Brad Simpson

I have a passion for business and have been blessed over the past twenty years to have had this pursuit nourished with exposure to a lot of different businesses. Being a part of a team mandated with the execution of investment policies for assets worth over $100 billion dollars with RBC Global Asset Management enabled me to see thousands of companies and learn what works and what doesn’t.  As President of the asset management division of Wellington West I was able to participate in the early stages of building all aspects of a business that is now one of Canada’s leading independent investment companies. I have launched and continue to lead two thriving international growth companies.  I have studied companies from every conceivable angle and I have learned a thing or two. To be successful in business you must recognize opportunity, realize it, sell it, stand by it and never forget you are dealing with someone’s hard earned money and you have it as an act of trust. And lastly, be passionate about everything you do. 

Tarek Adam

The fact is I love writing software and seeing my work come alive inside a business. People say I am a workaholic, but I disagree. I don’t work. I enjoy creating. Why would I need to take a holiday from that? I build systems that put the business owner in the driver’s seat. I’ve never had much of a sales pitch, so my only hope is to demonstrate ROI either through new revenue streams, or new efficiencies. I’ve received numerous accolades for successes as an entrepreneur, but my real award happens after taking a real problem and designing a custom technology solution. As a solutions architect it is my task to ensure the goodness of fit between problem, solution and the client’s working environment.

John Kuehne

My favorite Brain Candy is getting my head inside a new business that satisfies real customer needs, or old businesses made fresh and profitable.  I’ve developed the ability to sweat the details of each individual tree, yet retained the vision to see the whole forest for what it really is.   In over 30 years in business I’ve had my head inside more business models than most people could ever dream about.  I’ve learned from great successes that I love applying to other businesses, and I’ve seen “defeat snatched from the jaws of victory”, promising myself to help others avoid that path.  I will tell it to you straight and together we will chart a course to success!  

Shon Taylor

It’s that moment when the brand you’re working on comes alive, when a client makes a sale by answering the phone, not dialing it. That’s what excites me. That’s when I know I have done my job.  Having built my own design business from the ground up, I bring a sense of creative know-how rarely found in an employee driven agency. Experience teaches what works on a website, what helps an ad pull, what makes a brochure get read and what makes a photograph jump off the screen. Experience provides a second level of intuition: ‘Yes, it looks good, but will it work?’ While I have a body of work across many industries, I believe I best connect with the high end consumer.  If you have a big ticket item you want to market, I will help you sell a lot of them.

Rod Grainger

Nearly 25 years ago, I met a guy from South Africa who had traveled the world with a Montblanc pen. He was a copywriter. I was a speechwriter for the Ontario government. Within a month, I too was a copywriter, at J Walter Thompson in Toronto, writing coupons and side panel copy. Soon though I was working on Labatt Blue, IBM and Champion Spark Plugs. Later, I moved to Montreal to work at Young & Rubicam. Then Ogilvy and Mather invited me overseas, and for 10 years I was a creative director in Africa, Europe and Asia. In 2002, I became the creative director at Malahat/DDB in Victoria. I’ve created big selling ideas for clients around the world. I write effectively in all media. I also produce and direct radio, TV and corporate videos. And I’m at your service. 

Hugh Ruthven

After eight years as Director of Marketing for McDonald’s Restaurants, and eight years as Managing Director of DDB’s Vancouver office, I can say, the most important thing I’ve learned is that we all need to fall in love with change. Change is what keeps us fresh and it’s what keeps our brands relevant. The creation of Bone is in response to clients needing change in how they work with creative people. Client partners need value and creative thinking in every step of their product or service journey. Creativity is my battery for life. Creativity in everything. Creativity in strategy. Creativity in primary research. Creativity in doing more with less. Making clients ask themselves questions about what they are really trying to do with their customers, and why their customers should care. I ask why a lot. That’s my value proposition. 

Jason Dauphinee

I remember clearly, at the age of 4, sitting for hours, watching my mom paint. I was fascinated by art and the emotions it evokes. Later, I would realize the power it wields as a communication tool. My career began learning the old school art of hand lettering billboards, paste-up typography and gold leaf signage. I honed my design and communication skills as a member of the creative team at Malahat Group, where I was responsible for production, design and art direction on a variety of major local and international clients. DDB Canada then asked me to join as senior art director on BC Ferries, Gateway Casinos and ARA Safety. Technology has taken art to new places. I’m ready now to apply it to everything from an elegant poster to an online social networking campaign, and offer it to you.