Who We Are

Todd Halpern is self employed. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and Vice-Chair for UHN. 

Danielle Chretien is a former GIS and remote specialist for Space Imaging, and a former GIS consultant for American Ref-Fuel. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer event coordinator for Standing Ovation.

Andrew is the global Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, leading crisis communications, corporate messaging, and executive media relations. Andrew was previously a consultant at the communications firm Navigator and served in communications roles at the federal and provincial government. Andrew sits on the communications committee of the Board of Directors for Wellspring, a national cancer care organization, and is also a long-time volunteer at Casey House, Canada’s first stand-alone hospital for people with HIV/AIDS. 

Jesse Hamilton is a general Manager at Deerhurst Resort, and a formal general Manager for East Winds Saint Luca. Jesse’s community involvement includes serving as Vice-Chair for the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association. 

Catherine Kirkpatrick is a partner at Alphabet, and a member for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Ontario. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for Algonquin College. 

Sumeeta Kohli is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Glocal Marketing, and an Owner and Operator for Z-teca Mexican Eatery. Her community involvement includes serving as a Chairperson for Panorama India.

Dennis Matthews is the President of Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio in Toronto. Dennis leads a team that works with major leaders, brands and causes to tell their story and move public opinion. He was an advertising advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a veteran of numerous political campaigns, and remains a frequent media commentator on advertising, digital and political issues. He was recently recognized as an Adweek Magazine Toronto Brand Star and is a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Michael Garron Hospital. Dennis is also a partner at Enterprise Canada, a national strategic communication firm.

Lauren McDonald is the Director of Digital + Campaign Strategy at Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio. She is a former Director of Marketing for the Office of the Premier of Ontario.

Jerry Pribil owns and operates Marienbad Restaurant and Chaucer’s Pub in London, ON. He obtained his MBA at the Universidad Europea in Madrid. Jerry has international executive management experience in hospitality and tourism industry and as a university professor in the United States and Europe, teaching strategic management in hospitality & tourism.

Benjamin Purkiss is a Founding Partner of Pendulum Group, a boutique communications firm with a focus on media, design and analysis. He is an award-winning Creative Director with experience in both the public and private sectors within Canada and the United States working alongside global corporations and leaders.

Dr. Jasveen Rattan is a consultant who is passionate about helping her clients create responsible initiatives and sustainable solutions for their organizations. She has consulted on community projects, and presented at conferences, in Canada, USA, Grenada, England, Thailand, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Australia. Jasveen’s experiences and educational background is diverse and expands across all sectors, it includes: a Diploma in Hospitality Management (Humber College), a Bachelor of Applied Management in Hospitality and Tourism (University of New Brunswick Saint John), a Master of Arts in Tourism Policy and Planning, and a PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies (University of Waterloo).

Lacey is the Coordinator of Meetings, Conventions and Sports Tourism for The City of Timmins. Her community involvement includes an Auxiliary Constable for the Timmins Police Service, a long serving board member of the Timmins Rock Junior A Hockey Club as well as a level 3 hockey trainer for various teams. 

Rob Taylor has vast travel and tourism industry experience ranging from event operator, industry advocate, consultant, and ministerial advisor. As the former VP of Public Affairs and interim CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Rob worked closely with Destination Canada on the management of RendezVous Canada, Tourism Town Halls, GoMedia, and TIAC conferences.