Our People

There is nothing average about us.

Our team is made up of a diverse and often quirky set of individuals. It is cliché to say that we are all about our people.

We are, but the deeper truth is that the right ideas and a shared way of seeing things is what brings like-minded people together. That is why this team is amazing. Have a read to get to know each one of them better.

Ryan

Founder/Partner
Director of Strategic Innovation

Ryan is one of Midfield’s founders. He’s got a quick and clever mind along with that great attitude that says ‘what now?’ and ‘how can we help?’. One of those kind of people who genuinely cares and gets invested.

Ryan has worked with some incredible brands such as MLSE, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Lipton, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Fisherman’s Friend — and those are just the recent ones. Clients love him because he becomes a part of their extended team. He gets right in there and only wants to make things better and better.

A keen eye for digital transformation and new technology, he spearheads Midfields’ movement into new areas. He is one of the main reasons that our list of services expands every six months.

He has reasonable expectations as attested by his ‘deserted island’ food choice: 2″ thick cut AAA Rib-eye, coupled with a bottomless case of 2016 Luca Pinot Noir.

Oh ya, he’s also a ‘foodie’. Get him to make you something when we are allowed to congregate again.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

My cousin is Joey McIntyre from NKOTB.
(That's New Kids on the Block for those born after 1985.)

I once ‘Sweated to the oldies' live on stage with Richard Simmons

I have a naturally occurring extra hole somewhere on my body.
(please let this be the lie)

David

Senior Production Manager

You know when you get the job of freshening up someone’s bio? To make it more personable and less like a boring resume? With David, we didn’t really need to do that.

David makes stuff! He has mucho experience in the custom fabrication world. He builds big honking custom assets for clients like TD Bank, LCBO, Coca Cola and Hershey (how you like that for name dropping?). He knows a thing or two about a thing or two and it’s because of his willingness to never back down that he can basically make anything you want.

Before his career in marketing, David was a mechanic in the Canadian
Military. This is where he learned how to work in a high-paced environment. A blend of get ‘er done with an instinctual ability to think on his feet, is what makes David our ‘go to’ guy.

In his off time, you’ll find him volunteering with Hamilton’s inner city youth.

Oh and he likes to role-play… no not that kind! Dungeons & Dragons… that kind.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I wrote my first car off the day I got my driver’s license

I was on the show Fear Factor and won runner up

I’m a paid-professional LARPer in my spare time

Amy

Senior Graphic Designer

Amy believes that great design can help people tell their story, spread their message and leave their mark. In other words; Designers Rock! She didn’t say that but it was implied.

The most important thing she needs you to know is that she is an ARDENT (look it up!) supporter of the Maple Leafs (yep they won back in 1966) and Arsenal (Football Club, in case you thought it had something to do with Guns and Ammo).

You can find traces of Amy’s work both here in Canada as well as across the sea in the UK — from Toronto to Vancouver, Nottingham to London — for clients such as the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Carlsberg Canada, Boots UK, Fisherman’s Friend and a whole bunch more.

If she were stuck on a deserted island, she says she would only need Tandoori Chicken and Steam Whistle beer… we can leave this up until we get a competitive beer client and then Amy’s gotta expand her beer horizons!

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I have never seen the following James Cameron films:

Terminator

Titanic

Avatar

Ashley

Account Director

As Drake likes to say when he raps about Ashley… “started from the bottom now we’re here”. That is exactly how Ashley landed her spot as our Account Director. Hard worker. Diligent. Some might say (she agrees) — perfectionist.

Ashley has over 10 years of experience in marketing and brand activations, working with amazing clients like BMW, Porsche, JTI Macdonald, Fisherman’s Friend, ADP and Flight Centre. It’s all about the detail for her. She has disdain for fancy buzz-words but seriously loves getting into a room and figuring stuff out with smart and like-minded people.

She is amazing. Flawless. With a careful eye to detail. She is a consummate professional. Something else but I can’t read her writing.

For her to survive a deserted island, she says that bread and butter with a bottomless Margarita could sustain her.

Think that’s the first time anyone said they would pick bread and butter for their deserted island food.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I went to a private concert hosted by Katy Perry

I got hit by a car and broke my arm

I’m a provincial piano champion

Hayley

Account Supervisor

Hayley is our human jukebox. She can name almost any song. Go ahead, try to stump her.

When she is not doing that, we draw upon her event and experience marketing (XM) planning expertise to create memorable and carefully-crafted experiences for consumers. She used to be a wedding planner until she outgrew the crazy aunts and the meddling mother-in-laws. She has a careful eye for every important detail and a great gift of empathy — of being able to experience other people’s point of view. I didn’t even make that up!

