IABC/Toronto Executive Board
IABC/Toronto’s board is elected each year at its annual general meeting. All active members are invited to attend the meeting and vote on the new slate.
Throughout the year the board meets monthly, to discuss chapter business and new initiatives. All IABC/Toronto members are welcome to attend any board meeting. Please contact IABC/Toronto's VP, Association Management if you are interested in attending a board meeting.
IABC/Toronto Executive Board 2009/2010
President
Brent Carey, ABC
E-mail: toronto-president@iabc.com
Brent returns to the IABC/Toronto board for a fifth year (previously one year as EVP, two years as VP, accreditation & standards and one year as VP, association management). Having been an IABC member since 1993, Brent continues to try and give something back to the association that has served him so well in his career to date. He achieved his ABC designation in July 2004 and since then has been an active volunteer with the International Accreditation Board and the IABC/Toronto Accreditation portfolio. He graduated from York University with an honours degree in Communications and English, and is also an accredited financial planner.
Responsibilities
- Automatic succession to this position after serving as chapter Executive Vice President.
- Build a cohesive Board that will meet or exceed the networking, professional development, resource, voluntarism and other needs of IABC/Toronto members.
- Plan and execute, by August each Board year, a strategic planning session of the Board, either to develop a new three-year strategy or review and refine the strategy in progress.
- Facilitate IABC/Toronto Board meetings and chairs meetings of the chapter executive.
- Liaise and represent the chapter at an International and Regional level.
- Monitor and support activities of all Board members.
- Welcome new Board members.
- Represent the chapter in professional, educational, community and public roles and serve as its primary spokesperson to media.
- Plan and lead Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- Conduct a semi-annual performance review of each Board member.
- Ensure each Board member has a clear succession plan for their portfolio.
Immediate Past President
Leslie Hetherington, APR, MBA
E-mail: toronto-pastpresident@iabc.com
Leslie returns to the board for a sixth term as Immediate Past President, having served last year as President.
Previously, Leslie was VP professional development, VP finance, VP membership and directed the "Naked Communicator" leadership development conference for Canada East - leading teams to win chapter management awards of excellence in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
During a career of more than 20 years, she has held progressively senior roles in PR, marketing, corporate and technical communications. Leslie is currently Senior Director, Communications & Graphics, Pet Valu Inc., a publicly traded, specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies. She has worked for a range of organizations, including MAVERICK PR, Bell Canada, the Toronto District School Board, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Ogilvy & Mather and managed her own consultancy.
Leslie has won OVATION and CPRS (Toronto) ACE awards for media relations, as well as CPRS' "2002 volunteer of the year" award and served on its board of directors.
She has an MBA from Royal Roads University, where she received the CanWest Global Communications Award and a PR certificate from Humber College, for which she received the Academic Award of Excellence. Leslie earned her PR accreditation (APR) in 2004 and maintains it through PRSA.
Responsibilities
- Automatic succession to this position after serving as chapter President.
- Provide continuity for IABC/Toronto Board.
- Preside over meetings in the event of absence both of the President or the Executive Vice President.
- Chair the annual Board Nomination Committee utilizing the revised Board responsibilities, as vetted by the Executive Vice President.
- Coordinate and develop opportunities for leadership development of IABC/Toronto Board members.
- Represent IABC/Toronto, upon request, to international, professional and business communities.
- Prepare and submit entries for IABC Chapter Management Awards (CMA).
- Announce results of CMA submissions and thank previous Board and volunteers for their efforts.
- Co-ordinate volunteer recruitment and placement, as requested, for the judging of other IABC award programs (i.e., Gold Quill, Silver Leafs, etc.), in collaboration with the Professional Standards portfolio.
Executive Vice President
Carrie MacAfee
E-mail: toronto-execvp@iabc.com
Carrie has been an active IABC/Toronto volunteer since she became a member in 2000. This is her third year on the board after two years as the VP, Finance.
As a Communications Specialist at Ontario Power Generation, Carrie works to develop and deliver strategic employee communication. Carrie takes particular delight in transforming technical information into plain language for her audiences. She is also enthusiastic about using her writing and project management skills to uncover new solutions and efficient processes.
