Meet our Board of Directors for 2009-2010

Ange Frymire, APR, MBA
President

Ange Frymire brings over 29 years of experience to CRPS. 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.

Marion Grau, APR
Past President

Marion has been practicing communications and PR in the private and not-for profit sector for 20 years. In April 2009, Marion joined the Victoria Foundation as Provincial Funds Manager. She also maintains her own business, Legato PR and enjoys the diversity that comes with consulting. Legato PR provides a range of communications services to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Marion obtained her APR in 2006, has a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations Management from Royal Roads University, and a BA in Political Science from University of Winnipeg. She is fluent in French and her native German and studies Spanish.

A CPRS member since 2003 and a member of the board of directors of CPRS-Vancouver Island since 2006, Marion strongly believes in the society’s mission and values. “These are exciting times in the PR industry. Being active with CPRS and CPRS-VI has been a constant source of learning, inspiration and food for thought. I highly recommend getting involved with the society!”

Dave Traynor
Treasurer

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.

Karla Sandwith, APR, BSc(Agr)
Accreditation Chair

Karla is a communications and marketing strategist in the Community Relations department at Camosun College, where she has worked since 2005. Karla’s 20-year career in local farming and active volunteerism in public education and 4-H youth development introduced her to the world of community relations, helping her gain insight into the role that clear, ethical communications plays in earning the respect and approval of a variety of publics. She augmented her UBC degree in Agricultural Sciences by completing UVic’s Certificate in PR program in 2002, and attaining her APR (accredited in public relations) in 2006. Karla previously served a two-year term on the board as events chair and is currently the APR chair, liaising with the National board and our local chapter on all things APR. She encourages communicators to pursue this prestigious professional credential and welcomes all enquires about the APR.


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.


Sarah Milner, MBA
Communications Chair

Originally from Toronto, Sarah moved to Victoria close to 10 years ago to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from the University of Victoria. Through a practicum with the Greater Victoria YM-YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards as their Chair of Marketing, Sarah launched her career in PR, which she further enhanced through the completion of the Public Relations Certificate Program at the University of Victoria. Sarah’s six years in PR have spanned the gamut of not-for-profit, private, government and consulting work in the industries of human resources, educational technology, transportation and tourism. Deciding to take her experience and love of continuous learning to the next level, Sarah recently completed an MBA in Executive Management through Royal Roads University. With a passion for communication, collaboration and relationship building, Sarah thrives in a team environment and greatly looks forward to contributing in the coming years to the awareness and success of CPRS Vancouver Island!

David Alexander
Education Chair

David Alexander has 10 years experience in communication and marketing with organizations such as a the University of Victoria and most recently as Communication and Privacy Manager at the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Canada’s 9th largest library system. As well as practical communications experience, David has a Masters degree in Applied Communication from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Major in Pacific and Asian Studies and Economics from the University of Victoria.

David is entrepreneurial and currently is CEO of a technology company, Zero One Design, which works primarily with museums, galleries, governments and first nations groups to create virtual exhibitions and develop software. This company is in its12th year with six employees and works with organizations and governments across Canada.

David has experience working with boards both as a staff member and as a board member. He advised a board of 37 elected politicians on communications issues with the Vancouver Island Regional Library, acted as a board chair with the LifeCycles Project Society and is currently a director with the Vancouver Island chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society and Intrepid Theatre and a member of the Royal BC Museum Fundraising Committee.

Sarah Head
Events Chair

Sarah Head is new to the Island and is currently the Public Relations Manager for Consumer Protection BC. She previously worked in the high tech industry in Vancouver. Over the past three years she has achieved a variety of communications experience including strategic communication plan writing, media relations, marketing communications, and event management experience specializing in larger scale tradeshows. Sarah has been the recipient of two employee appreciation awards. Sarah plans to bring not only her experience to the CPRS-VI board, but also her high energy, passion for creating new relationships and desire to learn from communications experts on the 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 master’s 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.

Shannon Drew-Burrows
Professional Development Chair

Shannon Drew-Burrows joined the Victoria Foundation in 2006 as the Director of Communications. Working closely with the Foundation CEO, she is responsible for communications and public relations strategies, including media relations, issues management and communications planning. Prior to joining the Foundation, Drew-Burrows was the Manager, Community Investment with BC Ferries in Victoria and is the former Sponsorship and Promotions Manager for CTV affiliate CFCN in Calgary, Alberta.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Drew-Burrows currently sits on the University of Victoria Certificate Program in Public Relations Steering Committee and Community Foundations of Canada’s National Communications Action Team. Her other volunteer work has included the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Calgary, Special Olympics Calgary and KidSport BC.