Our friendly, professional staff are supported by our Advisory Board, a diverse group of experts who inform staff on strategic matters:
Lois King is a senior lecturer at York University in Toronto, teaching finance courses for the past five years. She is also a course developer, writing materials for internet and classroom courses for both academic and private organizations. Prior to teaching at York, Lois worked in the finance industry for over ten years as a securities analyst and as a portfolio manager. She is a registered portfolio manager and a board advisor to the National Finance Students Association. She holds a MBA from McMaster University and a B.Comm from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Lois offers expert guidance to Seminar Partners in finance-related course content, development and market opportunities, and is a valuable resource on corporate operational issues generally.
Chris McRae is a senior marketing executive with a prominent energy producer. Chris represents a unique business development and marketing skill set. He has over 17 years of dynamic sales, marketing and communication experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, renewable energy and energy management market segments. Chris understands what it takes to build brands and markets from the ground up. Throughout Chris’ career, he has been recognized for conceptualizing, designing and implementing business development plans that have helped the brands he has influenced achieve over $600 million in combined annual sales. His passion and influence are key ingredients to establishing and maintaining competitive advantage, high valued relationships and sustained business success. Chris plays a lead advisory role in developing and executing Seminar Partners’ business development and marketing initiatives as well as strategic customer development and management.
David Blakely is a graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After five years with TD Commercial Bank, he held C-level positions with Equifax, Assurant Solutions and American Bankers Insurance Group. In most cases, he has been responsible for the launch, growth and development of the Canadian business unit for leading U.S.-based organizations. In 2002, David and two Partners founded a company called MCCI. Multi-Channel Communications raised $9.9 million in Venture Capital from CIBC World Markets, Telus Ventures, Morguard and a Labour-sponsored Fund. From a ‘start-up’, MCCI grew to $55 million in annual revenue from Business Process Outsourcing client partners like T-Mobile USA, Paetec & Verizon. Before being sold in 2007, MCCI was recognized as T-Mobile USA’s ‘Vendor-of-the-Year’ and PROFIT Magazine’s “Fastest Growing Company” in Sept 2005. Since 2008, David has served in various consulting roles for internationally established companies launching Canadian operations such as BNP Paribas and Interstate. Most recently, he co-invested in AMP Solar Group a developer of renewable energy projects in Ontario and consulted Blackstone in their renewable & energy services group.
Jana Rand is a marketing, communications and fundraising specialist. A graduate of Carleton University ’87 and Algonquin College ’89 she has over 15 years experience in educational marketing & fundraising, which she gleaned from her work at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology as a marketing officer, Elmwood School and later Asbury College as their Director of Advancement, and returning to her alma mater Carleton University as a Senior Development Associate for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She is currently the Manager, Donor Development for a leading international aid and development organization. Jana plays a primary role in providing marketing and strategic relationship building guidance to Seminar Partners.
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