Experience

Elevate

• Canada
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Feb 2022 - Present

• General Manager

  • Jun 2021 - Feb 2022

• Cofounder & VP of Operations

  • Mar 2020 - Jun 2021

  Responsible for building the team, operations and infrastructure to deliver a world-class tech and innovation festival. Over the past three years, I’ve helped scale the festival from its origin in 2017 to 30,000 attendees, 350 speakers and over 200 partners. With the cancellation of the 2020 festival, I helped pivot the organization to launch a Social Innovation Exchange in the heart of downtown Toronto. - Reporting to the CEO, I built the Senior Leadership Team and each department from… Show more Responsible for building the team, operations and infrastructure to deliver a world-class tech and innovation festival. Over the past three years, I’ve helped scale the festival from its origin in 2017 to 30,000 attendees, 350 speakers and over 200 partners. With the cancellation of the 2020 festival, I helped pivot the organization to launch a Social Innovation Exchange in the heart of downtown Toronto. - Reporting to the CEO, I built the Senior Leadership Team and each department from the ground up to a full-time team of 40 and a peak of 100 employees for the festival - Developed our government relationships strategy, resulting in an increase of government funding 550% over two-year period - Continuously evaluated and updated processes to ensure efficiencies across the organization as we scaled - Responsible for implementing the recruiting process, performance management and evaluation systems for all full-time and contract staff, maintaining 80% satisfaction scores across the company - Developed new products that led to a year over year increase in revenue by 700% - Led successful contract negotiations with Former First Lady Michelle Obama, VP Al Gore, Commander Chris Hadfield, Martha Stewart and more - Built the brand and presence of Elevate, achieving recognition as one of the world’s most successful innovation and technology festivals - Led the communications strategy for three successful festivals that included press releases, executive presentations, media briefs and crisis communications plan - Responsible for post-festival reporting - Collected and reported on all post-event analysis from surveys, focus groups and one-on-one stakeholder meetings

• Sr. Director of Operations

  • Jan 2019 - Mar 2020

• Director Of Operations

  • Oct 2017 - Mar 2020

  Leading all operations of Elevate Toronto, including but not limited to operations of the annual 5,000+ tech and innovation festival. Managing the annual budget of Elevate Toronto and the festival. Generating new partnerships and fulfillment of all existing and new Elevate Toronto partners. Leading festival programming and securing production partners. Event management for all Elevate events.



MaRS Discovery District

• Canada
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Manager, Corporate Programs

  • Dec 2016 - Oct 2017

  Acted as a key liaison with MaRS' corporate partners as well as internal stakeholders to conceive, design, promote and produce high-profile and impactful events, summits and conferences aimed at helping our partners become better connected to the innovation ecosystem Led all communications and event related aspects of the Corporate Engagement team with a goal of delivering exeptional experiences to MaRS Corporate Partners. Lead project manager for RESI on MaRS, MaRS' annual… Show more Acted as a key liaison with MaRS' corporate partners as well as internal stakeholders to conceive, design, promote and produce high-profile and impactful events, summits and conferences aimed at helping our partners become better connected to the innovation ecosystem Led all communications and event related aspects of the Corporate Engagement team with a goal of delivering exeptional experiences to MaRS Corporate Partners. Lead project manager for RESI on MaRS, MaRS' annual marquee health event that drew over 650 attendees. Managed sponsorship acquisition and activation to reach fundraising goals and engage partners. Developed programming, oversaw and reconciled budget, managed marketing and sales efforts and all event logistics. MaRS lead for Elevate Toronto, a three day tech and innovation festival that celebrates the best of Canadian innovation. Managed the second day of the festival that saw attendees break out into eight different tracks in eight locations. Sourced several production partners to manage tracks and oversaw production standards to ensure seamless attendee experience across locations. Secured over 160 speakers, delivered on-time and on-budget.

• Manager, Entrepreneurship Education Programs

  • Oct 2015 - Dec 2016

  Planning, managing and delivering multiple educational programs; ensuring their efficient delivery through the implementation of processes across teams; identifying and allocating resources to deliver on time and on budget Led the transition of Entrepreneurship 101 from a live weekly lecture series to an interactive, online course. Oversaw the production team to ensure quality, on-time delivery of project within budget. Worked with a team to develop content and programming and interview… Show more Planning, managing and delivering multiple educational programs; ensuring their efficient delivery through the implementation of processes across teams; identifying and allocating resources to deliver on time and on budget Led the transition of Entrepreneurship 101 from a live weekly lecture series to an interactive, online course. Oversaw the production team to ensure quality, on-time delivery of project within budget. Worked with a team to develop content and programming and interview over 30 subject matter experts, entrepreneurs and investors. Managed marketing efforts that saw over 1,800 users register for the first cohort. Solicited feedback to evaluate quality of programs and making improvements based on feedback; measuring results and reporting on metrics via quarterly and annual reports; developing strategies to increase reach and guarantee the delivery of high quality education programs. Project Manager for Venture North, an exclusive showcase of tech startups for venture capital investors. Organized by MaRS, Communitech, OneEleven and C100, the event is a chance for U.S. VCs to see first-hand the momentum of Canadian companies and the sophistication of tech talent.



