April Speed-Mentoring for Communicators

SHAWNA BRUCE

JACQUIE DUVAL

Has over 40 years of experience in strategic communications, community engagement, risk and crisis communications, emergency preparedness,
and media relations. She started her career in the Canadian Armed Forces
as an Army Public Affairs Officer and later joined Dow Canada as the
National Public Affairs Leader for their Canadian operations. She has developed and instructed Disaster and Crisis Communications courses
at NAIT and the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) and supports preparing Information Officers to work in operational environments during emergencies. Since 2018, Shawna has been working with teams and organizations across Canada to enhance their crisis communication preparedness. Shawna believes mentoring others is a pivotal aspect of leadership, as it fosters knowledge sharing, nurtures talent, and contributes to the development of future leaders in our communities and organizations.

Jacquie DuVa has been working in the Public Relations and Communications industry in Edmonton for 11 years, and is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan Public Relations Diploma Program. She has mostly focused her career on working in not-for-profit organizations, and truly values the work that nonprofits do. Her areas of expertise include social media management, media relations and storytelling. Jacquie is thrilled to once again be part of the CPRS mentorship event!

CRYSTAL WOOD

JACQUELINE BILLO

With a communications career spanning over a decade across non-profit, municipal, and engineering sectors, Crystal Wood leads as the Engagement, Change, and Communications Manager with GHD’s Future of Water team.
Five years ago, she founded Crown Communications Consulting, which enriches her professional journey by allowing her to explore innovative communication strategies outside her full-time role. This venture has
enabled Crystal to collaborate with a diverse clientele, including realtors, Indigenous organizations, tech startups and sports agents, tapping into
her passion for relationship building, reputation management and storytelling. Crystal values mentorship for the opportunity it provides to connect with fellow communication professionals, exchange experiences,
and collectively enhance their professional knowledge.

This former politician, motivational entrepreneur, arts & culture enthusiast, university educator, and community leader provides unique insight into driving innovation, leveraging people’s potential, and leading successful initiatives with passion and purpose.

Jacqueline uses her entrepreneurial spirit, raw life, acting, and political experiences to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to explore, connect, and expand their human experiences through positive affirmation and strategic thinking. She balances her time between movie sets, the runway, the political arena, her home office, or the gym.

IRIS DIAS

SHERI DOYLE

Iris Dias is a communications strategist with more than 15 years of international experience. After finding her career path thanks to MacEwan’s PR Diploma program, Iris has worked with a boutique agency in Vancouver, the world’s best airline in Dubai and upon returning to Edmonton, the Government of Alberta and now, Alberta Innovates. A collaborative professional, she specializes in communications programs that deliver organizational results, across diverse audience groups. She has led crisis and issues communications activities on four continents and delivered internal and change communications to global audiences.  

Iris is an avid traveller, a surprisingly capable ‘DIYer’ and is always looking for her next great meal. 

Sheri Doyle is a fierce optimist and entrepreneur with over 15 years experience communicating in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

She is the owner of Digital Owl Communications—a business that helps clients tell corporate stories through multi-platform communications solutions—and co-owner of Stay Spicy Inc, a recently-launched movement that uses personal branding workshops, podcasting, and publishing to help people be their most authentic selves and share their stories with the world.

She’s also the host of the Demythifying Brand podcast, which dives into the concept of personal branding, brand myths, and modern leadership strategies. 

RANDY BROSOSKY

SAMANTHA VAN HOOYDONK

Randy’s broad experience in the fields of marketing, communications and branding has been heavily informed through his decades of experience as a writer, director, actor and producer for stage and screen. He approaches his work through a values-based storytelling lens, and is driven to help people — clients and mentors alike — find their most engaging, honest stories, and showing them how to share those stories to create meaningful, authentic connections. Along with his partner Marliss, he was recognized for his strategy work on Women’s Initiative Edmonton with an IABC Capital Award of Excellence and his is possibly the only communications strategist in Edmonton who breathes fire…

Completed her bachelor of arts degree in Communications through the faculty of journalism and public relations at Carleton University in Ottawa. Since graduating from Carleton in 2012, Samantha has put her knowledge and passion to work in various industries – event management, mass media and advertising, recreation, and now accounting and advisory services – taking on more responsibility and creating a greater impact with each position. She is passionate about marketing and communications and enjoys being part of such a creative and fun industry. She’s excited to share her experience and guidance, and to connect with other professionals – new and veteran – to help each other grow and achieve even more.

