OUR TEAM
GARRY WALL
Co-President
A founding partner of SparkNet Communications, Garry Wall is an innovative radio consultant, marketer, and content creator. He has been responsible for developing the JACK FM brand in the United States.
His radio accomplishments also include introducing New York’s first FM Talk station, building KLLC (“Alice”)/San Francisco into a market leader, taking KBCO/Denver from last to first and piloting Q106/San Diego to 15 consecutive No. 1 ratings periods.
In the 1990s, Garry began advising top entertainment companies such as Sony, Time Warner, RCA, MCA, and Virgin Records on emerging consumer trends and marketing opportunities. During this time, he published Media Madness, a media trends newsletter with several thousand subscribers.
Garry has also coached and mentored top broadcast personalities including Jimmy Kimmel, Kevin & Bean, Opie & Anthony and Carson Daly.
PAT BOHN
Co-President
Widely regarded as an innovator in radio broadcasting, Pat Bohn spent 25 years building Bohn & Associates into the largest and most successful Canadian radio consulting firm. His clients included Rogers Communications, with whom he introduced Canada to the first All-News station, 680 News, now the top-billing station in the country. Pat also helped Rogers launch Adult Contemporary CHFI/Toronto, which debuted at No. 1 in the market, and consulted Rogers during its growth from two stations to more than 40.
A joint venture with Broadcast Data Systems brought electronic airplay monitoring to Canada in 1995, and BDS quickly became the industry leader in monitoring intelligence. Pat is also credited for creating the first JACK FM – branded stations and co-founded SparkNet Communications.
In addition to advising numerous media executives with their radio and TV license applications, Pat has served as a representative of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and as a consultant to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.
HILLARY HOMMY
Managing Director
As the day-to-day executive overseeing SparkNet’s licensing, consulting, marketing and syndication services, Hillary manages the company’s proprietary systems and supervises its client support operations worldwide.
Prior to joining SparkNet, Hillary was a sales leader for a land investment company, generating more than $3 million in revenues. Hillary has a Master’s degree in education as well as a degree in zoology, which qualify her perfectly for her current position.
ARNIE CELSIE
Senior Consultant
Arnie has been consistently generating success for radio clients in a variety of formats for 30 years. A co-developer of the original JACK FM in Vancouver, Arnie continues to work with the station as it approaches its 10th anniversary as a market leader. He has consulted many more of Canada’s most successful radio stations including CHFI/Toronto, CHEZ/Ottawa and SONIC/Edmonton.
Since 2010, Arnie has participated on the team which created the innovative and immediately successful NOW Radio brand in Edmonton. Designed as a true social media platform, NOW integrates text, Twitter and Facebook directly into the format, redefining the role of the modern radio DJ and aligning the station’s relationship more closely with its listeners.
KEN BENSON
President, P1 Research
Ken’s senior-level programming, research and marketing experience has led to work conducting research for radio and media clients throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Among Ken’s accomplishments are building a multi-million-dollar global business as Sr. VP/International for Pinnacle Media Worldwide. While serving as Executive VP/Programming at Citadel Communications (now Cumulus Broadcasting), Ken directed programming strategy and marketing for more than 200 radio stations, having previously overseen 42 stations as Sr. VP for Chancellor (now part of Clear Channel Radio). Ken’s background also includes a term as VP/Music Programming for MTV, for which he developed the popular Total Request Live show.
Ken also served five years as Program Director at KKRZ (Z100)/Portland, Oregon, where he produced No. 1 ratings for the contemporary music station eight times.
MAX DUGAN
Vice President, P1 Research
With more than 25 years’ experience as a successful radio programmer and consultant, Max works with clients in a variety of formats on research development and strategic implementation. As VP/Research & Programming for Pinnacle Media Worldwide, Max helped Europa FM/Spain increase its weekly audience nearly seven-fold – from 150,000 to more than 1 million – in less than two years. His work with Red-FM/Mumbai, India improved its morning show ratings from fifth to No. 1. And at Heart-FM/Athens, Greece, Max applied a new music strategy which made the Adult Contemporary station the market leader.
Closer to home, Max has been Program Director for CBS’ WJFK and WARW in Washington, DC; the latter received Station of the Year honors in 2005. Max’s background also includes posts as Regional VP/Programming for Clear Channel (overseeing 30 stations), Regional and Rock Programming Brand Manager for Citadel Communications and Rock Program Director for Clear Channel/Houston.
GEORGE BURNS
Research Analyst
Radio research and programming pioneer George Burns developed Atlanta’s first FM Adult Contemporary formatted-station. His architecture became the framework for a nationally syndicated format which aired in over 200 radio markets. George also led the research and format design for the first Smooth Jazz format in New York City.
As principal of Burns Media Consultants, George has worked with hundreds of radio stations throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and the Pacific Rim. His company built a private, commercial radio system for the Singapore government involving multiple stations and formats.
Author of several books on radio positioning and programming, George is recognized for having introducing the concept of the “core audience” to the industry. Among George’s most valuable skills are his abilities to identify the emotions and values which drive radio brand loyalty, and then to measure their impact on station ratings.
ED MOLONEY
Program Director, JACK FM Network
Ed brings a network perspective and digital media experience to the JACK FM Network. His MusicCountdowns.com stream ranks as the No. 2 pop channel on Live 365. As VP/Programming for BusRadio from 2006-2009, Ed was responsible for formats that reached more than a million children each day in 24 states. In his role as format PD for Westwood One, Ed helped develop the Simply About Music (SAM) format.
Ed also has produced syndicated programming for Entertainment Radio Networks, DMX Satellite Music network and produced imaging at KYSR/Los Angeles, where he was Creative Director. At WBCN/Boston Ed Produced Charles Laquidara’s top rated Big Mattress morning show.
