Aaron Fish aka “Fish” spent 42 years developing, creating and producing multitudes of sports, music, entertainment properties and networks.
He has worked with a wide variety of industries and Fortune 500 brands such as BMW, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, Global Television, Rogers Communications, BC TEL, BC TEL Mobility, General Motors, Molson Brewery, Labatt’s Brewery, Visa, the Hyatt, Mastercard, RBC, CIBC, Hotels and Resorts, including, Four Seasons, Fairmont Hotels, and a multitude of others.
Fish began his career orchestrating hundreds of album launches, live concert productions, film releases and World Expo 86 sized special events, promotions, and distribution.
A few of his fondest memories include gigs and productions working along-side major recording labels and artists such as The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, U2, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Genesis, Eurythmics, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, The Police, and many others.
Ms. Jones has represented some of the highest level sports properties in her career, including 2010 Winter Olympic Games, PGA Tour’s Air Canada Championship, World Taekwondo Junior Games and the America’s Masters Games as well as other notable non-sports properties including Oprah’s Canadian Tour, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Canucks Autism Network, RE/MAX Canada, Ellen Degeneres Canadian Tour, City of Richmond and City of New Westminster. Deborah was also Founder and President of Sponsorship Central, a North American marketing and brand sponsorship agency. During the past 18 years Deborah led the successful sponsorship marketing firm to include Fortune 500 clients and major live and broadcast properties from a wide range of sectors including sports, entertainment, cause / non-profit, government and real estate. Prior to launching Sponsorship Central, Deborah held the position of VP Events and Marketing at Canada Place Corporation and produced the largest Canada Day celebrations on the west coast of Canada for six years. Deborah earned her Marketing Degree at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver.
As a successful business leader, the past 25 years have seen John responsible for award winning marketing strategies, developing and implementing unique and innovative customer-focused products and services, and thoroughly maximizing business opportunities. Among his achievements, John ran one of the most successful Rock and Roll radio stations in Western Canada. While there he created and hosted a nationally-syndicated artist interview program capturing the insights and inspirations of literally hundreds of musicians including AC/DC, Genesis, Police, Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Halen, and Frank Zappa, to name a few. Highlighting John’s strength in developing experiential marketing opportunities include partnerships with the PGA, Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps, IndyCar, Canadian Football League and many others. In a recent role at one of Canada’s leading transit agencies - serving more than 1.2 million customers daily - John brought together the partnerships for the concept, design and delivery of a ground breaking advertising platform valued at more than $300 million. His education background includes broadcast communications at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, business and communications at Simon Fraser University, and sales and marketing at the University of BC’s Sauder School of Business. As a community-minded individual, John also makes time to support local not-for-profit organizations and currently serves on a number of volunteer boards and committees supporting children, safety, and environmental perspectives.
Randy Koyanagi is the Chief Creative Officer at Accordios and is responsible for developing the company’s creative design strategy and brand visual identity. Randy brings 35 years of experience as an award-winning art director and designer. His diverse creative and technical background spans many disciplines including motion graphics, 3D animation, broadcast design, channel branding, marketing, commercial production, virtual set design, visual effects, production editing, on-set supervision and directing. Randy has produced work for many leading companies including Global Television, Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps, PGA Tour, Shaw Communications, Telus, Cadillac, Corus Entertainment, CFOX, Rock 101, CKNW, RBC, FortisBC, YVR and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. At Global News Randy designed on-air broadcast graphics packages, and re-branded Global National as well as all local BC news programming. He has also designed, managed and directed numerous industry award-winning marketing campaigns for broadcast, print, and digital. Randy also delivered the first Canadian virtual news set working with Full Mental Jacket. He was responsible for the overall show presentation and devised, implemented, and oversaw an innovative workflow process where a large design team produced dynamic show elements for each daily broadcast.
As Director of Business Development for SCAinteractive (Calgary, Canada), and Director of Interactive at SCA Promotions (Dallas, USA), Adam Ford possess valuable knowledge and experience in the digital marketing space, particularly in consumer motivation and engagement. From fantasy sports games to integrated interactive programs, Adam works closely with all stakeholders, including prospects, clients, third-party vendors, channel partners and the team at SCAinteractive to develop unique interactive programs that attract end-users and encourage action. Adam also manages clients of all sizes, from local mortgage brokerage firms to Fortune 500 companies. Clients he has managed include Conoco Philips, The Marketing Store, 7-11, Husky Energy, EMC, Rogers Communications, Bell Media, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Post Media, among others. Adam graduated top of his class from the Haskayne School of Business (University of Calgary), earning the Silver Medallion for highest distinction in the International Business discipline. Adam also holds a certificate in User Experience Design from Southern Methodist University (SMU), as well as in Sales Excellence and Social Marketing.
