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Barbara J. Fox
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Enterprise Canada Group Inc.
As a key member of Enterprise Canada's leadership team, Barbara Fox has been instrumental in spearheading the company's growth. Appointed as Chief Executive Officer in January 2002, Barbara is responsible for planning and management across the group's four companies: Enterprise Canada Consultants, Enterprise Canada Communications, Enterprise Canada Research and OEB International/Worldcom.
Barbara is well known for her expertise in business and issues management - a reputation earned through two decades of strategic planning, communications, event management and project leadership. She has proven ability in working with a wide range of clients, providing solid advice, developing solutions to problems and executing programs to meet clients' objectives.
Barbara has been with Enterprise Canada since 1993, serving as President of Enterprise Canada Consultants Inc. from 1996 to 1999. She continues to serve a diverse client base in both the public and private sectors with her skills and experience in government relations, event management, media relations and communications.
Prior to joining Enterprise Canada, Barbara's experience included serving as Deputy Press Secretary to the Premier of Ontario, Corporate Relations Manager for Magna International Inc., Principal of Media Concepts Communications Inc., and Senior Consultant with Grey Canada, an international advertising and public relations agency.
Her career has also included prominent roles in co-ordinating and facilitating high-profile events, including official visits by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Nelson Mandela and Lech Walesa; the 1996 Toronto Olympic Bid in Tokyo and the Toronto Economic Summit. She established a strong foundation for her event-management expertise early in her career, handling international relations in the Government of Ontario's Office of Protocol.
In addition to her expertise in events and issues management, Barbara also specializes in communications and media relations. Through her extensive dealings with the media in various roles, she has developed considerable knowledge and contacts in the media field. She offers clients insightful advice on how to enhance their public image, while skilfully developing and executing news conferences, media tours, strategic interviews, media training and media analysis.
Barbara is a member of the Board of St. Clement's School, and a former member of the Board of the Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network, which plans, promotes, co-ordinates and supports organ and tissue donation across the province. Her community involvement has also included serving on the Board of Toronto Crimestoppers and as a member of the Women In Nomination (WIN) Committee.
Brian Fox
President
oeb International
Brian brings more than 25 years' experience in journalism, public relations and marketing communications to his position as president of OEB.
He began his career at the Windsor Star, where he specialized in political coverage including coverage of the Ontario legislature as a member of the Queen’s Park press gallery.
His experience includes management of advertising, marketing and promotion programs at The Toronto Star.
Prior to joining OEB, Brian developed advertising, marketing, direct mail and customer loyalty programs at Chris Ward & Associates, which eventually became Riverhorse Integrated.
Carrie Kormos
Vice President
Public Relations
Carrie Kormos has a wide range of high-level experience in the public and private sectors and has served as a former chief of staff to Government of Ontario cabinet ministers.
Prior to joining Enterprise Canada in 2004, Carrie was National Director of Marketing for Magna Entertainment Corporation, North America's largest owner and operator of horse racetracks, including the fabled Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Pimlico (home of the Triple Crown's Preakness Stakes). Carrie headed up the marketing, branding, media buying and planning functions for Magna Entertainment.
She has also served as the Director of Corporate Affairs at Magna International. In this role she acted as the Chief of Staff to Magna President and CEO Belinda Stronach, overseeing daily operations and corporate planning of the President's office.
In addition to her corporate experience, Carrie's extensive public sector career included senior positions in a number of ministerial portfolios within the Government of Ontario, including Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Northern Development and Mines. In her seven years at Queen's Park, she developed a keen understanding of legislative and public policy processes, with particular expertise in tourism and gaming. After leaving government, she worked as a consultant for various gaming clients in Ontario.
Chris Dabrowski
Consultant
Chris began work at oeb International in May 2000. His responsibilities include conducting research for clients; organizing and positioning special events; writing news releases, fact sheets, backgrounders; and media relations.
