Marketing and Advertising

Connor Whitworth has provided public affairs and communications counsel to many of Canada’s most successful businesses and their leaders. He actively supports organizations and their teams when facing mission critical matters, readying them to achieve their goals, navigate complex circumstances and protect their reputations.

Connor has significant experience assisting with public affairs mandates, related to crisis and issues management, reputation recovery, government relations, investor relations, stakeholder engagement, transaction communication support, and digital activation.

Before joining Teneo, Connor was a senior executive at a publicly traded licensed producer of cannabis where he was responsible for corporate affairs and strategic communications. Before his time in the cannabis industry, Connor was a leader at one of Canada’s premier crisis communications and reputation management firms, based in Toronto.

Dan’s 20-year PR & Communications career began in London, England, where he worked for top tech PR agencies and delivered hard-hitting campaigns for a range of start-ups and global brands before relocating to Canada in 2011. Today, he advises some of Canada’s most prevalent business leaders on their communications strategies and is incredibly well-connected in the North American tech and media industries.

Prior to DGPR, Dan was Head of PR & Corporate Communications for a notable Canadian media tech company, and his tenure included the announcement of its IPO in 2020, one of the Top 10 largest TSX Tech IPOs of all time in terms of funds raised.

Dan blends creativity with logic and is an advocate for equality and diversity in all forms. He was recently awarded BIV 40 Under 40 and frequently shares his thoughts on entrepreneurship and LGBTQIA+ rights through the Forbes Business Council.

Dominique is the Managing Director at Berners Bowie Lee Inc. She has over a decade of leadership experience focusing on client services, business development and brand activity planning in advertising agencies as well as marketing, brand and partnership departments on the corporate side of the business. 

Working on both ends of the marketing spectrum has given her a unique perspective and has positioned her to have a strong foundation in developing collaborative relationships with everyone she works with, anticipating opportunities to drive tangible business results and approaching every situation with curiosity. Over the years, she’s worked cross-functionally to lead complex multi-stakeholder initiatives, set up net-new teams, and operationalize new functionalities and partnerships on fast-paced national businesses. Some examples include McDonald’s Canada, WINNERS, Tangerine and Rogers Communications Inc.

Justin has spent over 15 years as a marketing professional working in-house and in-agency to grow some of B.C's largest and most beloved builders and brands. His current role at SitePartners, a B2B agency focussed on the industrial sector, involves overseeing the day-to-day of one of Canada's fastest growing ad agencies. A passionate strategist and creative thinker, Justin gets the most satisfaction from building and growing the Site team. Fostering a supportive and fulfilling environment for people to thrive and grow their careers. 

Justin lives in East Vancouver with his wife Rheanna and two young girls: Maya and Baby Margot.

Growth + product marketing leader with 10+ years of experience growing brands and leading go-to-market strategies in e-commerce and tech. Started my career in growth marketing and digital media, working with a startup to enterprise-sized e-commerce brands, like Loblaw Digital, before transitioning to Canada's leading fintech, Wealthsimple. Working in growth and product marketing disciplines has provided me the opportunity to approach marketing strategy with both analytical rigour and brand-level insights. A few accomplishments I've been proud of include leading the marketing launch of Wealthsimple Tax (formerly SimpleTax), which resulted in +30% of clients acquiring YOY. 

Leading the marketing go-to-market strategy for the Wealthsimple Crypto & Self-directed business by shipping notable feature releases, including Options trading, Crypto Staking, Recurring Investments, Dividend reinvestments and 30+ new crypto tokens. Managed a multi-million dollar budget during the meme stock covid era by launching new paid channels like TikTok and Reddit, in addition to optimizing and lowering customer acquisition costs across all channels. 

I've been very fortunate to have gained a lot of hands-on professional experience and mentorship from industry experts in my space, and it's important to pay it forward. On a weekly basis, I open my calendar to career mentoring opportunities for working professionals, new grads and students looking to break into the marketing space, in addition to speaking to start-up founders who are looking to optimize their marketing efforts in order to grow their businesses.

