• Developing and maintaining strategic relationships
• Importance of building multi-cultural bridges in your network
• How to create a brand for yourself for a more lasting impression
  

PostStone works with business leaders on the design and implementation of programs for transformational change, enterprise level business development, value proposition development and customer experience development. Among the organizations the company has recently provided services to are Barclays Bank, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Sun Life Financial, Clifford Chance, Aeroplan, The Art Gallery of Ontario, Microsoft, Siemens and IBM.

He is a frequent guest on BNN and has appeared on CBC and CTV, providing insight on business issues.

Rick is a native of Toronto. He has a B.A. from York University in Toronto and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama, specializing in Stage Direction, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta.

Donna has been a Principal at TELUS International since September 2005 and leads the customer-base expansion for Global Call Center Services in North East and Mid-West North America. 

Donna has more than 25 years experience in the telecommunications industry.  Prior to joining TELUS International, she began her management career with Bell Canada’s Toronto offices.  A series of successive promotions, predominantly in Sales and Marketing, led her to the challenging position of Director of Competitive Business Practices in 1995.  In 1999, AT&T Solutions asked Donna to join their team to contribute to the establishment of their Professional Services Group for Outsourcing in Canada.  After successfully meeting that challenge, she assumed the role of Vice President of Sales for Network Managed Services at Qnetix.  From there, she was recruited in 2002 to join Minacs as the Vice-President of Business Development for their Contact Centre Services. 

Donna has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brock University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from University of Windsor.  She is currently on  the executive of the Toronto Chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) an organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership across careers, cultures and continents by connecting the world’s most pre-eminent women.  Since 2007 , she has served on the Toronto Advisory Board for Women’s Executive Network .  Women’s Executive Network is Canada's most influential female audience and the country's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of executive-minded women in the workplace. She is a founding member of the Senior Women in Technology Leadership , a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development and mentoring of the next generation of women leaders from the IT and Technology sectors. She has been recently appointed to the position of Co-Chair of Canada Community for SOCAP International (Society for Consumer Affairs Professionals).SOCAP International represents a thriving global profession of best-in-class customer care experts across all industries. And from 2006-2008, she served as the Chair for Toronto Chapter for Connections – the TELUS women’s network , a national initiative that supports the advancement of business expertise, mentoring and networking opportunities for women in management positions across Canada.

Donna has been married to Victor for 24 years and they have 2 children – Kieran and Caitlin.  

The experience that Audie brings to The Marrek Group includes designing and implementing the initial sales coaching program within Bell Canada.  Her innovations and coaching significantly increased sales performance within the Phonecentres while simultaneously keeping Bell’s high standard of customer satisfaction.

Audie was instrumental in the amalgamation of Bell Canada Phonecentres and Bell Mobility stores (Now Bell World).  Audie was in charge of developing and implementing a recruitment process that would put in place systems and programs to guide managerial performance in the advancement of positive employee relations.

At the national level, Audie managed and mentored corporate personnel in the design and delivery of course curriculum that would enhance sales results and customer service performance as well as management and interpersonal skills.

With an eye on developing strong strategic partnerships, Audie included Mohawk College (Hamilton, Ontario) as an excellent fit for the goals of both the college and The Marrek Group.  The result of this endeavour produced an impressive list of corporate clients.  From providing training and coaching services for The City of Hamilton, The Hamilton International Airport, The Venetor Group, L-3 WESCAM, Siemens and many other clients, to planning and facilitating “The Tools for Business Series” workshops Audie commits to a high level of professional involvement.  Whether the client requires facilitating executive meetings or consultations on strategic planning Audie’s ability to anticipate corporate requirements brings results.

Using her many years of corporate experience, Audie took on designing and delivering customer service and interpersonal skills training projects for Bell World, Rogers and Telus Dealerships, Bayshore Home Health, FirstOntario Credit Union, Hamilton Burlington SPCA, Telus Corporate, Town of Oakville, Scotiabank and World Vision.  She has facilitated strategic planning sessions for HTAB (Hamilton Training Advisory Board) as well as FirstOntario Credit Union and Mohawk College. 