And almost like some kind of celestial bonus, Hayley used to work with AutoCAD at an interior design firm for two years. She has become a resource when it comes to technical drawings and environmental design.

When asked what famous person she’d like to be, she picked Ariel but only because Hayley just wants to be a mermaid for a day.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I am on a Netflix Cheerleading series

I cannot fully straighten all fingers

My dad taught me how to fly his plane

Marco

Group Account Director

Marco is a fine-tuned marketing communications machine with enough agency and client experience to fuel a 747 (if airplanes ran on marketing experience). Prior to joining Midfield, Marco was an integral part of the marketing team behind Harley-Davidson’s revolutionary electric motorcycle, the LiveWire.

He has also worked on digital marketing strategies for Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Appleton Estate, Skyy Vodka, Johnson & Johnson and Lowe’s. And he thinks farts are funny. It was part of an internal survey and he answered in the affirmative.

Marco is our ‘client advocate’. He is always their ‘voice in the room’ to ensure they are being best served.

Something weird about Marco is that the sound of someone typing on a keyboard invariably puts him to sleep.

We stopped letting him come to the office well before Covid-19 started.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I can drink a pitcher of beer in less than 30 seconds

I can balance a broom stick on my nose

I was student council vice president in high school
(would you really lie about being ‘vice’ president?)

Lisanne

Creative Director

Lisanne sets the standard for translating strategy and intention into a beautiful system of visual language. She and her team take the words from the page and turn them into visceral imagery and experiences that connect consumers more deeply with our clients’ brands. Whether it is a new visual identity, a website, video content or immersive XM, she is there to lead the charge for creativity.

For as long Lisanne can remember, she has been attracted to and inspired by the design of everyday objects, the composition of images, and the emotions provoked by them. She believes, as Midfield does, that it don’t mean a thing until someone feels something. Experience. No matter what.

Lisanne once was overhead telling a heavy-set lady at Lululemon

‘They won’t have your size’.

She was actually just trying to help but it came out wrong.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I saved someone’s life at a Bon Jovi Concert

My house burned to the ground and I lost everything

I attended all Cirque du Soleil Shows. (She is a resident of Quebec)

Ashley

Senior Account Manager

Ashley left Scotland for sunshine and donuts. Two things she could not get at home.

Having moved to Canada in 2019 with over a decade of marketing experience in Scotland, we put her to work as our Queen of Scots — premiere league Account Manager. She had worked for the largest chain of malls in Scotland so she also became our defacto Retail Queen.

Aside from retail, Ashley has worked with a number of brands including Disney and Celebrity Cruises. A happy marriage of her two favourite things: shopping and traveling. Clients love her for her dedication and ability to probe and prod towards only the very best solution.

When asked what famous person she would like to be for a day; she said ‘anyone who is married to Ryan Gosling’. Currently that would be Eva Mendes.

She’s got a soft spot, that she labels an addiction, for bad reality TV and McDonalds.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I have visited all 7 continents

I have very long toes

I have a back tattoo

Matt

Founder/Partner · CFO

Matt is literally a Kick-ass Accountant.

He is a certified public and management accountant who gets to put letters beside his name: CPA, CMA. He also used to be a boxer; who once held titles in five provinces. An accountant who can kick ass.

Matt runs the financial show at Midfield as one of our three founders. He is our CFO and keeps the lights on as well as guiding several of our clients in business planning and financial strategies.

He is a tale of two Matts: He is a member of a secret death-metal band he started years ago, the whole time listening to so much ABBA GOLD, he wore out the cassette tape.

He is part Italian but downs his pasta with a big glass of milk (apparently that’s a no-no). He is a man of reason and intelligence but too afraid to go on a cruise ship, certain he will be eaten by sharks.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

My metal band was started in 1987 and we have recorded nine albums worth of songs

I ran the Boston Marathon two years in a row

The largest show I ever played was a Tailgate Party at Ivor Wynne Stadium for the Hamilton Tigercats

Mike

Head of Strategy and Branding

Like a stereotypical strategy guy, Mike is quick, witty and talks too much. But, every second or third thing he says is actually quite smart. He came to Midfield almost a year ago now; having crossed paths with one of our founders in an earlier life.

For years he has been a Freelance Brand Strategist working with both agencies and clients directly in a multitude of fractional roles. He has ‘strategized’ in every category and on multiple continents.

He likes to play and is always eager to push and scrape his way through to brighter and better solutions; pushing our clients into new opportunities for growth.

As far as guilty pleasures go, he loves stupid comedies and still watches sophomoric high school movies like Weird Science and anything with John Cusack.

