Our people
David Rutherford, Co-Founder, In Memorium
The head office team
John McKay, Founder
A founding partner of Rutherford McKay Associates, since 2000, John McKay has provided strategic communications, media relations and training services to the public, private and non-profit sectors. Previously, he was a senior communications advisor with the federal government, a television and multimedia producer and community newspaper editor.
John is a strategist, issue manager and communications specialist. He has an analytical mindset coupled with creativity and the ability to see issues from different perspectives. He is able to develop novel approaches while keeping the focus on producing practical and measurable outcomes.
He has designed and implemented numerous communications and media relations campaigns ranging from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, to the presence of unexploded military ordnance in Canadian communities, to civil unrest associated with the G-8 and G-20 meetings, to drug abuse among Canadian teenagers. He has worked with senior Canadian and American military personnel at NORAD headquarters in Colorado Springs and with Canadian Embassy personnel in Washington D.C. on media relations and communications issues, helping with the development of messages, news media and public/community engagement. He has extensive experience working with the non-profit sector on issues of homelessness, housing and mental health.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Paul Giroux, Senior Associate
Paul Giroux is a writer and an issues manager who has worked with a large number of public and private organizations.
Over the past three decades, his services have been retained in the context of the most current issues of the day including the implementation of the GST, the NAFTA negotiations, the Gulf war in 1991, the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Canada, as well as meetings of the G-20 and G-8. He was senior consultant at National Public Relations for which he managed communications for a redesign initiative in the Government of the Canada. His past clients also include NATO, Foreign Affairs, the Department of Finance and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was employed at the University of Ottawa, where he was responsible for communications related to the recruitment of students. He started in the business as a journalist in the newsroom for Radio-Canada.
For the past few years his activities have been focused on speech writing. He continues to work with elected officials and business leaders – an activity that he remains passionate about. As well, Paul is engaged in development projects in Africa – specifically the housing sector in Cameroun and the region.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Brenda Bookbinder, Manager
Brenda Bookbinder joined the team in Ottawa as our new manager. Brenda is a media placement, advertising, recruitment and communications specialist. A former Vice President for a large media buying firm in Toronto, Brenda maintains an up-to-date understanding of the most effective tactics in media, advertising and digital marketing.
Since joining our team, Brenda has become indispensable. Most recently, she was the project lead for the advertising, content placement, radio contest promotions and sponsorship development for our work with the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa air shows.
Location: Port Hope, Ontario
Julie Sommerfeld comes to Trustmakers from Algonquin College’s television broadcasting program. She brings her video editing, animation/character graphics and multimedia skills to bear on our live streams, videoconference productions and interactive e-learning programs. She is one of the key reasons our training programs are professional, engaging and fun.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario