Chris Neary

Founder + Marketing Strategist

Chris Neary began his career in London at Omnicom owned AGENCY.COM, a full service interactive advertising agency. Chris became a Creative Director on brands like Intel, FoxTV, Endemol, Colgate, and Compaq focusing on early adopters of internet and mobile advertising and commerce. It was here that Chris won the award for ‘Best use of Mobile Digital Channels’ from Marketing Magazine for his work on Big Brother2. Chris then founded Clear Consultants, delivering creative marketing strategies for clients like Formula 1 Racing.

Chris moved to Canada in 2002 to assume the position of Marketing Strategist for TELUS. Chris managed key accounts like the Canucks, GlaxoSmithKline, Tourism Vancouver, BC lotteries, BC Government and Best Buy. Before starting FRANK Advertising, Chris was the Director of Marketing Communications for TELUS, managing their $30m budget. Chris was responsible for driving the consumer marketing strategy, brand management, and advertising agency performance to reach targets in excess of $2bn.

Chris holds a Degree in Design and holds a diploma in Contemporary Art. He plays the guitar badly and is worse at singing.

Bryan Mitten

Interactive Media Strategist

Bryan Mitten has been developing and implementing strategic Internet marketing plans since 2000, working with major brands like Intuit, Fountain Tire, Intrawest, GlaxoSmithKline and General Motors. Bryan served as Senior Digital Marketing Strategist with TELUS before he switched to a very different company and industry by joining LUSH Cosmetics, first as Internet Marketing Manager and then as North American Marketing Manager.

Before jumping into the online world, Bryan held positions in media and promotional marketing agencies, servicing clients such as Safeway, Volkswagen, and Shell. He currently provides consulting services with a focus on the integration of digital marketing with traditional channels.

Bryan is a former board member of the International Internet Marketing Association, has been a featured speaker at industry events and educational programs, and has been recognized with Lotus Awards, a Media Innovation Award, and a Digital Marketing Award.

Grant Fraggalosch

Writer + Creative Director + Producer

Grant is an award-winning creative director and writer who has worked on high profile brands such as Ford, Duracell, General Motors, Cathay Pacific and Rogers, and at such recognized agencies as MacLaren McCann, Young & Rubicam, and Rethink Advertising. In so doing, he has developed a keen ability to connect with audiences in innovative, engaging and compelling ways.

Today, Grant offers clients a level of expertise typically found only in large agencies, while being committed to delivering personal service and producing work of the highest standards and values.

Recently, Grant turned his creative instincts towards television, creating and producing the hit series “Peak Season” for CTV and MTV Networks.

Eric Brooke

Marketing Strategist

Eric has worked in marketing & communications for 17 years, in private and public corporations, non-profit and government sectors in both Europe and North America. In addition to leading divisions responsible for delivering core marcoms strategy and execution, Eric has also been responsible for advertising (traditional & digital), employee communications, corporate communications, market research, information systems, information technology, product development, fundraising, branding, public relations, CRM, public affairs and campaigns (political elections & non-profit).

This diversity of experience affords Eric a full understanding of the links between marketing practices, and has facilitated his success in turning companies into marketing orientated entities. Eric was headhunted to Canada by Angus Reid and became the VP of Marketing for Angus Reid Strategies and Vision Critical.

Eric holds a degree in Computer Science and is accredited in Project Management and Training. Eric loves books (owns over 3000) and cooking.

Tony Nichols

Copywriter

Tony Nichols is an award-winning copywriter, creative director and trumpet player. Tony has been moving words around professionally for over 10 years, both as a freelance consultant and for top agencies like DDB, Cossette, Blast Radius, and TBWA. His portfolio includes work for companies such as the Yellow Pages, Nike, TELUS, Boston
Pizza, Unilever, the CBC, and everybody’s favourite food: Kraft Dinner.

Tony’s work has been recognized by the Digital Marketing Awards, the One Show, and Communication Arts, but the award he brags about the most is being named one of Canada’s top copywriters in Strategy Magazine’s Creative Report Card. His favourite colour is orange.

Katie Reiach

PR Strategist

With a background in broadcast journalism, Katie Reiach made the transition into the world of Public Relations in the late 1990’s, where she soon discovered her passion for bringing stories of substance to the attention of the media.

Most recently, Katie designed and implemented the systems and approach that took junk removal service 1-800-GOT-JUNK (a marketing award winning company) from a place of sporadic media coverage to a level of unprecedented attention and growth. Katie was responsible for such high profile features as: Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The View, CBS Early Show, The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, CNN and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.

Katie is the Founder of The Smart Cookies Money Club – a women’s financial network with a TV show on the W network. In February 2007 Katie was featured in a seven-minute segment with the world’s most notable media personality- Oprah Winfrey

Ken Kwasnicki

Senior Developer

Ken Kwasnicki is a senior internet programmer, software developer and technology consultant with 15 years of professional experience. He has built technology solutions for large corporations, one-person start-ups, banks, scientists and professional hockey teams. Ken was a partner and lead developer in Columbus Group Communications, one of Vancouver’s prominent website development companies from 1995 to 2001, and then a senior developer for TELUS following their acquisition, before moving on to freelance software development in 2003.

Ken works collaboratively with other technology experts but also enjoys helping entrepreneurs and other professionals use technology to achieve their goals. He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of British Columbia.

Ken has a Fish Highway.

Victoria Newitt

Marketing Strategist

Victoria began her marketing career for a large tour operator in the UK before moving into CPG and working for Kellogg. She worked in Consumer Promotions, Brand Management and Innovation. After travelling around the world for a year she returned to the UK and spent 3 years consulting for food brands such as Typhoo Tea and Princes Foods. Victoria has worked across all areas of the marketing mix.

Victoria moved to Vancouver with her family in May 2007. Since then she has consulted for: So Good and So Nice, Happy Planet, Natures Path Foods, Canadian Select, Freybe Gourmet Foods and Bobo Baby. She also launched Happy Planet Shots

Victoria is passionate about the food business. Originating product ideas, developing the concept, then creating and activating the marketing plan is what she loves the most. In her spare time Victoria enjoys eating great food, experiencing Vancouver, oh and running/stepping/dancing off all of that lovely food.

Dan Biggs

Analytics + Search Engine Optimization + Social Media

Dan Biggs has been marketing and building websites for over 10 years. His portfolio includes work for 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Vancouver School Board, WHSmith PLC, BCLC, Tribal/DDB, TBWA and the University of Victoria.

Dan’s expertise is in the development and implementation of websites and online marketing campaigns with a focus on social media but also has extensive experience in a wide range of web marketing disciplines including paid search, email and affiliates. In 2009, Dan has designed and engineered multiple social media applications for custom and existing platforms.

As a member of the Usability Professionals Association, Dan has the rare ability to couple a deep understanding of business needs and user experience best practices with highly creative, sticky and persuasive interface design.

When Dan isn’t working, he can usually be found producing electronic music. Apparently, he has quite a following in Finland.

Grant Proulx

Creative Director

Grant offers clients a rare combination of raw creativity and clear strategic thinking. He has been Senior Copywriter at venerable global advertising agencies like Publicis and MacLaren McCann, and has freelanced for the likes of TAXI, DDB Canada & Rethink. He has worked on a horde of national and local clients and of has been an integral part of some major brand building efforts, most notably Granville Island Brewing and the re-branding of Rogers Plus. He has also helped countless startups create a unique brand identity.

Grant was trained in the ways of this crazy business at the famed Miami Ad School. His work has been recognized numerous times by Applied Arts Magazine’s Advertising Annual, Communication Arts’ Online Exhibit and the British Columbia Lotus Awards. He also knows more famous movie quotes than all of his friends put together.

Kate Trgovac

Interactive Marketing + Social Media Strategist

Kate Trgovac started her digital marketing career when plain text email was the marketing tool of choice. Over the last 18 years, she’s had several clients including Nike, Molson, Nabisco, Procter and Gamble, Petro-Canada, Maple Leaf Foods, CAA, ICBC and Suncor Energy. In addition to stirring up trouble (and winning awards) for clients, Kate has been a part-time lecturer in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies and has served on the Advertiser’s Council of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada. She is a leading authority on social media and is often quoted in mainstream media.

Kate was named a Top 10 Technology Blogger in Canada in 2008 by
ITWorld Canada. And was recently voted one of Canada’s Most Influential
Women in Social Media by Profectio.

Kate also writes extensively about Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop bags and regularly advises bag designers on both function and fashion as well as how to market their creations. In collaboration with Rainebrooke Designs, she has designed her own laptop bag, the Funchico.

Geoff Vreeken

Copywriter

Geoff Vreeken is a copywriter with dual Dutch/Canadian citizenship. That means he writes stuff that sells stuff in Vancouver, but can also write stuff that sells stuff in Europe. Beginning his career at Brandspank and Cossette working for clients including Fatburger, Ricky’s Restaurants and McDonald’s, Geoff knows more about mass-produced cheeseburgers than any one man should.

Geoff has parachuted in as a freelancer for all sorts of agencies including Industrial Brand, Smak, Mercer and Wax Partnership, working on brands including Nike, Shaw Cable, Amacon, Visa, Kiwi Collection and Vancouver Olympic Legacies. In 2009, Geoff founded www.homelesscopywriter.com, a one-man campaign fighting to bring awareness to Vancouver’s homeless street youth, and benefitting the Covenant House. Geoff also shares his saucy attitude with students at Vancouver Film School once a year.

Geoff likes beginning paragraphs with Geoff.

Talia Cohen

Graphic Designer

Talia graduated in 2008 with honors in Industrial Design and Brand Development from the Rhode Island School of Design [RISD] and Brown University School of Business Economics. After her educational stint, she worked with various companies such as Unilever, General Mills, and Nissan.

Her designs have been published internationally in GDR: Global Innovation Report based in the United Kingdom, viction:ary in Hong Kong, Experimenta in Spain, MEDIACRAT in Moscow, and more recently by Rockport in Canada.

Talia performs all her work while a 30 lbs Pug sits on her shoulders.

Paul Schembri

Art Director

Paul Schembri was formally trained in typography at the prestigious London College of printing and after being awarded a first, made his first creative steps into the magazine industry, but quickly moved into the newly developing area of online media. Paul served as senior designer and then art director at seminal companies such as Think Inc., Online Magic and Agency.com. Until recently he could be found providing art direction for traditional advertising and online agencies alike. Some of the more recent postings have been for the likes of Reuters, AKQA, and Saatchi and Saatchi.

Paul likes ice climbing and mountaineering and can be found dangling from ropes when he’s not at his desk.