Danielle has deep consumer experience that spans a variety of leading beauty brands – from luxury to mass, including Estee Lauder, Charlotte Tilbury, eos, NEOSTRATA, Nurse Jamie, and the Wet Brush, and first and foremost, prides herself on building strong and trusted client partnerships.

Most recently, Danielle became a Cannes Lions winner for her work on Dove Keep the Grey and several industry accolades for Dove Detox Your Feed and Dove Men+Care Sponsorship for Sportsmanship.

Marcy McMillan is an award-winning strategic communicator with over ten years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, crisis/issues management, public affairs, and brand reputation management, who thrives in collaborating with clients and colleagues to develop and execute successful communication strategies. Her career began with a passion for storytelling and a commitment to leveraging communication as a powerful tool for driving business objectives, leading to her many successes – both personally and professionally. 

Marcy holds an Honours B.A. in Communications Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations and Corporate Communications (High Honours) from Sheridan College, and a Continuing Education Certificate in Digital Strategy and Communications Management from the University of Toronto. 

Joel Hansen is the Head of Marketing for LOI: Canada's largest youth accelerator and VC Fund focused on serving founders under the age of 30. LOI (League of Innovators) was Co-founded by Hootsuite's Ryan Holmes and Angel Investor Manny Padda with a focus on removing barriers to mentor and accelerate young entrepreneurs. Over the last couple years, we've worked with 15,000+ founders, graduated 250 startups and seen over $1B of enterprise value created. Joel splits his time between the startup accelerator and venture fund in the capacities of investor relations, fundraising, marketing, PR, and strategic partnerships. 

On the storytelling front, he's produced content that's earned 50M+ views with many stories gaining 1M+ impressions alone. He's collaborated with brands in the past such as the LA Clippers, Slack, Shopify, the Vancouver Canucks and Adobe to develop brand awareness for Gen Z. 

He's been recognized by BC Business as a Top 30 Under 30, Daily Hive as one of Vancouver's Top 30 Tech Influencers to follow and featured by GoDaddy as a Thought Leader in the Influencer Marketing space. Additionally, he's been quoted in publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Betakit, Indiehackers, BCAMA and also given 2 TEDx Talks on the power of social media.

He's spoken at 100+ events for organizations like Microsoft, UBC, the University of Toronto, LA Staples Centre, Rogers Arena, and Linkedin HQ. Away from work, you'll find Joel on a road bike, by the ocean or enjoying a cortado. 

Katie Zeppieri is a 2x TEDx speaker, author, social influencer, media personality, and Founder & Chief Brand Strategist of The MicDrop Agency, a top-rated and fast-growing boutique PR and Marketing firm specializing in brand amplification for innovative companies and people. MicDrop’s roster of clients range from high-growth tech startups to serial entrepreneurs to C-suite executives and reality TV stars including Netflix “Love Is Blind” stars Deepti Vempati and Kelly Chase who together have a combined total of over 1.4 million followers.

Katie is a sought after speaker, consultant and guest expert who speaks brand strategy, PR and marketing. Some of the topics Katie is frequently asked to speak about include: how to attract media attention, how to use speaking as a tool to build your business, and how to build a personal brand. She is also a frequent contributor to Toronto's AM radio station, NEWSTALK 1010 and has also been featured on CP24, CTV, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Virgin Radio and SiriusXM.

Prior to launching The MicDrop Agency, Katie built GIRL TALK Day, Canada's largest girl empowerment event as well as an international school chapter network impacting over 100 schools and reaching over 15,000 girls in the seven years of the organization's operation.

Katie has recently launched a podcast titled Get Mic'd with Katie Zeppieri which is a marketing podcast about the ins and outs of what it takes to build a notable brand. The first two guests for the series include: the CEO of The Atlantic, Nicholas Thompson, and Shark Tank investor, Matt Higgins.

From a young age, Marta Tryshak has been fascinated by the intersection of technology, art, and communication.

Her journey, marked by curiosity and a pioneering spirit, led her to become one of Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30. But Marta’s story is more than a list of accolades, which includes the ICSC Maple Leaf Gold Award for Marketing Excellence and the Global Maxi Award, among others. It's about a passion for connecting people and ideas in innovative ways. 