United Way Halton & Hamilton

• Canada
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager, Marketing & Communications

  • Jun 2013 - Oct 2015

  Developed and executed annual marketing strategy to ensure successful fundraising campaigns and firmly establish United Way Oakville as a charity of choice. - Developed marketing collateral and communications that saw United Way achieve its campaign target of $4.1 million - Wrote and disseminated over 40 content pieces each year to strengthen donor engagement - Exceeded fundraising targets for event series launching three new annual event series - Negotiated in-kind partnership… Show more Developed and executed annual marketing strategy to ensure successful fundraising campaigns and firmly establish United Way Oakville as a charity of choice. - Developed marketing collateral and communications that saw United Way achieve its campaign target of $4.1 million - Wrote and disseminated over 40 content pieces each year to strengthen donor engagement - Exceeded fundraising targets for event series launching three new annual event series - Negotiated in-kind partnership valued at $100,000 with Pattison Outdoor for high-profile ad placement - Created and led GenNext committee to connect with millennial donors Show less Developed and executed annual marketing strategy to ensure successful fundraising campaigns and firmly establish United Way Oakville as a charity of choice. - Developed marketing collateral and communications that saw United Way achieve its campaign target of $4.1 million - Wrote and disseminated over 40 content pieces each year to strengthen donor engagement - Exceeded fundraising targets for event series launching three new annual event series - Negotiated in-kind partnership… Show more Developed and executed annual marketing strategy to ensure successful fundraising campaigns and firmly establish United Way Oakville as a charity of choice. - Developed marketing collateral and communications that saw United Way achieve its campaign target of $4.1 million - Wrote and disseminated over 40 content pieces each year to strengthen donor engagement - Exceeded fundraising targets for event series launching three new annual event series - Negotiated in-kind partnership valued at $100,000 with Pattison Outdoor for high-profile ad placement - Created and led GenNext committee to connect with millennial donors Show less



Canadian Enerdata

• Markham, ON

• Event Coordinator

  • 2012 - Jun 2013

  Managed the planning and execution of the inaugural North American Crude Oil Trading & Markets Conference that attracted over 130 industry and executive professionals. Successfully contracted speakers, sponsors and media partners and organized all marketing efforts including print and web advertising, direct mail campaign and email marketing. Managed all event logistics and technical requirements. Prepared and monitored event budget to achieve costing… Show more Managed the planning and execution of the inaugural North American Crude Oil Trading & Markets Conference that attracted over 130 industry and executive professionals. Successfully contracted speakers, sponsors and media partners and organized all marketing efforts including print and web advertising, direct mail campaign and email marketing. Managed all event logistics and technical requirements. Prepared and monitored event budget to achieve costing targets. Developed and produced all print materials including sponsorship packages, event program and signage. Show less Managed the planning and execution of the inaugural North American Crude Oil Trading & Markets Conference that attracted over 130 industry and executive professionals. Successfully contracted speakers, sponsors and media partners and organized all marketing efforts including print and web advertising, direct mail campaign and email marketing. Managed all event logistics and technical requirements. Prepared and monitored event budget to achieve costing… Show more Managed the planning and execution of the inaugural North American Crude Oil Trading & Markets Conference that attracted over 130 industry and executive professionals. Successfully contracted speakers, sponsors and media partners and organized all marketing efforts including print and web advertising, direct mail campaign and email marketing. Managed all event logistics and technical requirements. Prepared and monitored event budget to achieve costing targets. Developed and produced all print materials including sponsorship packages, event program and signage. Show less



United Way of Oakville

• Oakville

• Campaign Associate

  • Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

  Loaned representative to the United Way of Oakville sponsored by Sheridan College. Working with the Campaign Cabinet and other volunteers to assist in the planning, organization, execution and evaluation of annual fundraising campaign. Loaned representative to the United Way of Oakville sponsored by Sheridan College. Working with the Campaign Cabinet and other volunteers to assist in the planning, organization, execution and evaluation of annual fundraising campaign.



infinitycomm

• Canada
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Special Events, Internship

  • 2012 - Sep 2012

  Worked with director of special events to plan and implement Oakville's Canada Day and Harbour Days. Developed critical path for events and monitored progress against plan. Monitored event budgets to ensure costing targets achieved. Worked with suppliers to ensure best pricing and coordinated scope of work. Built external relationships with sponsors to coordinate their involvement and sponsorship activation. Worked with director of special events to plan and implement Oakville's Canada Day and Harbour Days. Developed critical path for events and monitored progress against plan. Monitored event budgets to ensure costing targets achieved. Worked with suppliers to ensure best pricing and coordinated scope of work. Built external relationships with sponsors to coordinate their involvement and sponsorship activation.



Mako Design + Invent

• United States
• Design Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Management, Internship

  • 2011 - May 2012

  Managed the development of a Canadian start-up publication. Prepared weekly status reports, risk registers, decision logs, and other project documents. Conducted market intelligence and created metrics to track progress and quality. Developed budget and contracted various suppliers. Set up and managed social media links for marketing and promotion, as well as promotional material such as media kit, flyers, and brochures. Managed the development of a Canadian start-up publication. Prepared weekly status reports, risk registers, decision logs, and other project documents. Conducted market intelligence and created metrics to track progress and quality. Developed budget and contracted various suppliers. Set up and managed social media links for marketing and promotion, as well as promotional material such as media kit, flyers, and brochures.



Running Fox

• Caledon

• Manager

  • May 2009 - Nov 2011

  Accountable for sales, marketing, and operations of a high-end equestrian retailer. Forecasted demand and controlled inventory while successfully meeting high sales targets. Trained and supervised staff, managed schedules, and fostered liaisons with suppliers. Developed relationships with customers going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Handled cash flow in high-paced environment, balanced and closed accounts. Accountable for sales, marketing, and operations of a high-end equestrian retailer. Forecasted demand and controlled inventory while successfully meeting high sales targets. Trained and supervised staff, managed schedules, and fostered liaisons with suppliers. Developed relationships with customers going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Handled cash flow in high-paced environment, balanced and closed accounts.