About Us

George

I won my first election by doing my own marketing and was able to secure my seat despite a poor performance by my party. In my 20 years in public office, media, and marketing, I have learned what it takes to handle pressure. You will get straight, honest, and impactful advice from me. I am focused on helping you win, have walked through the challenges of being a candidate and public servant firsthand, and have come out with a passion to help others do the same.

I was elected into public office in 2011 and served two terms as a city councillor. It was an honour to serve in that way and to step back from my businesses to try and help my community. Being in public office gave me a passion to help others who want to follow a similar path which is what led to the founding of Campaign University.

In addition to my political career, I have a background in journalism and a lifelong track record of learning and implementing the “next big thing” before it happens. I have created comprehensive and successful plans that have worked in election campaigns as well as in the private sector including in, manufacturing, retail, health, education, real estate, government, food & beverage, and event management.

As a senior marketing executive with more than 20 years of success in the industry, I have been a valuable asset for companies seeking expert assistance with launching, planning & executing marketing strategies, and I have also worked to transition brands from the start-up phase to midsize. My marketing expertise includes digital and traditional marketing, brand awareness, client persona development, communications, business budgeting, and building implementable integrated strategies.I am a former public servant (for two terms), current journalist and the Founder and President of Curve Communications Group Ltd, a digital marketing agency assisting marketing teams in reaching their clients’ high-level aspirational goals. I launched the company in 2000, and since then I have worked as the agency of record for local government organizations, non-profit associations and private sector clients in retail, banking, manufacturing, aerospace, oil and gas, retail, software, blockchain technology, healthcare, construction, real estate, education, environment, automotive, travel, HR, sales, and more.

Mike

I have been a key member of some miracle election wins at all levels of government in both the US and Canada. I've also seen amazing candidates who should be in office lose, as they went up against a seasoned political machine. For the last 16 years, I have been preparing for and/or working in an election and have been able to draw out courage, boldness, and leadership in the candidates I have worked with.

My current role is the CEO of In Language Advertising, a full-service campaign and public policy advertising agency I founded in 2013. I am an expert at building and driving large-scale campaigns and narratives that move public opinion. I am also the Principal at Dampier Consulting - A strategic communications consultancy, and now, a founder of Campaign University. I bring high-level strategic thinking to my work.

Recently, I have focussed my time and resources on working to get good people into politics and securing some much-needed public policy victories for clients throughout North America. I have worked on election and corporate campaigns across the United States and Canada both internally or via third parties. Campaigns planned and executed under my leadership have helped many candidates, as well as businesses in the health care, clean energy and built environment sectors, achieve unexpectedly strong victories. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something and I have over 30,000 hours of planning for or working on election campaigns. My multi-media campaigns also include the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

In Canada, I was a member of Premier Christy Clark’s leadership campaign in 2011 and then moved into the BC government where I managed polling and advertising leading up to the 2013 BC election. During the 2013 election, I managed the multicultural advertising for the campaign. From 2013-2107, in addition to my corporate work, I managed polling and advertising within the BC Government bringing systems, financial controls and campaign measurement into the bureaucracy.

Prior to my work at Dampier Consulting and In Language Advertising, I was a Senior Vice President in the Vancouver office of FD (FTI Consulting) managing a P&L that spanned across the Vancouver, Washington DC and New York offices. At FD I was part of the global executive leadership program.

Prior to the firm’s acquisition by FD, I was a Vice President at The Element Agency which I joined following work in opinion research at IPSOS North America.

I have been a key member of some miracle election wins at all levels of government in both the US and Canada. I've also seen amazing candidates who should be in office lose, as they went up against a seasoned political machine. For the last 16 years, I have been preparing for and/or working in an election and have been able to draw out courage, boldness, and leadership in the candidates I have worked with.

My current role is the CEO of In Language Advertising, a full-service campaign and public policy advertising agency I founded in 2013. I am an expert at building and driving large-scale campaigns and narratives that move public opinion. I am also the Principal at Dampier Consulting - A strategic communications consultancy, and now, a founder of Campaign University. I bring high-level strategic thinking to my work.

Recently, I have focussed my time and resources on working to get good people into politics and securing some much-needed public policy victories for clients throughout North America. I have worked on election and corporate campaigns across the United States and Canada both internally or via third parties. Campaigns planned and executed under my leadership have helped many candidates, as well as businesses in the health care, clean energy and built environment sectors, achieve unexpectedly strong victories. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something and I have over 30,000 hours of planning for or working on election campaigns. My multi-media campaigns also include the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Mike

In Canada, I was a member of Premier Christy Clark’s leadership campaign in 2011 and then moved into the BC government where I managed polling and advertising leading up to the 2013 BC election. During the 2013 election, I managed the multicultural advertising for the campaign. From 2013-2107, in addition to my corporate work, I managed polling and advertising within the BC Government bringing systems, financial controls and campaign measurement into the bureaucracy.

Prior to my work at Dampier Consulting and In Language Advertising, I was a Senior Vice President in the Vancouver office of FD (FTI Consulting) managing a P&L that spanned across the Vancouver, Washington DC and New York offices. At FD I was part of the global executive leadership program.

Prior to the firm’s acquisition by FD, I was a Vice President at The Element Agency which I joined following work in opinion research at IPSOS North America.

Emile

At the age of 27, I became the Executive Director of a major political party. I know how to manage large and complex campaigns, and ensure all the operations are in place and working in sync. I know how to work effectively in today's challenging and changing media and political environment. No matter how limited your resources are, I can help you make sure everything your campaign needs gets done.

I was thrilled when Mike and George invited me to join them in founding Campaign University, because I have a passion for supporting and mentoring great people with the courage to put their name on a ballot.

Early in my career, I served in the British Columbia Premier’s Office — working with senior staff across the provincial government and developing deep familiarity with sensitive policy issues. I moved on to serve as a senior advisor to BC’s Minister of Health, overseeing daily issues management in the province’s largest ministry.

In the private sector, I’ve worked with large multinational brands like CN Rail and Kiewit. And I know own a boutique consulting firm focused on strategic communications.

As Executive Director for the BC Liberals, I administered a leadership election process that energized the party’s membership and doubled its size to 60,000 members, while driving a bottom-to-top modernization of the organization in the midst of a difficult transition from government to opposition. Facing sweeping changes to political donation rules, I led the organization to unprecedented grassroots fundraising success, implemented the strongest financial management measures in the party’s modern history, and renewed the party’s staff team.

Passionate about mental health and building community, I’ve served on the Pacific Local Partner Council of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the fundraising committee for Vancouver’s Kettle Society. I am a former co-chair of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) Fellowship Program, and earned a Master of Political Management degree from Carleton University’s Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program.

I’m happiest when I can get to bed early, start the day at 4:00 AM, spend some quality time in the gym, then get to work delivering results for my clients.