Strategic Entrepreneur Networking Event - November 15, 2023


As part of attending our events and being a part of our community, we've posted copies of the slides and the recordings of the events for your access. As part of our Strategic Entrepreneur Networking Events series, this was an awesome meet up with great speakers, engaging content, fun giveaways, amazing feedback and of course, networking!


The event included the following:

  • A real estate market update by Zach Brittian
  • A mortgage update by Ben Julius
  • An economic update by Cody Yeh
  • The main speaker was Michael Ponte who taught us about Raising Capital.
  • Danielle and Kory provide their some tips in Coaches Corner.
  • Riccardo talks about how he is achieving success faster than they had anticipated through coaching in Student Success Stories.
  • THIS or THAT Healthy Debate where Darren Voros and Paula McFarlane argue the benefits of hiring a General Contract vs Andrew Parashis and Ben Julius who prefer to Project Manage their own projects


Before you pay to enroll, remember that if you attended our event in person then you should already have access to this once you've logged in!

Patrick Jones - Course author

Michael Ponte

Meet the Keynote Speaker
Michael Ponte is the Founder of Savvy Investor & his real estate investing company Prosperity Real Estate Investments Ltd. His real estate investment company was established in 2002 with a focus on both commercial and residential properties. Prosperity Real Estate Investments currently manages a robust portfolio of over 235 units valued at more than $30 million across diverse Canadian markets.  Recognized for his exceptional expertise and achievements, Michael Ponte and Prosperity Real Estate Investments have garnered prestigious accolades from renowned industry associations such as REIN, Canada Real Estate Investment Club, and Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine. These accolades include Top Player of the Year (2008-2015) and Multi-Family Investor of the Year from REIN, as well as the Michael Millenaar Leadership Award and Top Interprovincial Investor from Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine.  In addition to his successful investing ventures, Michael Ponte is passionate about sharing his knowledge and empowering others in the real estate industry. As part of this commitment, he founded Savvy Investor, a thriving community where like-minded real estate enthusiasts gather to exchange insights, support one another, and learn from collective experiences. 
Patrick Jones - Course author

Zach Brittain

Meet the Host of MARKET Update
Meet Zack, a licensed real estate agent with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics from the University of Guelph. Since 2016,  Zach has been helping clients make smart moves in the competitive Waterloo Region real estate market. With extensive experience in flips, holds, BRRRRS, multi-unit properties, and construction, Zach brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every transaction.  Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, Zach has successfully operated 5 different businesses by the age of 31. This entrepreneurial mindset is reflected in Zach real estate practice, where they are always looking for new and innovative ways to meet the needs of clients and exceed expectations.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Ben Julius

Meet the Host of Mortgage Update

Launched in 2017 as A Game Investments, the business began with flipping houses, short term rentals, conversions of small multi-family homes, and buy & holds. During the last 3-years the business has evolved into a land development and land assembly company. This massive evolution has also welcomed the new brand Lionheart Development.   The goal of the organization is to find properties and/or land while determining the highest and best use of the land. This is done with their team of architects, planners, and builders. Additionally, the company negotiates financing with vendors and raises capital through investors in order to capitalize on the best rate of return on each project.   Lionheart Development specializes in taking projects from raw land to a place where people can call home with multiple exit strategies throughout the project.

Patrick Jones - Course author

Cody Yeh

Meet the Host of the ECONOMIC Update

Cody Yeh is the well-recognized 7-figure income stock options coach, real estate investor, and entrepreneur. With over 10 years of expertise in the investment industry, Cody is revolutionizing stock options investing and the financial game for aspiring elite professionals who want to achieve financial success and independence.    In the past year alone, Cody has been featured on TD Direct Investing Webinars and more than 70 investor-focused podcasts. His expertise in the field has made him a go-to resource for investors seeking to grow their wealth.    Through his premium Stock Options Mastermind program and his proprietary SET-AND-DONE Cash Flow Strategy, Cody has helped thousands of students achieve a consistent double-digit yearly returns by spending less than 5 minutes a day. His students include elite professionals such as accountants, doctors, analysts, engineers, managers, professional athletes, real estate investors, and business owners.    Cody's innovative approach and proven track record of delivering consistent profits have attracted students from all over the world. He remains dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and is passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals

