National Race Director Summit

Saturday January 24, 20268:00am - 5:00pm (plus post event cocktails and appetizers 5:00-7:00pm) Centennial College Event CentreAgain in 2026, Athletics Ontario is excited to welcome race directors and key influencers in our running community to collaborate on best practices in effective event hosting, marketing, management, safety and execution in the running industry. Hosted at the beautiful Centennial College Event Center, with delicious food, and elaborate space to allow for a comfortable and collaborative day filled with knowledge sharing to help you execute the best race possible.As always, the day will end with a social cocktail hour, sponsored this year by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc!Location: Centennial College Event Centre Price: (includes HST, light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail hour and appetizers)$120 December 2, 2025 - January 12, 2026$140 January 13 - January 20, 2026 In-person registrants will receive a cozy hoodie courtesy of Scimitar Sportswear, as well as a hat courtesy of Axis Gear! (To be distributed at the registration table on the morning of event. First come first serve - 150 available).If you or your organization wishes to partner with / sponsor this event please reach out to sherylpreston@athleticsontario.caLive Streaming OptionWe know that nothing beats in-person collaboration for its opportunity to interact, engage, and collaborate. We also know that not everyone can attend in person. To ensure all those interested can benefit from the workshops/sessions, we are offering a live streaming option for those unable to join us in Scarborough. $40 Live Virtual Access (a recording will be made available for both virtual and in-person registrants following the event)THE 2026 EVENT IS CLOSE TO BEING SOLD OUTFinal schedule will be sent to all registered participants on Thursday January 22, 2026

Tentative Schedule (click image for more details)

EMCEE: Steve Fleck, Race and Event AnnouncerSteve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports Race/Event Live Announcers and Commentators in North America. Each year he is on the Microphone at over 35 running, track & field, cycling and triathlon races/events/meets. From small local fun runs, to some of the largest Races/Events in North America, to multiple National Championships across various sport disciplines and even a few World Championships - he's covered a lot of ground! He's been involved in running, triathlon and cycling in one way or another since his mid-teens, as a participant/competitor and in business wearing multiple hats. He lives in Aurora, Ontario with his wife, Paolina! JOINT SESSIONS

KEYNOTE SESSION: The Future of Running: 10 Lessons Shaping the Next Era of Endurance Events

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Phil Dumontet - CEO, Brooksee The Future of Running: 10 Lessons Shaping the Next Era of Endurance Events. The running boom is here – but it won’t look like the last one.From Boston’s leadership in inclusivity and Chicago’s commitment to sustainability, to NYRR and IRONMAN reimagining fan engagement and deepening community connection, the future of endurance events is already unfolding. For race directors, the question isn’t whether change is coming – but how to lead it.In this fast-paced 45-minute keynote, Phil Dumontet – visionary race director, entrepreneur, and host of The Future of Running – shares the 10 most important lessons and bold bets shaping the future of endurance events, drawn from in-depth conversations with leaders from the Abbott World Marathon Majors, NYRR, B.A.A., the Chicago Marathon, IRONMAN, the TCS Sydney Marathon, and futurist voices at TCS.Blending real-world examples with forward-looking innovation – from volunteer engagement and inclusivity to real-time race storytelling, enhanced spectator experiences, and post-race content – Phil delivers practical tools race directors can use now, alongside his proven marketing and growth playbook.These lessons aren’t just for the majors. Whether you direct a local 5K or a large-scale marathon, you’ll leave with clear next steps to grow participation and build stronger races – year after year.Phil Dumontet is a visionary entrepreneur, industry leader, and sub-2:45 marathoner recognized for building world-class endurance events from the ground up, creating powerful brands, and inspiring communities through running. He is the founder of Boulderthon – one of the fastest-growing marathons in the U.S. – and CEO of Brooksee, one of America’s largest endurance-event organizers, producing marquee races including the Portland Marathon, Mesa Marathon, Phoenix Marathon, Las Vegas Marathon, and REVEL Race Series.Phil also leads Laurel Innovations, an AI-powered race technology company supporting 250+ events worldwide with the industry’s most advanced timing and live-tracking platforms. By offering checkpoints as frequently as every tenth of a mile, Laurel is setting a new benchmark for spectator engagement, athlete safety, real-time storytelling, and personalized race experiences. One of the fastest-growing technology companies in endurance sports, Laurel partners with leading events including Motiv Sports US, the San Antonio Marathon, Houston Half, Boston 10K for Women, Ragnar, Every Woman’s Marathon, and many other iconic races.As host of The Future of Running podcast, Phil has interviewed many of the sport’s most influential leaders, including the CEOs of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, New York Road Runners, and the Boston Athletic Association, as well as the COO of the Chicago Marathon and the CEO of IRONMAN. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Phil is known for delivering practical, actionable insights on sponsorship, race technology, and community building – helping race directors strengthen their events and accelerate sustainable growth.

