associates Private Wealth Management, Scott leads a team dedicated to helping business owners build resilient financial foundations, prepare for successful exits, and seize new opportunities with clarity and confidence. His insights have shaped the financial futures of countless clients and earned him recognition as a thought leader in the industry.
Jay Sernoskie
Partner
Miller Thomson
Jay Sernoskie practices corporate and commercial law, handling mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, debt financings, and private equity transactions. With a strong background in structuring M&A deals, he provides skillful advice to domestic and international clients on all aspects of Canadian corporate law and business operations.
Jay has presented at the OBA on risk management in M&A transactions, is a delegate to the Association of Corporate Counsel and is the current author of The Sale of a Business, an annual publication covering mergers and acquisitions in Canada.
Jay is an active member of numerous professional legal organizations enhancing his legal proficiency and network within the legal community.
Dave O'Brien
Senior Engagement Manager
Sapling Financial
Dave O'Brien is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Senior Engagement Manager with Sapling. Upon graduating from undergraduate studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, he worked for four years at a mid-size accounting firm. His time in public accounting gave him exposure to numerous companies in diverse industries, and a keen eye for analyzing financial statements. After cutting his teeth in public accounting, Dave furthered his education by completing a Master of Finance degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, to complement his background.
With Sapling, Dave has helped grow the diligence practice, overseeing the preparation of Quality of Earnings reports for mid-market transactions in industries ranging from healthcare to aviation. As part of due diligence engagements, Dave leverages his background in accounting to understand the earnings of a company, and go deeper than internal or accountant-prepared financial statements. Additionally, Dave has experience in operational and budget modelling, valuations, and data analytics.
During his spare time, Dave is an avid sports fan, cyclist, reader, and enjoys learning about Canadian history.
Jen Couldrey
Certified EOS Implementer
EOS Worldwide
Jen Couldrey helps business owners get what they want from their business. Jen is a Certified EOS Implementer®, helping entrepreneurs implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) to create structure, focus, and accountability so that they can run a better business and live a better life. She helps values-driven entrepreneurs build a well-run, valuable business by putting in place a business operating system so their business consistently generates results without them needing to be involved in the day-to-day. In addition to starting and running many small businesses and charities, Jen has acted as a coach, facilitator and trusted advisor to hundreds of leadership teams throughout her career spanning Deloitte, small consulting firms, and The Upside Foundation of Canada. Jen has a business degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.
Shannon Johnston
Co-Owner and Integrator
OpsLab Inc.
Shannon Johnston is the Co-Owner and Integrator of OpsLab Inc, a firm with a clear mission: to scale businesses by humanizing and operationalizing EOS® through the Integrator function. OpsLab exists to help organizations grow with clarity, alignment, and trust -without sacrificing culture, people, or purpose and offers Fractional Integrator, Interim Integrator, and Integrator Coaching services.
OpsLab Integrators partner with founders and leadership teams to translate vision into execution, strengthen accountability, and build operating systems that actually work in the real world. Known for combining operational discipline with emotional intelligence, Shannon brings both structure and heart to leadership teams navigating growth, complexity, and change.
Throughout her career, Shannon has helped multiple businesses earn recognition on Canada’s Top Growing Companies lists by instilling excellence at every level of the organization, from clear roles and metrics to leadership maturity and team health. Her approach emphasizes business acumen, clarity of expectations, and a deep belief that the strongest companies are built on trust and alignment.
Shannon is especially sought after by business owners who want to scale and create workplaces people love. Her ability to simplify complexity, challenge leaders with care, and hold teams to a high standard of execution makes her a trusted partner to founders who are serious about building enduring, values-driven organizations.
Event Schedule
Click on each session to view full details
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM | Registration & Networking
Build valuable relationships that extend beyond the event, fostering opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and business growth.
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome Address
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM | KEYNOTE: BDC's Economic Outlook: Preparing For a Generational Transfer of Wealth
BDC's Economic Outlook: Preparing For a Generational Transfer of Wealth
Speaker: Pierre Cléroux, BDC
Join BDC’s Chief Economist, Pierre Cléroux, for a forward-looking economic outlook focused on what Canadian entrepreneurs need to know—and do— to prepare for the coming massive shift in generational wealth. This session will explore how major demographic shifts are reshaping the economy and how businesses can move from reacting to conditions to preparing for this transition. It will also address current geopolitical and economic headwinds facing our economy and how entrepreneurs can better manage in these times of uncertainty.
The presentation will cover:
-
BDC’s future economic outlook and what it means for Canadian business founders and entrepreneurs and the succession plans for their businesses
- How ongoing uncertainty and U.S. trade policy are affecting markets, costs and competitiveness
-
Key insights on demographic shifts in Canada from BDC’s latest economic and business studies
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Practical steps entrepreneurs can take to prepare themselves for the massive transfer in wealth and also strengthen productivity, diversify markets and build resilience to create sustainable businesses
This session offers actionable insights to help you make confident, long-term decisions and position your business to compete and grow in the next phase of Canada’s economic evolution.
Sponsored By:
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Strategies to Maximize Exit Value When Selling Your Business
Strategies to Maximize Exit Value When Selling Your Business
Speaker: Terry Mocherniak, Managing Director, Apex Capital Advisors
Details to Follow
Sponsored By:
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Networking & Coffee Break
Enjoy light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and advisors. Build valuable relationships that extend beyond the event, fostering opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and business growth.