As the document and diary master James ensures that all of Accordios’s business processes are organized and managed correctly by consolidating information, data and content into white papers, structures and libraries. A senior business consultant and entrepreneur for 40 years, James’s professional history includes being a manager of 13 movie studios, a general manager of sales and marketing, as well as having expertise in accounting, contract creation and relationship management. James is also a professional public speaker.
Prior to joining Accordios, Nora Weber has been principal and founder of TerraCom, a marketing communications company. Her clients have included international environmental organizations and technology companies, tourism bureaus, passenger train companies, resorts and adventure outfitters, museums and universities. Nora is a skilled communicator with a global perspective and a solution orientation. She has worked for a non-governmental organization at the United Nations in New York, consulted with a German environmental technology company, and collaborated with a Dutch urban planning company that wanted to bring their unique talents to Canada, as well as transboundary environmental organizations. She has also worked in television as a researcher for a current affairs program, a production manager for an afternoon talk show and an assistant story editor for a television drama.
Sophie’s diverse professional background informs her role as Director of Project Management with Accordios. For over 25 years Sophie has held private and public sector management positions in operations, administration, marketing communications, change management (Lean), organizational development and leadership, the latter as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for a not-for-profit organization. Her values are grounded in people, culture and human resources, with expertise as a coach, counsellor, facilitator and as an instructor at the University of British Columbia. A design thinker, Sophie's favourite questions "why," "how," and "can we make this better" have been the driving forces in her work in project management, as well as in quantitative and qualitative research that has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Sophie has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (Honours) and Criminology from Simon Fraser University, and a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia.
Prior to her work at Accordios, Kelli made waves in senior-level positions at Fortune 100 entertainment and technology companies including EMI Music, Silicon Graphics (SGI), and Apple Inc., where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and entertainment, driving initiatives in that space during her 12 years with the company. Over the course of the last 25 years, Kelli has been fortunate to work and collaborate with many people that have been instrumental in defining their respective fields. Some have even become iconic. Steve Jobs, Mark Cuban, Sheryl Sandberg, Stewart Copeland, Nancy Duarte, Todd Rundgren, and Alan Cohen have been personal mentors, colleagues, or clients.
Geoff Ford graduated from The University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1977. He joined IBM Canada in 1978 and trained as a Systems Analyst. After spending a year with IBM Australia in 1981, he returned to Canada to join a Calgary software firm as a systems consultant. In 1985, Geoff began his own consulting firm, Spectrum Information Systems Inc which grew to 22 employees and became an IBM "Blue Ribbon Business Partner" in 1992. In 1986 Geoff co-founded SportsMark Inc. and is one of the key figures in the invention and spread of large scale fantasy sports programs. Sportsmark designed, developed and introduced the first large scale commercial sports contests to the North American public. After selling his interest in Spectrum Information Systems, Geoff dedicated his efforts full time to expanding the Sportsmark group of companies. Over the next 15 years, Geoff remained in the sports and entertainment industry, working at some time with virtually every major newspaper and major large corporations including Rogers Media, Bell Media, John Deere, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Gillette and Husky Oil, before selling his interest in Sportsmark in 1998 to ISN networks. In 2001, Geoff co-founded Blast Promotions/SCAinteractive and has served as President from inception until retiring in 2017. Geoff currently lives on Vancouver Island and serves as Corporate Director and Advisor for Blast/SCAinteractive.
Peter has worked in the Interactive Promotions space for over 25 years. His clients include many Fortune 500 companies, and his award-winning work has been experienced by millions of consumers. Peter loves to be involved in all aspects of the sales process including promotional strategy, customer interaction, and return on investment. Peter was a partner in SportsMark Promotions; one of the first companies to realize the database benefits of Fantasy Sports products. SportsMark went on to become the world's largest provider of interactive fantasy sports games. Peter and the SportsMark team joined forces with Dallas-based SCA Promotions, forming SCAinteractive. For the past decade Peter has been living in Dallas, Texas and overseeing SCAi’s growth in the USA.
Rob Moser, VP Operations and Partner of SCAinteractive, has a long history in interactive promotions and invaluable experience in delivering programs for companies and agencies of all sizes. He started with SportsMark Inc., the original provider of large-scale interactive sports promotions. Given his lifelong passion for sports of all kinds, it was an ideal fit. Having joined the company in its infancy, Mr. Moser was heavily involved in virtually every aspect of the company, from marketing and sales to strategic development and operations. Mr. Moser was responsible for overseeing the delivery of services for a client base of 100 of the leading daily newspapers across North America as well as numerous other clients in the corporate marketplace. In 2000, Rob and the partner group formed SCAinteractive with a focus on digital promotions. Rob now oversees the program development, management and operations for SCAinteractive's broad array of clients. Rob Moser is a graduate of The University of Lethbridge (Bachelor of Management).