In 2008, Marta launched WithLoveGabrielle.com, which quickly blossomed into one of Canada’s premier women’s lifestyle blogs prior to it being acquired. 

Marta completed graduate Marketing program from the University of Toronto, where she had previously graduated from the Architecture and Art History specialist program. She shares her knowledge as a professor at the OCAD University and Seneca Polytechnic, teaching digital marketing and social media.

In 2016, Marta founded TryMus Group, a venture combining her passion for creative strategy and brand storytelling. Her entrepreneurial journey expanded in 2023 with the launch of On Social Sports, specializing in social media and influencer marketing for the sports and fitness industries. 

Marta’s entrepreneurial spirit is also about giving back. As a mentor with Enterprise Toronto and Starter Company, she supports emerging entrepreneurs, paying forward the support she once received.

Beyond her professional life, Marta is deeply involved in the art community, serving on the committee for AGO Next at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She finds balance in her life through her love for the arts, literature, rowing, and skiing.

I'm a leader within Deloitte Consulting's marketing strategy practice that works with clients across all industries to create, execute, and measure holistic marketing strategies. I help to lead a group of 25+ members to help some of Canada’s largest organizations solve problems that range across brand and marketing strategy, organizational design, process refinement and change management, technology discovery and implementation and data strategy. Prior to Deloitte, I worked in the advertising industry and have brought my understanding of the agency landscape to inform Deloitte’s strategy for providing valuable and relevant services to marketing leaders. With my agency background, I was able to work with internal leaders to create and grow the marketing strategy group that today competes in a space that Deloitte historically hasn’t had much of a footprint. The team I established and lead has carved out a unique position where we’re able to compete against traditional agencies and consulting firms alike by offering a range of strong strategic capabilities as well as marketing and creative capabilities. In addition to leading the team, I have written reports on behalf of Deloitte Canada with respect to current marketing trends and am involved in Deloitte’s global marketing community to define what the future of marketing may look like (e.g., how will Gen AI be leveraged). I have both an undergraduate and master’s degree from the Ivey School of Business in Business Administration. 

Susan Seto is a communications professional with experience working for large complex organizations in health care, government and law. In her current role as a redevelopment communications officer for BC Cancer, she leads the communications and engagement on the building and planning of new cancer centres in British Columbia. With one in two British Columbians projected to be diagnosed with cancer, the new cancer centres will bring life-saving treatment to patients and families facing cancer for generations to come. In addition to her professional work, she cycled 100 kilometres for Tour de Cure and fundraised over $50,000 together with her cycling team to advance cancer research. 

Susan holds a Master of Global Business degree from the University of Victoria and Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University. She also serves as a board director for the International Association of Business Communicators.

With over 13 years of experience, Terence is a marketing and design professional who thrives on creating campaigns that make a difference. He holds a Master of Digital Media from the prestigious Centre for Digital Media and a Bachelor of Communications – a background that gives him a unique edge in both strategy and execution.

Currently, Terence channels his expertise as Brand Marketing Specialist for Origin Sustainables, a leader in eco-friendly foodservice ware. He's passionate about their mission, and it shows. Terence completely revamped their brand identity, making a splash at the Restaurants Canada show last year. This fresh approach helped secure deals with major Canadian quickservice restaurant chains. Beyond eye-catching designs, Terence brings a strategic mindset, backing up his creative vision with data-driven insights.

His collaborative nature and ability to mentor others make him a favorite among colleagues. Whether consulting for startups or crafting bespoke design solutions, Terence is known for his eye for detail and his knack for translating complex ideas into visually compelling stories. Adaptable and always eager to learn, Terence is a valuable asset to any digital media project.

Someone once referred to me as a firecracker, and I don't think anything could be more accurate. I fell in love with marketing in high school and it seems never looked back. The creativity, the focus on learning and adapting felt like a whole new world I couldn't wait to be a part of. So, into marketing I went - first in medical devices, then via a series of maternity leave contracts (which I highly recommend as a way of trying new things), into beverage alcohol, then financial services and insurance and even a jaunt in transportation technology. Now I am back in medical devices at the word's leading producer of hearing instruments, and I couldn't be happier.

