Edmonton Board of Directors 2023-24
- President: Tammy Vineberg
- Past President: Peter Haight
- Vice-President and Membership/Community Chair: Darrell Winwood
- Accreditation Chair: Julia Harvie-Shemko
- Treasurer: Jan Martin
- Financial Manager: Narith Hang
- Information Management and Technology (Secretary): Lucas Warren
- Communications Chair: Heather Massel
- Social Media Director: Vacant
- Newsletter Director: Daniel Purcell
- Website Director: Vacant
- Programming Co-Chairs: Leila Daoud and Becky Saegert
- Mentorship Chair: Heather Shtuka
Tammy Vineberg, APR
President
president@cprsedmonton.ca
Tammy is an award-winning communicator who brings a strategic approach to non-profit communications. She has over 16 years experience in public relations and was a journalist in a previous life. Tammy is the associate director of marketing and communications at the Jewish Federation of Edmonton. She is also known as the Montreal Bagel Fairy for organizing a Montreal bagel fundraiser that sees over 17,000 St-Viateur bagels shipped overnight to Edmonton.
You can find Tammy on LinkedIn.
Darrell Winwood, APR
Vice-president and Community Chair
vicepresident@cprsedmonton.ca
Darrell Winwood is the 2023-24 Vice-President for CPRS Edmonton.
He is an accredited member of CPRS, earning his APR designation in 2021. His communications career began in 2011 after an 11-year career as a print journalist. In that time he has worked in multiple areas including government, the aviation and electricity sectors and is the current Senior Manager of Corporate Relations for Alberta Innovates, a provincial crown corporation.
Darrell enjoys meeting new people, a good debate, a better story and spends much of his free time with his two daughters and wife.
If you work with an Edmonton or northern Alberta corporate communications team and would like more information about CPRS, Darrell has an amazing tolerance for any kind of coffee as long as there’s no sugar in it and would be happy to grab a cup anytime.
Peter Haight
Past President
pastpresident@cprsedmonton.ca
Peter has actively participated in CPRS Edmonton since joining the chapter in 2012. For the last few years, he volunteered under the programming portfolio before joining the board as secretary in 2018. He is currently a communications coordinator with the City of Edmonton where he provides support to transit projects.
His career in communications dates back several years when he worked in broadcast journalism. After finishing school, Peter moved to Red Deer in 2008 to work at two radio stations as a news reader and reporter before moving to 630 CHED in Edmonton. In 2013, he graduated from MacEwan University with a public relations diploma. After graduation, he joined Alberta Blue Cross as a communications officer.
Originally from London, Ontario, Peter graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Theory and Production and a broadcast journalism diploma from Fanshawe College. In his spare time, Peter volunteers as mentor with Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area, enjoys learning new board games and is always planning his next big overseas adventure.
You can find Peter on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Jan Martin
Treasurer
Jan Martin finished her undergraduate studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Then began her career in media, working in California, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. While attending law school, she transitioned to working in non-profit management for several years. After finishing her master’s degree in communications at University of Alberta, she began working in the oil and gas industry and now is a full-time faculty member at the JR Shaw School of Business at NAIT.
You can find her on LinkedIn
Narith Hang
Financial Manager
treasurer@cprsedmonton.ca
Narith has a business administration degree from NAIT with a concentration in accounting. He achieved his CPA designation in 2023. He’s interested in building lasting relationships and helping businesses achieve their goals at HGA Charted Professional Accountants.
Originally from Cambodia, Narith likes to volunteer for several organization during his spare time and enjoys spending time with his little cousin, traveling, and working out.
You can find Narith on LinkedIn.
Lucas Warren
Secretary
secretary@cprsedmonton.ca
Lucas Warren is a communications and public engagement consultant specializing in public sector and non-profit communications. For the past 15 years, Lucas has worked all across Alberta creating strategies, content, and opportunities for conversations. He has a Master’s degree in Communications and Technology from the University of Alberta and a cat from a farm near Stony Plain.
