Susan Sommers

Susan Sommers is an award-winning journalist, marketing consultant, trainer, educator, speaker and coach with over twenty-five years of experience in business communications. She is one of Canada's leading experts in marketing and media relations consulting and training. With a Masters Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Syracuse University, after moving to Toronto, she received a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Toronto. In 1982, she founded...See more

Susan Sommers is an award-winning journalist, marketing consultant, trainer, educator, speaker and coach with over twenty-five years of experience in business communications. She is one of Canada's leading experts in marketing and media relations consulting and training. With a Masters Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Syracuse University, after moving to Toronto, she received a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Toronto. In 1982, she founded her own agency, susansommers+associatesinc., which has designed marketing and publicity programs for a variety of companies and organizations in the private and public sector. She has developed strategic communications plans, special events, publicity campaigns, promotional materials, and new identity programs for such clients as The Toronto Blue Jays, Designers Ontario, The Second Cup, Moneysworth & Best Shoe Repair, Matinee Fashion Ready-to-Wear, the Volunteer Centre of Toronto, The Yoga Studio, and United Way of York Region. As Marketing Director for Olympia & York Developments Limited at First Canadian Place for two years, Susan created and implemented a comprehensive marketing program of special events, newsletters, media campaigns, and advertising for the downtown retail and restaurant complex. For over a decade, Susan has designed and delivered hundreds of workshops, presentations, and in-house training programs to corporations, retailers, small business owners, sales professionals, associations, non-profits and government agencies across Canada. Susan has developed credit courses in Marketing and Media Relations at University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, Ryerson Polytechnic University, George Brown College, and Sheridan College. She currently teaches Marketing and Media Relations courses through the Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto, and the Ontario College of Art & Design. As a Marketing Coach and workshop leader, Susan has trained entrepreneurs at the YMCA Markham Business Centre, the Learning Enterprise, and Canadian Business Resource Centre. She also designs and delivers workshops for non-profits through the United Way of York Region, The City of Toronto, and the Ontario Community Support Association. As a journalist and author, Susan has written weekly columns for The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star and feature articles for Toronto Life Magazine, Flare Magazine, and Business Woman Canada Magazine. She is the author of the book, Handmade in Ontario, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold. She is the author of two books on Canadian media: Building Media Relationships (2nd edition 2008, Oxford University Press) and a workbook, Media-Wise (United Way of York Region, 2002). Susan writes a monthly column on media for PR Canada's internet newsletter. See less