Lastly, Carrie believes every task or event is an opportunity to have fun. She works hard at finding perspective and humour in all situations and expects her third year on the board will be no different.
Responsibilities
- Recruit Think Tank Director(s) and other directors, as required, for specific initiatives.
- Review and update IABC/Toronto by-laws, policy manual and constitution.
- Preside over Board meetings in the President's absence.
- Serve on the nominating committee responsible for the succeeding Board's positions.
- Assist in training and orientation of new Board members.
- Develop a strategy to expand the affinity benefits for IABC/Toronto members, in collaboration with the Membership portfolio.
- Organize two Think Tanks - chapter's bi-annual focus group.
- Review and update all Board responsibilities by the end of February each Board year.
- Serve as IABC/Toronto's Privacy Officer.
- Provide back-up support to President and oversee special projects, if required.
- Represent the Alliance of Independent Practitioners (AIP) at the Board level.
- Represent IABC/Toronto's Westend Group at the Board level.
- Represent and administer programs for other new and evolving Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at the Board level.
- Automatically succeeds to President after one year.
Vice President, Accreditation & Standards
Linda Andross, ABC
E-mail: toronto-profstandards@iabc.com
A long standing IABC member, Linda got actively involved in the association when she received her ABC three years ago. Going through the Accreditation College made her realize even more so the value of IABC and the members involved. She was more recently Director of Exams for the Accreditation College. This is Linda's second year on IABC/Toronto's board as VP, Accreditation and Standards.
With more than 15 years experience at four public relations agencies, both owner-operated and multi-nationals, Linda is no stranger to the unique lifestyle on the agency side. Linda is responsible for not only managing the APEX office and staff, but also a multitude of diverse clients such as RSA Canada, Samsung Electronics Canada and Nintendo Canada. Linda has a Bachelor degree in Radio and Television Arts, as well as a Canadian Public Relations Society Certificate -- both from Ryerson University.
Responsibilities
- Recruit Accreditation College and Examination Directors and oversee other volunteers to co-ordinate all accreditation & standards activities, as required.
- Prepare material that supports the practice of the highest professional and ethical standards for IABC/Toronto members.
- Promote IABC's Code of Ethics among members and handle ethics-related inquiries to IABC/Toronto's chapter Board.
- Oversee advocacy strategy and initiatives, in cooperation with the Board executive and in alignment with applicable IABC International initiatives.
- Promote and market the IABC accreditation process.
- Oversee the "Accreditation College" for members seeking the designation of accredited business communicator (ABC).
- Collaborate with other portfolios, as required, to recruit ABC-accredited volunteers for roles in which senior expertise is needed.
Vice President, Advertising & Sponsorship
Cyrus Mavalwala
E-mail: toronto-adsponsor@iabc.com
Responsibilities
- Recruit dedicated sponsor directors, as required, and oversee committee to co-ordinate all advertising and corporate sponsorship activities.
- Work with the IABC/Toronto Board members to ensure all sponsorship and advertising activities for the chapter are streamlined through this portfolio.
- Oversee communications, contracts and initiatives to establish and sustain sponsor relationships.
- Ensure that all advertising and sponsorship clients receive recognition as per their contracts with IABC/Toronto.
- Generate revenue through the sale of advertising for all chapter publications and communication vehicles (including Communicator, e-Lerts and IABC/Toronto's website).
- Oversee the chapter's CareerLine job posting service and collaborate with the Marketing Communications portfolio to promote it.
Vice President, Association Management
Julie Wilson, ABC, MEd
E-mail: toronto-assocmgt@iabc.com
This is Julie's second year on IABC/Toronto's board as VP, Association Management. Having been an IABC member since 1998, she is delighted to serve on the board of an organization that has brought so much to her professional and personal growth over the last 10 years. She achieved her ABC designation in June 2007, and is an advocate for the program and actively encourages all professional communicators to get accredited.
Julie is director of public affairs at MasterCard Canada, and previously held senior communication roles with CIBC, TELUS, and Rogers. She holds a Post Diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria, a Masters Degree in Communications/Education, as well as, an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication from York University.
