IABC Manitoba’s Board of Directors are professional communicators from diverse backgrounds, who are passionate about providing valuable professional development and networking opportunities for Manitoba communicators.
Our goal is to provide growth opportunities for current and aspiring Manitoba communications professionals, and to raise the profile of communications as a strategic leadership function.
We work collaboratively to deliver exceptional experiences for IABC members and volunteers, and to build relationships between IABC Manitoba and the broader professional community (including communications professionals, sponsors, and partners).
2022 – 2023 Board Members
Susie Erjavec Parker, President
Susie is an innovative and insightful marketing and communications professional. As the owner of SPARKER Strategy Group, she’s a trailblazer in the social media space, and is dedicated to working with Canadian businesses and spearheading community initiatives like the #saveMBrestaurants campaign.
You will likely recognize her from various media segments where she shares astute commentary on the current and future state of social media, PR fails, and parenting in the digital age. She also consults on public relations, marketing trends, and the intersection of consumer behaviour. Susie has 20 years of experience in marketing and communications and taught the first digital marketing course at the University of Winnipeg’s PACE program—a full circle moment, as she graduated from the program too.
Susie is also a board member of SERC (Sexual Education Resource Centre) and is a passionate advocate for inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. She blogged at winnipegmom.ca connecting Winnipeg parents to local resources and events. Her recent work there focused on a feminist approach to parenting, as well as advocating for sex education in schools to promote healthy conversations about consent and relationships.
She has proudly served as IABC Manitoba’s professional development chair (2002-2005), marketing chair (2018), and as a member of the original Dare to Lead organizing committee (2002).
Jackie de Pape Hornick, SCMP, Past-President
Jackie De Pape Hornick, SCMP is a seasoned communications professional with 20 years of experience in Corporate Communications in the financial services industry. She is currently Director of Corporate Communications & Community Impact at Wawanesa Insurance.
Jackie chose to become involved with IABC, as she is passionate about continuing the evolution of the communications function, about learning best practices from her fellow senior communicators in Manitoba and about supporting new communicators joining the field.
Jackie has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Winnipeg and a Creative Communications diploma from Red River College.
Jackie also earned the Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) designation from the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC).
Rob Wozny, SCMP, Senior Advisor
Joining the IABC Manitoba Chapter in a new board role, Senior Advisor, is Rob Wozny, a senior communications, content, and public affairs specialist. Most recently, Rob served as True North Sports + Entertainment’s Vice-President of Communications & Content, a position he held for five years.
Prior to joining True North, Rob was the managing partner of a Winnipeg-based communications firm that worked with a number of international, national and regional clients. In this role, he provided leadership and hands-on support in the areas of public relations, content marketing campaigns, and crisis communications for a cross-section of non-profit, government and corporate sector organizations. Leveraging this experience with 10+ years as a senior television news anchor, supervising producer, and journalist at leading news outlets across Canada, Rob has also taught public relations and content marketing university courses.
Rob has a degree in rhetoric, writing and communications from the University of Winnipeg. He has also earned a diploma in public relations and a certificate in management from the University of Winnipeg’s PACE program. Additionally, Rob has earned the Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) designation from the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC).
As a Senior Advisor to the IABC Manitoba Chapter, Rob joins the board as a non-voting director, and is excited to work with a talented team of communicators to further advance our profession.
Jillian Hambley, CPA, Director of Finance
Jillian Hambley is an Assistant Manager in Deloitte’s Audit and Assurance practice. Jillian archived her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba in 2019 and holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Jillian has over 4 years of experience in public accounting including work in various accounting and reporting frameworks such as ASPNO, project management, and corporate taxation.
Jillian became involved with IABC Manitoba because of her passion for helping organizations develop financial systems. In her spare time, Jillian enjoys cooking and listening to true-crime podcasts.
Nicole Boulette, Director of Administration
Nicole Boulette is a highly organized and proficient Executive Assistant & Communication Coordinator with experience in financial planning, legal and education. She is currently Senior Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/CEO of Pembina Trails School Division.
Nicole enjoys learning new programs as she advances her career. She has experience in marketing, content management, HTML email development, project management, media monitoring, social media and digital signage.
Kelly Thibodeau, Director of Marketing and Communications
Kelly is a consultant, trainer and speaker who’s been making online marketing make sense for organizations, nonprofits and industry groups for over 25 years. She’s the founder of Squarely Social and is a keynote speaker, featured on podcasts and a university instructor.