Rahz Lavon oversees the creation of Accordios business documents, spanning from financial modeling to the communication of the vision. He also serves on the frontlines of our research department, performing analytics, logistics, and development. With a background in computer engineering and technical experience creating web, sales, and administrative infrastructure, Rahz received his BCom specializing in finance from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. He also pursued several other disciplines including operations management, communications, and commercial law.
Damien has been involved with intellectual property since 2000, when he managed a diverse portfolio of patents for a start-up. Over the years he has worked for small and large companies, both local and international, as well as for individual inventors. He helps clients identify and define their inventions, and walks them through the process of filing patent applications. Areas that he is familiar with include lighting, electronics, lasers, physics, engineering, cryogenics, alloys, optics and optical crystals, software-based systems, – and there are probably a few more that could be listed. He is often invited to brainstorming sessions, where he contributes ideas that lead to further patent applications. Damien has a Bachelor's and Doctorate in Physics from the University of Oxford.
Derek is the Managing Partner of The Data Jungle – a boutique insights-driven research and consultancy group focused on providing strategic market intelligence and consulting services to brands, agencies, and rightsholders that supports key business decisions. Derek has over 20 years of experience in the sports, entertainment and media industries. He has successfully managed hundreds of projects including ROI and economic impact assessments, sponsorship valuations, feasibility studies, and consumer & media research projects. Prior to launching The Data Jungle in 2014, Derek was the Senior Vice President in Canada at Repucom, a global leader in sports marketing research, where he worked with such clients as the Royal Bank of Canada, EA Sports, Tim Hortons, Hockey Canada, NFL, CFL, NBA, 2015 Pan American Games, Wasserman Media Group and MetLife Stadium to name a few. Before Repucom, Derek was the Managing Director of IMG’s sponsorship research & consultancy division (Comperio Research) for North America where he provided expertise to the likes of Red Bull, Samsung, Bank of America, New Balance, Scotiabank, NHL, IndyCar, Volkswagen, and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Ian is a founding Partner of Granville West Group, and had led a distinguished career in the Financial Services Industry over 28 years, servicing the Wealth Management and Financial Planning needs of his clients. Founded in 1982, Granville West is a consulting industry leader that expanded nationally through a series of four mergers, before merging in 2007 with Manulife Financial Corporation, one of the world's largest Insurance Companies. Ian began his working career as a professional athlete with the New York Yankees in 1961, and played four seasons in the Yankee organization (1961-1964) before returning to the University of British Columbia. While at UBC, he captained the Varsity Men's Basketball team and was named the Most Valuable Collegiate Player in Canada in 1967, before graduating with a degree in Economics in 1968. In November 1968, Ian served as Regional and National Sales Manager with Xerox of Canada, overseeing a dynamic period of growth. In 1979 Ian became Vice-President of Macaulay Nicholls & Maitland, a leading Western and International Real Estate full service broker, where he headed up the Residential Sales Division in Alberta and British Columbia, before co-founding the Granville West Group.
Respect and decency are key attributes of Roy White, who played for 15 straight seasons with the New York Yankees and achieved many milestones during his outstanding professional career. His success as a professional ballplayer serves as a testament to the power of dedication. Growing up poor in one of the tougher communities of Los Angeles, his aspiration to one-day play professional baseball was achieved through a rapacious desire to obtain knowledge and education, in order to present his best to the world. The Roy White Foundation provides financial assistance to young adults and children whose desire to further their education is inhibited by financial complications. It is our mission to help these individuals pursue their dreams and aspirations by easing the frustrating burden of monetary obligations.
Inducted on July 24, 2011 into the Hall of Fame, Pat Gillick has had a distinguished 27-year career as a major league baseball general Manager, and the second longest managerial career in the history of the Phillies franchise, where he guided the team to back-to-back NL Eastern Division Champions (2007-08), and the 2008 World Championship. Prior to being named GM of the Phillies on November 2, 2005, Pat held the same position with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-94), where he guided the team to five AL West titles, and two World Series championships. Between 2000-2003 he managed the Seattle Mariners to the best record in baseball, and a World Series championship, as well. In addition to their championships, his teams have won eleven conference or divisional titles, making him one of the most successful managers in the history of the sport.
