Meet our Board of Directors for 2010-11

Dave Traynor
President

With nearly 30 years in the communications business, Dave brings a wealth of communications experience to the CPRS-VI Board. He has held senior positions with companies in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, in Regina, Ottawa and Toronto. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and has held various editorial and publisher roles in daily newspapers and magazines, rising to the senior executive level. Dave has worked at all levels of communications, from writing and editing copy for print and on-line through to developing complex communications campaigns and setting strategic directions for various companies and organizations. He is the owner of Dave Traynor Communications and is a Senior Associate with Acumen Communications. Dave specializes in helping people integrate today’s technology into their communications planning to make sure their messages reach the right audience. In addition to his work with CPRS-VI, Dave is a Board member with the Victoria Hospice Society and is the President of the Victoria Mac Users Group.

Ange Frymire, APR, MBA
Past President

Ange Frymire brings over 29 years of experience to CPRS. After seven years in the banking sector and seven years in media as promotions manager, broadcaster and reporter, she founded Vocal Point Communications in 1992, a boutique PR and marketing communications firm representing corporate, retail, not-for-profit, sports and A&E organizations throughout Western Canada. Specialties include public relations, media relations, strategic communications, marketing, event planning, issues management, sponsorship, community development, stakeholder engagement, project management and corporate social responsibility. She is a certified APR practitioner, has her MBA (Marketing) and is a graduate of BCIT Radio Communications and UBC Urban Land Economics. She teaches Public Relations, Media Relations, Marketing and Business Communications for leading BC post-secondary institutions, including BCIT in Metro Vancouver (lead instructor for PR and MR), the University of Victoria and Victoria’s Camosun College. A freelance journalist since 1989, her stories have been published in a number of print publications, including Vancouver Lifestyles Magazine, Georgia Straight, North Shore Voice and the Nelson Daily Times.


Erin Kelly
Treasurer

Erin Kelly has over 12 years of experience managing strategic marketing and communications, media and public relations events for the BC government as well as several high tech companies located here in Victoria and Toronto. Over the years, she has gained in-depth experience developing and implementing creative communications strategies, managing public policy issues and liaising with media to deliver time sensitive, highly scrutinized communication materials for print, TV, web and social media platforms. Erin holds a Combined Honours Degree in Political Science and English Literature from Huron College at the University of Western Ontario. She is also one course away from her Diploma in Public Relations at UVIC. This is her first year on the CPRS board.


Michelle May
Board Secretary

Fresh to public relations in Victoria, Michelle May moved from Alberta last year to pursue her career in PR and a Professional Communications Degree at Royal Roads University. Taking on the role of Secretary, Michelle’s accolades including being nominated for the Leaders of Tomorrow award in 2009, an annual Volunteer Lethbridge event. Three years ago, Michelle began her studies in PR while volunteering in a communications capacity for her college newspaper and magazine publication, not-for-profit organizations, local conferences and community events. Michelle looks forward to contributing to CPRS-VI while simultaneously growing within the public relations industry.


Vanessa Greebe, APR
Accreditation Chair

Vanessa has more than 15 years experience in matters pertaining to strategic communications. She has held senior positions within CPRS-VI and since 2007 has worked for the federal government as a Senior Communications Advisor in Quebec and now Victoria. In 2006 she was awarded the national CPRS Award of Excellence in the Community Relations category for her “Make an Impact” project with the Victoria Foundation. In 2007 Vanessa achieved her APR designation. A native of Alberta, Vanessa graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1992 with a Bachelors Degree in Communications. Since then she has worked in the post secondary education sector, high tech industry, non profit and now government sectors.


Sarah Milner, MBA
Communications Chair

Sarah's close to 10 years in public relations have spanned the gamut of not-for-profit, private, government and consulting work in the industries of health, human resources, high tech, transportation and tourism. She holds an MBA in Executive Management through Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria, and a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Victoria. With a passion for communication, collaboration and relationship-building, Sarah greatly looks forward to contributing to the awareness and success of CPRS-VI through her contributions as Communications Chair for the second year and Incoming President for 2011. Sarah is currently the Manager of Marketing and Communications for UNIT4 Business Software, a top mid-market enterprise resource planning (ERP) software company.



Vacant
Education Chair

This position is currently vacant.









Courtney Clarke
Events Chair

Courtney Clarke is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication Program at Royal Roads University. Before attending RRU, she pursued media generalist studies at Camosun College’s Applied Communication Program. Courtney’s interest in event planning has given her the opportunity to organize and promote a variety of local events including speed-dating, the Royal Roads University International Undergraduate Case Competition, and the 2011 Victoria Tea Festival. As the CPRS-VI Events Chair, Courtney is excited to bring together events and that will benefit members in their personal and professional growth as well as strengthen the public relations network on Vancouver Island.


Phil Saunders
Membership Chair

Phil Saunders has been a National CPRS member since 2005 and is in his second year as the membership chair for CPRS-VI. He made the transition from journalism to public relations in 2004 after more than a decade working in print, broadcast and online media, most recently working for CBC News in Regina and Toronto. Phil is a media relations officer and instructor at Royal Roads University. Over the past five years he has earned a solid reputation among local and national media as a reliable reactive and proactive communications professional. Phil has a Masters Degress in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario and this year is completing a graduate certificate in professional communication management at Royal Roads University. He hopes to earn his APR soon afterwards.


Gillian Crowley, ABC
Professional Development Chair

Gillian's biography will be added here soon.









Tera Nelson
Sponsorship Chair

Tera Nelson has over 11 years of experience in communications and government relations. In June 2006, she joined Partnerships BC as a Senior Communications Consultant providing strategic advice to clients to generate support and understanding for infrastructure projects that are delivered using the partnership model. Tera is involved with a variety of projects in the health sector and was a key member of the communications team for the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre—the first health partnership project in the province. Previously, Tera worked in the Office of the Premier as part of the issues management team, and for the Minister of Education where she was responsible for advising on the development and implementation of strategic communications plans, issues management, media relations, public policy development and stakeholder relations. Tera holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria. She is looking forward to contributing to the success of CPRS-VI.