 

No matter the industry, I've learned that the status quo is simply not in my DNA. To me, marketing is the glorious intersection of business strategy and human psychology , allowing people to creatively and meaningfully connect with other people while constant testing and learning, and storytelling data in an evolving and engaging way. Whether in digital or classic print, I'm still fascinated.

 

Now with the privilege and honour to be leading teams, my focus and passion has evolved to be centered around coaching others to become their best selves, leaning in to authenticity, vulnerability and the core belief that people are trying their best. I want to create the space and safety for people to try new and bold things as I believe in every scenario there is either an opportunity to win or an opportunity to learn.

 

At the end of the day, I believe in people and do my best to treat everyone like they are full of potential. I really believe that together, we can do really amazing things.

I’m a digital native who has shaped his career by learning a comprehensive set of skills across the spectrum of modern marketing and leading strategic innovation projects. As an integrator and creative technologist my world sits at the intersection of great ideas and production, and I thrive in fast-paced environments. On the agency side I’ve collaborated with a high pedigree of clients in Nike, BMW, Mazda, Labatt, Kraft and Spin Master (among many more), and I have “dream job” experience working at the National Hockey League in their business development group on the digital media side.

Travel is my passion beyond work, where solo adventures have honed my problem-solving skills—skills that I bring to every project to drive growth. I'm excited by the disruptive potential of AI in marketing, a frontier I'm actively embracing, foreseeing it as a catalyst for innovation in how we think and operate within the industry.

Alex’s expertise spans a national scale, supporting Canada’s largest organizations through digital + creative projects. She is a creative thinker who understands the process behind bringing a campaign to life – big or small. She’s led countless successful advertising, email marketing, creative production + social media campaigns for major clients like The CNIB Foundation, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, North York General Hospital and ONroute. Having supported the launch of Creative Currency in 2021, Alex has seen the evolution, excitement, and operations of what it means to build a growing agency + content studio. It’s what makes her the exceptional Account Manager she is, understanding all aspects of the business.

 

When she’s not spending time with clients or on set supporting CC Productions, Alex manages Creative Currency’s culture and recruitment. Always fostering an inclusive, kind, and transparent work environment, her passion for people doesn’t go unnoticed. Further, she takes a leadership role in Creative Currency and EnterpriseHealth’s not-for-profit initiative, the Women in Media Fellowship, a program developed to address the gap in professional development opportunities for women.

With an unshakable belief in the intersection of technology and marketing, Matthew Goulart founded Ignite Digital in 2008, a digital marketing agency that quickly rose to prominence in North America. Ignite Digital stands as a testament to Goulart's vision—providing comprehensive digital solutions that resonate with his clientele's brand identities and business goals.

Under Goulart's leadership, Ignite Digital has blossomed into a powerhouse, renowned for its cutting-edge strategies and innovative approaches to search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media management, and content marketing.

Stephanie is one of the Founders and the VP of Client Solutions at The Influence Agency.  I have over 15+ years of experience in Digital Marketing, specializing in custom digital advertising strategies for brands and influencers.  Aside from being a boss lady at work, Stephanie is a proud mom of two and loves spending her free time reading, cooking and learning to salsa dance!

Alicia has helped people, businesses and brands tell compelling, purpose-driven stories for the better part of a decade. She broke into tech in 2018 doing communications at IBM and is now a Vice President with Edelman’s Tech Practice in Canada. In this role, she interrogates every opportunity, pushing clients to act and solve societal problems that will earn them attention in a cluttered media landscape. She believes public private sector partnerships are the key to solving pressing social issues like climate change and the future of work – and leverages her marketing and communications toolkit to do just that.

Alicia kick-started her career in Ontario politics as a Press Secretary to Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services and the Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, followed by a sprint managing multicultural media for Ontario’s former Premier during the 2018 election. 

In this role, she was responsible for stakeholder management, communications strategy and media management, which gave her the insights necessary to understand how effective and accessible communication can shape policymaking.