Responsibilities
- Serve as IABC/Toronto's official record keeper and corporate secretary.
- Act as the executive committee liaison to the IABC/Toronto office.
- Ensure that contract administrative support is adequate, effective and used in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Organize IABC/Toronto Board meetings (i.e., create and distribute agenda and minutes, book a venue, order refreshments, etc.).
- Serve as the official election judge on all matters requiring a formal vote of the IABC/Toronto membership.
- Monitor the Board's chapter management extranet in coordination with the IABC office.
- Manage board calendar and other cross-portfolio knowledge-sharing tools as required.
- Represent IABC/Toronto in the absence of the President, executive vice-President and the immediate past-President.
Vice President, Awards
Trell Huether
E-mail: toronto-awards@iabc.com
Trell is serving his fifth year on the IABC/Toronto board as VP, Awards (he has also previously served as VP of Marketing Communications and VP of Volunteer Services). An experienced communications professional, Trell is currently an Account Director at Marshall Fenn Communications.
Trell has worked on numerous projects for both private sector and government clients, but specializes in the technology, travel and entertainment fields. His extensive work has included: planning national promotions; crisis communications; developing extensive media relations campaigns; event-planning; and everything else in-between. Trell currently serves as the daily national media contact for several of his agency's clients.
Responsibilities
- Recruit three directors: Director of Call for Entries; Director of Judges; Director of Gala - oversees the entire OVATIONS program, including the Bobbie Resnick Philanthrop Award.
- Ensure OVATION template and timelines are followed.
- Work with the Marketing Communications and Sponsorship portfolios to market the award ceremony and encourage member participation.
- Oversee development of call for entries for the Student of the Year Award, in cooperation with Membership portfolio.
- Develop and oversee initiatives to educate communicators about best practices for award submissions, including a "how to win" seminar in collaboration with the PD portfolio.
- Oversee Communicator of the Year (COTY) award call for nominations, in cooperation with immediate Past President and Board executive.
- Chair the Selection Committee for COTY.
- Plan and execute event at which the COTY award is presented.
Vice President, Finance
Natasha Renaud, MBA, MS Mass Comm
E-mail: toronto-finance@iabc.com
Natasha Renaud is a perfect example of the international vocation of IABC. She first learned about the IABC while doing her Master's Degree in Mass Communication at Boston University. She officially enrolled when returning home in Montreal in 1997 where she worked in the entertainment industry for six years. An active member of the Montreal Chapter Board for two years, she learned first hand how much IABC has to offer when volunteering.
Newly arrived to Toronto in 2003, she turned to IABC to meet communicators like herself and establish her professional and personal network. Becoming an active member of the board was just a natural step for her.
With more than ten years of experience in corporate communications, she has found a new home at Grand & Toy in Toronto. Natasha brings strong marketing and communication skills with a developed business outlook acquired while doing her MBA at McGill.
Responsibilities
- Ensure (with the assistance of paid bookkeeping support) that IABC/Toronto is operated in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Oversee the development and approval of IABC/Toronto's financial and administrative budgets. Final budget approval to be completed by the end of October for each Board year.
- Maintain IABC/Toronto bank accounts, records and cheque delivery.
- Monitor financial standing of IABC/Toronto and IABC.
- Monitor Board member expenses and associated processes to ensure adherence to policies and ethical use of association funds.
- Collaborate with other portfolio Board members to ensure ongoing management of portfolio budgets.
- Oversee process/sub-committees to review and recommend surplus (if applicable) or excess reserve initiatives allocated in a given Board year.
Vice President, Marketing Communications
Christine Andrew, MBA
E-mail: toronto-marketing@iabc.com
This is Christine's second year on IABC/Toronto's board after having served as VP, Membership in 2008/2009 and Director of the Ethics in 2007.
Christine has a wide range of experience in marketing communications. She is currently Marketing Manager at Securit, which includes responsibility for overseeing global communications.
Christine holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and also sits on the Board of Directors at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club.
Responsibilities
- Oversee committee to implement the external relations and marketing activities of IABC/Toronto.
- Work with other IABC/Toronto portfolios to ensure the proper and appropriate marketing needs are met.