Multi-tasking comes easily to Chris, thanks to an invaluable combination of office technology skills, organizational abilities, writing skills, creativity and enthusiasm.
Chris received his first taste of communications and event management while employed with one of the largest tour attraction operators in the Region, where he was "right-hand" to the marketing team. His responsibilities included writing policy and procedure manuals, media releases, matte articles, and special events management.
David Sieger
Vice President
Communications
David Sieger is a former national broadcast journalist with a strong background in corporate and political communications. An adept writer and logistics specialist, he has extensive experience in the development and execution of a wide range of communications projects.
As Director of Communications for Enterprise Canada Communications, Dave oversees a variety of projects, including developing and implementing communications strategies, issues/crisis management, and event planning. Since joining Enterprise Canada in 1995, he has also served as writer/editor of Ontario Legislative Highlights, an acclaimed weekly newsletter providing information and insights about Ontario politics.
Dave's experience encompasses diverse writing, event management and media relations projects for numerous clients, including the National Hockey League, the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Association, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Thomas Cook travel company.
Prior to joining Enterprise Canada, Dave served as Senior Writer and Deputy Press Secretary for the Ontario Liberal Caucus at Queen's Park, where his responsibilities included writing and producing Legislative and Party publications, speech writing, video production and co-ordinating media interviews. His day-to-day dealings with the media built on his own experience as a member of the Queen's Park Press Gallery. Dave's career also includes five years as a Senior Associate with Media Concepts Communications Inc, a highly-respected public relations firm.
Dave's writing skills and understanding of the media were honed during a ten-year career as a radio journalist in three provinces, culminating with his appointment as National Correspondent and News Anchor for the CKO Radio network and Newsradio wire service. In 1990, he was nominated for an ACTRA Award as a documentary writer/producer.
He has a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic University (now Ryerson University) and a Certificate of Public Relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society.
Hugh K.N. Mackenzie
Chairman
The Enterprise Canada Group Inc.
Hugh Mackenzie is a founding partner of Enterprise Canada and has spearheaded the growth of this widely respected public affairs firm since its inception in 1985. Since 1996, he has been Chair of The Enterprise Canada Group Inc., which operates companies in the fields of Government Relations, Communications and Research.
Widely recognized for his skill as a strategist, Hugh has taken a lead role in numerous high-level projects in the private and public sectors, including serving as principal consultant for National Grid on issues related to Ontario Hydro, assisting in negotiations for the sale of Ontario's Express Toll Road (Highway 407), and facilitating the contract for the $1 billion Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.
In his 30-year career, Hugh has held a number of senior positions in municipal and provincial government. He served two terms as Mayor of Huntsville, Ontario, having been elected as Mayor in 2000 and re-elected by acclamation in 2003. His career has included serving as Chief of Staff to the Premier of Ontario, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Muskoka, Chair of the Huntsville District Hospital board, Chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, Vice-Chairman of the Election Finances Commission of Ontario, and Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Family Health Network. His experience also includes 20 years in the broadcasting and publishing industries, as well as operating radio stations and newspapers in several Ontario communities.
This diverse experience is the foundation for Hugh's expertise in strategic planning, crisis management, public consultation and the formation of public policy. He has earned a solid reputation in the political, business and media communities for astuteness, diplomacy, consensus-building and the ability to facilitate complex situations.
Community involvement continues to be a high priority for Hugh. He is President of The Albany Club of Toronto, and his community activities have included serving as Chair of The Justin Eves Foundation (an organization providing scholarships to learning disabled, post-secondary students), President of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, Governor and Member of the Executive Committee of Roy Thomson Hall and Executive Governor of The National Theatre School of Canada.
Jennifer Wilson
Consultant
Jennifer Wilson joined OEB Enterprise in early 2007, following a journalism career that included serving as News Editor for Ottawa's Centretown News and as a municipal reporter and photographer for The Huntsville Forester, Muskoka's award-winning community newspaper.
