Click on the speaker name to read their bio:
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Johanna Pagonis
Topic: The Emotionally Intelligent Leader: Leading with Clarity, Courage, and Control
Biography: Johanna is the founder and CEO of Sinogap Solutions Inc., a leadership and organizational development firm that partners with organizations in law enforcement, government, construction, and non-profits across Canada to strengthen leadership capacity, psychological safety, and overall organizational effectiveness.
Johanna holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from McGill University and a PhD in Adult Education from the University of Alberta. She also served as an academic instructor at the University of Alberta, where she taught graduate-level courses in research methods. Her academic background directly informs Sinogap’s approach to designing evidence-based workplace learning strategies that are practical, relevant, and measurable.
Through Sinogap, Johanna and her team have developed more than 1,000 leaders throughout Canada. Their work draws not only on Johanna’s doctoral research, but also on applied research conducted in partnership with client organizations. This dual focus ensures programs are designed to support meaningful behaviour change and maximum return on investment, rather than one-time training events.
What makes Sinogap Solutions unique is its integrated, wraparound approach to organizational effectiveness. Rather than addressing leadership development, change management, and psychological safety in isolation, Sinogap designs solutions that intentionally connect these elements. This approach reduces the need for multiple consultants and supports organizations in building internal capacity to sustain progress well beyond the formal engagement.
Johanna is the author of Choose to Be a Leader Others Would Want to Follow and is currently writing a second book on psychological safety and the creation of brave spaces at work.
Mike Millian: President | Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
Session: Canadian Transportation Industry Update
Mike grew up on a beef farm in rural Southwestern Ontario in Huron County and began his career in the Trucking Industry in 1990 at the age of 18.
Mike spent three years working for a local carrier Hauling Livestock and bulk agriculture products. At the age of 21 Mike went to work for a long Haul Refrigerated and general freight carrier and spent 5 years hauling freight in all 48 US Mainland States and 6 Canadian Provinces. The Carrier then opened a Certified Driver Training School in 1998 and Mike came off the road to become one of the Schools First Certified Driver Trainers. In 2000 Mike Transitioned into Safety and Compliance for the Fleet, while still working part time as a Trainer for the School. In 2002 Mike moved over to a Private Fleet and became the Safety, Compliance, Maintenance and Training manager for the Hensall District Co-operative’s Commercial Trucking Fleet. Mike spent the next 12.5 years with Hensall and oversaw the Fleets as it grew from 40 Trucks in 2002 to over 160 in 2015.
In January of 2015 Mike moved into the Trucking Association business and was named the President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, where he remains in his current role. In July of 2021 Mike became a CITT Certified Logistics Professional.(CCLP).
David Heller: Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs | Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
Session: U.S. Transportation Industry Update
David Heller is the Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and is responsible for communicating and interpreting all trucking-related regulations – safety, legislative, and otherwise – to the membership of TCA and its congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.
David regularly develops and authors comments regarding trucking industry mandates based upon association policies and principles and serves as staff liaison for all federal and state legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to the Department of Transportation and other related federal agencies. As a routine part of his job, he supports the association membership in the resolution to technical inquiries on the trucking industry, with particular emphasis on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). As evidenced by his participation in FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC), David has become a recognized industry expert in trucking.
David has appeared multiple times on CNN and Fox News as well as the Dave Nemo Show and Road Dog Trucking News with Mark Willis to explain TCA’s position on key legislative and regulatory issues while also authoring a monthly column for FleetOwner magazine. He is regularly approached for comment on industry-relevant matters by top trucking trade publications.
Alex Bugeya: President | Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions
Session: Passenger Transportation Industry Update
Alex is a part owner and President of the consulting firm Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions. Prior to Frontline, Alex spent 13+ years with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) including time spent as an enforcement officer, facility auditor, provincial audit administrator, and provincial training administrator in the Carrier Enforcement Program Office. Alex’s experience includes time spent as a certified Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) instructor as well as a provincial trainer for many courses including hours of service and daily vehicle inspections.
Since leaving the MTO, Alex has maintained his involvement with CVSA where he is the Secretary for the North American Inspector’s Championship committee and works as an instructor for their Canadian Industry Roadside Inspection courses. Alex currently works with several industry associations, including School Bus Ontario providing various types of regulatory support.
Doug Marcello: Litigation Attorney | Saxton & Stump
Session: Safety on Trial: When Fleet Decisions Face the Courtroom
Doug Marcello, a shareholder with the law firm of Saxton & Stump, is a trucking defense attorney with a CDL. He had represented trucking clients across the country, having been specially admitted for cases in 36 states. Doug received the 2018 Leadership Award of the ATA Safety Council. He has served on the advisory board of the American Trucking Research Institute.
Doug is a member of numerous trucking organizations, including Treasurer of the PA Motor Truck Association, member of the American Trucking Associations Safety Council, the National Private Trucking Council Education Board, as well as trucking legal defense organizations including TIDA. He has written numerous articles concerning trucking safety and defense and is a frequent guest on the Mark Willis Show on SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking.
You can also find his interviews and presentation on his Youtube channel and podcast, “TransportCenter”, on iTunes as well as the Saxton & Stump YouTube channel.
Justin Bauder: National Fleet Manager | Giant Tiger
Session: Fatigue, Technology, and the Road Ahead Panel
Justin Bauder is a professional driver turned fleet leader, driven by safety and a relentless commitment to building one of Canada’s safest private fleets.
Through hands on expertise, a driver first mindset, and a passion for mentorship, he is helping shape the next generation of professional drivers.
