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GCI Group welcomes Lindsay Williams and Diane Sidik

December 2011 | gci news

Leading Canadian public relations agency GCI Group is pleased to welcome Lindsay Williams as Director, Consumer  and Diane Sidik as Senior Consultant, Consumer.

Lindsay Williams joins GCI Group and brings 10 years of agency experience executing programs for a diverse range of clients, including RIM, Pepsi-QTG, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson. Williams has earned CPRS ACE Awards, including Campaign of the Year, as well as IABC Ovation and Gold Quill Awards. At GCI Group, she will be spearheading work on a variety of clients, including LG Electronics Inc. 

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GCI Group Adds to Healthcare and Consumer Lifestyle Practices

October 20, 2011 | gci news

Leading Canadian public relations and public affairs agency, GCI Group (Canada), is pleased to welcome the addition of Nate Habermeyer, Senior Consultant, Consumer Lifestyle;  Laine Jaremey, Consultant, Healthcare, and Rick Maddalena, Account Coordinator, Healthcare.

With the addition of several new Consumer Lifestyle clients, Nate Habermeyer joins GCI Group from Temple Scott Associates Inc. where he managed media relations for clients.  Nate has worked with clients on mandates ranging from technology, consumer, corporate communications and public affairs.  Prior to Temple Scott Associates Inc., he worked for the national not-for-profit, Evergreen. 

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GCI Group welcomes Michael Ras

August 16, 2011 | gci news

Leading Canadian public relations and public affairs company GCI Group, is pleased to welcome Michael Ras as a Vice President on the public affairs team, based in GCI’s Toronto office.  With his extensive background in public affairs at all three levels of government, Michael adds a breadth of experience across a wide-variety of industries.  He also brings additional expertise to GCI  in strategic planning, issue and crisis management and stakeholder outreach engagements. 

“Michael will assist in supporting the continued growth of our  public affairs practice across Canada, but particularly here in the GTA”, GCI’s President, Marion MacKenzie said, “Michael’s provincial and municipal public affairs experience and acumen compliments our strong federal government level offering. Clients will benefit from the new perspectives and insights he brings to the challenges and opportunities within the current environment.”

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GCI Group welcomes Jim Rutkowski

June 2, 2011 | gci news

Leading Canadian public relations and public affairs company GCI Group, is pleased to welcome Jim Rutkowski as an associate on the public affairs team. With his extensive communications background in both the private sector and with the NDP in BC and Ottawa, Jim will ensure our clients receive an integrated approach to government relations, strategic planning, issue and crisis management, and stakeholder outreach.

"It is important that our public affairs team reflect the makeup of the new parliament", GCI's President, Marion Mackenzie said, "Jim adds a critical perspective to our team of public affairs professionals, a perspective our clients need to succeed in the current environment."

Rutkowski joins GCI Group fresh off the NDP national campaign team where he served as a key campaign advisor and speechwriter. He brings over 15 years of communications experience to the GCI team. Rutkowski has served as Senior Client Services Representative at NOW communications; Chief of Staff to Carole James, Leader of the NDP Official Opposition in British Columbia from 2009-2011; Senior Communications advisor to Carole James; and Communications Director and Communications Officer for the British Columbia NDP Caucus.

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GCI Group Appoints Lisa Morlock as Vice President, Healthcare Practice

May 26, 2011 | gci news

Public relations and public affairs company GCI Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Morlock as Vice President, Healthcare.  Lisa brings to GCI Group a career dedicated to the pharmaceutical, consumer wellness, medical devices/diagnostics, vaccines and biopharmaceuticals industries.

At GCI Group, Lisa will focus on new business, program strategy and planning, and management of client mandates.  In addition, with a deep background in applying social media approaches, Lisa will continue to educate and mobilize clients to embrace the digital space.  Lisa will also work with agency leaders in public affairs, corporate and consumer/lifestyle, along with other WPP partners, to provide clients with integrated and holistic solutions to address new opportunities or challenges.

“As part of our strategy to evolve our healthcare practice in Canada, the hiring of top talent, including Lisa Morlock, is critical to the success of our clients,” says Marion MacKenzie, President, GCI Group.  “The addition of Lisa will provide clients with access to an experienced, creative and strategic team of industry practitioners.  Lisa will also continue to build on GCI’s commitment to innovation, integration and higher client value and service.”

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GCI Group welcomes Lisa Cancian and Navi Lamba

May 25, 2011 | gci news

Leading Canadian public relations agency, GCI Group, is pleased to welcome Lisa Cancian as healthcare Consultant and Navi Lamba as Account Coordinator specializing in social media.

