This panel event brings together experienced founders and tech leaders to share what AI integration really looks like. Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, but for many entrepreneurs, the path to adoption still feels unclear. We’ll explore practical wins, common challenges, and the surprising lessons learned from bringing AI into business operations. Whether companies are just starting to explore AI or looking to scale smarter, this conversation will provide the insight, language, and confidence to move from curiosity to action.
This panel will be moderated by Kevin Matsui, Managing Director of the Centre for Advancing Responsible & Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI) at the University of Guelph. Participants will be able to address and ask the panelists questions during the Q&A portion of the event.
Join us in person or online
- Date: Tuesday November 4th, 2025
- Time: 12pm-1:30pm ET (doors open at 11:30am for light snacks for those in person)
- Location: Hybrid, in-person at 400 Southgate Drive, Guelph or online through Zoom
Click here to register for the panel event:
Moderated by: Kevin Matsui, Managing Director of CARE-AI at the University of Guelph
Kevin Matsui is the Managing Director of the Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI) at the University of Guelph. He leads efforts to grow the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning and Data Science community on campus at U of G and ensuring that it is well connected externally.
CARE-AI is the primary AI research centre at U of G and is also involved in Academic programs, AI training, AI entrepreneurship, AI strategy and delivering AI solutions.
Panelists:
Jim Estill, President & CEO, Danby Appliances
Danby Appliances is a niche manufacturer of specialty appliances, which manufactures and distributes over 2,000,000 appliances per year.
He recently acquired Arctic Snowplow and Valcom Manufacturing, expanding manufacturing capabilities in Canada.
Jim is a Canadian technology entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist. He started his first computer distribution business from the trunk of his car while in university and grew that business to $2 Billion in sales.
Jim has invested in, mentored, and advised over 150 technology companies including Blackberry. He joined their board before they went public and served for 13 years.
Brandon Sheldrake, Global LMMS Manager, Linamar Innovation Hub
Brandon has 33 years in the manufacturing of automotive components and assemblies. For 10 years he worked for Rhein Metall Canada and KS Kolbenschmidt de Mexico as a Manufacturing Engineer and Program Manager. Brandon joined Linamar and continued to work there for 15 years, serving as a Program Manager at Traxle and Spinic. Currently, Brandon is the Manager for LMMS industrial IoT Data collection.
David Smith, Founder and CEO of Elderberry.work
David Smith is Founder and CEO of Hamilton-based services marketplace start-up Elderberry.work. We champion the value of proven business experience, matching age 45+ businesspeople to start-ups and SMBs for freelance, fractional, contract, consulting. All functions, seniorities, industries. We are a social enterprise, supporting both age 45+ as they age up and helping start-ups and SMBs accelerate, helping to foster a more dynamic and growing socioeconomic Canadian community.
His perspective is informed by experience in Canada and USA as an executive in large consumer-facing companies, with start-ups including a Northern California tech start-up, and as a consultant and fractional executive. As VP/General Manager he grew a start-up division to $100 million in sales, and through executive roles in marketing and in sustainability, has driven 5 emerging trends from niche to mainstream (WiFi, organic & natural, health & wellness, green & sustainable, and now agetech). He has an undergraduate degree in environmental science from U of T, and a MBA from McGill.
Click here to register for the panel event!
Event sponsor: City of Guelph
