AIP Executive 2008/2009
Members of the AIP Executive cover the following roles and responsibilities:
Chair
Frances is as a seasoned strategic communicator, writer, corporate communications and public relations professional with broad-based expertise. Diversifying after many years experience in broadcasting with the BBC, CBC and Global television as a writer and producer, she has performed leadership roles in positions as a public affairs advisor within the Ontario government and Canada Health Infoway, and in marketing communications with CIBC and Visa.
She has been an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) throughout her career, participating, volunteering and writing articles for Communicator, the IABC member's newsletter.
Her company, Push A Pencil, specializes in strategic communications for large scale, complex IT implementations, servicing clients in health care, e-health, IT, professional services, manufacturing and finance sectors.
Specialties:
- Corporate Communications
- Employee Communications
- Marketing Communications
- Video Production
- Web Strategy & Content
- Writing & Editing
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a team that meets the networking, professional development and promotion/marketing needs of AIP
- Represent AIP in professional, educational, community, media and public roles
- Act as the liaison between AIP and the Toronto IABC Board of Directors
- Chair all AIP meetings
- Provide leadership in collaboration, information and knowledge transfer to our members, using social media, such as podcasting, wikis and blogs.
Past Chair
Through Barb Sawyers + Associates, Barb helps organizations succeed in change by making sure their important people understand what's going on and what's in it for them. She also helps groups communicate with well-defined audiences through her new electronic newsletter service, Stickemail.
Before becoming an independent, Barb honed her craft through a variety of communication jobs in both public and private sectors. Although her first love is writing, she also thrives on strategic planning and crisis communication.
Barb has been an active IABC member for several years, serving on the professional development committee, helping organize the Naked Communicator conference, writing for Communicator and judging OVATION awards.
She has an MA in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and an honours BA in philosophy from the University of Guelph.
Responsibilities
- Liaison between AIP and IABC members in raising profile of AIPers expertise and service
- Explore common interests in furthering the professional development of all AIP and IABC members
Director, Programing
PROFILE
Graham has more than 10 years of PR-related experience. He currently runs his own publicity and media relations consultancy, and he is formerly the communications manager for CTV's Much MTV Group. A critically acclaimed, genuine approach to publicity drives Graham's success story. He's known for cultivating friendships - not just relationships - with a wide range of reporters, resulting in stories reaching hundreds of millions on a diverse set of topics - everything from Canada's foremost science pioneers to Paris Hilton and The MuchMusic Video Awards. For more on Graham, visit www.grahammachacek.blogspot.com.
Responsibilities
- Research hot topics and create annual speaker and hot topic lists
- Secure speakers and develop a back-up plan
- Coordinate speaker information, equipment needs, gift and handouts
Director, Communications
Maria started Media Scribe, her own independent communications business in 2004. Her first passion is writing, having a flexible skill-set to write to a variety of audiences. Her second passion is promoting people, events, products and services that help to make the world a better place. Maria's goal is always to communicate clearly so that the everyday person can understand, relate and benefit.
Maria has more than 13 years of writing and PR experience in the fields of media, public relations and marketing in the corporate and non-profit sectors. She has been an IABC member (Toronto Chapter) since 2006 and was a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (Toronto Chapter) prior to this since 2004.
She has an honours BA in psychology from York University, a certificate in public relations from Concordia University and she is working towards a business and French translation certificate from Ryerson University to perfect her French.
Responsibilities
- Plan, develop and maintain communication with AIP members so they receive high quality, timely information about the programs, services and benefits of AIP
- Write (or assign) copy for monthly AIP e-newsletter, AIP Connection
- Generate AIP-related content for IABC/Toronto e-Lerts
- Distribute job leads to AIP members
Director, Membership & Events
VACANT
- Maintain and update member list
- Provide outreach for AIP members
- Draft, distribute an analyze online membership survey
- Promote membership in online AIP Marketplace
- Distribute job leads to AIP members
- Assist Director of Programming in event logistics
Director, Special Projects
PROFILE
Seasoned and accredited public relations practitioner with broad range of experience. Combines strong research, planning and project management capabilities with well-developed writing and positioning skills. Works well under pressure. Thrives in atmosphere of challenge. Diplomatic, thoughtful, considerate and collaborative interpersonal style
CAREER SUMMARY
Journalism with daily newspapers (The Sherbrooke Record, The Montreal Gazette), corporate communications for four major corporations (The Royal Bank of Canada, CIBC, The Molson Companies, Abitibi Price), teaching (Seneca College, Ryerson Polytechnic University and Humber College), and public relations consulting (David Magil Communications).
SIGNIFICANT COMPETENCIES
- Strategic Counsel
- Media Relations
- Issues and Crisis Management
- Environmental Scanning
- Advocacy
- Reputation Management
- Corporate Positioning
- Program and Event Development
- Marketing Communications
- Shareholder Communications
- Member / Supplier / Retail Partner Communications
Responsibilities
- Represent AIP Toronto and manage outreach to international audiences for AIP expertise and resources
- Plan and strategize social media opportunities between Chapters both in Canada and internationally
Director, Social Media
Margaret Tanaszi, PhD
Margaret is an independent consultant specializing in research, writing and executive counsel on communication and other factors affecting business-IT productivity. Recently, she has worked with IT World Canada and technology companies and associations to produce custom reports and provide program direction for high-profile technology-related conferences.
In the previous 5 years, she managed IDC’s global IT Value Metrics and Measurement advisory service, which explored business performance issues and organizational factors that pertain to realizing business value from information technology. Prior to that, she was a consultant in knowledge management with LGS Group, and wrote Measuring Knowledge Assets, an issues paper published by the Society of Management Accountants of Canada. Independently, she wrote a book for a Texas sales consulting company, Building a Successful Selling Organization.
As Information Manager with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), Margaret played a key strategic, liaison and technical role in the development and implementation of a new technology-based business information network. She held senior positions in the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and supervised strategic communication in a 250-person scientific branch on a wide variety of policy and scientific issues. Margaret holds a Ph.D. in English from Leeds University, U.K., and a B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. from Queen's University, Kingston.
Responsibilities
- Manage and enhance AIP content on XChange blog
- Build and enhance AIP Wiki
- Build social/virtual networks on IABC XChange
- Develop and implement AIP social media tools, such as podcasts
- Represent AIP Toronto in social media industry conferences and events
See additional volunteer opportunities.