Alicia’s commitment to inclusive leadership is further bolstered by her recent completion of Civic Action’s DiverseCity Fellows program, an award-winning leadership experience for diverse rising leaders in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area who are looking to amplify their leadership skills, grow their network, explore social issues, and discover how to make a positive change in their communities.

When she’s not thinking about how tech can change the world, she spends time with her husband exploring the GTA’s best fusion restaurants.

Mia is a Senior Account Coordinator at Kaiser & Partners (K&P), an award-winning, full-service public relations firm. Driven by curiosity, her career in public relations thus far has allowed her to expand on her passions of storytelling and thinking creatively to develop effective materials for various clients across the financial, tech and HR industries.

Since joining K&P in 2022 as an intern and graduate of the Humber College Public Relations Postgraduate Certificate Program, she’s developed a knack for client relations and the ability to lead with kindness and positivity.

Exemplifying her ability as a leader and effective communicator, Mia was recognized as the 2023 New PR Professional of the Year at the Canadian Public Relations Society’s (CPRS) ACE awards.

Her previous work experience is rooted in influencer relations and B2C communications with additional transferable skills of working in fast-paced environments and developing interpersonal qualities through many years in the hospitality industry. 

An alumnus of Wilfrid Laurier University (Honours B.A. Communications Studies), Mia prides herself in being a lifelong learner and striving to gain new insights through every opportunity and challenge.

Nicky is an enthusiastic brand, sponsorship and event marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the financial, technology, sports and automotive industries. She is currently working with the Royal Bank of Canada, leading global sponsorships for RBC Wealth Management whilst also leading the visual art strategy for the brand, working closely with the RBC Curatorial team. 

Prior to RBC, Nicky led the sponsorship strategy at TELUS. While taking a hiatus from her corporate career in 2014, Nicky set off to follow another passion of hers – animal conservation – and lived in Sri Lanka, helping and educating people on the human/elephant conflict in the country. She had the chance to work with and be face-to-face with elephants every day.

Nicky completed her BBA at Acadia University in Nova Scotia prior to completing her MBA at Chapman University in Southern California. She now lives in Toronto with her partner and her unbelievably adorable and super smart dog, Lucky. 

With a 12-year journey in social media strategy, 7 of which have been dedicated to Klick, I consider myself a seasoned social strategist with a sincere commitment to seamlessly connecting strategic insight with creative innovation. I find myself at the intersection of analytical thinking and imaginative ideation, hoping to contribute in my own modest way.

My professional narrative is one of formulating impactful social strategies translating analytical thinking into creative solutions that aim to resonate both rationally and emotionally. I hold a deep commitment to delivering results that extend beyond meeting objectives, aspiring to captivate audiences and make a significant impact in the dynamic landscape of social media.

Throughout my time at Klick, I've had the privilege of guiding 20+ brands into the social space, collaborating with industry players and contributing to the team's collective success. My leadership style, if I may say so, is characterized by thoughtfulness, charisma, and determination, driven by the belief that challenges can be gracefully overcome.

I'm also a very proud mother of 2, and I strive to embody resilience and determination, hoping to inspire others by showcasing that one can achieve professional success while navigating familial responsibilities. I always hope that my ability to navigate and find success in both realms can serve as an inspiration to aspiring professionals and parents alike. I am dedicated to authenticity and transparency, voicing my opinions with a sincere commitment to excellence, with the hope that my contributions to the team may leave a modest and positive mark in the industry.

Combining his passions for creativity, social media, and partnering with SMBs, Dave joined the team at Framar in 2020 to help support their growing footprint in the CPG and Salon Professional spaces. During his time with the brand, Dave has helped grow Framar’s distribution into new markets in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Part of a small, but mighty team, Dave enjoys the opportunity to collaborate and provide input in every step of the go-to-market process for Framar's ever-growing catalog. For Dave, everyday at Framar is an opportunity to learn something new, and to contribute to one of the world’s most creative, and community-focused brands in the Salon Professional Industry. 

Emilie is a seasoned marketing leader with over a decade of experience, blending finance and marketing expertise to drive innovative, data-driven strategies in B2B demand generation, account-based marketing, and performance marketing. 