Acknowledging her extensive knowledge of people and business training solutions, Audie has been invited to speak at various venues including; Employment Expo, Opportunity 2003, Hamilton Manufacturing Conference, Oakville, Grimsby, and Stoney Creek Chambers of Commerce, Rotary, OPTIONS and corporate annual meetings and employee conferences (Bell Canada, McMaster University, Scotiabank, Marchese Health Care and the PEI Women in Business Annual Symposium) and is emcee of the Annual Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Event every year.

Audie’s talent of imparting valuable advice through written material led her to co-author “Leadership-it is not Just for Leaders”. She has also been published by Biz Magazine.  Her bi-weekly newsletter allows her to keep in touch with her clients and offers pointers for new entrepreneurs. She has just released her new book “Networking Edge – Building Relationships for Success”. 

Audie generously shares her time and experience with her community.  She has dedicated her involvement to positions such as; Chair of the HR Matters Steering Committee (Hamilton, Ontario), Business Director on the HTAB Board, 2nd Vice President of Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce, Member of Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair of Boost Your Business Committee (Oakville Chamber of Commerce) and Past Chair of Parent Council (Memorial Public School, Stoney Creek, Ontario).She is also a long time canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

A dynamic, highly sought-after speaker, Donna has spoken throughout North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Iceland on a host of topics dealing with the art of networking and the ties that bind. She has spoken before Federal, Provincial, Municipal and State governments, even serving as an advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on issues relating to women in business.

Among Donna Messer’s several hundred clients are top tier financial institutions, boards of trade, major accounting and law firms, and leading universities and colleges across Canada. Donna is also a frequent featured speaker at HAPPEN, Canada’s largest executive networking organization.

A sampling of her name clients include: Bell Canada, Honeywell, Certified Management Accountants, Canadian General Accountants, RBC, TD Canada Trust, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, DeGroote School of Business, Schulich School of Business, Rotman School of Business, Ernst & Young, Industry Canada, HP (Hewlett Packard), IVY School of Business,. Canadian Plastics Association, Women in Food Industry Management, Cushman and Wakefield, Hospice Association of Canada, Laurier University, Markel Insurance, Trade Ortho Bio Tech, Women’s Leadership Foundation
– Calgary, CIRI Alberta, Manitoulin Workforce Partnership, Rogers Communications Inc., Big Brothers and Big Sisters Association, Junior Achievement World Conference, Petro Canada and Sun Life Assurance.

A noted author and journalist, Donna’s more than 4,000 articles have graced the pages of newspapers and magazines including Enterprise Magazine, Small Business Canada Magazine, Career Options Magazine, Canadian Opportunities Magazine, Life and Fashion Magazine, Pets and Animals, Women with Vision Magazine, Company of Women Magazine, Timeless Woman. Donna has interviewed various “movers and shakers” including Senator Pamela Wallin, former Liberal Cabinet Minister, Sheila Copps, as well as an exclusive interview with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Among her five books as a published author is Effective Networking Strategies, a Canadian bestseller written in 1993 well before “networking” became the de rigueur buzzword of the outplacement and executive search industries, selling over 50,000 copies over the past 15 years.

Donna has directed and advised on numerous boards and committees and has won various awards including Woman of the Year - Women in Pursuit of Excellence WFIM, International Leader’s Award – Women and Diversity, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement – CACEE. She was also Ernst and Young’s nominee for Entrepreneur of the Year.

He is Canada’s leading personal brand consultant, combining a passion for people and branding with a realization that strengths and specialization are the keys to success, he guides his clients to that outcome. His own specialty is to leverage his unique communication skills and genuine caring approach to support successful professionals and executives who are technically very good at what they do, but need others to know that so they can get their next great opportunity.

Recognised by Forbes as a leading personal brand strategist globally, he is a much sought after speaker and media resource and has been interviewed by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal and is regularly quoted in The Globe & Mail.

Paul is also committed and passionate about the future of Canada and the youth that will be taking that responsibility forward and is actively involved as a mentor and specialist with the non-profit Youth in Motion and their Top 20 Under 20 program, a network of dynamic community leaders dedicated to helping youth make meaningful career and life decisions, while inspiring them to be contributing Canadian citizens.
Paul Copcuttpaul@squarepegsolution.com  
Telephone:  toll free 1-800-810-5116 / 905-628-1100
Square Peg Solution, Suite 412, 1063 King Street West   
Hamilton, ON. L8S 4S3. Canada.

Web: www.squarepegsolution.com
Blog ‘Reflections of a Square Peg’ : www.paulcopcutt.typepad.com

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