As an intern with CTV News Ottawa and A-Channel News, Jennifer also garnered broadcasting experience, including on-air reporting and federal election coverage.
Jennifer is also experienced in events management, having assisted in organizing the Ontario Conference of Judges, an annual event attended by more than 200 Ontario judges and guest speakers.
Jennifer is also a firm believer in the benefits of community involvement. She has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in the capacity of an in-school mentor. In this role, Jennifer worked with female students in Grade seven and eight to promote safe and healthy choices.
She is a graduate of Carleton University's journalism program.
John Armstrong
General Manager & Vice-President
Niagara
John Armstrong is a strategic thinker who combines balanced counsel with creative energy to deliver communications strategies that work.
John started his career as a public liaison officer for former Ontario premier William Davis. After completing his bachelor's degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in political science, he moved into the private sector as general manager of Armstrong Communications' cable advertising channel in Niagara.
After obtaining his master of arts degree in political science, John taught current affairs and the media to Niagara College journalism students and lectured in Canadian studies at Brock University.
His commitment to leadership took him to Ottawa and the office of former Reform party of Canada leader Preston Manning, as a strategist, speech-writer and communications specialist. While in Ottawa, John developed and honed his media relations skills, successfully selling story ideas to public affairs programmers at Canada AM, CBC Newsworld, CBC Radio, CFRB and such major news agencies as Canadian Press and Southam News Service.
Returning to the Government of Ontario, John served on the staff of Labour Minister Jim Flaherty as communications advisor, a position that allowed him to learn the workings of government from the inside.
Since joining OEB International in 1999, John has delivered effective strategies and tactics to clients in the health and private sectors, as well as to various levels of government, the broader public sector and industry associations. He is also chair of the Public Relations Program Advisory Committee at Niagara College.
John Weir
President
Enterprise Canada Consultants
John Weir, who joined the Enterprise Canada team in April 2002, brings a wealth of experience as a public policy and communications expert to his position as President of Enterprise Canada Consultants.
John first became involved in public policy issues at the University of Guelph, where he served as the student council's Vice-President, Operations, and oversaw a $1 million budget. He began his career in 1980 as a research assistant to a Member of Parliament in Ottawa, and moved to Saskatchewan in 1982 to work as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Transportation.
John was promoted to work for the Premier of Saskatchewan, first as his Chief of Staff for the Agriculture portfolio, and then as his Assistant Principal Secretary. He was later promoted to Principal Secretary, overseeing a staff of 100 as well as the overall operation of the Premier's Office.
John was involved in every facet of government as the Premier's representative, including numerous negotiations among governments, businesses and other third parties. His primary responsibilities included management of various inputs to the cabinet process, liaising between the Premier's Office and other levels of government and working with interest groups. He oversaw the preparation and implementation of communications plans, co-ordinated various regulatory, policy and program inputs to the decision-making process and managed the communications rollout process. In 1992, he was associated with a business management consulting company and worked on numerous economic development projects.
In 1995, John became Chief of Staff to Ontario's Minister of Education. Two years later, he joined the Premier's Office as Director of Caucus Relations. He then became Director of Issues Management and Tour, and was promoted in 1999 to the position of Principal Secretary to then-Premier Mike Harris. In this role, John was responsible for the day-to-day management of the entire Premier's Office, with added responsibilities for high-level stakeholder relations and short- and medium-term key file management.
This tremendous wealth of experience in every component of government operations allows John to offer value-added strategic thinking, a unique outlook to problem solving and issues management, and a tremendous ability to bring people to the table to reach winning solutions for all the players. His reputation for sound management, discretion and a calm but determined style no matter what the situation makes him a valued asset to Enterprise Canada's professional team.
Krysia Opiola
Client Coordinator
Prior to joining Enterprise Canada in 2002, Krysia Opiola spent more than fourteen years working for the provincial government in numerous positions for both MPPs and Cabinet Ministers. Krysia's experience includes successive administrative positions for the PC Caucus services bureau, providing personal and administrative support to the caucus' elected officials.