Her academic background in Finance and Marketing lays the foundation for her creative yet analytical approach, maximizing ROI through a deep understanding of market dynamics and consumer behaviour. 

Recognized for her exceptional leadership and innovative strategies, Emilie has made significant contributions to the energy sector at DNE, earning the First Star recognition in 2023 for her alignment with the company's core values and impactful results. 

Her tenure at Dialogue, an integrated health platform, underscores her adaptability and skill in collaborating to the company's significant growth. Notably, she received a Go-To-Market All-Star award in 2020 for her efforts in the company's expansion. This accolade came prior to a series of successful funding rounds and the completion of an Initial Public Offering (IPO), marking key milestones in the company's journey. 

A proponent of remote work and asynchronous collaboration, Emilie's forward-thinking leadership has fostered a productive work environment, emphasizing trust and time autonomy. 

Her passion for aviation as a private pilot adds a unique layer to her multifaceted professional profile, illustrating her drive for exploration and continuous improvement.

I build global talent and culture strategies for companies. With a background in neuroscience, my approach blends science and strategy. I craft human-focused initiatives centred on boosting employer brands and cultures fostering inclusion to elevate teams. With every step, I champion DEI. 

Paving a new way to look at P+C.

Chantel Cassar has over a decade of experience in the public relations industry, with deep expertise in real estate, retail and technology sectors. Originating from a background in experiential marketing, Chantel has honed a keen understanding of how to bring clients' stories to life across multiple channels through impactful storytelling and experiences. She is passionate about creating campaigns that connect with her clients audiences in authentic and impactful ways that drive real business impact. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded and executed programs for prominent North American brands and Fortune 500 companies.

As the Co-Founder of Category Communications, Chantel brings a wealth of PR strategies to the forefront. Whether orchestrating press conferences, planning real estate groundbreaking ceremonies, curating strategic influencer campaigns, fostering influencer partnerships, pitching media or navigating clients through crisis communications, Chantel is motivated by driving Category Communication’s mission forward to reshape industries through innovative and results-driven communication approaches.

With a deep love for brand building and an eye on what's trending, Morgan Craig is a senior marketer who transforms raw ideas into narratives that grab attention and stick with you. Always on the pulse of what’s current, she works to ensure that brands don't just show up—they stand out and become part of the conversation.

Morgan’s marketing experience bridges B2C and B2B, showcasing versatility and adaptability. 

As Irwin's Senior Director of Brand Marketing, Morgan built the function from scratch. She oversees events, sponsorships, content, social media, community engagement, and PR. Morgan’s strategic focus on the brand has established Irwin as a credible and distinctive thought leader, challenging the status quo and making headway against industry monoliths. Her team’s work has driven significant increases in demand, pipeline, and revenue growth, showcasing the brand’s critical role in B2B marketing success.

Starting her career at agencies, Morgan has handled communications for enterprise brands such as Rogers Communications, LG Electronics, Telus, Mattel, and more. Her work spearheading the Canadian debuts of major U.S. startups like Lyft earned her the title of PR In Canada's Agency Account Manager of the Year.

Morgan’s consulting portfolio includes Cadillac Fairview and Molson Coors, focusing primarily on influencer marketing and events—helping brands nurture online communities and create memorable experiences.

Off the clock, as a true Sagittarius, Morgan is always on the move—adding to her sneaker collection, soaking up live music, travelling, or getting her steps in.

Meet Ang, the culinary force behind the recipe community @ChampagneAng. With over a decade of experience in Canada's CPG industry, she is a Senior Marketing Manager for leading brands, but Ang's passion for cooking blossomed during the pandemic. 

Seeking a creative outlet, she began crafting recipe videos, quickly amassing a following of over 300,000 eager foodies. Partnering with renowned brands like KitchenAid, Toronto Raptors, Patron, Hellmann's, and Longo's, Ang's bubbly personality and innovative recipes have captured the hearts of food enthusiasts nationwide. 

Her mission? To make cooking fun and accessible for everyone. Through her vibrant online presence, she transforms ordinary meals into culinary adventures, inspiring followers to get creative in the kitchen.