Patricia Brusha - Co-Founder and Principal - A Couple of Chicks E-Marketing

Patricia Brusha is the co-founder of 'acoupleofchicks.com' an Internet Marketing, Distribution & RevenueMeasurement Company. She has spent 26 years working in the Hospitality Industry in the United States and Canada in the fields of Sales, Hotel Marketing, Internet Distribution and Revenue Management.

Patricia is also a Google-approved Qualified Google Advertising Professional and has extensive experience managing SEO and paid online advertising strategies for a variety of clients. Patricia is the Co-Chair, and Co-founder of the first-ever Canadian Online Marketing Conference - Online Revealed Canada. Patricia has also been on numerous industry panels including the Hotel Association Conference, Quebec Tourism, and the Search Engine Strategy Conference in Toronto.

Patricia is considered an industry expert in her field and has participated in industry panels and presented keynote addresses for over 25 organizations including the Hotel Association of Canada Conference, Tourism Quebec Annual Conference, Yahoo Canada Workshop Series, Canada e-Connect and the Canadian Hotel Investment Conference.

Alicia Whalen - Co-Founder and Principal - A Couple of Chicks E-marketing

Alicia Whalen is the co-founder of 'acoupleofchicks.com' an Internet Marketing, Distribution &  Revenue Measurement Company. After 8 years developing search engine strategies and measuring online return on investment for large branded hotels, resorts  and destination portal  websites in Niagara Falls, Canada, Alicia partnered with Patricia Brusha to develop an integrated, non-intimidating approach to Search, Marketing and Measurement online.

Alicia co-developed the Merlin Web Analytics and Campaign tracking tool, created a successful Internet Marketing Blog and co-produces and co-founded Online Revealed Canada, the Canadian Online Tourism Conference. Alicia has presented at many high profile conferences including PhocusWright, IAB, IRMA, TIANS.

Alicia has presented at many high profile conferences including PhocusWright, IAB Interactive    Advertising Bureau, IRMA – the International Regional Magazine Association, TIANS – the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, Destination Halifax, Search Engine Strategy Conference and Travel Alberta.

Steve McLellan - CEO of Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce"

Mr. Steve McLellan is the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Steve has held several senior positions in the Saskatchewan business community including 10 years as Executive Director of Tourism Regina and previous to that he spent 8 years with TISASK and Tourism Saskatchewan.

Steve has been in the hospitality industry since 1977 and worked for 11 years in the restaurant sector as a business owner and manager. Steve holds a Diploma in Hotel Administration from SIAST, Kelsey Campus plus two Industry Certifications from STEC.

Steve currently holds seats on several Boards including:
• Saskatchewan International Tattoo and Festival
• The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Insurance Corporation
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Peer Review Committee

His past board experience includes:
• Tourism Industry Assn of Canada (TIAC) - Board and Executive Member
• Canadian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CACVB) -  Board and Chair
• Provincial and Territorial Tourism Assn’s (PTTIA) - Board Member and Chair
• Tourism Alliance for Western and Northern Canada- Board member and Founding Chair
• Regina Airport Authority,- Board Member and Committee Chair
• STEC Board
• Plus many different committees and advisory panels

Steve is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.

As a lifelong resident he understands and firmly believes in the potential that exists in the people and businesses within this province.

Steve and his wife Heather have two wonderful children, Thomas and Erin.

Rick Rumberger - CEO of the Candle Lake Golf Resort

Mr. Rick Rumberger graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, from there he went on to become a Chartered Accountant and in 2001 received his F.C.A  Designation.   

The Candle Lake property was purchased in 2003 when it was nothing more than just a 9-hole golf course.  Since that time they developed a plan to make this facility a world class four season lake resort.  They built nine new holes, renovated the original nine holes (to be completed in 2010), built a 180 slip marina, developed a water and sewer system, built 18 rental cabins, built a 156 site RV park, built a administration/proshop/restaurant, built a new convention centre capable of seating 350 people (500 without tables), developed an eighty lot subdivision, developing a 120 unit townhouse project.  Future plans include to build a hotel complete with all five star amenities with the possibility of more residential and townhouses. 

In addition to his aggressive development approach, he is also well known for his community involvement. With the Institution of Chartered Accountants in Saskatchewan he has served on the Education Committee, the Professional Conduct Committee and the Discipline Committee.   He was also active with local and regional sports organizations within the region, volunteering for such positions as: Director of Melfort Golf and Country Club; Director of the Melfort Junior Hockey Association; President of the North East Community Futures Group; Finance Chair of the 1988 Saskatchewan Summer Games; Finance Chair of the 1996 Royal Bank Cup; Vice-President of Melfort Minor Sports; volunteer coach in hockey, baseball and soccer; and was a member of the Marketing Committee for the 1997 World Under 18 Hockey Championship.      

