Guelph Symposium
October 7, 2025
8:00 am – 12:45 pm
Guelph, ON
Earn 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)!
Guelph, ON Canada N1G0A9
The Countdown is On!
Day(s)
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Hour(s)
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Minute(s)
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Second(s)
Agenda
8:00 AM
Registration
8:50 AM
Opening Remarks
Welcome on behalf of CMBA Ontario
9:00 AM
FSRA Update
Speakers:
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Gina Stephens – Director, Mortgage Brokering Conduct
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Cheryl Szutu – Senior Manager, Mortgage Brokering Conduct
9:30 AM
Navigating Appraisals: Strategies for Mortgage Brokers
Speaker:
- Chris Bisson – CEO of Value Connect Inc.
10:15 AM
Coffee Break and Mini Trade Show
11:15 AM
Market Implications to the Mortgage Business
Speaker:
- Bruno Valko – VP of National Sales for RMG Mortgages
12:00 PM
Panel
Speakers:
- Jim Steffler – Mortgage Agent Level 2 – Dominion Lending Centres National Ltd.
- Janna Dawdy – Principal Broker/Owner – JCMortgages.ca
- Max Escrogin – Principal Broker – Maventure Mortgage
- Nancy Ingram – Mortgage Agent Level 2 – Dominion Lending Centres FC Funding
Meet Our Speakers
Our speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from various sectors of the mortgage industry. Get to know the professionals who will be sharing their insights at our event.

Bruno Valko
VP of National Sales, RMG Mortgages
Bruno is the VP of National Sales for RMG Mortgages. He started in the mortgage business in 1990 when there was too much housing supply and the real estate market went into a correction as a result. After the dot com bubble burst, he was VP of National Sales when brokers did 100% financing, 40 year ams, no stress test and 5% cash backs on top. 95% refinances were also popular. Everything ended up just fine, Canadian home construction was booming and there were limited supply and demand issues. Bruno was a mortgage agent for 2 years. He’s worked at MFCs, a B lender and a bank over his 30 plus year career. He enjoys educating mortgage brokers and agents on the economy and what impacts interest rates, both fixed and variable. He’s married with 2 adult children and 2 dogs.

Christopher Bisson
CEO, Value Connect Inc.
Chris started his mortgage career in 1999 at RDM Financial (The Mortgage Centre) after spending four years moving through the corporate ladder at Levi Strauss & Company’s Canadian head office. He quickly put his sales and customer service skills to good use and grew his mortgage practice to become one of the largest in Canada. After 15 years in the mortgage industry, Chris went back to school on a part-time basis to obtain an MBA, where he received Notre Dame’s highest award (The Dean’s Award) for his class, as chosen by administration, faculty, and his peers.
He led a small group of classmates through a research project on the Appraisal Management Industry in North America, which was based on his experience in the mortgage industry. The research was the genesis for Value Connect, a new appraisal solution with the highest Google Reviews rating in the industry. Chris devotes 100% of his time to changing the way everybody feels about property appraisals by making them ridiculously simple and efficient for the betterment of loan originators, appraisers, and lenders.

Gina Stephens
Director, Mortgage Brokering Conduct, Market Conduct
Gina Stephens is a financial services policy leader with 15+ years of experience in strategic stakeholder management and the design and implementation of regulatory regimes for the mortgage broker and credit union sectors.
As Director of Mortgage Broker Conduct at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), Gina is responsible for the design and delivery of mortgage broker sector conduct supervision programs, services, and initiatives within FSRA’s Market Conduct Division.
Prior to joining FSRA, Gina worked at the Ontario Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the Financial Services Policy Division, where she supported the legislative and regulatory policy work that led to the implementation of the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act (MBLAA).

Cheryl Szutu
Senior Manager, Mortgage Brokering Conduct, Market Conduct
Cheryl Szutu is a Senior Manager of Mortgage Brokering Conduct within the Market Conduct team at FSRA. With a diverse background in banking, finance, and underwriting, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her career spans notable institutions in the Canadian financial sector, where she honed her skills in banking and finance. Cheryl further expanded her expertise as a compliance consultant, gaining valuable insights into risk assessment and financial product management.
With this blend of practical experience and specialized certifications, Cheryl is well-equipped to navigate the complex regulatory environment of mortgage brokering in Ontario. Her role at FSRA allows her to leverage her diverse background to strengthen confidence in the sector and promote fair treatment of consumers.

Janna Dawdy
Principal Broker & Owner, JCMortgages.ca
Since childhood, Janna Dawdy has embraced her entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by her hardworking Nonna. As a first-generation Canadian, she began her financial career as a high school co-op bank teller, where she discovered her passion for numbers, problem-solving, and helping people. Over the years, she advanced through various roles in the banking industry, gaining valuable expertise along the way.
After buying her first home in 1998, Janna pursued her long-time dream of becoming a Mortgage Agent in 2006. Her approach has always centered on Client Care Excellence — investing her time, energy, and profits back into personalized service through handwritten letters, thoughtful gift drop-offs, community events, and giveaways.
Today, Janna is the proud owner of JCMortgages.ca and has earned national recognition as a CMP Top 75 Broker in Canada (2017–2025) and a CMP Woman of Influence (2016–2017, 2021–2022, 2025). With over 495 five-star Google reviews and her charitable initiative, “JCMakes a Difference,” Janna continues to lead with heart, expertise, and impact.
She is also a loving wife, mother of four and a proud new Nonna who enjoys Italian-style cooking, home organization, and creating beautiful spaces.
TBD
TBD
Coming Soon
Our Sponsors
Thank you to all of our generous sponsors!





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