When asked what famous person he would like to be for a day, he responded ‘Aren’t I already famous?’

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I finished top 10 in the 2012 Bermuda Marathon

I was in the movie ‘Tommy Boy’ with Chris Farley

I can nose-jet over 10 yards

Anne

New Business Development

So, Anne is way older than she looks. No. Don’t ask her how old she is. She looks 30 but with a resume in sales and leadership as long as hers, she must have started working when she was a toddler.

Anne is our leader of business development. She helps bring new, soon-to-be-happy, clients to Midfield. More importantly, though, she puts her solid experience to work for our clients and helps develop sales solutions for them. So it’s not like she just brings the clients in and then they never see her again.

She confesses that despite her outdoorsy nature that she is also directionally-challenged. She has, on occasion, been unable to find her table after coming back from the restroom at a big restaurant. Same thing happens when she parks her car at Costco.

Her spirit animal is any big dog. Never a cat!

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I love babies

I don't know how to swim

I’ve never travelled outside of Canada

Pat

Accounting Coordinator

Our man Friday! Pat has had an intriguing career path. He was once an Interior Designer, working for Ethan Allen for seven years. Prior to that he was the manager of retail outlets for The Bombay Company.

He has also worked as bookkeeper at his niece’s Tim Hortons restaurants. He had to leave due to the adverse effect of Timbits on his waistline.

He gets stuff done for Midfield. One of those people that keeps the wheels turning and who takes care of those kinds of logistics that most of us didn’t even know needed doing. Midfield would be set adrift without him. He keeps on threatening to retire too! We won’t let him.

Funny story.

Pat took up walking at night to get some exercise. But, he found he had to be careful because he kept tripping over things and crashing into streetlamps while engrossed in critiquing people’s interior design choices.

Which kind of fits right into his other guilty pleasure: laughing at videos of models, celebrities and, especially, brides wiping out and falling down.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I am a nice person

I like animals

I like to laugh at other peoples’ expense

Galia

Head of Technology

We are a worldly bunch here at Midfield. Well some of us are, anyway. Galia was educated in London, worked there for a while before moving to Malaysia and now is here in Canada with us. She probably speaks a few languages too but she is nice enough to speak to us in the Queen’s English with her lovely accent.

With a strong background in digital marketing, e-commerce and advertising, Galia heads up our technology needs. There used to be a time when digital was a department but now everything is digital and so Galia is everything to us!

Super bright. Nice to talk to. And all our clients love having her on their team.

For her desert island beverage she picked Scotch. She says it might mix well with coconut juice. Well she didn’t say that but it might, just!

When asked if farts are funny, she had a very specific response. Kids, animals and old people. Yes. Anyone else. No!

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I am a gamer

I have broken 2 ribs while salsa dancing

I skydive

Vagner

Senior Digital Manager

So this guy! He has worked in Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France and now Canada. Already an MBA, he recently capped off his education with a Global Business Management course at Centennial College — just so he could ensure he understood ‘the peculiarities of Canadian business’.

Vagner is our digital JOAT — that stands for ‘jack of all trades’. He would tell you all the digital tricks and knowledge he possesses and you would say ‘yeah that should cover it’. He oversees our clients’ performance marketing and e-commerce efforts online — if you had to put it in a nutshell. But with his business background and work experience, he really brings a strong entrepreneurial flair to how he does his job. Clients love it.

He is sort of new still so we are in the process of making up nicknames for him. Something to do with a horse because his surname reminds us of that. But you’d really have to ask Greg Gallo — he is the leader of nickname assignments here at Midfield.

But he does think farts are funny but only his own. Everyone else’s just stink.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I started working when I was 12

I had a very bad bike accident

I used to be a singer in a band

Greg

Founder/Partner — Head of Client Development

Greg is that guy! The one who makes you smile even on days you were pretty sure that you would not. He is our lead person when it comes to talking to new clients and finding the very best ways we might help them.

A possessor of that special attitude ‘Yeah, we can do it!’ – a positive force for taking things to the next level. Greg has an extensive career in event, sport and XM. He has worked for clients and agencies of all sizes and in every category.

He is an armchair philosopher who fundamentally believes in the fundamental goodness of human beings. That’s quite refreshing in today’s world.

Did you know that Greg wears a good luck shirt for big meetings? Inside the breast pocket are always two marbles. Ask him what they mean.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I knocked a ball around with Diego Maradona

Me and Gene Simmons from KISS had a beer in his hotel room.

I played bubble hockey with Pelé (is there a soccer theme here? Sorry Greg, meant football)

Kirby

Office dog / Muse

Kirby is our office dog. He’s super chill and always brightens our day whenever he stops by.

