Michael has held senior leadership positions at IBM, Ceridian and VidCruiter.  Currently he serves as the Senior Vice President of Client Services at Achēv.  As a leader with over 20 years of experience in customer experience and services, Michael is passionate about delivering unparalleled customer success by focusing on fostering strong partnerships and creating value in a meaningful way.

Michael’s dedication to customer success started from the beginning of his career.  He firmly believes that a thriving customer base lays the foundation for growth and prosperity, leading to a sustainable future for any organization.

In addition to his people-first philosophy, Michael leverages an analytical approach to gain further insights into customer profiles and behaviours, empowering stakeholders to make informed and proactive decisions.  Michael’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation is evident through his commitment to continuous improvement.

Michael believes in giving back to the community, so you might find him participating in CS groups and initiatives, sharing his experience and collaborating with other CS professionals and leaders.

Alex Naumov is an accomplished professional with a strong background in the technology industry, specifically in the field of Software as a Service (SaaS). Passionate about customer success, Alex has been making significant contributions in this area for the past 7 years.

Currently serving as the Senior Director of Customer Success at Vidyard, Alex has played a pivotal role in fostering long-term partnerships through developing tailored approaches to enhance customer experiences and drive business value.

His dedication to customer success and keen ability to navigate the complexities of the industry have allowed him to take on leadership roles in the larger CS community. A highlight of this effort includes his role as a mentor within the Catalyst coaching program.

In his personal life, Alex’s days are filled as a father to 3 energetic boys ages 7, 7, and 9 (that’s right, twins!). They keep him busy with a variety of sports, a love of Lego & Harry Potter, and lots of hijinks.

Addie Batson is an accomplished Customer Success Manager and Consultant with a rich history of driving growth and enhancing customer experiences. With an Honors BA in Communications and Business from York University, Adnahn’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for a stellar career.

Former student leadership roles as the President of Winters College Council and Student Director at the York Federation of Students underscore Addie’s knack for effective collaboration and community leadership.

With a strong track record spanning over 6 years, Adnahn has lent expertise to high-profile organizations including Uber, Clearco, Shopify, Bird, and the DMZ. Addie’s strategic approach centers on cultivating robust customer success journeys, facilitating lasting growth, and fostering unwavering customer loyalty.

Addie looks forward to channeling insights and experience to advance institutional initiatives at his Alma Mata.

Nicole Cressman leads a team of success managers in Financial Services at Microsoft. She has spent almost 20 years working in success roles at both technology and consulting firms and is passionate about the business impact that this position can drive. After taking a degree in Environmental Studies, she found her way into technical recruiting and received great internal training on technology and account management. Years later, after working closely with the CEO of Workbrain to hire his executive leadership positions, he asked her to fulfill the new “customer success” role for the organization, seeing a need to have someone to manage their Fortune 500 customers post sales to ensure they were receiving value from their investment. This was a pivotal moment in her career and she found her way into a career that valued problem solving, active listening, empathy and multi-tasking!

Twenty years later, Nicole remains excited about success management in organizations, and the ability these roles have to partner with the account team to deliver ROI, build critical “trusted advisor” relationships with customers, and earn a seat at the table with business leaders to help drive their strategic objectives.

A seasoned professional with a wealth of expertise and a passion for driving customer satisfaction as Head of Customer Success. With 20+ years of experience in leading customer-centric teams, Rose has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to clients.

Throughout her career, Rose has successfully developed and implemented customer success strategies that have resulted in significant improvements in customer retention and loyalty. She possesses a deep understanding of customer needs and pain points, enabling her to build strong, long-lasting relationships.

As a natural leader and mentor, Rose fosters a culture of excellence within her teams, encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement. Her ability to inspire and empower team members has contributed to high-performing customer success teams and consistently positive outcomes.

Rose also thrives on leveraging data-driven insights to inform decision-making, optimize processes, and identify growth opportunities. By leveraging the latest technologies and industry best practices, she has successfully driven measurable results and positively impacted the bottom line for both customers and the organization.

Meet Lee, the Head of Customer Success at Strategyzer. Since joining the organization in 2019, she has embarked on an incredible journey, harnessing her 10 years of expertise in building and nurturing delivery and account management teams, and executing Customer Success strategies that fuel growth and retention.

Lee is admired for her boundless drive, creativity, and unwavering focus on outcomes. She possesses a unique talent for handpicking the finest talents, infusing technology for enhanced efficiency, and nurturing authentic relationships built on trust.

Lee is deeply passionate about fostering a culture where the customer is at the heart of every decision. Nestled in the serene beauty of western Ontario, she cherishes every moment spent with her young family, exploring the enchanting landscapes surrounding the great lakes.