Network of Consultants

Jodi Echakowitz
Denise J. Deveau
Eden Spodek
Lizanne McReelis
Michelle Magee
Sheldon Rose
Sumeeta Kohli
Terry Hrynyshyn

Jodi Echakowitz, Principal (Twitter: jodiechakowitz)

Jodi Echakowitz has over two decades of international public relations and communications experience working with multinational corporations as well as early stage ventures in technology, mobile/telecom and other industry sectors.

Since founding Echo in 2001, she has developed and implemented highly successful public relations and digital marketing programs for clients. Over the years, she has earned a reputation for delivering value to organizations such as BlackBerry Partners Fund, Descartes Systems Group, Farelogix, Hitachi Data Systems (Canada), Symantec, Sympatico.ca, Trendsmedia, and others.

Prior to entering the consulting field, Jodi held a variety of senior media and analyst relations roles for market-leading technology companies. At Delano Technology, she worked with high profile, multinational public relations agencies to implement the launch of the company’s CRM and e-business platform, and support its highly successful IPO. During her tenure there, the company won numerous corporate and product awards. At MGI Software, Jodi played an instrumental role in launching and creating awareness for the company’s photo and video editing software. Jodi began her career in Canada at Delrina, where she handled public relations activities for its flagship WinFax product as well as electronic forms product offerings. Following Delrina’s acquisition by Symantec, she also provided PR support for Symantec’s remote access solutions. Jodi began her public relations career in South Africa at I.T. Projects, a technology consulting organization.

Jodi sits on the board of the Asperger’s Society of Ontario and frequently volunteers her time to support the non-profit organization.

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Denise J. Deveau

Denise J. Deveau has been doing writing and corporate communication assignments since 1985. She has handled a wide variety of writing, research and publication coordination assignments in the government, education, high technology, financial, industrial, utility, oil and gas, and consumer categories, including newspaper articles, speeches, video scripts, corporate brochures, case histories, corporate profiles, annual reports, press releases and newsletters.

She has been a regular contributor of articles to various North American computer and industry publications, including The Globe & Mail, The National Post, Canadian Retailer, Computing Canada, Management Review, Technology in Government, InfoWorld Canada, Communications & Networking, Network World, Utility Automation, and others.

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Eden Spodek (Twitter: edenspodek)

Eden Spodek is a digital communications pioneer with a creatively unique perspective on social media. With extensive experience in digital development, she consults with organizations to develop and execute integrated digital communications strategies. Eden’s experience extends to client and influencer engagement; account management, planning and helping companies build solid strategies for communicating and engaging online.

Perhaps known best for her foray into social media as the woman behind Bargainista, a lifestyle blog about shopping and customer service, launched in 2006, Eden has built Bargainista into a successful online community. She’s also a contributor to OneDegree.ca – one of Canada’s leading online publications about digital marketing, online communications and social media. Widely considered an online influencer in Canada, Eden has been exposed to the “other side” of blogger relations, participating in programs for top-tier brands including Ford Motor Company, Lancôme, Nutrisystem and Molson.

Eden is an active participant in the Canadian digital community: She is a volunteer organizer for PodCampToronto, a two-day unconference exploring the world of new media. She is a regular presenter at social media events in Toronto, Montreal and Halifax where she has spoken about influencer relations, community building and podcasting.

Her first venture into online community building began with the launch of Yabber.net – an online community for 8-14 year olds – for Corus Entertainment in 2001. Recently, she developed a course on social media and community building for a proposed BA in public relations program for Humber College in Toronto.

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Lizanne McReelis

Backed by over 12 years of experience, Lizanne McReelis develops and implements effective, integrated business-to-business marketing communications programs that strategically map back to clients' business goals and deliver high-impact results.

Lizanne has worked in both agency and corporate environments. Before establishing her own consulting practice, Lizanne was at an award-winning PR agency, Strategic Objectives, where she managed the Interac Association account and exceeded client expectations by delivering unprecedented results within an extremely short time frame.

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Michelle Magee

Michelle Magee is a senior communications consultant specializing in media relations in the US and Canada. She has worked in the communications industry since 1995 and continues to focus on maximizing media coverage for her clients. Michelle is well known for her creative pitches, her commitment to her clients, her strong work ethic and her ability to achieve outstanding results.

Throughout her career, Michelle has worked on both the corporate and agency sides of the business. Michelle works with and has consulted for a number of independent PR agencies, developing and executing strategic and highly targeted media plans for their business and consumer clients. She has also worked in the oil and gas industry where she was instrumental in the management and execution of various key sponsorship programs and special events for PanCanadian Petroleum (now Encana). Michelle started her career with Hill & Knowlton Canada, and her clients have been among the best brands in consumer packaged goods, technology, associations, health care, fashion, travel and home decor.

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Sheldon Rose brings more than 25 years of marketing communications and public relations experience to the business, information technology, not-for-profit, and health care sectors.

Prior to working as an independent PR consultant, Sheldon spent 14 years at two Toronto-based communications firms where he raised the profile and visibility for several private/public clients through sustained and creative strategic marketing communications, public relations programs and social media initiatives. Sheldon is a results-oriented communications practitioner with a successful track record of working collaboratively with internal/external teams to deliver tactical solutions in support of vision and business goals.

In addition to his Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR) from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Sheldon is an accredited public relations practitioner (APR). He teaches public relations part-time at Centennial College’s Centre for Creative Communications in Toronto. He is an active community volunteer and currently serves on the board of Hemophilia Ontario as its Communications Chair and is a volunteer Account Executive with the United Way of York Region.

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Sumeeta Kohli

Sumeeta Kohli has over 12 years experience in the telecommunications and IT industry. Her particular area of focus is strategically-driven B2B and B2C marketing programs and campaign management in key verticals such as retail, partner and c-commerce based marketing. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive expertise in strategic development, management and execution of global partner online portals and marketing program management, with a focus on acquisition and retention-focused campaigns.

Sumeeta was most recently a Senior Program Manager with Research in Motion (RIM), where she was responsible for global marketing management. Prior to that, she was a Small Business Channel Manager with Rogers, where she led strategic development and execution on small business distribution channels to drive profitability and performance growth. Sumeeta began her career with North America’s top IT Distributor, driving both b2b and b2C reseller-based marketing programs and campaigns.

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Terry Hrynyshyn

With over 25 years of business communications experience, Terry has provided strategic counsel to communications and marketing teams in both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups – from Hewlett-Packard to simplyaudiobooks.com.

Terry is a creative problem solver. He provides excellent conceptual ability to integrate marketing initiatives and move from concept to market profitably. He’s a top-notch written and verbal communicator, motivated by results achievement.
As the first contract hire for BenchMark Communications Inc. in 1993, Terry was instrumental in the early growth, consistent profitability and ultimate success of this marketing communications consulting company that grew from a one-person shop to the fifth largest PR agency in Canada according to PRWeek magazine 2001 rankings. Terry was involved in the sale of BenchMark to the Omnicom Group Inc. in 1998; the merger with Canada Porter Novelli in 2000; and the launch of two separate, subsidiary communications/PR companies in 2002.

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