Speakers

Adrian J. Ebsary completed his BSc. in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from McGill University, and during this time worked in multiple academic and industrial research labs as well as acting as the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal’s co-Editor-in-Chief. He studied to receive his MSc. in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa and during this time founded science podcast and radio show, Peer Review Radio, which several volunteers continue to produce on CHUO 89.1 FM. Adrian’s fascination with social media analytics and influence metrics led him to leave his Master’s and take a job with the Communications Directorate at the University of Ottawa as Online Community Specialist. He now blogs  at AttentionEconomist.com and has spoken at two conferences regarding alternative economics and systems used to quantify the flow of attention.

Annie @ PhD in Parenting has been blogging about the art and science of parenting on the PhD in Parenting Blog since May 2008. She is a social, political and consumer advocate on issues of importance to parents, women and children. She regularly uses her blog as a platform to create awareness and leverage collective empowerment to make a difference in the lives of parents and their children.

Anthony Wong has worked with video for over 10 years as an award winning independent filmmaker and in the communications and education  departments of Government Agencies and Non Profit organizations. He initiated the BC Securities Commission’s entry into online video for Financial Literacy and was awarded the 2008 Investor Education Distinguished Service award by the North American Securities Administrators for his efforts. As the New Media Program Manager for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), he earned CPAWS a 2009 YouTube DoGooder award as a finalist for the Best NonProfit Video for a medium size organization.  Now the Creative Director and co-owner of DoMoreVideo Media Inc., Anthony helps organizations integrate online video into their communications and marketing strategies.

Brian Kent-Baas is co-author of the award-nominated blogs Project: Priceless—The Free Wedding Experiment, and Project: NEST (the newlywed experience). Brian is a certified bookkeeper, and business consultant with a focus on helping new businesses get started. In his spare time, Brian collects hobbies, including unicycling, slacklining, and juggling fire. Brian is newly and happily married to Jordan Kent-Baas, and still can’t believe she said ‘yes’. You can connect with Brian via his blogs at www.projectpriceless.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/projectpriceless, or on twitter, under his handle @BrianofPP.

Carlo Lombard is responsible for generating millions of dollars in sales through innovative marketing and sales strategies. A spokesperson for world-class brands like Tag Heuer, Mont Blanc, Rolex and Cartier. Carlo understands the importance of delivering engaging content, effectively conveying a message, and selling yourself with success.

Since his arrival in Canada only 4-years ago, he has connected and empowered hundreds
of business individuals and is constantly creating ground breaking solutions to assist entrepreneurs and youth to grow and develop their businesses.

As the host and creator of the fast and furious on-line show: The Shotgun Show, Carlo’s motto is clear “Normal is just a setting on a dryer”.

Dave Hale is the founder and CEO of the Ottawa-based digital innovation agency, Soshal Group. Working with some of Canada’s largest brands, non-profit organizations, and media companies, Dave and his partners are building industry-leading social media, mobile marketing, and e-commerce programs with the mandate to increase revenue and decrease operational costs.

Soshal Group’s Ottawa client base includes the Canadian Medical Association, United Way Centraide Canada, Carleton University, Algonquin College, CHEO, Ottawa Senators, Invest Ottawa, and Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE). The agency will soon expand into other Canadian markets to meet client demands.

In addition to his work at Soshal Group, Dave Hale serves on CHEO’s social media committee and as a board member for the Ottawa Community Loan Fund.

Dean Emerick has had many positions in the Film, Television and Corporate Video industries over the past 25 years. Highlights include working with Sylvester Stallone on the Feature Film “Get Carter,” on the X-Files, with the NHL Players Association and Producing the Inaugural Address of the President of Guyana. As the Head of the Sound Department at the Vancouver Film School, he facilitated the transition from Analog to Digital film production, taught Script Writing and was an Associate Producer on hundreds of film and digital videos. Currently, Dean Produces the hugely popular online marketing series for business called The Shotgun Show.

Eric Collard is a consultant with the Intersol Group Limited, now specializing in stakeholder relations, social media and crowdsourcing. Eric is a seasoned communications professional, with over 10 years’ experience in government, NGO’s and the private sector. He has vast experience in strategic & crisis communications, event management and in media relations. Throughout his young career he has hosted many functions, from small technical briefings to national presentations. He has also been involved with many endeavours as an on-camera talent, commentator, writer, interviewer, and more recently as a speaker. Eric graduated from Mount Allison University’s Commerce program after growing up in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and Ottawa. Eric is a high-energy business owner and is also very active in the fitness industry.

