Deb has been writing and producing television commercials, corporate videos and television programs for more than 20 years. From multi-media interactive to 21-hour Telethons, Deb’s production portfolio continues to grow as technology changes.
Deb was a writer at Palmer Jarvis / DDB Advertising and, for the past 12 years, has been a writer / producer with a loyal client base.
Deb is also the winner of three Television Bureau of Canada Awards (for commercial production) and two BC Association of Broadcaster Awards.
Rich is an award winning professional photographer based in Vancouver, BC. With more than 15 years’ experience, Rich specializes in sports, editorial and corporate photography.
Rich freelances for such clients as Getty Images, The Canadian Press, USA Today, Russell Peters and a variety of magazines, daily newspapers and corporate clients. His images have appeared worldwide.
When working with clients, Rich is known for his ability to understand his client’s message and present it in a photograph. He is quick to adapt to the changing surroundings and document what is happening around him. Whether it is a riot, a championship game or a wedding, his images tell a story.
Rich has also worked at the Vancouver, London and Sochi Olympic games as a Venue Photo Manager, organizing logistics and aiding the photographers covering the games.
Jonathan is a photographer who has over 20 years’ experience shooting commercial, fashion and lifestyle photography.
His clients include Panago Pizza, Warner Music, BMG, CBC, QLT, Peter Wall and Bob Rennie.
Some of his recent works include the VFD Celebrity Cookbook for which he captured the likes of Jamie Oliver, Colin James, Kristen Kreuk, Trevor Linden and Michael Bublé.
Gabriel is a videographer. His skillset includes directing, cinematography, producing, writing and editing content.
As an award winning director and cinematographer, Gabriel is currently producing a satirical political TV series, a feature film titled “Seasons”, and a documentary following the lives of world music artists Kamran and Hooman.
Other clients include Lamborghini, Kiewit Flatiron, Hastings Race Park, Vancity and Rize Alliance.
He received his diploma in film studies from Capilano University, and obtained his diploma in Broadcast Media Communications from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
Gabriel is also a part-time studies instructor at BCIT.
Specialization
Media training, media relations, issues and crisis communications, video production
Career background
Newspaper and TV reporter for 30 years, followed by 18 years in PR
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English from York University
Volunteer experience
Director and Chair of the Communications Committee for the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast B.C.
If you wrote an autobiography, what would you call it?
I didn’t do it all but I sure tried
Furthest flung city you’ve lived in?
Toronto
Favourite part of Peak life
The team attitude that delivers amazing results
Career highlights
Starting Peak with my two co-partners and winning the PR Daily Award for crisis management
PR role model and why
The late Tom Butler was a master of the PR stunt. He once organized a tourism promotion tour through California with a beaver from the Stanley Park Zoo. It created front-page headlines across the state, and I covered it for Global TV at the time
Favourite B.C. pastime
Restoring classic cars, and writing about them too
Favourite social media site
I keep in touch with friends and relations through Facebook
Secret talent
If people can make it, I can fix it!
Specialization
Writing of all kinds—speech writing, magazine writing, web writing, script writing, report writing; communications planning; teaching writing techniques
Sector experience
The Arts, Education, Health, and Accounting
Career background
Reporter with The Vancouver Sun, 35 years working in communications, for organizations as varied as The University of BC, the Knowledge Network, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, The Arthritis Society, the Vancouver Writers Fest and, of course, Peak Communicators
Education
Master of Arts in English Literature, UBC; journalism training, Carleton University; adult education training, VCC
Volunteer experience
Nine years serving on the Board of the Vancouver chapter of The Canadian Public Relations Society, including two years as President; giving personal writing workshops
Furthest flung city you’ve lived in?
Does living for a week in Barcelona count? What about living for six weeks in a little Mexican village where the fishers sell their catch on the beach every morning? I’m a Vancouver girl—born and raised—a rarity, I know.
Favourite B.C. pastime?
Hiking and snowshoeing
Languages
English, of course, French and I’m learning Spanish
Secret talent
I make the world’s best hummus, so I’ve been told by two different, very reliable sources.
Specialization
Crisis communications, strategic consulting, media training and campaign management
Sector experience
Oil and gas, energy and utilities, mining, retail, automotive, real estate, environmental and hospitality
Education
Diploma of Applied Arts in Broadcast Journalism (SAIT), B.A. History (University of Calgary)
Volunteer experience
Numerous not for profits including UNICEF, Dragon Boat Foundation, HKCBA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, Boy Scouts of Canada, Royal Alberta United Services Institute, politics and campaigns
If you were going to write an autobiography, what would it be called?
Tell Me More
Furthest flung city you’ve lived in?
Lethbridge, Alberta
Favourite part of Peak life
Working with great people on great projects.
Career highlight
Documentary production in remote exotic locations including India, China and the NWT
PR role model and why
Peter Lougheed – He was a great leader and campaigner.
Favourite social media site
YouTube
Languages
English, a little French, Spanish, Hebrew, and Yiddish
Secret talents
Remembering lyrics from obscure songs
Random fact
Ate Muktuk with Inuvialuit trappers north of Tuktoyuktuk NWT
Career background
Television producer/director, publisher and writer. A founding partner of Peak in 2003
Education
BA in Communications and MPub (Publishing)
Furthest flung place you’ve lived?
Terrace, B.C., while working in TV at the Tall Totem Network
Favourite part of Peak life
Ringing the bell to welcome a new client to our team, and recognizing our employee of the month with the Peak Communicators Award
Career highlight
In the early PR years, getting paid on a “pay-per-hit” basis. I had a $28,000 month with one client
PR role model and why
Jim Walsh, owner of Walsh PR in Dublin for close to 40 years. He’s a quiet, humble guy who is an effective leader and always in the bar for last call
Favourite BC pastime
Hockey. Playing and/or watching it
Languages
Rough French
Secret talent
Painting (on canvas)
Random fact
In college I heard I would probably work in seven different jobs within my career. I didn’t see it at the time, but it came to pass
Specialization
Crisis management, media training, media relations and being a media spokesperson.
Sector experience
Mining, manufacturing, real estate, education, not-for-profit, tourism and recreation, small business, associations, government (Premier’s office).
Career background
Thirty years in radio and TV. Press secretary to Premier Christy Clark.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce from UBC.
If you were going to write an autobiography, what would it be called?
On Your Side.
Favourite part of Peak life
The excitement of getting a positive story in the news through the efforts of everyone on the team.
Career highlight
Creating my own brand in TV, ‘Olsen on Your Side,’ and helping thousands of consumers make better decisions in their lives.
Favourite B.C. pastime
Boating on Okanagan Lake.
Random fact
Originally I was a play-by-play sports broadcaster and rock-and-roll disc jockey, and was with the group at UBC which gave CiTR 101.9 FM (student radio) its name.