About Us

CESA was formed in response to the current global pandemic by members of the Canadian endurance sport industry. Their vision was to unite event organizers across Canada with a common goal to have a stronger united voice. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

We pledge to be a common voice for this sector, and hold all personal data as confidential. Furthermore, we represent that the use of all aggregate data is for the betterment of the industry and the compiled results will be made available to all members.

 
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Kirsten Fleming - Run Calgary / Road Racing

Kirsten Fleming builds community through running in her position at Run Calgary, where her team puts on 7 events a year. She believes getting people moving, improves lives. Kirsten is a former television journalist, a marathoner and she won a Top 40 under 40 award in 2018 for her work at Run Calgary. She co-emceed Running USA, the endurance industry conference in Las Vegas in February and is committed to knowledge sharing across the industry to improve the quality of events through collaboration.

Steve Fleck - Professional Race/Event Announcer, Commentator & Event Emcee

Steve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports, Professional Race/Event Announcers and Commentators in North America. Each year he is on the mic, one way or another, at over 30, running, track & field, cycling and triathlon races/events across Canada & the U.S.

 
Stephen Partridge - Founder of Events.comStephen is President and Founder of Events.com. He is an Ottawa native profiled in Ottawa Life Magazine’s Top 25 People to Watch, and is an international executive living in California growing San Diego and Ottawa based Events.com on a global scale.Stephen has started, bought, restructured, and sold multiple market leading brands. Of local note, Stephen built Ottawa based EventsOnline.ca to 35 people supporting 9+ languages and processing over 130M in transactions from Europe to Hawaii. In terms of contribution, Stephen has supported community, government, and entrepreneurship initiatives, including 4yrs as a Director at Startup Canada, and as an advisor to the federal government’s innovation, entrepreneurship and small business programs.Stephen’s roots for human performance coaching stem from his background as an elite swimmer, then triathlete, then performance scientist via a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. For Stephen, coaching elite athletes quickly turned into a need to solve the gap in athlete and sport funding, where he created multiple ventures and became a self-taught technologist. Of local Ottawa note, Stephen founded and built the University of Ottawa’s youth camps into one of the largest sport funding programs in the region, and then gifted the program to the University.  Early on, Stephen instinctively built operational efficiency into all his ventures via technology, so it was a natural fit to pursue a second degree with a B.Sc. in IT Management. Stephen then optimized and grew multiple tech companies to successful exits in the publishing, marketing, and e-commerce spaces. Of international note, Stephen has co-founded, and helped lead Events.com into international markets through funding rounds, acquisitions, organic growth, and now global scaling strategies.Stephen’s diverse background has led to a blending of the soft skills needed to build high performance teams, and the technical skills essential to plan and then execute business solutions on a global scale via optimized technology solutions.

Stephen Partridge - Founder of Events.com

Stephen is President and Founder of Events.com. He is an Ottawa native profiled in Ottawa Life Magazine’s Top 25 People to Watch, and is an international executive living in California growing San Diego and Ottawa based Events.com on a global scale.

Stephen has started, bought, restructured, and sold multiple market leading brands. Of local note, Stephen built Ottawa based EventsOnline.ca to 35 people supporting 9+ languages and processing over 130M in transactions from Europe to Hawaii. In terms of contribution, Stephen has supported community, government, and entrepreneurship initiatives, including 4yrs as a Director at Startup Canada, and as an advisor to the federal government’s innovation, entrepreneurship and small business programs.

Stephen’s roots for human performance coaching stem from his background as an elite swimmer, then triathlete, then performance scientist via a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. For Stephen, coaching elite athletes quickly turned into a need to solve the gap in athlete and sport funding, where he created multiple ventures and became a self-taught technologist. Of local Ottawa note, Stephen founded and built the University of Ottawa’s youth camps into one of the largest sport funding programs in the region, and then gifted the program to the University.  

Early on, Stephen instinctively built operational efficiency into all his ventures via technology, so it was a natural fit to pursue a second degree with a B.Sc. in IT Management. Stephen then optimized and grew multiple tech companies to successful exits in the publishing, marketing, and e-commerce spaces. Of international note, Stephen has co-founded, and helped lead Events.com into international markets through funding rounds, acquisitions, organic growth, and now global scaling strategies.

