The Practice Connection brings together accounting firm owners, industry specialists and experienced leaders to share practical ideas, real-world experience and different perspectives on building stronger firms.
Throughout the retreat, speakers and facilitators will lead sessions, share experiences, facilitate conversations and help create opportunities to learn from both their expertise and the people in the room.
Kim Mintenko
Founder, Kim Mintenko Coaching
Executive Leadership Coach & Speaker
Session: Clear Decisions, Stronger Teams, Better Results: The Self-Leadership Advantage
Kim Mintenko is a leadership coach and former executive director who helps founders, executives, and senior leaders see clearly enough to move forward with conviction. Whether they’re navigating growth, transition, difficult decisions, or the everyday complexity of leadership, Kim helps leaders strengthen how they lead themselves so they can create stronger teams, healthier organizations, and more sustainable results.
Drawing on neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and practical leadership experience, Kim brings a practical, human-centered approach to leadership. She uncovers the invisible patterns that shape how leaders think, communicate, and lead. From there, leaders gain the clarity to make better decisions, navigate difficult conversations, and lead with greater intention.
Her core message is simple: You are the strategy. How you lead yourself shapes everything else.
Michael Anderson
Founder & CEO at 365 Technologies Inc.
Session: 5 Things Every Accounting Firm Owner Should Be Thinking About
Michael Anderson is the founder and CEO of 365 Technologies, a Canadian-owned managed IT services provider based in Winnipeg. He works with small and mid-sized firms across Manitoba and Saskatchewan to keep their technology secure and reliable so their teams can focus on the work that matters. He speaks regularly on the technology risks facing professional services firms, from AI and cybersecurity to the practical decisions that land on a partner’s desk.
Jean-Guy Talbot, FCPA, FCGA
Founder and CEO, RêveNew Practice Management
Founder, Talbot & Associates Chartered Professional Accountants
Session: Improving Practice Profitability: A Case Study
Facilitator: Practice Benchmarking and Practice Health
Jean-Guy believes that happiness is a choice you make every morning. With over 30 years of experience in public accounting, he helps firm owners work less, increase profits, and build more fulfilling businesses.
He founded Talbot & Associates in 1991, growing it from a one-person basement operation into a firm with nearly 90 team members and offices across Manitoba and Ontario. After stepping down as CEO, he now leads RêveNew Practice Management, mentoring accounting firms, drawing from his own experience, leadership lessons, and proven strategies for running a profitable and balanced business.
Mike McLenehan, CPA, CGA
Founder and Owner, McLenehan and Associates Chartered Professional Accountants
Session: Growth For Accounting Firms
Session: The AI-Augmented Accounting Firm
Mike helps accounting firm owners balance practice management with strategic growth. With firsthand experience growing his own firm from a one-person startup into a multi-seven-figure business with two Winnipeg locations, he provides practical guidance that combines business strategy, technology, and content marketing to drive client engagement.
Tamara Koreker, IEA Cert., B.Ed/Music
Coach, Educator, and Speaker | Enneagram Specialist | TEDx Speaker
Session: What’s Really Driving The Decision?
Tamara helps professionals and teams uncover the “why” behind their behaviours, improve interpersonal dynamics, and develop stronger leadership. With a background as an elementary music teacher, she spent over a decade motivating students, parents, and colleagues, discovering that self-awareness is the foundation of every successful leader.
Now specializing in the Enneagram, Tamara equips individuals and teams with practical tools to understand what drives behaviour, foster healthier relationships, and unlock their full potential.
Jane Helbrecht, CPHR
Leadership Development and People and Culture Expert | Certified Leadership Coach | TEDx Speaker
Session: Building Your Employee Experience & Future of Work Philosophy
Jane helps leaders and HR professionals thrive by providing practical tools and strategies that inspire long-term change. With over 15 years of experience across tech, finance, manufacturing, and consulting, she brings real-world insight to leadership, engagement, and organizational culture. Jane is also a TEDx speaker, sharing her expertise with audiences on a global platform.