- Develop a plan to create and execute all marketing and external relations activities.
- Proactively research speaking opportunities for the IABC/Toronto Board members.
- Establish a regular review of IABC/Toronto branded materials.
- Oversee maintenance of media list and implementation of strategic tactics to leverage newsworthy PD events and other IABC initiatives through relevant media channels.
- Maintain biographies for each member of the IABC/Toronto Board.
- Oversee maintenance of Media centre on chapter website to ensure releases, fact sheets, glossary and other collaterals are relevant and current.
- Serve as key media relations contact for both reactive and proactive initiatives. Coordinate interviews with President or most relevant Board member for each scenario.
Vice President, Member Communications
Diana Robinson
E-mail: toronto-memcomm@iabc.com
Diana Robinson returns to the board after six years to take on the role of VP, Member Communications. Previously, she was the 2002-2003 VP, Professional Standards overseeing accreditation and the OVATION awards. Diana was also the Chairperson and a judge for the OVATION awards program from 2001-2003.
Diana is president of Diana Robinson & Associates, which specializes in integrated marketing communications. She has a background in both marketing and public relations, including stints with several of Toronto’s leading integrated marketing and communications agencies and she has spent time on the client side as a corporate communications manager. Recent work has included launching singer Beyonce’s fashion line, Deréon, in Canada, and Catelli’s Smart pasta. Her campaigns have won 21 industry awards for special events, media relations, social responsibility, writing and marketing communications, including 12 in the last two years alone. She was named IABC/Toronto’s 2009 Independent-Small Agency of the Year and the 2008 Independent/Freelancer of the Year.
Diana has a degree in journalism from Ryerson, her Certified Advertising Agency Practitioner (CAAP) designation and is currently working on her accreditation.
Member Communications Directors
- Executive Editor, Communicator: Jayne Flinn Burton, ABC
- Website and e-Lert Editor: Crystal Hopkins
- Website Initiatives Director: Elizabeth Price, APR
Responsibilities
- Recruit Webmaster Director, Communicator Editor, e-Lert Director and other directors, as required.
- Oversee the activities of committees to ensure IABC/Toronto members receive high-quality and timely information about the industry, programs, services and benefits of IABC/Toronto.
- Create editorial/publication timeline for the duration of the Board year with submission and publication dates for the various IABC/Toronto communications tools.
- Ensure editorial support for IABC/Toronto portfolios.
- Supervise the editorial, development and design teams for:
o Communicator - the chapter's bi-monthly internal publication and its special issues (OVATION and Annual Report)
o e-Lerts - the chapter's bi-weekly electronic newsletter
o Website - (http://toronto.iabc.com)
o Event flyers - Manage moderators and chapter initiatives to leverage social media channels (IABC eXchange, Facebook).
- Establish and enforce adherence IABC/Toronto style guide.
- Establish regular review of IABC/Toronto communication vehicles.
Vice President, Membership
Sharon Beattie
E-mail: toronto-membership@iabc.com
Responsibilities
- Co-ordinate activities of volunteers and committees to develop and implement programs to retain and recruit members.
- Monitor new memberships and communicate welcome message in collaboration with President.
- Ensure member inquiries are acknowledged and fulfilled in a timely manner.
- Administer membership surveys in alternating years (2008, 2010, 2012)
- Ensure, with help from the Marketing Communications portfolio, that IABC is marketed to lapsed members and unsigned prospects.
- Develop and implement, with help from the Networking Special Events portfolio, activities to welcome new members to IABC/Toronto and acknowledge ongoing and long-term members.
- Conceive and oversee strategic initiatives to recruit and sustain student and transitional members.
- Administer the Kay Staib Memorial Scholarship for post-secondary programs.
- Communicate and promote call for entries for the Student of the Year (SOTY) Award, in collaboration with the Awards portfolio.
- Develop and promote affinity programs benefiting members of IABC/Toronto, in collaboration with Executive Vice President.
- Create an exit information strategy and a proactive retention program.