Her skills include extensive database management experience, office management, preparation of personal correspondence, and organization and support for high-level cabinet and ministry briefings and meetings. Krysia has proven herself as deadline driven, and receptive to the discretionary requirements of senior officials.
She brings a sound understanding of government and cabinet processes to Enterprise Canada, and an extensive working knowledge of government resources and individuals to the GR team.
Lloyd Girman
Director, The Enterprise Canada Group
Lloyd Girman has 30 years of experience in senior public and private sector positions. His strength lies in his uniquely creative ability to develop "win-win" solutions in any situation, and in his ability to relate to and communicate with all interests in a project or issue.
Lloyd joined Enterprise Canada as a Director in 2006, continuing a partnership that has been successful on numerous projects for many years.
His recent career includes serving as Senior Vice Present for Strategic Initiatives with SNC Lavalin International, and as Executive Vice President with the West Group of Companies. He subsequently became a partner in West Management, a project management group.
Lloyd has extensive public sector experience, including serving as the Province of Manitoba's Deputy Minister of Northern Affairs, Secretary to the Aboriginal Affairs Committee of Cabinet, Senior Negotiator on Aboriginal Constitutional Issues, and as Senior Policy Analyst in the Department of Community Services. He also served in the Government of Canada as Senior Program Office with the Secretary of State and the Department of Health and Welfare.
His private sector consulting work has included work with current clients CDS Oil and Gas and Ontario Power Generation, and past clients such as SNC Lavalin, the Province of Ontario, Ontario Hydro, RJ Burnside & Associates Engineering, Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, Union of Ontario Indians, Swampy Cree Holdings, the Metro Toronto School Board and Certified General Accountants of Ontario. His focus has been on the negotiation and development of public-private partnerships, joint ventures, project financing, and large infrastructure projects.
As a member of the SNC Lavalin executive management team, Lloyd's work included involvement in transactions such as the Diavik diamond mine, Moose River Basin and Mattagami River hydro development agreements and Five Nations Energy Transmission line; the purchases of the Trans Alta transmission system in Alberta, Highway 407 in Ontario and Nepco Energy Group; and project analysis and assessments around the world.
Lloyd resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba with his wife.
Lou Cahill
Chairman Emeritus
oeb International
Known as the "Dean of Public Relations," Lou Cahill has won every award bestowed by the Canadian Public Relations Society, and was the inaugural recipient of the society's Philip Novikoff Award for Lifetime Achievement.
In June of 2000, Lou was among the first inductees to the Canadian Public Relations Society College of Fellows.
Lou founded OEB International in 1946, and continues today as chairman emeritus.
Margaret Martin
Senior Consultant
Margaret Martin is a veteran government relations professional with more than 15 years of experience in Ontario politics. She provides a wide variety of clients with an in-depth understanding of how political parties and governments operate.
Margaret worked at Queen's Park from 1986 to 1998, including serving as special assistant and MPP liaison to Ontario's minister of municipal affairs and housing from 1995 to 1998. Prior to that, she served as supervisor/special projects and assistant to the director in the Progressive Conservative Service Bureau. She has also worked on numerous election and leadership campaigns, beginning with the 1984 federal election, where she was involved in media tracking and the youth campaign at Progressive Conservative campaign headquarters.
Margaret remains in close contact with many of her Queen's Park colleagues and continues to be well connected to the political scene throughout the province. She is also a member of the national board of the Canadian Polish Congress and has represented this organization both across Canada and internationally.
Matthew Mackenzie
Consultant
Matthew Mackenzie advises a wide range of clients in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors on government, stakeholder and public relations issues. He is skilled at all aspects of logistical management and day-to-day preparation for events and provides communications and media relations advice to clients.