DARREN ROBSON
Consultant
Darren Robson is a Consultant and SparkNet’s resident Social Media expert. Prior to joining SparkNet, Darren ran his own company Speak Media Consulting providing social media strategies and training for an array of companies, organizations and musicians. With a background in media, Darren first spent 25 years in the radio industry including a decade as a Programmer and Music Director for Rogers Radio in Canada. During this time, he spearheaded several station relaunches including the first all-Christmas format in Calgary, Alberta. Prior to earning his management stripes, he was an exceptional communicator at top rated stations including CISS Toronto, CKKS Vancouver and CHFM Calgary.
RICK WALTER CMA
Controller
With over 29 years of experience in finance, Rick Walter’s analytical nature, extensive experience and expert financial reporting, budgeting and planning skills make him an amazing addition to the team as Controller. As a designated CMA, Rick is responsible for many financial aspects of the business at SparkNet, including day-to-day financial leadership and strategic analysis. Prior to joining us, Rick worked for Telus, where he served in a variety of financial capacities. When he’s not enjoying his time here at the office, Rick enjoys skiing and hiking.
AMY KIZAKI
Operations Manager
Amy Kizaki’s youthful approach to marketing and social media has allowed her to bring JACK FM and SparkNet into the digital sphere. She has a burning passion for social media and creating communities around the brand. As the Operations Manager at SparkNet Communications, Amy Kizaki handles the execution of the organization’s tactical initiatives and ensures that the day-to-day operations run smoothly. She is the direct “right hand” to the Managing Director, and is in charge of handling projects in order to enhance the organization’s productivity and dealing with impending issues. Amy is a natural leader and her aggressive, Just-Do-It attitude, analytical approach and natural interest in people enable her to excel in the administrative environment. Amy previously has experience as an Executive Assistant, team leader and transaction coordinator.
KAYLA JOFFE
Marketing Coordinator
Kayla Joffe has a Bachelor of Communications from Mount Royal University, majoring in Journalism and specializing in editing, and has been writing about politics, social issues, and the environment for the past eight years. She has been involved in various aspects of the media since 2004, including the newspaper, television, and Internet worlds giving her broad knowledge of how marketing and branding affect business. Since moving to Vancouver in 2007, Kayla has been teaching business writing at different private colleges all over the city where she would teach international business students how to write memos, e-mails, business letters, proposals, and how to create PowerPoint presentations. In addition, she has written, designed, and updated websites for numerous local companies, allowing her to stay up-to-date with the online world.
Kayla prides herself on her self-starter attitude and her keen eye for detail. She would describe herself as an English geek that loves correcting punctuation and spelling mistakes.
KAJAL KUMAR
Business Administrator
Kajal Kumar possesses a broad range of operational skills and expertise as well as a keen eye for numbers. She uses her multitude of accounting, office and human resource administration skills and abilities to coral SparkNet‘s constant growth and innovation.
Having graduated high-school early, Kajal started her career by enrolling into the British Columbia Institute of Technology at the age of sixteen and attaining a diploma in Financial Management shortly after. Kajal has held positions in both accounting and office administration prior to joining us.
JEAN-MARIE HEIMRATH
President, SparkNetworks
As SparkNetwork’s President Jean-Marie leads a superlative team in bringing digital tools together with great content, providing services and strategies that build radio audiences, profits and brands. Jean-Marie’s tenacious curiosity in 21st century communication has allowed him to build on his extensive background in creative marketing, senior management, international sales, promotions and communications to become the leader of one of Canadian media’s most forward-thinking companies. Jean-Marie may be best known for his leadership as President and Executive Producer of Standard Broadcasting’s Sound Source Networks. In his thirty five years in the Canadian online, radio broadcast and music industries, Jean-Marie has used his skills as a strategist, communicator, manager and marketer to become a prime architect in the building of network radio in Canada.
ROBYN METCALFE
Affiliate Sales Manager, SparkNetworks
Robyn Metcalfe has lived and breathed radio for the last twelve years and feels that radio is still the most important medium that the world can’t do without. Robyn analyses radio stations and finds programming that will fit into their current competitive landscape whilst examining the revenue possibilities that the feature will provide. Being able to fill air-time with relevant programs, increase sales opportunities and help the program directors is just one part. She then likes to ask programmers if they could make a wish list of things that would make their job easier what would that program or service be and then she delivers. Robyn goes to any length to make sure that the station is happy and that the product is delivered.
Robyn began her career doing on-air traffic reports and then got her own morning show. Afterwards she moved off-air into sales and then ran a national syndication company. Having a well-rounded career in radio, Robyn can relate to the program directors, sales managers and general managers to get them the best products for their stations.
ANDREW FORSYTH
Affiliate Relations Manager, SparkNetworks
As SparkNetworks Affiliate Relations Manager, Andrew’s role is to ensure Canadian broadcasting is presented with the opportunity to engage its audience with compelling programming content that can generate a financial return. Plugging clients into state-of-the-art services that create efficiencies and strengthen their competitiveness is his agenda. Following up with stations to ensure the product is exceeding expectations and ensuring the end users are optimizing their investment is a key part of his job. Andrew’s reputation is second to none in providing operators with a consultative approach to their needs and implementing solutions as a strategic partner.
Andrew Forsyth has four decades in the Canadian broadcast business as a performer, programmer, innovator, consultant, researcher, senior manager, professor and mentor. This wide experience presents a unique skill set to the businesses he works with. The goal through his career has always been to explore and find creative, new products, concepts and strategies to better the industry and its clients.