Andy Maier has 16 years of experience in design and strategic brand development. In his Sponsorship role, Andy is eager to leverage the benefits of the local business community into value for the design community. His company, COURAGEOUSb, offers Brand Encouragement and Creative services to organizations that have the courage to make a social, environmental and community impact that goes beyond just financial returns. Andy has a 1989 Foundation Year Certificate from Emily Carr, and a 1992 Diploma from Capilano College’s Graphic Design & Illustration program where he was a Salazar Awards Finalist. Andy worked for many years with the BC Epilepsy Society pro-bono and he currently volunteers on the Hospitality & Restaurants Committee of BC Children's Hospital.

Born in Mexico City, Marga obtained a B.F.A in Graphic Design from the InterContinental University, with a focus on branding and corporate identity. Marga gained experience working at prestigious design firms in Mexico such as Signi and Landor, for companies such as Danone, Procter and Gamble, Grupo Modelo (Corona Beer), Cemex, Sony, Geo, American Express and Grupo Bachoco. Marga’s work has been recognized by the Mercomm ARC Awards and the NAIC Nicholson Awards as well as with her catalogue design work for Sony at the 2004 Premio Quorum. She has made her mark in Canada working for clients such as ICBC, BC Hydro, Vancity, Fincentric and BC Housing. She currently works at Bare Advertising and Communications.

As Principal of COBER, Michael has had the opportunity to play a significant role in helping businesses and organizations develop and establish effective and relevant design solutions. From identity and brand creation through to interface design and development Michaels experience and expertise has afforded the opportunity to fulfill a full spectrum of business objectives and requirements. Michael is a graduate of the Kwantlen Polytechnic Design Program, a member of AIGA and The Designers Accord. With over 15 years of industry experience Michael has had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of clients including Arc'teryx, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Upholstery Arts, EA Sports and BARE. Having been born in Vancouver and raised on a small farm in northern BC Michael has the unique gift of being able to readily identity typographic patterns in cattle herds.

Johnathon Vaughn Strebly, CGD
VP Education Chair

Johnathon brings a diverse range of experience and knowledge from the disciplines of photography, design and education. As head of the Electronic Media Design Program and Digital Media for Professionals Series at Langara College, Johnathon is deeply involved in the rich media available today. As principal and creative director of his own studio, Johnathon extends his experience in professional business practices and industry awareness to the academic environment. Having served two terms as President of CAPIC Vancouver and VP of Business Practices, CAPIC National, Johnathon is proud to be able to contribute to the vibrant GDC/BC Executive.

Matt Warburton, CGD
VP Ethics Chair
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Matt graduated from Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario in 1983. He entered the business with Typsettra, one of Canada’s leading typesetting firms where he learned pre-computer era typography, handlettering and art assembly. Matt’s next move was to the Toronto office of world-renowned corporate identity specialists, Gottschalk + Ash International, where he worked as a production designer until 1989. That year he migrated to Vancouver where he joined one of the city’s leading firms, Herrainco Design Associates, where he worked until 1997 when Emdoubleyu Design became a full-time operation.

Mark Busse is the Co-founder and Design Director at Industrial Brand, a full service communication design agency based in Vancouver. He also served as President of GDC/BC, has been a board member of Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH and advisor & design educator at Vancouver Film School. Growing up, Busse played soccer, drew obsessively, worked as a cook, an audio/video salesman, a live audio technician, and even apprenticed as an auto-mechanic and lithography pressman. Busse studied fine arts and business management at UBC and Trinity Western University, providing him with the necessary tools for graphic design and shaped his lifelong passion for communication and problem-solving. Mark has over 20 years of creative management experience having created identity, brand and interactive projects for both national and international clients such as Future Shop, Nokia, Club Intrawest, Telus, Molson, SFU, CMHC, and UBC, among others. Busse's branding, print and interactive design work has been recognized by Communication Arts Magazine, ADCC, How Magazine, Applied Arts, Lotus Awards, Graphics Exchange, Potlatch, Portfolios.com, Webbies, and International Gallery of Superb Printing's well as being featured in the permanent collection at his mom's house.

Stu was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and started his career over twenty years ago after graduating from Kwantlen University's Applied Design Program. Prior to his extensive work in resort marketing, he's accumulated a wide range of experience including: branding and identity, print/broadcast/web advertising, packaging, environmental signage and wayfinding, 3D interior visualizing, architectural graphics, motion graphics, photography and film direction. Stu has had acolytes and peer recognition including two Lotus Awards for print collateral and packaging during his time at Wasserman+Partners Advertising. He now applies the bulk of his knowledge solving large multi-faceted marketing efforts.

Pauline is a communication designer specializing in cross-cultural design in both print and web development. Born in Hong Kong, she studied in the US and immigrated to Vancouver to gain a better insight into the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures. With her BBA in marketing, her design emphasizes problem solving and is highly results-orientated. She currently works at 4trendy Design and Communication on brand strategy, web development and much more.

Darren Carcary tells strategic stories through motion design and film. He has art directed and produced more than 50 shows for clients including The Four Seasons, Intrawest, Parklane Homes and Vancity. As founder and creative director of Resolve Design, he has also helped establish the branding of national broadcast productions for Discovery Channel HD and Global Television.

An artist, designer and marketing specialist, Patricia is currently the Creative Director and Marketing Consultant at G.M. Communications in Vancouver. Patricia is an avid member of various volunteer associations and works closely with the Chinese community working with businesses, charities and the arts. Patricia studied at the prestigious Shanghai Arts & Crafts School and graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Department of Literature & Art.

Nikole is a graduate of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Bachelors of Graphic Design for Marketing degree program. Through a school exchange she had attended the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. Prior to graphic design she had graduated from Kwantlen with a certificate in Interdisciplinary Design Studies. Her background education consists of Marketing and Business Management from both Langara and Kwantlen.

Angela is senior designer at Ion Branding + Design. In a small studio, designers wear many hats, and one that Angela often wears is that of copywriter. Angela earned a BFA in Visual Communication Design from the University of Washington. She received classical training in design theory, art history, and practical graphic design. Always looking for personal development, Angela has attended design conferences including a week-long intensive workshop in France with graphic and industrial design legends Massimo & Lella Vignelli and Armando Milani.

Angela has worked in a number of different areas including tourism, media and advertising. Angela's other skills that complement her design skills include illustration and copywriting. These areas of expertise help to save time, and keep consistency and continuity from the start of a project to the finish. Angela's biggest pet peeve is the misuse of apostrophe s.

Currently enrolled at ECUAD and BCIT in Graphic Design Essentials, Jen is changing gears from her past lives in theatre, film, and not-for-profit and pursuing her passion in communication design. Jen describes herself as one who creates, designs, writes, builds, drinks, swears, dances, flirts, farts, performs, leads, challenges, laughs, incites, eats, breathes, and adores. She is excited to be the GDC/BC Secretary and is pleased to find herself surrounded with so many like minded people.

Lisa Hemingway, CGD
Sustainability Chair

Lisa believes that good design not only communicates efficiently and embodies the craft of high-quality design, but also considers its environmental, social and economic impacts. Lisa owns Backyard Creative, a small graphic design shop operating on the inherent belief that high-quality design can affect positive change in our communities. As a natural networker and collaborator, Lisa enjoys bringing like-minded individuals together to form project teams whenever possible. With the GDC, Lisa aims to promote and celebrate the amazing work being done in our communities that support values of sustainability and inspire others to embrace their own personal values in their work.