Chris Buerger started Edmonton’s premiere event management company in 1989 and sold it in 2004. After that she launched LHAS Corp. in October of 2004. Over 20 years spent growing two successful and demanding businesses has equipped Chris with a comprehensive skill set to conquer an enormous variety of both logistical and communication challenges not only in the ‘event’ world, but in life.  

Chris LaBossiere is co-founder of Yardstick Software. As an active volunteer in the Edmonton community, Chris currently sits on the Board of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Executive Association, the Edmonton Student Finance Appeal Board, and volunteers his time to Ducks Unlimited, Junior Achievement, and Edmonton ChangeCamp.  Chris is a champion for The Alberta Party, serving as past President of the Provincial Board of Directors.

Dana DiTomaso is an Edmonton-based digital marketing consultant and the technology columnist for CBC Edmonton AM. She works with businesses small and large to make their web presences awesome.

Idris Fashan is a self-professed word nerd who has loved words for longer than he has loved computers. Lured into the marketing side of writing, he turned his focus from editorial content to content marketing and strategy. Companies that are seeking to build authority, community and sales online call on his team at Red Paper Clip. He has pieces of paper from a few schools (that he’s still paying for), but the callouses on the tips of his fingers gives him more pride.

James Murgatroyd has over 10 years of experience working as a communications consultant, graphic designer, web developer and event producer for a wide variety of corporate, government and not-for-profit clients. After four years as the marketing assistant for PC Corp, James established James Murgatroyd Communications (JMC) in 2004 as an online communications and design consultancy. Since its creation, JMC has seen its roster of clients grow from 1 client to well over 50 most of which continue to use his services on an ongoing basis.

Jennifer Kwan is the owner and principal consultant of Kwan Consulting. An experienced project and event manager in the health care, education, community and arts sectors. Her clients include Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta, MacEwan University and the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. Jennifer sits on the Edmonton Space and Science Foundation and interVivos Alumni Committee.

Jim Rudolph is the President of JGR Communications, an Edmonton-based communications consultancy. He is a founding member of interVivos and the Canadian Unity Council – Edmonton. He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the interVivos Advisory Council. He is a long-time member and former chair of the Go Centre Communications Committee and recently completed a term on the MacEwan University Public Relations Program Advisory Board.

Justin Archer is a media relations and strategic communications consultant, based in Edmonton. In 2010, Justin opened Archer Strategies, a public and media relations company. Prior to that Justin worked in politics and at large communications shop. He is on number of different boards and communities, including his role as Vice President of International Association of Business Communications (Edmonton) and Board of Trustees at the Forum of Young Albertans. Justin takes every opportunity to speak with or meet students and young professionals because he loves their enthusiasm.

Kari Skelton is a morning radio host. Edmontonians wake up to her and Jason Roberts by tuning into The Wake Up! Show with Jason and Kari on up! 99.3 FM. Kari has also worked as a TV producer in the past and has produced and hosted her own syndicated radio show, Scandal and the City, and was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Women of Radio Co-Host for a Day contest on the Live! with Regis and Kelly show. In 2011, Kari was named one of Avenue magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in Edmonton.

Kathleen Smith is the founder and publisher of KikkiPlanet.com, an Edmonton based website that focuses on current events and local issues. Smith is a former paralegal with ten years of experience in the legal field. Born in Edmonton, Smith has lived in four Canadian provinces, seven Canadian cities, and has travelled extensively throughout North America. Smith believes that every voice is a vital instrument in building better communities and that it is through involving those voices that strong, culturally diverse communities are built.

Loreen Lennon is Senior Director Corporate Services, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. She is an Edmontonian, UofA Graduate in Canadian Studies and a community volunteer. Loreen’s professional background is in journalism, politics, communications and retail. She worked as an Editor of the Gateway, a reporter for Edmonton Journal, Communications Director for Alberta College, the Public School Boards’ Association Alberta, and the Office of Preston Manning, Leader of the Opposition, Executive Assistant for MP offices and many more.

Michael Brechtel is a Director of Strategy at FREE, an Edmonton advertising agency. Michael was the founding chair of interVivos, founding co-chair of artsScene Edmonton, and one of the four “instigators” of the Reboot Alberta movement. He was a co-chair of TEDxEdmonton and TEDxCanadian rockies, and hosts a monthly “TED talks at lunch” dialogue. He currently sits on the board of directors of the Alberta Party. While City- and province-building is a passion for Michael, he also regularly writes for local publications and websites, and provides commentary on style, politics and advertising to local media.

Maureen McCaw is a retired Executive Vice President of Leger Marketing Research (Alberta). Throughout her career she has been involved in various community and corporate boards including Suncor Energy, Petro-Canada, Edmonton International Airports, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Women Building Futures, interVivos Advisory Committee and many more. For her enthusiasm and commitment she was named Women of Vision by Global News and 50 Most Influential by Alberta Venture.

Michael Phair is currently a Director of the Community Relations Department at the University of Alberta. He has a long history of community and public voluntary service. In the past, Mr. Phair served as President for Alberta Association of Young Children, Founder and Past Chair for HIV Edmonton Society, Chair for Edmonton Social Planning Council, Chair for Rebuild a School Project in Sichuan, China and many others. He is currently a Chair at the City of Edmonton Task Force on Community Sustainability, Board Member for the City-Region Studies Center and is a member of the interVivos Advisory Committee.

Owen Brierley is the Executive Director of Guru Digital Arts College. He was a professional actor in Edmonton and Toronto for about 10 years, then, in 1995, he started nurturing his inner geek. Owen's humble start in the digital media industry on the help desk for the first ever cable modem company in the city paved the way to excellent adventures as webmaster, digital media producer, game designer, multimedia development coordinator, and teacher. Owen serves on a number of boards and is an active proponent of the digital media industry in Alberta.

Thomas Scott worked freelance as an arts management consultant in New York and film and television in Toronto.  After moving to Edmonton he took the Program Director position for Fringe Theatre Adventures, programming the theatre season and managing the artistic administration for the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, where he currently works. Thomas also volunteers for NextGen’s Pecha Kucha Night working group, artsScene Edmonton, interVivos and is a member of Edmonton’s dj consortium, the Urban Monks.

Tom Christensen has worked in the Edmonton business community for 10 years. He has been an advertising consultant for business directories and provided corporate structure, forecast, and accounting system design for a number of start-up corporations. Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to personal involvement in business ventures such as a start-up GPS mileage tracking company, an established land development group and an investment management corporation. Tom is currently a board member of the Estate Planning Council of Edmonton.

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