Vice President, Networking & Special Events
Louise Armstrong
E-mail: toronto-specialevents@iabc.com
Louise Armstrong, an expert in consumer marketing, has managed national product launches and influencer campaigns for some of North America’s largest consumer goods companies. She has two decades of public relations experience including serving as public relations officer for Canada’s largest public school board and a speechwriter for the Ontario Government. Louise is the Executive VP and Co-Owner of Palette Public Relations.
Louise is passionate about the ethics, etiquette and protocol of the communications field and serves as director of the ethics committee for the Toronto chapter of the IABC. She is also a professional etiquette consultant and is certified by the Protocol School of Washington to teach corporate etiquette and international protocol. Louise’s views on ethics and etiquette can be found on her blog, A Call For Class. Louise graduated from Humber College in Toronto with an Honours Diploma in Public Relations.
Responsibilities
- Recruit event directors, as required, and oversee committee to develop and manage networking and special events.
- Organize a minimum of five themed, after-work Munch 'n' Mingle networking or special events throughout the Board year. At least one of these events should be presented in partnership with a relevant external organization.
- Ensure at least two of the networking events occur in the outer edges of the City of Toronto.
- Organize at least one fundraising, CSR or community-oriented event during the Board year, in addition to or as part of the five requisite Munch 'n' Mingle events.
- Explore new revenue streams and work to the fiscal objectives of the chapter.
- Ensure events are fun for members and that the chapter's fiscal commitment for each event is met.
- In cooperation with Member Communications portfolio, ensure each event is adequately promoted well in advance (4 - 12 weeks) through e-Lerts, notices in Communicator/flyers, at other events and through other appropriate channels.
- Ensure a photographer is available at select events to provide a visual record of the event, which is sent to the Membership Communications portfolio for inclusion in the Communicator newsletter, the IABC/Toronto website and other vehicles.
Vice President, Professional Development
Yasmin Ranade
E-mail: toronto-pd@iabc.com
Yasmin Ranade returns to IABC/Toronto's board as Vice President of Professional Development bringing a strong track record as President of Toronto Chapter of Wired Woman Society.
An award-winning marketer with over a decade of experience in Canada's Technology and Telecommunications sector, Yasmin has contributed to the success of such giants as Digital Equipment, Compaq, Telus, Sprint Canada and Metro Toronto, the second largest daily newspaper in the GTA.
Yasmin's career has spanned many senior management roles. She has led management teams through key business successes; Online business strategy, branding, marketing communications, operations and sales channel development. Her broad base of knowledge has resulted in numerous personal and professional awards including leading the team that won the coveted Canadian Marketing Association's RSVP Award in 2001. The launch of Metro newspaper in Vancouver was nominated for Marketing Magazine's Marketing Innovation Award (MIA) in 2005.
Yasmin is currently Vice President & Publisher of PCWorld.ca, Macworldcanada.ca and PCWorldCanada.mobi, - Canada's trusted online & mobile technology resources for business and home.
Responsibilities
- Recruit event directors, as required, and oversee committee to plan, develop and deliver 8 - 10 "learning" events per Board year, in varied formats and times of the day.
- Develop balanced topic and speaker line-up that meets diverse needs of membership, is based on industry trends, event evaluations, membership surveys and ad hoc member input and incorporates sponsor interests/resources, where appropriate.
- Organize at least one student event during the Board year, as part of the 8-10 learning events, in collaboration with the Membership portfolio.
- In cooperation with Member Communications portfolio, ensure each event is adequately promoted well in advance (4 - 12 weeks) through e-Lerts, notices in Communicator/flyers, at preceding events and through other appropriate channels.
- Run events that provide member value and meet the fiscal commitments of the chapter.
- Collaborate with Sponsorship portfolio to incorporate and fulfill sponsor commitments.
- Explore opportunities to partner with like-minded associations for select PD events, as appropriate.
- Maintain a comprehensive record of venues, resources and events implemented for portfolio successor.
- Organize a PD event for September of the following Board year and transition its implementation to the following year's PD team.
- Collaborate with the Member Communications portfolio to ensure each PD event is effectively leveraged (through best practices summary, review, interview or other editorial) through the most appropriate member communication vehicle.