Stephen’s diverse background has led to a blending of the soft skills needed to build high performance teams, and the technical skills essential to plan and then execute business solutions on a global scale via optimized technology solutions.

Cory Freedman - Founder/owner of MAX VO2 Management IncCory Freedman is the founder/owner of MAX VO2 Management Inc. which launched in April 2007, and specializes in endurance event management and execution.In 2009, the Toronto Women's Run Series began and now is one of the most established women's running series in Canada, with more than 45,000 women and girls having crossed the finish lines over the years. The series has three races throughout the year and more than $450,000 has been raised for the races’ charitable partner, POGO, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. With the profound impacts of the pandemic on the endurance industry, the Toronto Women’s Run series added virtual races and the 416 Run Challenges to ensure that the community was still able to be engaged and active during unpredictable  and ever changing times. MAX VO2 also provides additional leadership, expertise and resources to numerous signature events including the Sporting Life 10k, the Yorkville 5k, United Way of Greater Toronto 5k Run, Rebecca Run for SMA, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and more.From high level event management and delivery to strategic planning to hands-on water station set up, Cory has done it all, and for events of all sizes and prominence.Cory is a three-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, including the World Triathlon Championships in Hawaii, and has also completed more than a dozen marathons, 50+ half marathons, multiple adventure races, duathlons, road and mountain bike events at home and abroad.

Cory Freedman - Founder/owner of MAX VO2 Management Inc

Cory Freedman is the founder/owner of MAX VO2 Management Inc. which launched in April 2007, and specializes in endurance event management and execution.

In 2009, the Toronto Women's Run Series began and now is one of the most established women's running series in Canada, with more than 45,000 women and girls having crossed the finish lines over the years. The series has three races throughout the year and more than $450,000 has been raised for the races’ charitable partner, POGO, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. 

With the profound impacts of the pandemic on the endurance industry, the Toronto Women’s Run series added virtual races and the 416 Run Challenges to ensure that the community was still able to be engaged and active during unpredictable  and ever changing times. 

MAX VO2 also provides additional leadership, expertise and resources to numerous signature events including the Sporting Life 10k, the Yorkville 5k, United Way of Greater Toronto 5k Run, Rebecca Run for SMA, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and more.

From high level event management and delivery to strategic planning to hands-on water station set up, Cory has done it all, and for events of all sizes and prominence.

Cory is a three-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, including the World Triathlon Championships in Hawaii, and has also completed more than a dozen marathons, 50+ half marathons, multiple adventure races, duathlons, road and mountain bike events at home and abroad.

 
Chantelle Wilder - Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer at Race RosterChantelle is the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Race Roster. Her day to day involves working with the leadership team to operationalize each department’s unique strategy, while ensuring that each employee is productive and happy! Chantelle returned to Ontario, Canada (Race Roster HQ) in 2014 after spending 7 years in Hawaii and more recently 4 years in Silicon Valley. Chantelle believes that 'clear is kind' and that the key to success is exceptional communication. Prior to Race Roster Chantelle ran on the Canadian national team. As a mother of three she considers herself an expert in organizing chaos and using her imagination to achieve great things.

Chantelle Wilder - Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer at Race Roster

Chantelle is the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Race Roster. Her day to day involves working with the leadership team to operationalize each department’s unique strategy, while ensuring that each employee is productive and happy! Chantelle returned to Ontario, Canada (Race Roster HQ) in 2014 after spending 7 years in Hawaii and more recently 4 years in Silicon Valley. Chantelle believes that 'clear is kind' and that the key to success is exceptional communication. Prior to Race Roster Chantelle ran on the Canadian national team. As a mother of three she considers herself an expert in organizing chaos and using her imagination to achieve great things.

