From Sunset Views To Strategic Vision – Inside The 2025 Spire Partner Conference

The 2025 Spire Partner Conference was the most successful to date, and the energy in Ottawa was undeniable. With over three-quarters of our partner channel in attendance, this year’s event brought together more people, ideas, and momentum than ever before.

And yes, you may have heard a rumour that the King of England was planning to stop by—but alas, royal duties called, and he had to bow out. (We’re told he’s still hoping for a recording of the keynote.)

Workshops, Welcomes, & a View from the Top

The pre-conference workshops were completely sold out, reflecting our partners’ commitment to deepen their knowledge and deliver even more value to clients. We welcomed six new partners into the Spire community and introduced five new SIPs (Spire Integration Partners), along with a total of 17 exhibitors in our vibrant expo hall.

The evening of the partner dinner reception was a true highlight. Held on the 22nd floor with an epic view of the Ottawa skyline, attendees enjoyed a stunning sunset, delicious food, and warm conversation—a beautiful way to cap off the day’s learning and networking.

Momentum Across the Channel

Al Romeyn opened the Spire Partner Conference with news of continued 10% growth and officially shared that Matt Kalina, Director of Development and James Emerton, Principal Software Engineer, are stakeholders in Spire, reinforcing the strong future of our leadership team.

Top-performing Spire partners—Edge IMS, Gemini Logic, Sirius Solutions, and Cortexx—were recognized for their outstanding sales performance. We also extended heartfelt thanks to long-standing contributors Walter Muma of Wildwood Canada, Greg Varlow of Clearview Business Solutions, Rich Mayo of Sensible Solutions, and Nona MacDermid of Flourish Management Consulting for their session contributions and ongoing peer support of fellow Spire channel members.

A Thought-Provoking & Inspirational Keynote

Another highlight of the event was keynote speaker Yan Markson, whose session was motivational, engaging, and deeply thought-provoking. Blending insight with humour and practical takeaways, Yan left the room energized and ready to approach business—and life—with a renewed perspective. With a focus on the power of persuasion, Yan hit the mark on several aspects of what Spire partners face in their careers, as well as how to overcome obstacles related to client acquisitions and client retention.

Spire’s Commitment to the Channel

Katie Griffin shared Spire’s continued commitment to our partner channel, reaffirming our focus on providing partners with the tools, resources, and support they need to deliver on their Spire Partner obligations.

Warren Flett provided a “Year in Review,” showcasing over a dozen new features added directly from the new Partner Feature Request Forum—a testament to the power of partner feedback.

Collaboration, Insight, & Expertise

This year’s conference featured four tracks, each with five sessions, co-hosted by many of our valued SIPs. Sessions focused on technical insight, sales strategy, implementation tips, and business growth. The schedule was packed with interesting topics and insights into the solutions that our valued Spire Integration Partners provide; the only problem was that Spire Partners couldn’t be in two places at once!

A Glimpse into the Road Ahead

In his Road Ahead session, Al Romeyn revealed exciting updates coming soon, including:

  • POS Web: A web-based point-of-sale solution
  • Spire VA (Virtual Appliance): A streamlined deployment option
  • Dark Mode: A slick new look that’s easy on the eyes
  • Copy Vendor: Faster vendor setup
  • Database Colour ID: Clear visual distinction across environments
  • Version Number on Login: Better version visibility

…and many more enhancements driven by real partner input.

The conference concluded with a powerful expert panel featuring Al Romeyn and Peter Reimer, who fielded questions from the audience. Matt Kalina, James Emerton, Rick Notman, and Katie Griffin answered questions with transparency and offered advice, sharing their excitement for what’s next.

Looking Ahead

From the workshops and sessions to the rooftop dinner and sunset views, the 2025 Spire Partner Conference in Ottawa was an unforgettable experience. Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make it such a meaningful and impactful event.

We’re already working on plans to make next year even better.

Here’s to the year ahead—and to building success together.