You can find Lucas on LinkedIn.
Julia Harvie-Shemko, APR
Accreditation Chair
accreditation@cprsedmonton.ca
Julia is on a mission to help municipalities do better and be better. With her company Red Thread Connections, she focuses on moving the communications function towards strategic partnership with clients. With her more than 20 years in communications and 30 in leadership, she knows how to bring clarity, focus and strategy to the communications function.
Accredited by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) since 2007 and a Certified Executive Coach (CEC), Julia is also an award-winning communicator leading the City of Red Deer’s Communications and Strategic Planning department to being named the 2020 In House Communications Team by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS).
Julia works collaboratively with communicators and organizations to mitigate issues that may affect public image, create sound strategic and communications approaches to meet organizational goals, and increase the abilities of the communications team. Specialties include communications functional reviews and audits; customized training; needs assessments; coaching and mentoring; meeting facilitation; strategic, organizational and communications planning; service offer definition; policy development; and recruitment tools.
Julia is a collector of shoes and a frequent visitor to Alberta’s ski slopes who, since the pandemic, now believes that leggings are pants.
You can find Julia on LinkedIn.
Heather Massel, APR
Communications Chair
communications@cprsedmonton.ca
Heather Massel is the Communications Chair for CPRS Edmonton. She leads the amazing team of volunteers who produce all the communications on behalf of CPRS Edmonton, from website content and maintenance, to social media and the monthly newsletter, as well as promoting upcoming events and professional development.
She is an accredited member of CPRS and earned her APR designation in 2021. Heather is a former print and broadcast journalist who worked in several Government of Alberta communications branches before moving into non-profits. She is passionate about storytelling and communicating the value of membership in CPRS, continuous learning, and the importance of a professional communicator in every organization.
In her spare time, Heather loves to spend time with her family, garden, and go for coffee. If you have a story idea or feature for an upcoming newsletter or just want to go for coffee and talk about communications, Heather would love to hear from you!
You can find Heather on LinkedIn.
Daniel Purcell
Newsletter Director
Daniel is an emerging public relations practitioner, having received his Public Relations Diploma from MacEwan University in June 2021. Since graduating, he’s passed the PRK© exam and gained experience through practicing communications across a few different industries.
In his spare time, Daniel enjoys both watching and playing sports, spending time with his family and volunteering with causes that are important to him.
Leila Daoud
Programming Co-chair
programming@cprsedmonton.ca
Leila Daoud is a public relations professional with more than 18 years of experience in media relations and crisis management. Leila is a media trainer, published author, communications workshop leader, and panellist. She holds a bachelor of arts degree with a double major from the University of Alberta and received a post-graduate public relations certificate from Mount Royal University.
After several successful years as a public safety spokesperson with law enforcement and disaster management organizations, Leila embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and founded her own public relations consultancy, Dynamite Public Relations. Through her consultancy, she has helped a diverse portfolio of international clients to enhance their reputation, increase visibility, and navigate complex media landscapes.
Heather Shtuka
Mentorship Chair
mentorship@cprsedmonton.ca
“Empowering people to Create connectivity in their communities.”
Heather Shtuka is an accomplished communications professional with experience developing strategic communications for charitable non-profits. As an advocacy advisor for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, her role is to amplify the voices of Stollery supporters, including donors, volunteers, and Stollery patients and families. Heather is currently working on the Stollery Tomorrow and Today campaign, a grassroots digital advocacy campaign aimed at achieving a commitment from the Government of Alberta to build a new Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Heather is also the bestselling author of, Missing from Me. In the wake of her son’s disappearance, she became a passionate advocate of missing persons and the co-founder of the Free Bird Project, a nonprofit providing support to families of missing people. After graduating from MacEwan University with a degree in public relations, Heather uses writing as a way to raise awareness for those still waiting to find their way home.
You can find Heather on LinkedIn.