Kelly brings a unique perspective to her work through her belief that all digital experiences are social and that when organizations get their people talking, that’s when the magic happens. She guides organizations in engagement and messaging strategy while advising on how to build sustainable teams, policies and practices, grounded in metrics that drive businesses forward.
Kelly’s work helps organizational leaders think differently.
She believes that people want to engage with companies that show the relationship means as much as the transaction and that curiosity, empathy and integrity make you stand out in today’s marketplace.
Antonietta Versace Oliveira, Director of Career Development
Antonietta Versace is an experienced communications professional with nearly two decades of honing her skills in public relations, corporate communications, and community and employee engagement. She currently provides leadership in the planning, development and evaluation of all strategic communications efforts in support of the key business goals of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.
Antonietta is a natural story-teller who has a passion for influencing and connecting with diverse audiences. Her highly energetic and positive approach has resulted in her ability to build effective relationships with clients all while identifying their needs and providing them with real solutions through the power of communications.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Creative Communications diploma from Red River College, Antonietta believes in the importance of lifelong learning. She is excited to join the IABC’s Board of Directors as the Director of Career Development and is eager to connect and grow with other like-minded communications professionals, both locally and globally.
Sam Swanson, Director of Leadership Development
Sam Swanson is a Winnipeg-based writer, researcher and business developer, experienced in marketing and public relations within various sectors, including education, healthcare, science, technology and culture. Sam is the founder and CEO of Compound Connect, a clean-tech company that improves the tools and technologies used in environmental research and recycling processes.
Riley Malinowski, Director of Professional Development
After graduating from Red River College’s Creative Communications program with a specialization in Public Relations & Communication Management in June, Riley’s looking ahead to the future and is preparing to “actually become a real adult.” The first order of business is finishing off his communications degree at the University of Winnipeg. Once that’s out of the way, Riley wants to see the world before entering the communications workforce and settling into a stable career.
In his free time, Riley enjoys reading, sleeping, playing video games, listening to Supertramp (and other ‘70s and ‘80s bands), riding his bike and making memories with friends. He loves sunshine, Batman, The Cars, films with Michael Keaton or Bill Murray, Looney Tunes, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, kettle cooked Mesquite BBQ chips, urban legends, neon signs, chocolate milk, and the smell (and taste) of banana bread. He’s also a huge hockey nut and will argue tirelessly with you about it. Don’t even get him started.
He dreams of visiting New York City, owning a Corvette, and eating beef jerky. Lots and lots of beef jerky. He also thinks it would be batty to not give a shout out to his mother’s baking page, so check out @pieceofcake2019 on Instagram, please.
Amanda Camara, Director of Membership and Networking
Amanda has an extensive background in marketing and communications. She has executed integrated strategies and campaigns across a multitude of industries, including the education, home building, insurance, travel, and advertising industry. Some notable achievements within her career include leading Western Canada’s largest golf tournament and the Greater Vancouver Parade of Homes, managing crisis communications for organizations, marketing a marketing agency, creating an ad campaign featuring huskies, and writing for Western Living Magazine.
Amanda specializes in:
- Communications & PR
- Crisis Communications
- Advertising Campaigns
- Brand Strategy & Management
- Event Planning
Amanda believes that above all else – it’s always about the customer:
“It’s about marketing to the right person, communicating with them at each stage of the purchasing journey and using data to guide the way.”
Amanda currently works with Calm Air as Multimedia & Brand Manager and sits on the Board of Directors for Dress for Success Winnipeg and the South Winnipeg Family Information Centre.
Open Board Positions
We are currently seeking a Vice-President to lead our board of directors, find more details here.
TOP 5 REASONS TO JOIN IABC MANITOBA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Shape the professional development opportunities that are offered to you – Virtual events, workshops, accreditation: What would you like offered in Manitoba? Make your opinion count by being at the table when programming is planned.
- Boost your public profile – How well known are you in the communications industry? Your profile will increase as a board member, which can help when job seeking or hiring.
- Gain an international perspective – Create relationships with communicators in Manitoba, across Canada and internationally.
- Fuel your passion as a communicator – When’s the last time you shared your communications talent outside of your employer or communicated about a different subject matter? Restore your love for communications in communications tactics like our social media channels or member emails.
- Volunteer alongside a talented, fun group of professionals who are all committed to offering Manitoba communicators networking and professional development.
If you are interested in a board leadership position, email a link to your LinkedIn profile or resume to iabc.manitoba@gmail.com
Review IABC Manitoba’s Bylaws.