SALENA KITTERINGHAM

COLIN BABIUK

With two-decades of strategic communications experience in post-secondary education, healthcare, and research, as well arts and culture to draw from and share, I’m invested in supporting emerging communications professionals and energized by mentorship and coaching.

Storytelling has been the driving force of my career. 

It has enabled me to share the expertise of senior executives, deans, artists, performers and physicians to engage, influence, disrupt and inspire.

Let’s share our stories and create a vibrant communications community together.

Colin has over 35 years of experience as a public relations practitioner in the private and public sectors. His experience includes issues management, stakeholder relations, media relations, and marketing.

As an Associate Professor and program lead for the MacEwan University PR Diploma, Colin sees his work as an opportunity to guide the next generation of public relations practitioners as they develop the fundamental skills needed throughout their careers.

Colin holds a Master of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University. He has been a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) since 2001. Colin earned his Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2004 and was admitted to the CPRS College of Fellows in 2012. He was awarded the CPRS Lamp of Service Award in 2017.

JANELLE MORIN

SAVANNAH MELNYK

Janelle Morin is a voracious reader and learner who fell into communications through her love of people, community building, and language. She’s worked in several marketing and communications leadership roles at the University of Alberta, has consulted in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, and is currently Head of Communications at Apex Utilities Inc. Early in her career, she made a lot of mistakes and had many blind spots, but she has learned and grown such that her current mistakes and blind spots are substantially different ones — so, she sees mentorship as a mutual opportunity to swap notes from different vantage points. Janelle delights in the activities extolled by generations of senior citizens: walking her dogs (or letting them walk her), playing piano (too late in the evening for her partner’s tastes), cooking (experimentally, with occasional success), and spending as much time as possible with her family and friends. 

With over a decade of experience in communications and marketing, Savannah Melnyk is the Creative Director and Partner at Formidable Public Relations, an Edmonton-based public relations agency. She specializes in strategy, change management, and internal communications. Savannah is passionate about driving success for her clients through comprehensive and results-driven strategic campaigns.

Her commitment to driving effective change and nurturing robust internal communication channels distinguishes her as a dynamic leader in the industry. Savannah eagerly embraces the opportunity to mentor others, fueled by a desire to share her knowledge and expertise and a genuine dedication to seeing others flourish. 

INGRID SCHIFER

JUDITH DYCK

Ingrid is a dynamic leader and visionary strategist in the world of marketing and public relations. As the Alpha of the Pack at Schif And The City, a leading managed marketing company based in Edmonton, Alberta, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in driving her team towards unparalleled success.

With over 14 years of experience in the industry, Ingrid is renowned for her keen understanding of consumer behavior and relentless drive for excellence, which have enabled her to achieve remarkable results for her clients time and time again.

Her expertise lies in crafting compelling narratives, building strong brand identities, and executing impactful marketing campaigns that resonate with audiences on a profound level. Ingrid’s business acumen, combined with her innate creativity, help her in harnessing the power of social media, mastering the art of storytelling and navigating crisis communications with grace.

Judith is an aged out communications veteran who remains passionate about public consultation, issues management and policy. Her background includes governance and health communications. She loves to talk strategy and if she can give a little insight and wisdom to today’s communicators, she will be very happy.

MARTIN SCHULDHAUS

Strengthening corporate brands with an authentic leadership style, Martin’s a proud MacEwan University Public Relations graduate with 22 years experience in the public and non-profit sectors.

Martin’s applied his vast expertise in media relations, crisis management and strategic communications to retail, entertainment, post-secondary and health. For the past 11 years, he’s helped to lead the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation in raising more than $300 million in his role as vice-president marketing and communications.

A proud member and past-president of CPRS Edmonton, Martin volunteers as a mentor to inspire the next generation of PR practitioners while continually learning from his peers.