Michael VinebergMichael Vineberg is an endurance sports industry participant from Montréal, Québec who enjoys running the half-marathon and marathon distances. Michael is a big proponent for the mental health benefits derived from endurance sports training and event participation. His involvement with CESA recognizes the potential of endurance sports to be a catalyst for greater health, wellness and economic prosperity of our country and all Canadians. Professionally, Michael leads transformational change within mid-market organizations around the globe. He has extensive C-level as well as Board experience across a variety of industries with a particular focus on consumer products, food & beverage and retail. Michael also teaches in the MBA program at HEC Montréal and acts as an advisor and mentor to growth stage entrepreneurs. Michael earned his MBA from HEC Montréal, a BA in Economics from McGill University and the designation of certified corporate director (ICD.D) from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Michael Vineberg

Michael Vineberg is an endurance sports industry participant from Montréal, Québec who enjoys running the half-marathon and marathon distances. Michael is a big proponent for the mental health benefits derived from endurance sports training and event participation. His involvement with CESA recognizes the potential of endurance sports to be a catalyst for greater health, wellness and economic prosperity of our country and all Canadians. 

Professionally, Michael leads transformational change within mid-market organizations around the globe. He has extensive C-level as well as Board experience across a variety of industries with a particular focus on consumer products, food & beverage and retail. Michael also teaches in the MBA program at HEC Montréal and acts as an advisor and mentor to growth stage entrepreneurs. Michael earned his MBA from HEC Montréal, a BA in Economics from McGill University and the designation of certified corporate director (ICD.D) from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

 
Jen CerulloJen is passionate about creating high impact, sustainable events. Her experience in the athletic event industry spans road and trail races, triathlons, yoga festivals, and event medical operations. Post-graduate work in environmental conservation and corporate sustainability management has inspired her efforts in building a greener, more sustainable future for the event industry. Her goal as a board member of CESA is to support the development of green event initiatives and lead the way towards a more sustainable future for Canadian Endurance Sports.

Jen Cerullo

Jen is passionate about creating high impact, sustainable events. Her experience in the athletic event industry spans road and trail races, triathlons, yoga festivals, and event medical operations. Post-graduate work in environmental conservation and corporate sustainability management has inspired her efforts in building a greener, more sustainable future for the event industry. Her goal as a board member of CESA is to support the development of green event initiatives and lead the way towards a more sustainable future for Canadian Endurance Sports.

Dan OuimetDan Ouimet has been a lifelong participant in Track and Field and endurance sport, having competed as a varsity athlete he remains active both organizing sporting events and as an endurance runner and Ironman triathlete. Dan has served as a member of the Board of Directors two major Canadian Marathons, including an eight-year term as Chair of the Calgary Marathon Society. Dan also served as a core member of the IAAF 2001 World Championships in Athletics Bid Committee and a member of the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Dan’s passion for multisport inspired him to design and launch the Ironman 70.3 Calgary, which he served as Event Director for its first 3 years. Professionally, Dan leads Futupreneur Canada’s Corporate and Public Affairs team, and as a senior leader working closely with the entire Futurpreneur team to build our corporate, government and individual fundraising, as well as donor and public relations. Dan also manages the operations of the Futurpreneur Foundation, a charitable foundation created by Futurpreneur Canada with a focus on entrepreneurial education and skills training.Prior to joining Futurpreneur, Dan’s professional experience includes more than 20 years in public affairs in both senior corporate affairs and government roles, directly advising senior federal and provincial cabinet Ministers and senior corporate leaders.Dan is a Masters of Business Administration graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and York University’s Schulich School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of Calgary.

Dan Ouimet

Dan Ouimet has been a lifelong participant in Track and Field and endurance sport, having competed as a varsity athlete he remains active both organizing sporting events and as an endurance runner and Ironman triathlete. Dan has served as a member of the Board of Directors two major Canadian Marathons, including an eight-year term as Chair of the Calgary Marathon Society. Dan also served as a core member of the IAAF 2001 World Championships in Athletics Bid Committee and a member of the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Dan’s passion for multisport inspired him to design and launch the Ironman 70.3 Calgary, which he served as Event Director for its first 3 years.

Professionally, Dan leads Futupreneur Canada’s Corporate and Public Affairs team, and as a senior leader working closely with the entire Futurpreneur team to build our corporate, government and individual fundraising, as well as donor and public relations. Dan also manages the operations of the Futurpreneur Foundation, a charitable foundation created by Futurpreneur Canada with a focus on entrepreneurial education and skills training.

Prior to joining Futurpreneur, Dan’s professional experience includes more than 20 years in public affairs in both senior corporate affairs and government roles, directly advising senior federal and provincial cabinet Ministers and senior corporate leaders.

Dan is a Masters of Business Administration graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and York University’s Schulich School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of Calgary.