Cancian joined GCI Group in April 2011. She brings almost four years of healthcare communications experience from iQ inc, where she developed a speciality in internal and external health communications with a focus on vaccines. Cancian earned a joint media studies honours degree and journalism diploma from Guelph University and Humber College. As Consultant, she will develop strategies and provide client support in GCI’s fast-growing healthcare practice.

Navi Lamba was hired on as an Account Coordinator specializing in social media in March 2011. Lamba has already brought her social media and statistical research skills to major projects for clients in the retail and consumer electronics sectors. Lamba holds a degree in political science from University of Toronto with a focus in race relations and equality studies. She previously worked as a marketing assistant for Three O’Clock Press.

“Lisa is a great addition to our industry-leading healthcare practice, and Navi will help us enhance our digital offering,” said Marion Mackenzie, President, GCI Group. “They bring with them diverse expertise that will add value to our team and the clients we serve.”

GCI Group promotes Carolyn Schulz and
Welcomes Alex Szabados, Marc Esposito, Parker Hughes and Collin Matanowitsch

March 21, 2011 | gci news

Leading public relations agency, GCI Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Carolyn Schulz to Consultant. Furthermore, GCI Group welcomes the additions of Alex Szabados as Digital Strategist and Marc Esposito, Parker Hughes and Collin Matanowitsch as Consultants.

Carolyn Schulz joined GCI Group as an Account Coordinator in March 2009. She has worked on major client projects with Belkin, Dell, DHL and Petro-Canada. As a Consultant she will continue to provide support to her teams with media relations, crisis monitoring and program execution for clients including the government of Mexico and Target.

Alex Szabados joined GCI on contract in November, 2010 and was hired on as a full time Digital Strategist in March, 2011. In addition to having an honours degree in economics and political science, Szabados is a skilled computer programmer and statistical research analyst. He has professional experience as a technical writer, a Senate staffer and Social Media Coordinator for political and government work. Alex will be a great asset as GCI continues to grow and enhance its digital capabilities.

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GCI Appoints David Pratt as Senior Vice President,
Public Affairs

February 10, 2011 | gci news

Marion MacKenzie, President of the GCI Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable David Pratt as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs.

“We are delighted to welcome David to the GCI Public Affairs team in Ottawa,” said MacKenzie. “He brings a breadth of public and voluntary sector experience to our company which will be a real benefit to our clients.”  She added that his knowledge of domestic and international politics and the public policy process in general will bring strategic depth to GCI’s Ottawa office where he will lead the public affairs practice.

Pratt was elected to Parliament in 1997 and won re-election in 2001 in the riding of Nepean-Carleton. He served as Minister of National Defence in 2003-04 and was Chairman of the Defence Committee from 2001-03. He also served as a Special Envoy to Sierra Leone for two foreign ministers. Prior to his election to Parliament, Pratt spent nine years in municipal politics at the local and regional level in Ottawa. In more recent years, he worked as a Special Ambassador for the Canadian Red Cross and has done governance work as a private consultant for the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad.

“I’m looking forward to assisting clients on a variety of policy issues,” Pratt said. In recent years I have focused on defence and security matters. However, I have maintained a strong interest and background in environmental, transportation, health, municipal, development assistance and foreign policy issues.”

MacKenzie added that GCI’s Public Affairs business in Ottawa has been expanding and that Pratt’s appointment is part of that growth strategy. “Our Public Affairs group in Ottawa is growing because we have provided our clients with trusted advisors that produce results. That is a model we will continue to build upon,” added MacKenzie.

GCI Group Promotes Couto, McKnight and Fremont in the Consumer Lifestyle Practice

December 02, 2010 | gci news

Leading public relations agency GCI Group is pleased to announce three promotions within its Consumer Lifestyle practice group:  Bernice Couto has been promoted to the position of Group Manager, Nicole McKnight to Senior Consultant and Shelley Fremont promoted to Consultant.

Bernice Couto joined GCI Group in November 2009, bringing with her more than six years experience in public relations across a variety of sectors including technology, retail, healthcare and lifestyle brands. Since then she has worked on strategic planning, media relations and client relations for a broad range of clients including Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Blockbuster Canada and Tourism PEI. 

“GCI allows me to interact daily with fantastic clients and a dedicated team,” said Couto. “I’m looking forward to the new responsibilities and learning opportunities that come my way as a member of this vibrant agency.”

McKnight joined GCI in March 2009. She has planned events, managed nation-wide media tours and led several media relations and sponsorship campaigns for clients including Blockbuster, Payless ShoeSource, Rust-Oleum and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. She will continue to provide support and creativity to every project she handles.

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