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM | Tax Strategies and Succession Planning
Tax Strategies and Succession Planning
Speaker: Scott Syrja CFP®, RIS®, CIM®, RRC®, CPCA®, MFA-P, Senior Wealth Advisor
Details to Follow
Sponsored By:
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Networking Lunch (Lunch is Provided)
Connect with peers, speakers, and sponsors while enjoying lunch.
Sponsored By:
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM | Legal Considerations for Selling Your Business
Legal Considerations for Selling Your Business
Speaker: Jay Sernoskie, Partner, Miller Thomson
Details to Follow
Sponsored By:
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM | The Road to Exit: Financial Priorities for Business Owners
The Road to Exit: Financial Priorities for Business Owners
Speaker: Dave O'Brien, Sapling Financial
Drawing on experience working on both sides of the transaction, this session will explore the financial priorities business owners should address well before going to market. We’ll discuss why clean, reliable financial records matter, the areas that most frequently raise questions during due diligence, and how owners can proactively address issues that may otherwise impact value or derail a transaction.
Key topics will include:
- Cleaning up the books: Why accurate, consistent, and well-supported financial statements are foundational to a successful transaction.
- Cash-to-accrual and deferred revenue: Understanding how accounting methods and revenue recognition can affect reported results and transaction value.
- Normalized Working Capital: Why optimizing working capital today, can result in more cash in your pocket down the road
- Due diligence red flags: Common financial and accounting issues that can create concern for buyers and lead to additional scrutiny, negotiation, or adjustments.
- Value drivers: The financial characteristics that can influence valuation for mid-market companies and how owners can position their businesses accordingly.
- Defensible add-backs: What makes an adjustment credible and supportable—and why aggressive or poorly documented add-backs can undermine buyer confidence.
- Bankable balance sheets: The importance of presenting a balance sheet that accurately reflects the financial health of the business and stands up to lender and buyer scrutiny.
Whether an exit is two years away or already on the horizon, business owners can benefit from understanding how buyers will view their financials. The goal of this session is to provide a practical roadmap for identifying and addressing financial issues early, strengthening the business’s financial story, and putting owners in a better position when the time comes to transact.
Sponsored By:
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Networking & Coffee Break
Enjoy light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and advisors. Build valuable relationships that extend beyond the event, fostering opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and business growth.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | From Founder-Dependent to Buyer-Ready: Set Up Your Exit for Success With a Business That Runs Like a Well-Oiled Machine
From Founder-Dependent to Buyer-Ready: Set Up Your Exit for Success With a Business That Runs Like a Well-Oiled Maching
Speaker: Jen Couldrey, Certified EOS Implementer®
- Turn 'the way things should be done' that's in your head into a playbook your team can follow day in, day out
- Build a leadership team that owns decision-making - so it doesn't all funnel back to you
- Put in place disciplined operating rhythms so your team has a track record of consistently executing on priorities
- Create a culture of focus and accountability that resolves issues and gives buyers the confidence this business performs when you're out of the room
- Take the first concrete steps toward a business that's buyer-ready, successor-ready, and easier to run right now
Sponsored By:
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM | Right People. Right Seats. Right Results.
Right People. Right Seats. Right Results.
Building the Team That Can Carry Your Business Through an Exit
Speaker: Shannon Johnston, Co-Owner and Integrator, OpsLab Inc.
As you prepare to scale, step back, or exit, having the right people in the right seats becomes critical. It’s not enough to have great people. You need clear accountability, the right leadership structure, and meaningful data that shows whether the business and each function within it is performing without everything flowing through you.
In this practical session, Shannon Johnston, Co-Founder and Integrator at OpsLab, will take a deeper dive into the People and Data and the tools you can use to build a team capable of carrying the business forward.
You will learn how to:
- Build an Accountability Chart around the business you’re becoming, not just the business you have today
- Use GWC™ (Gets It, Wants It, Capacity to Do It) to determine whether you truly have the right people in the right seats
- Create clear ownership and measurable expectations for the critical functions of your business
- Use data to know whether your people and departments are delivering the results the business needs
- Identify the accountabilities that still depend on you and begin building a succession plan to transfer them
If you’re planning to grow, step back, or eventually exit, this session will help you build the people, accountability, and leadership structure needed to confidently hand the business forward.
Sponsored By:
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Panel Discussion
Getting to the Right People in the Sales Process
Speaker: Adam Fox, Executive Sales Director
Every entrepreneur, every owner, every sales leader knows the frustration: you have a great product or service, you’ve done your research, and you know exactly who you want to reach - but you can’t seem to break through. Often they approach the sales process backwards. They focus on getting in the door when they should be focused on building trust long before they ever knock.
In this session, Adam Fox shares the strategies that have driven consistent growth at one of Canada’s most recognized enterprise technology companies - practical approaches to social selling, building authentic relationships, and identifying and nurturing champions inside the organizations you want to work with.
The buying journey for organizations has changed dramatically over the last few years. The use of AI, designated social selling tools, building community to create momentum and supporting your internal champions as they become your strongest advocates are now more important than ever.
Whether you have a small lean sales team, or lead multi-layered inside, outside and digital pursuit teams, you’ll walk away with insights for warming up the right relationships - so when it’s time to have the conversation, you’re already a trusted voice in the room.
Sponsored By:
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks & Networking
Enjoy light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and advisors. Build valuable relationships that extend beyond the event, fostering opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and business growth.
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