When he’s not laying at Matt’s feet having a snooze, he can be found in our creative hub — which is decked out with squashy chairs and comfy pillows — again, having a snooze. It’s often said that having a dog hanging around the workplace can bring positive vibes to your team, and Kirby does that for Midfield.

Did you know that Kirby wears a good luck collar for big meetings? Ask him what it means.

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

He has a twin

Doesn't like to play in mud

Knows most tricks

We Call It Liquid Talent

We never learn new things at our client’s expense

We know that one of the things that make us uniquely creative is that we boldly take on new challenges, figure things out and develop new skills.

But never on our client’s dime. They shouldn’t have to fund our learning curve. That’s why for every new challenge we bring on the right expert.

Liquid Talent helps us stay nimble, flexible and ready for anything.

Maybe it’s an industry consultant, or a tech engineer, coder, statistician, influencer, professor, lawyer, cultural anthropologist — whatever the job requires!

What We
Believe In

Health & Happiness

There is power in prioritizing the health and happiness of our team.

Experiences

Relationships are formed by creating shared experiences.

Balance

Harmonious design requires equal parts form & function.

Empathy

Empathy is king. Always do what’s right, not what’s easy.

Learn

Never guess, learn. Never fail, learn

Loyalty

Loyalty and reverence are not myths. They can be earned.

Cinq  à Sept?!

Pre-COVID we built a sweet little bar  in Le Garage with a plan to host  once-a-month cocktail parties.

Welp! Those plans were dashed…
But we look forward to opening the bar for you post-pandemic!

Our People

There is nothing average about us.

Ryan

Founder/PartnerDirector of Strategic Innovation

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

My cousin is Joey McIntyre from NKOTB. (That's New Kids on the Block for those born after 1985.)​

I once ‘Sweated to the oldies' live on stage with Richard Simmons

I have a naturally occurring extra hole somewhere on my body. (please let this be the lie)

David

Senior Production Manager

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I wrote my first car off the day I got my driver’s license

I was on the show Fear Factor and won runner up

I’m a paid-professional LARPer in my spare time

Amy

Senior Graphic Designer

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

Terminator​

Titanic

Avatar

Ashley

Account Director

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I went to a private concert hosted by Katy Perry

I got hit by a car and broke my arm

I’m a provincial piano champion

Hayley

Account Supervisor

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I am on a Netflix Cheerleading series

I cannot fully straighten all fingers

My dad taught me how to fly his plane

Marco

Group Account Director

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I can drink a pitcher of beer in less than 30 seconds​

I can balance a broom stick on my nose​

I was student council vice president in high school (would you really lie about being ‘vice’ president?)​

Lisanne

Creative Director

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I saved someone’s life at a Bon Jovi Concert

My house burned to the ground and I lost everything

I attended all Cirque du Soleil Shows. (She is a resident of Quebec)

Ashley

Senior Account Manager

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I have visited all 7 continents

I have very long toes

I have a back tattoo

Matt

Founder/Partner · CFO

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

My metal band was started in 1987 and we have recorded nine albums worth of songs​

I ran the Boston Marathon two years in a row​

The largest show I ever played was a Tailgate Party at Ivor Wynne Stadium for the Hamilton Tigercats​

Mike

Head of Strategy and Branding

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I finished top 10 in the 2012 Bermuda Marathon​

I was in the movie ‘Tommy Boy’ with Chris Farley

I can nose-jet over 10 yards

Anne

New Business Development

2 Truths& 1 Lie

Pick the lie

I love babies

I don't know how to swim

I’ve never travelled outside of Canada

Pat

Founder/Partner
Director of Strategic Innovation

My cousin is Joey McIntyre from NKOTB.
(That's New Kids on the Block for those born after 1985.)

I have a naturally occurring extra hole somewhere on my body.
(please let this be the lie)

Terminator

I can drink a pitcher of beer in less than 30 seconds

I can balance a broom stick on my nose

I was student council vice president in high school
(would you really lie about being ‘vice’ president?)

My metal band was started in 1987 and we have recorded nine albums worth of songs

I ran the Boston Marathon two years in a row

The largest show I ever played was a Tailgate Party at Ivor Wynne Stadium for the Hamilton Tigercats

I finished top 10 in the 2012 Bermuda Marathon

I am a gamer

I have broken 2 ribs while salsa dancing

I skydive

I used to be a singer in a band

Doesn't like to play in mud

Knows most tricks

What We
Believe In

Cinq  à Sept?!

Pre-COVID we built a sweet little bar  in Le Garage with a plan to host  once-a-month cocktail parties.