Patrick Jones - Course author

Paula McFarlane

Meet the THIS or THAT Panelist
Jake and Paula began their professional lives working as paramedics for 16 and 13 years respectively, navigating the often tragic and stressful world of emergency services. They turned to their passion of real estate when not working, flipping houses as a way to escape the stress of their “day jobs” and as a way to use their untapped creativity. As the years passed, their passion grew for the industry, as did their desire for entrepreneurship and financial independence. Being witness to countless human tragedies on a regular basis had given them a unique perspective on the importance of moving forward with their goals and passion.​In 2019 they shifted from flipping houses as a hobby, to creating a real estate investing business, hiring coaches and investing in growing their knowledge. As a result, they have both been able to retire from their day jobs and work in the business full time, along with hiring 3 support staff. Jake and Paula are married with 4 children and work & invest in the London Ontario region.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Andrew Parashis

Meet the THIS or THAT Panelist

Having started in 2005, Andrew is a veteran real estate investor with several businesses in operation. His management company operates over 800 tenancies across southern Ontario; he has a house flipping business completing an average of 8 projects per year; and he most recently he launched and founded the Property Hustlers, which is a real estate based education platform sharing countless videos through social media on what it means to be a real estate investor / entrepreneur. The property hustlers podcast interviews leading minds in real estate and business all across Canada and the US. 

Patrick Jones - Course author

Darren Voros

Meet the THIS or THAT Panelist

With over 20 years of experience in real-estate investing, and 250+ doors in his portfolio, Darren is passionate about sharing the knowledge he’s gained as a land developer, educator, and public speaker. He currently manages a portfolio of properties valued at just over $30,000,000 and has travelled across North America educating audiences on the subject of real estate investing, financial independence, and land development. Darren has been featured as an on-air renovation expert on “The Goods” (CBC) and “CityLine” (CityTV). He was also the behind-the-scenes contractor on “Save My Reno” (HGTV) and “Game of Homes” (W Network). Darren’s passion for real-estate investing created the urge to share everything he’d learned online. After the popularity of his YouTube channel, Darren brought together his key content into simple, actionable courses that pack years of wisdom into weeks of material. While everyone is different, Darren’s courses are especially designed so that anyone who wants to learn about land development, can!

Patrick Jones - Course author

Alfonso Salemi

Meet the Master of Ceremonies
Alfonso Salemi is the co-owner, co-founder of JAAG Properties a Rent to Own Company based in Ontario, Canada. He has helped close to 300 families on the road to homeownership. Alfonso loves sharing his passion for Lease Options / Rent to Own and the benefits it brings to people’s lives. He thrives on these interactions and enjoys helping others with their largest purchase or investment of their lives. With a deep-rooted passion for Lease Options / Rent to Own, Alfonso has played an instrumental role in assisting hundreds of clients and families in their journey towards homeownership. He firmly believes in the transformative power of Lease Options / Rent to Own and takes immense pleasure in sharing its numerous benefits with others. Known for his exceptional interpersonal skills, Alfonso thrives on engaging with individuals and presenting them with the advantages offered by Lease Options / Rent to Own . Guiding people through their most significant purchase or investment is a responsibility he takes great pride in. Alfonso’s unwavering dedication to helping individuals overcome obstacles and achieve homeownership has made him a respected figure in the real estate community. Through his expertise and genuine care for others, he continues to forge meaningful connections and create positive change in people's lives.
Visit Simeon's Website: www.jaagproperties.com
Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the HOSTS

Danielle Chiasson

Danielle Chiasson is a serial entrepreneur known for her work in the field of real estate investing in residential redevelopment and rental housing. Focused in Ontario, her many projects have ranged in scope from light clean-ups to full renovations, as well as legal duplex, triplex conversions, and multi-unit flips. She works as a general contractor managing various trades & staff, while managing her organization. She fills her days operating multiple businesses, underwriting properties, balancing finances, managing rental properties, and endlessly educating herself and others. She is also a member and contributor of several real estate education organizations. Danielle is passionate about business and real estate, and shares her experience and knowledge with other investors through speaking engagements and various online platforms, and is very excited about re-launching Strategic Success Consulting.
Patrick Jones - Course author



Kory MacKinnon

A former Corporate Trainer, Kory found his passion for real estate investing in his late teens after reading David Chilton’s book The Wealthy Barber.  However, lack of knowledge, systems and trusted mentors kept him from pulling the trigger on his first property until he was 30 years of age.

As the saying goes, the seed was planted and from that day forward, Kory used two decades of business experience to turn his lucrative real estate side hustle into early retirement.