SESSION: Race Director Checklist & Emergency Action Plan

SPEAKERS: Charlotte Brookes, Damien Hope - Canada Running Series; Kevin Jones - Odyssey Medical; Albert Ngai - Course Dynamics

Charlotte Brookes - CEO & Race Director, Canada Running Series
Charlotte Brookes is the CEO and Race Director of the Canada Running Series. With more than 20 years of event experience, she oversees the planning and production of 9 races in 2 cities for 90,000 participants annually, including the World Athletics Elite Label TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Her main focus is on Emergency Preparedness and running our Event Operation Centres on Race Day which gained her an Industry Leader Under 40 Award from the National Center for Spectator Sports, Safety and Security and in 2019 was part of a Safety and Security Working Group facilitated by Toronto Emergency Management with ten other major events in the City of Toronto.

With Alan Brookes as her father, running has been part of Charlotte's life since diapers. She is a proud "middle of the packer" that has run every distance from 5K to her one and only marathon that she did virtually after the world shut down in 2020.

Damien Hope - Event Director, Canada Running Series
Damien Hope is a senior project management and event operations professional with extensive experience delivering complex, large-scale events. Through his work with Canada Running Series, he’s led teams, volunteers, and operations behind some of Canada’s largest running events, always keeping the participant experience front and center. As a certified Project Management Professional, Damien is recognized for applying disciplined project management practices to enhance operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement, and participant experience.

Kevin Jones - COO, Odyssey Medical
Kevin Jones is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Odyssey Medical, which provides event medical and risk management services for the mass gathering industry in Canada. Kevin has extensive experience in risk management, emergency communication and event operations. Kevin’s experience spans from remote wilderness expeditions to large scale urban events. He has led event medical programs for many large obstacle course events, live music events and triathlons. Building on a background in insurance and education, he is committed to evidence based decision making and systems development.

Albert Ngai - Owner, Course Dynamics
Albert has been working in the race management industry for over 10 years and has been involved in course operations in numerous race series ranging from 5Ks to marathons. He has also been a runner in a good number of marathons, half marathons and 30K races over the years. In each event he operates in, Albert focuses on executing a course that is safe and easy to navigate. He is passionate about improving the runner experience. Albert currently runs his own company – Course Dynamics – which offers services in event consulting and course management.


SESSION: Diversity & Inclusion at Start Lines - Cultivating an Inclusive Race ExperienceSPEAKERS: Matt Geofroy, Kortnee Borden, James Koka - Crossing Lines

Crossing Lines is a grassroots collective dedicated to increasing representation and breaking down barriers for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) in the ultra and trail running communities. Our goal is to create safer, more inclusive environments at races by addressing knowledge gaps, logistical challenges, and financial obstacles that deter racialized athletes from participating.
Matt Geofroy is a father, husband, runner, creator and teacher who is passionate about chocolate diversity and inclusion. The co-founder of Crossing Lines is searching for a way to balance everything.
Kortnee Borden, co-founder of Crossing Lines, is a dude from Scarborough that has fallen in love with Ultra Endurance Racing and is on a mission to entice his homies to join in. His current obsession is securing entry to Western States 100.

James Koka is a long-time roadrunner turned trail and ultrarunner. He travels to chase landscapes, experiences cultures and cross finish lines. He is an ally and co-founder of Crossing Lines, working to bring more of his community to the trails.




SESSION: Using Merchandise and Medals to Build Unforgettable Race Brands
SPEAKER: Norm Chew - Founder & President, Axis Gear

Norm Chew is the founder and President of Axis Gear, celebrating 25 years this year as the leader in branded event merchandise. Trained as a mechanical engineer at Queens University, he spent 10 years in product design and earned two U.S. design patent for innovation. A lifelong athlete, Norm was a high level beach volleyball player and loved competing in multisport adventure races. Today he is a freestyle snowboard instructor and enjoys playing tennis with his family.

SESSION: State of the IndustrySPEAKER: David Basacco - COO, Race RosterAfter spending six years working with Race Roster at an agency level, David joined the company in April of 2022. He now serves as the COO of Race Roster & ASICS Apps helping oversee registration operations globally as well as the ASICS Runkeeper app.David is an experienced marketing and technology specialist with more than 10 years in executive leadership roles. He has vast expertise in leading the execution of innovative marketing and sales strategies, from ideation to implementation.

BREAKOUT SESSIONSBREAKOUT SESSION: Trail Hot Topics

SPEAKERS: Jeff Rowthorn & John Shep

Jeff Rowthorn - Race Director, Happy Trails Racing
In his day-to-day life, Jeff wears a lot of different hats. He is a father/step-father to six children, husband to a very supportive wife and fellow ultramarathon athlete, school teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience, Race Director at Happy Trails Racing, and is a UESCA certified Ultramarathon Coach.

With well over 150 races under his belt, Jeff has completed approximately 25 marathons and somewhere in the range of 75 ultramarathons. Although he enjoys racing everything from 5k road races to challenging mountain ultras, he has been primarily focusing on 100 mile races for the past several years and has completed the 100 mile distance over 20 times to date.
John Shep - Host, Athletics Ontario Running Podcast
John Shep is a teacher, ultrarunner, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. The 2022 Athletics Ontario Media Award recipient, John aims to give voice to the underrepresented members of our community and bring inspiring and educational stories from the roads and trails to the masses. He has completed seven 100-mile races, including being the first of two to finish the Ontario Triple Crown of 100s in 2024 (Sulphur Springs Trail Race, Tally in the Valley and Haliburton Forest Trail Race).