Vice President, Volunteer Services
Marie Fitzpatrick-Hall, ABC
E-mail: toronto-volunteers@iabc.com
This is Marie’s first year on the Board but she has been an enthusiastic supporter of IABC for seven years. She tested the waters last year in a Directors role assisting with Networking & Special Events. What continually draws Marie to the organization is the supportive network of like-minded professionals and positive attitude of all its members.
Marie handles business communications and marketing for the City of Mississauga’s economic development office (EDO) with a mandate to showcase her city to business on a global communications platform. With stints at the Canadian Press and Global TV, by 26, she was TV anchor and producer for a CTV News affiliate. She moved on from there to agency work for some of Toronto’s biggest brands and directing communications for leading companies. With a diverse professional background, EDO is the perfect place to draw up her varied skills developed over the past 20 years.
Marie achieved her ABC designation in 2007 and since then continually mentors others through this highly challenging but rewarding process. Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ryerson University in Broadcast Journalism and a certificate in Public Relations. She is also a founding Director of Communications & Marketing for the Mississauga Wolverines Basketball Association, Vice President of Public Relations for Toastmasters and writes a business communications column for the Mississauga Board of Trade magazine.
Responsibilities
- Oversee committees that plan, develop and implement IABC/Toronto's volunteer recruitment, placement and recognition activities.
- Organize, with help from the Networking Special Events portfolio, a volunteer recruitment event at the beginning of the year.
- Ensure all IABC/Toronto portfolios have the appropriate number of volunteers to execute various portfolio strategies/activities.
- Ensure volunteers are matched appropriately to receive the best possible developmental opportunities.
- Develop and oversee implementation of initiatives to motivate, recognize and thank volunteers throughout the year.
- Organize, with help from the Networking Special Events portfolio, a volunteer recognition event at the end of the year.
- Oversee coordination and implementation of a mentoring program.
- Oversee implementation of one to two check-point events to support the mentoring program (ideally early in the fall and mid-year)
Vice President at Large, International Conference Task Force
Anna Relyea, BA, MA
E-mail: toronto-intl-conference@iabc.com
This is Anna's sixth year serving with the IABC/Toronto board. Anna was a business journalist before starting her diverse career in public relations and corporate communications more than 20 years ago. She contributed to successful PR campaigns in the travel and high tech aerospace sectors before helping to setup the communications department at National Trust and developing communications programs at CIBC. Attracted by the sophistication of consumer packaged goods marketing, Anna progressed to Heinz Canada where she spent seven years working on many aspects of corporate image building, ongoing marketing communications, product launches, media and government relations, issues management and crisis communications. She led an effort to formalize internal communications processes and won several professional association awards for her work.
Now Associate Director, Strategic Communications, at the Ontario Science Centre Anna is leading a strategic communications program to advance the centre's image and profile in the marketplace. Anna earned her B.A. and M.A. as well as a Certificate in Public Relations Procedures from the University of Toronto.
Anna will oversee IABC/Toronto's support for the 2010 IABC World Conference being held in Toronto June 6 to 9, 2010.
The following job descriptions apply to each portfolio.
All vice presidents are responsible for:
- Making every effort to attend prescheduled monthly Board meetings (excluding summer), with an upfront goal to attend a minimum of eight meetings (in person or via conference call)
- Sending a portfolio director in their place, if they cannot attend a Board meeting
- Submitting a portfolio report, if they cannot attend the relevant Board meeting or if they have a significant quantity of updates
- Serving as an ambassador for IABC/Toronto, with an upfront goal to attend at least seven IABC/Toronto events during the Board year (including AGM, volunteer recruitment and recognition). (Note: some Board roles warrant even more frequent attendance at chapter events to maximize effectiveness.)
- Familiarizing themselves with all relevant material from other portfolios, as well as agenda items for discussion so that they arrive prepared for Board meetings
- Communicating relevant information to their portfolio directors and committee members
- Responding to time sensitive inquiries in a timely manner
- Providing relevant input to online discussions and participating in all online voting processes, as required.
IABC/Toronto extends its thanks to CPimages/D. Starrett for providing photography services for IABC/Toronto's 2008/2009 board photo updates.