Her sessions focus on helping leaders build habits for lasting impact, navigate evolving workplace dynamics, and foster inclusive, high-performing teams. Jane’s practical strategies and engaging approach ensure attendees leave with actionable tools they can implement immediately.
Eric Robert, FCPA, FCGA
Partner, Rawluk & Robert Chartered Professional Accountants Inc.
Session: AI Didn’t Sign the Engagement Letter. You Did. Ethics, Professional Skepticism and Accountability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Eric helps clients and organizations achieve financial clarity and confidence. With 20 years of experience in public practice, he has served clients throughout Western Canada and specializes in working with not-for-profits and charities in Winnipeg and Manitoba, providing auditing services and guidance on bookkeeping and software systems to make operations more streamlined and effective.
With a talent for explaining complex concepts clearly, Eric combines his accounting expertise and passion for education to help individuals and businesses make informed decisions and achieve financial success.
Howard Wirch, FCGA, FCPA
Managing Partner, Accent Chartered Professional Accountants
Facilitator: Best Practices Exchange
As Managing Partner at Accent, Howard is a firm believer in taking care of not just your own mind and body, but also giving back to your community. Awarded his FCPA in 2017, he served on the CGA Manitoba and CPA Manitoba Boards, participating in National and Provincial committees. This involvement continues by instructing seminars for the profession, delivering presentations for the CPA Financial Literacy Program, and is an active part of his local Dauphin Rotary Club for over 20 years.
After completing the Ironman Canada triathlon in 2008, he went on to participate in various triathlon, half-marathons and marathons and enjoys cycling, swimming, and running in his spare time.
Learning & Experience Partners
Our Learning & Experience Partners bring additional expertise, creativity and experiences to The Practice Connection, helping us create more opportunities to learn, connect and engage throughout the retreat.
Donavan Robinson
Entrepreneur, Community Builder & Speaker
Creativity, Play & Connection
Donavan Robinson joins The Practice Connection as a Learning & Experience Partner, bringing creativity, play and a different way to connect into the retreat experience.
Through interactive experiences woven throughout The Practice Connection, Donavan will create opportunities to participate, have a little fun, connect with the people around you and experience another side of learning and connection.
About Donavan
Donavan helps entrepreneurs and teams unlock creativity, foster inclusive cultures and build vibrant communities. A proud Red River Métis citizen and ADHD advocate, he has dedicated his career to designing spaces and experiences that foster playful innovation, genuine connection and meaningful storytelling.
As co-founder of ventures including Pop CoLAB, Made Here, The Good Will Social Club, A Little Pizza Heaven and Vantage Studios & Print Shop by Vantage, Donavan brings experience in entrepreneurship, community-building, creativity and creating spaces where people can connect.
Reanna Khan
Photographer & Entrepeneur, Reanna Khan Creative
Professional Headshot Experience
Reanna Khan joins The Practice Connection as a Learning & Experience Partner, offering attendees the opportunity to update their professional headshot during the retreat.
Whether it’s time for a refresh or you simply want a photo that feels more like you today, Reanna will create a relaxed headshot experience. Following The Practice Connection, you’ll receive a professional image you can use well beyond the event.
About Reanna
Reanna Khan is a Winnipeg-based photographer specializing in brand and event photography. She works with entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations to create authentic imagery that reflects who they are, captures meaningful moments and helps tell their story.
Your Host Practice Connection Host
Kristine Tubiera
Event Strategist | Producer | Speaker | Community Builder
For more than two decades, Kristine has worked with and for the accounting profession, creating professional development programs, events and initiatives that help practitioners connect, learn and grow.
Her experience includes working with CPA Manitoba and CGA Manitoba, supporting accounting membership organizations with professional development and curriculum planning, and creating practitioner-focused learning and community experiences through RêveNew Practice Management.
Through LMVA Consulting, Kristine works with organizations to design and produce learning experiences that bring together the right content, people, conversations and experiences to create meaningful engagement and connection.
Kristine created The Practice Connection with the understanding that some of the best learning occurs when practitioners and industry experts come together to share experiences, exchange ideas, build community and turn what they learn into action in their practices.