Matthew assisted Enterprise Canada on a variety of communications and public affairs projects from 2000 to 2006, and re-joined the company in 2007. In between, he worked with the Canadian Bankers Association as program coordinator for "There's Something About Money" - a series of seminars on personal financial management for senior high school students. Matthew worked with Canadian MPs and schools across the country to implement the program, and maintained liaison with the offices of senior cabinet ministers to encourage their support. Matthew also worked with the partners of the "Your Money Network" to ensure that its website remained complete and current. In this capacity, Matthew worked with such organizations as the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Credit Counselling Canada, Credit Union Central, Investment Dealers Association of Canada, Employment Insurance, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the securities commissions across Canada.
Among his achievements, Matthew has helped organize a "lobby day" on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on behalf of a national industry association, coordinated on-site event management for a series of public consultations for the Ontario government, and assisted in concept development, production and distribution of weekly publication analyzing transition in federal government.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Guelph.
Michelle Mackenzie
Executive Vice President and C.A.O.
The Enterprise Canada Group Inc.
Michelle Mackenzie, who holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Queen's University, manages the back-office operations of the companies that comprise The Enterprise Canada Group. In her current role, Michelle has overseen considerable change at the organization, including spearheading the acquisition of OEB International.
Prior to assuming this position, Michelle served as President of Enterprise Canada Consultants, where she guided the day-to-day operation of Enterprise Canada's government relations and communications consulting business. With an extensive background in politics, government and communications, she serves a diverse client base and has developed particular expertise in the areas of gaming, health care and education.
Michelle joined Enterprise Canada in 1994, following five years at the Ontario Legislature. As Executive Assistant to Ernie Eves, MPP for Parry Sound (and ultimately Premier) she gained extensive experience in policy development, program delivery processes, negotiation and issues management. Prior to working at Queen's Park, she worked in the operations department at Ontario Progressive Conservative party headquarters.
Through her regular contact with senior political and bureaucratic officials and media representatives at Queen's Park, Michelle provides Enterprise Canada's public and private sector clients with insight and expertise on the events, personalities and trends that shape the province's public policy process.
An active member of her community, Michelle is Treasurer of the Board of Directors of The Justin Eves Foundation, a charitable organization that funds scholarships for learning disabled, post-secondary students and research into teaching strategies for learning disabled youth. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, and chaired the organizing committee of the 2004 Fraser Mustard Awards Gala which raised approximately $620,000 to assist needy public school students in Toronto.
In addition to her MBA, Michelle graduated from York University with a degree in political science and history, and holds a certificate in human resource management.
Murray Moffatt CIM
Senior Consultant
Murray Moffatt joined Oeb International in June 2000 following 25 years experience as a Broadcast Journalist plus an impressive list of other skills that make him a very valuable asset in all areas of Communications, Media and Public Relations, Strategic Planning and Administration.
Murray provides senior strategic communications counsel, training and editorial services to a variety of clients from the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining Oeb, Murray worked at Radio Stations in Welland, Niagara Falls, Brampton, St. Catharines and Brantford, earning a reputation as an respected reporter, writer, broadcaster and News Director. He's an accomplished public speaker on a variety of topics including Media Relations, Broadcasting, politics and Municipal Affairs.
But that is only part of what makes Murray a Communications Specialist. He also has experience in management, training and public relations thanks to his extensive volunteer work with several organizations including Crimestoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. Both prior to and since joining Oeb, Murray has lectured police officers, firefighters, school principals, service clubs, non-profit organizations, utilities and municipalities on how to improve both public relations and communications with the media.
Murray is a graduate of Radio and Television Arts at Niagara College and holds a C.I.M. (Honours) designation from the Canadian Institute of Management.
Peter Landry
Vice President
Government Relations and Research
Peter Landry is well known as a public affairs and government relations specialist. In his extensive career - including more than a decade in senior positions with the Government of Ontario - Peter has developed a deep understanding of how government works and how to affect public policy on behalf of clients.