Heather Greenwood Davis (@greenwooddavis) a writer with more than 15 years of journalism experience in traditional media. Writing a travel column for the Toronto Star for the past ten years, Heather also contributes columns and features in publications like Canadian Family, Dabble, Lexpert, Hemispheres, Budget Travel and more. Awards include: Recipient of the TMAC Family Feature Award (2009)first place, TMAC AGM Calgary Destination Award, first place (2008); Canada Media Award for Excellence in Canadian Family Travel Writing, Runner Up (2008) First place NATJA by-lined columnist. Heather has also appeared on: Cityline, CTV National News, Ottawa Morning Live, Breakfast Television and more. www.globetrottingmama.com | http://ca.linkedin.com/in/greenwooddavis

Joe Boughner has more than a decade of experience in a variety of strategic communications roles. As a senior member of non-linear creations’ strategic services team, Joe is responsible for helping clients as diverse as Petro-Canada, the Rotman School of Management and Rogers Communications understand the wide array of digital communications and marketing tools, tactics and channels available and integrate the best fits based on their needs and their audiences into their overall digital marketing strategies. Joe also teaches a course on social media for business at Algonquin College. You can follow Joe on Twitter at twitter.com/joeboughner or check out his blog “42 Points on a Double Word Score” at www.joeboughner.ca.

Jordan Kent-Baas is co-author of the award-nominated blogs Project: Priceless—The Free Wedding Experiment, and Project: NEST (the newlywed experience). The wedding experiment harnessed the power of social media to create a 140-person wedding for virtually no cost, while the NEST chronicles Jordan and Brian’s experience as frugal offbeat newlyweds. She is a social media fanatic who works in marketing and communications, and aspires to one day be a full-time author. Jordan has a dream of one day being a really good cook…in the meantime, she keeps a frozen pizza on hand just in case. You can connect with Jordan via her blogs at www.projectpriceless.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/projectpriceless, or on twitter, under her handle @projectpricelss. Photo credit: Jennifer Churchill

Karen Wilson is a social media strategist and coach with Wellman Wilson Consulting and has extensive experience using social media for business and building online communities. She has worked in marketing and communications for over ten years and has extensive knowledge of social media tools and best practices for content creation. Karen has been responsible for managing and creating communications and social media strategies for various projects and individuals.

Kat Inokai Pembleton is a serial entrepreneur, brand strategist, creative director, and mom. Sometimes she pretends she has her own reality show. Living through renos while balancing business, a toddler, and fertility issues will do that to you.

In 2011, Kat went from strategic planning to family planning full-time for baby number 2. Her blog for Yummymummyclub.ca,Trying Times, is all about her most private life: hardships with loss, fertility clinics, ultrasounds, and grappling with personal ambition while discovering mummyhood.
Follow Kat on Twitter: @bumpandhustle as she tweets from the hip about business, motherhood, and the art of the whole shebang.

Kelly Rusk is a communications consultant at Thornley Fallis Communications specializing in social media and digital communications for clients in the private and public sector. She is the incoming president of IABC Ottawa, a professional association that strives to be the voice of communications. Kelly also co-founded Girl Geek Dinners Ottawa—a networking group dedicated to women in technology and the Ottawa Community Manager Meetup Group. In 2008 Kelly was nominated as one of the top women in social media in Canada and in 2012 she was recognized as an amazing woman in Ottawa by the CelebrateHER organization. When she’s not working or volunteering her time, Kelly is passionate about local food.

Lara Wellman has spent over ten years working in online, web and social media communications. She has worked in various roles that include creating corporate web content at the University of Ottawa, successfully launching an online clothing store called Apples’n’Oranges. In her work at Wellman Wilson Consulting, Lara has helped numerous companies with their social media endeavours through a variety of workshops, one-on-one coaching and the creation of social media strategies.

Lara Wong has over eight years experience developing and implementing fundraising and community outreach roles with non-profit organizations including LEAF, the MS Society and One Change. As Co-owner/Director of Productions for DoMoreVideo Media Inc. she manages client accounts and develops video content and strategies that support clients’ objectives.

Martin Waxman (@martinwaxman), APR, is a communications professional, social media strategist and agency leader who has a firm grounding in both traditional and new PR. He is currently a senior counselor with Thornley Fallis and principal of Martin Waxman Communications. Over the past five years, he has immersed himself in social media, constantly testing and evaluating new tools, examining what they do and why we need them, in order to understand how they can help an organization achieve its marketing communications goals.  Since 2007, he has been a blogger at myPalette, http://www.martinwaxman.com, active on Twitter and host of the Inside PR podcast.  He also teaches social media to communications and marketing students at McMaster University in Hamilton. http://www.martinwaxman.com | http://www.thornleyfallis.ca | http://www.insidepr.ca | http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinwaxman

Tanya Snook is just a geek at heart. She’s spent 14 years between the high tech sector and government, working in eCommunications and in R&D. On the side, looking for opportunities to grow her skills, she has spent time doing pro bono and volunteer work for organizations such as School for All, Movember and Canada Day in Barrhaven. You can usually find her tweeting something or other, or feeding her insatiable appetite for tech and geek culture on her blog, spydergrrl.com.Tanya Snook