John is a third-generation volunteer in Athletics. His grandfather, Peter Manning, an Olympic level sprint and relay coach, was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame in 2017. His mom, Helen Manning, dragged John to Para-athletics events at the ripe age of six, where he helped post results and work the track clock. She is more importantly the current Chair of Athletics Canada and a former President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.


BREAKOUT SESSION: Harnessing the Media to Maximize Branding and PR

SPEAKERS: Kate Van Buskirk, Steve Fleck

Kate Van Buskirk - Road & Trail Coordinator, Athletics Ontario; Broadcast Commentator
Kate Van Buskirk is a 2020 Olympian, 3-time Canadian Champion, and Commonwealth Games medalist. She competed collegiately for Duke University, where she was an NCAA All-American and Team Captain.

Kate served as a member of the Athletics Canada Board of Directors, and is a passionate advocate for mental health and gender equality in sport. In recent years, she has become a prominent voice in sport media with roles including: CBC Sports analyst, commentator for Canadian and American professional broadcasts, stadium P.A. announcer, and former host/producer of Canadian Running Magazine's The Shakeout Podcast. Kate is thrilled to continue her passionate work in helping to grow and improve athletics in Ontario.

Steve Fleck - Race and Event Announcer
Steve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports Race/Event Live Announcers and Commentators in North America. Each year he is on the Microphone at over 35 running, track & field, cycling and triathlon races/events/meets. From small local fun runs, to some of the largest Races/Events in North America, to multiple National Championships across various sport disciplines and even a few World Championships - he's covered a lot of ground!

BREAKOUT SESSION: Let's Talk Timing

SPEAKER: Dana Bee - CEO, Chiptime Results

Dana is the CEO and owner of Chiptime Results, leading the company since 2019/2020 and timing races since 2012. With roots dating back to 2002, Dana and Chiptime have played a key role keeping up with modernizing race timing, helping events adapt to new technologies, improving procedures, and get results online faster. Dana has learned the running industry from every angle—through race directors, conferences, on-site experience in Canada and the US, and countless conversations with participants. While timing remains the core of the business, she believes a timer is far more than tags and results: it’s a trusted partner with knowledge, data, experience, and connections to help events thrive. Dana is passionate about celebrating finish-line moments, supporting race directors, and building lasting relationships filled with collaboration and laughter. She has completed Around the Bay 30k, a 5 Peaks race, Robbie Burns, and a Subaru Running Series. When she’s not at a race (which isn’t often), you’ll find her at yoga or hiking with her dog, Honey.

BREAKOUT SESSION: Go Forth and Measure

SPEAKER: Roger Burrows - Athletics Canada Course MeasurerRoger has been measuring road race courses since the 1970s and was trained as part of Canada’s “second wave” of measurers following the introduction of the Calibrated Bicycle (Jones Counter) Method for the 1976 Montreal Olympic road courses, under Morris Aarbo, a member of the original Olympic measurement team. As Technical Director of the Alberta Track and Field Association (now Athletics Alberta), he measured and certified numerous courses, led training workshops for new measurers, and served as Alberta’s provincial certifier. After relocating to Ottawa in 1985, he continued course measurement and verification work while employed with the Canadian Track and Field Association (now Athletics Canada) until 1998, qualifying as an AIMS measurer in 1995.

Roger has measured multiple race courses in the Ottawa region, delivered workshops in three provinces, and authored a 70+ page manual on the Calibrated Bicycle Method published in 2023. Notable measurement highlights include visiting the first calibration course established in 1961 in London, England, and spending time with Dr. Alan Jones, the originator of the method, in Binghamton, New York.

SESSION: The Future of Ontario - What's New in 2026 & Beyond

SPEAKERS: Sheryl Preston, Paul Osland - Athletics Ontario

Sheryl Preston - Manager, Road & Trail Running, Athletics Ontario
Sheryl is the primary organizer of this event. With Athletics Ontario, Sheryl helps to build bridges in the road and trail running community provincially, and nationally. She connects race directors, clubs, athletes and members with credible resources to ensure the safety and accuracy of events with the ultimate goal to increase participation in our sport of running. Providing provincial sanctioning and race day insurance is also a large portion of her role. As a retired Canadian national team rower and having completed over 20 road marathons/ultramarathons throughout Canada and the US, and as a member of a few running clubs in Ontario and BC, Sheryl deeply appreciates the positive impact that races and our connected running community can have.

Paul Osland - CEO, Athletics Ontario
Paul has been a competitive athlete in the sport of Athletics for a number of years. He was a member of the Canadian National team (1987-1992) at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and many other international events. He currently holds the Ontario Open Indoor 600m record, which he set back in 1985.Paul brings a wide-range of experience in business development and corporate experience combined with his entrepreneurial venture capital experience, and these skills will help him drive the continued development and promotion of athletics in Ontario. Additionally, he has 25 plus years of progressively responsible leadership roles in both the business world and athletics community.