Peter has represented clients from across industrial sectors, including health care, information technology, education and training, pharmaceutical, construction, telecommunications, transportation, engineering, retail, entertainment, electricity and financial services. His work has included high profile groundbreaking changes to government legislation, policy and practices at both the federal and provincial levels.
Peter also has extensive experience in advising lawyers and their clients on public affairs strategies.
Recent research projects have included (qualitative and quantitative) public polling on intercity transportation; focus groups on member engagement in pre-election priorities; residential wants and needs for senior citizens; and rebranding of a major hospital's child and youth facilities.
Before moving to the private sector, Peter held a number of high level positions in the Government of Ontario, including serving as a Director in the Ministry of Skills Development and a Minister's Chief of Staff.
Peter is active with the Toronto Board of Trade, including as a member of the Policy Committee, Chair of the Task Force on Post-secondary Financing in Ontario and Vice-Chair of the Skills Task Force. He is the director of Boost (Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention), Margaret Frazer House (supportive and transitional housing for women), the Government Relations Institute of Canada, The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada and past co-chair of the Toronto Training Board. Peter won't golf with you, but would be happy to take you out in his canoe.
Ross Parry
Vice President, Strategic Issues Management
Enterprise Canada Consultants Inc.
Ross Parry has more than 20 years of experience in strategic and crisis communications, as well as public, media and government relations. He is widely recognized as one of the top professionals in these fields. He has extensive, hands-on experience in all aspects of delivering multi-level communication/marketing and stakeholder management plans, and has an excellent reputation for providing innovative strategic advice to senior management and elected officials in a variety of public, private and not-for-profit organizations.
Ross has played senior advisory and management roles in helping to successfully manage renewal, transformation and acquisitions. His experience has helped organizations recognize and seize new opportunities to enhance their sectoral leadership, branding, credibility and public trust. He has also helped to successfully manage high profile contentious and sensitive issues involving intense public and media scrutiny.
Ross re-joined the Enterprise Canada team (he was previously Executive Vice President of OEB International, a member of The Enterprise Canada Group of companies) after nearly three years with the Government of Ontario. In government, he served as Senior Communications Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, spearheading major initiatives including the $30 billion ReNew Ontario infrastructure renewal plan and the unprecedented Places to Grow growth management plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Earlier in his career, Ross held senior communications posts in the public sector, including Manager of Communications and Public Affairs with the Toronto District School Board - Canada's largest school board - and Director of Communications for the Ontario Public School Boards Association. In the 1980s, Ross served as Executive Assistant to Ontario's Minister of the Environment.
A graduate of the University of Guelph, Ross is the former President of the University of Guelph Alumni Association.
Stephen Murdoch
Senior Consultant
Stephen Murdoch, who holds a post-graduate public relations certificate from Niagara College, is a consultant with the St. Catharines firm. In his current role, Stephen oversees clients from several industry sectors.
Prior to assuming this position, Stephen served as communications manager for the Canadian Retail Hardware Association (CRHA). In this role, he was responsible for strategic, partnership marketing and communications and also provided public relations counsel for Canada's largest hardware/home improvement trade show. This communications role also saw him act as editor for the award-winning newsletter, the Communicator.
Before joining the CRHA, Stephen held a communications position with Humber College. While at Humber College, he was responsible for providing public relations counsel to the school's student government. It was here that Stephen gained extensive experience in crisis communications and issues management.
Armed with a strong background in politics and communications, Stephen serves a diverse client roster and has developed expertise in the areas of hardware/home improvement, associations and show publicity. In his current role, Stephen is responsible for providing public and media relations counsel, event coordination, crisis management and client representation.
Stephen has been actively involved in several not-for-profit organizations including the Niagara Region Literacy Council and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He has also served on several political board of directors and has coached youth soccer.
In addition to his post-graduate public relations certificate, Stephen Murdoch graduated from Brock University with a degree in political science and marketing.