Richard was called to the Bar in 1982. He has practiced in Vancouver, British Columbia in the areas of Real Estate, Wills and Estate Planning and Mortgage Law for over 25 years with a brief hiatus of five years in Toronto. During his time in Toronto he partnered with other industry experts to launch a publicly traded mortgage bank and was founding Chairman of one of the largest mortgage broker companies in Canada. Richard has been an active member of numerous community and professional groups and associations. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Arts Club Theatre Company.
Michael is the co-founder and co-president of Stage Ventures Inc. a leading producer of world-wide, live staged productions, including numerous Broadway, Vegas and touring shows. He began his career as a CPA who practiced Entertainment tax then moved on to become the Vice-President of Paragon Entertainment, a North American film and TV production company. In addition to live events, Michael has successfully financed over $125,000,000 of film and television productions.
Bobby Allen has had an extensive career that has covered many aspects of the live event/live entertainment world. His career started as a rigger and carpenter at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC, and led him to the many theatres and stages of New York City television shows like Saturday Night Live, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and ABC and NBC News shows. During this time he simultaneously installed and operated performances like classic and contemporary dance companies including Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and Paul Taylor and Broadway shows including On the waterfront, Lion King, Aida, and Phantom of the Opera and more. The next step on the career ladder landed Bobby at Madison Square Garden. He started there in 1994, and worked regularly at MSG until 2010, making lasting friendships and many relationships that remain to this day. During his time in NYC, Bobby became a member of NYC IATSE Local One stagehands. In 1995, Bobby took his first of many touring position with Luther Vandross as Head Rigger. This experience inspired him to open two of his own companies, RDA Entertainment Rigging Inc. and JAX Logistics Inc. In a very short time, Bobby assumed the roles of Staging Supervisor and Production Manager on international record-setting tours featuring artists like Andrea Bocelli, Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Usher, Maroon 5, Beck. In the past 10 years, Bobby has successfully transitioned between the world of touring, live events, festivals, sporting events, multi-act and multi-camera variety television shows, promotional marketing, large scale corporate activations and has even stepped into the political arena, as Staging Supervisor of Barack Obama’s Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech. Bobby joined Production Resource Group in June of 2011 as an Account Executive for the concert touring division, and is now Vice President of Global Accounts, operating out of the PRG San Fernando, CA office.
Frederick Warner Rhines (July 8, 1942 - October 6, 2016) In loving memory.
Fred is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and received his M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has over 25 years of advertising agency experience, which includes stints at Young & Rubicam, Marschalk, McCann-Erickson, and Publicis, the third largest international advertising agency in the world, and largest in France. His key clients have included Coca-Cola, Bristol-Myers, Revlon, L’Oreal, Lancome, and Fujitsu. Having worked for both major international advertising agencies and then launched a successful staffing service business in Fairfield County, Connecticut in 1995, Fred provides a unique and in-depth perspective of the advertising industry.
Well established Mexican-Canadian Artist Miriam Aroeste has been working in visual arts for over 25 years; she creates her art in Vancouver Canada, and in several inspiring locations within Mexico. Her wild curiosity and natural sense of adventure got her to travel study and live in many different counties. Always attracted to Art she studied Cinematography in Rome, Italy where she met Fellini, Antonioni, and many other established Visual Artists. Aroeste was initially captivated by sculpture and that is how she started her carrier in visual arts. Her fascination for painting came latter to stay; she graduated in Fine Arts at Emily Carr -Vancouver Canada. Her abstract themes explore a universal understanding that transcends gender, race or subject matter; it is deliberately inclusive and open. Her paintings are ultimately explorations of line, colour and gesture. The meditative quality of Aroeste’s work goes beyond any specific association, her abstract compositions invite to create a spiritual plane for the viewer to reflect and she hopes to achieve an emotional response, which is not conceptual, but something felt on a more instinctive level. Her work is intended to be viewed as one would listen to instrumental music, without feeling a need to attach a meaning or narrative. Miriam has exhibited in Canada, USA, France and Mexico and her work is collected locally and internationally by Corporate and private collectors.
Yoel’s passion and purpose is to make a difference for all humanity and be part of the AWE promise of digital dignity and giving back to cause and philanthropy.
He has a 40-year career in the fashion retail and merchandising industry and graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology New York City.
Most recently Yoel is owner and distributor at BICI E-Bikes Canada, an Italian made electric bicycle company located in Vancouver.
For 17 years he owned the successful FAB Premium Denim store in Vancouver, BC.
Prior to that he owned Poorboy Clothing Co., a private label design and manufacturing company for women’s contemporary clothing.
He was also a designer for the luxury global fashion brand, Elie Tahari in New York.