Grant McDonald - Tourism Saskatchewan

Grant McDonald spent his entire career as an entrepreneur and small business owner until joining   Tourism Saskatchewan in late 2005.  His work has ranged from the oil & gas business to owner of a live music night club.  In the ten years prior to joining Tourism Saskatchewan, Grant operated a  technology consulting business specializing in integrated business applications and internet technologies.  Clients included small and medium-sized businesses, numerous non-profit organizations as well as government agencies.  In 2004 and 2005 Grant developed Saskatchewan’s award winning Centennial Website, that highlighted celebrations across the province and featured user submitted stories, photographs and other user generated content. 

Grant and his team are responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan’s marketing websites, online marketing efforts, email marketing, social media communication, as well as the organization’s information technologies functions.  In the past year, in addition to what are now considered traditional online marketing tactics,  Grant and his team have been engaging travelers on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Picassa and Blogger. Social media is becoming increasingly important component of Tourism Saskatchewan’s engagement with travelers.

Deb Thorn - South Central Enterprise Region

Ms. Deb Thorn was recently named President and CEO of the South Central Enterprise Region, a not-for-profit organization which focuses on economic development by fostering a culture of enterprise and innovation. She is well-known and recognized for her work as the Founding President of Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Inc. (1992), which opened for business in 1996. The building of the Spa became the catalyst for a host of other unique Moose Jaw tourist attractions. Deb credits the success of the business to the positive energy created by the many local people who pooled their ideas and money to make it all happen.

Saskatchewan Business Magazine named Temple Gardens one of Saskatchewan’s “fastest growing companies”. Deb was named one of Saskatchewan’s “most influential women” and Moose Jaw’s citizen of the year. In 2003, she received the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year - Prairie Finalist” and special “National Citation” for innovative marketing strategies. She currently serves on the Moose Jaw’s Multi-Plex Builders’ Committee, the Saskatchewan Southwest Tourism Association and is committed to raising awareness and funds for the national “Canadian Museum of Human Rights”. Prior to her departure from the spa industry, Deb served as a Founding Director of the Leading Spas of Canada Association. Locally, she served as an Honorary Director of the Moose Jaw Performing Arts and Cultural Centre and on numerous boards and committees including the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Moose Jaw, Moose Jaw Prairie Arts Festival, Economic Development NFTC Transition Committee, the Mayor’s Task Force, Saskatchewan Air Show, Saskatchewan Women Entrepreneurs, Great Trails Get-Away Region, and the Moose Jaw Refinery.

Ray Penner -Tap Communications

Ray has served on numerous boards including the Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association, Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, and Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. He is past-president of the Saskatoon Club, Saskatoon Usadians Association, University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association, and former member of the U of S senate. He currently serves on the executive of the Saskatoon Downtown Partnership business improvement district, and as campaign director for Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation. He also guides new business development for Tap. But some days he’d rather be playing his accordion.

Michelle Nelson - Tap Communications

Michelle is in charge of daily operations, and leading Tap in its new direction. “I love starting something, and then having a great team make it better than I ever thought it could be,” she says. As an account planner, Michelle uses this approach in   campaign planning and creative development. She is passionate about team-building in the real sense, where systems and policies are meant to enable everyone at Tap to take initiative and do their very best work – and then be rewarded for their success. “It’s about building a place where talented people love coming to work every day,” says Michelle. “Do that, and the rest takes care of itself.” Michelle holds a marketing degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She is also president of the Saskatoon Chapter of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators).

Amy Stewart-Nunn - Tap Communications

Amy is the link between the client and the agency. She works with creative department to present concepts to clients, and ensures that objectives, budgets and deadlines are met. Amy excels at developing a rapport with her clients, (and she can do it in both official languages). Follow her for a day, and you will witness high-speed multi-tasking at its finest. It’s hard for Amy to pick out any three projects to include in her profile (doesn’t want to leave any clients out, you know), so we’ll point to the Saskatoon City Hospital 100th Anniversary campaign; the highly creative and highly-praised Rockin’ Royal Ball concept and campaign for Royal University Hospital (yes, that’s her in those band photos!); and her media relations work such as the    Juvenile Diabetes Telus Walk, in conjunction with Hill & Knowlton, Canada’s leading public relations firm. Amy holds a Journalism Arts diploma (SAIT) and a Communications Studies Degree (University of Calgary). Her background in journalism and with the Leukemia and Lyumphoma Society in Calgary has enhanced her ability to ask the right questions, interact with media, and make effective presentations.

Lorelei Nickel, BScOT, MBA, CCP - Strategist for Stun Collective:

Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Lorelei is an inspiring facilitator, consultant, speaker, and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Her professional path has taken her to the inner sanctums of health care, corrections, education, business, and industry. Throughout her career she has developed a reputation for her engaging leadership style, her creative approaches to solution-finding, and her innate ability to hear what isn’t said, say what hasn’t been spoken, and see what does not yet exist.

Currently, Lorelei is a strategist with Stun - a collective of creative professionals who specialize in strategy, marketing, communications, and design (www.StunCollective.com). Her passion is the pursuit of exceptional results through the use of strategic design to challenge status quo thinking, foster creativity, enhance collaboration, and optimize outcomes.