Meet The Earthlings
Imagination is everything! I work with a team of people who thrive on using their imagination - to create graphic art - or to envision how a client will use an online program - or to anticipate what someone is searching for. We make what we imagine - happen.
Heather Soiferman,Senior Graphic Designer
Management
Philip Giles, President
Philip’s near meteoric rise through the Earthling ranks befits a man of his particular skills and professional capabilities. Starting in 2009 as a humble account exec, rising to sales manager, then Vice President, and now with his promotion to President of Modern Earth, Philip continues to lead by example and motivate his team through a combination of persistence, inquisitorial curiosity, and British dry wit.
Client Care
Daniel Alper, Account Manager
Daniel is a man of many and varied interests - would you like a little Jazz while we plan the next travel destination and factor in the state of the world economy? His interest and experience in solving client problems and offering jazzy yet affordable workable solutions has brought him to the Modern Earth team.
Jennifer Takow, Account Manager
Sales is really all about service, and Jennifer learned about customer service during her time as a team lead in the call centre industry – that you have to build relationships based on communication. Her inquiring mind always wants to know more about her clients’ business aspirations, so she can help fit a comprehensive website and online marketing strategy into the overall plan.
Kathy Murray, Account Manager, Online Learning
Kathy is our “Southern Belle” having relocated from Georgia to Winnipeg. With a strong background in sales, Kathy prides herself on her ability to find the right solution to a client problem. She’s very creative – sewing, quilting, scrapbooking – which helps her see the possibilities to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Ian M Rountree, Online Marketing Specialist
Ian's decade long passion for online marketing has given him incredible technical skills, and he puts those to good use in our client-centric environment. He is a deep thinker and passionate blogger who isn’t afraid to examine his own life experience to understand the ever-changing analog and digital worlds around him.
Frank Danielson, Client Care
If it has a chip, or a circuit, or is connected to a server, it holds Frank’s interest. Frank is fascinated by everything that is computerized – even robots (wonder if he reads Heather’s comic strip?) He also understands how people use technology – because he sees life as a learning opportunity. By understanding how people and computers can fit together (or not), he knows where to look to find solutions when things may not appear to be working. Mr. Fix-It indeed.
Design
Barrett Telfer, Art Director
Since coming to Modern Earth, Barrett has honed his skills and expanded his talents, earning his promotion to Art Director, continuing to do great design work while managing the entire design department. Outside of work, Barrett is part of the ACC Advisory Panel for the Interactive Media Program, and has been a resource for both RRC (Digital Media Design program and the ATC program at Louis Riel (Website Development). Growing the next generation of talent!
Kyle Peterson, Senior Graphic Designer
If Kyle ever decides to disappoint his fans and retire from the razzle-dazzle world of graphic design, he would become one of the world’s leading film critics – he LOVES the movies, and has a definite opinion about every film he sees (just ask him!). This may be the secret of his design success – inundating himself with images and ideas from the world of cinema – providing rich inspiration that he directs into amazing websites (like this one). Two Thumbs Up!
Heather Soiferman, Senior Graphic Designer
Imagine hearing about Caravaggio and Transformers in the same sentence – wild! With a BFA and a hobby site devoted to Cartoon Robots Heather always has something interesting to talk about – and great inspirations for her client focused design work. Her transformation into a senior designer allows her to project manages as well as mentor the junior design team. More than meets the eye!
Rob Rodgers, Graphic Designer
Rob is the most unassuming rock star you could ever hope to meet. He has turned his skills to web design and while he may look a bit like a Clark Kent type in the heavy rimmed glasses and the cardigan, he is a design Superman when it comes to innovative concepts for our clients. No phone booth transformation needed (unless requested, he’s pretty easy going).
Stacey Wiebe, Graphic Designer
Stacey is often the quiet one, working away diligently with her headphones on. There’s nothing quiet or timid about her design skills – she does amazing work with speed and accuracy. As a Jr. Designer, she gets to work on lot of different projects, including this website – and she is a valuable resource to the Senior Designers when they need to meet a deadline.
Andrea Whitehead, Graphic Designer
If you don’t see Andrea working at graphic design, you'll likely find her somewhere out in the great outdoors, soaking up inspiration and relaxing – she may even have a sketch pad in hand. Her previous job (graphic design for Parks Canada) allowed her to live in Wasagaming – she loves the outdoors as much as she loves design.
Heidi Makein, Graphic Designer
Heidi likes to think of herself as a “Renaissance Woman” – she can do it all – web – video – print – content writing – and the secret of her success is her passion and love of what she does. She’s committed to honing her craft – reading design blogs, keeping up with cultural trends, and “all that stuff”.
Development
Michel Gauthier, Senior Software Developer
Michel Got Game! And a wit as sharp as his abilities. He loves video games the way Kyle loves movies – which makes for very animated team lunch chats. He's also an Intellivison fanboy without compare and has some great dance moves. Did we mention he is a great videographer? As comfortable behind the camera as he is in front of it. Not Shy. Not at all.
Helgi Gunnarsson, Software Developer
Helgi (aka the Odin of Codin’) comes to us from the Iceland, and brings an international flair to the development team. He is an accomplished composer as well as a programmer with lightning fast skills. We’re glad he made the trip – and he’s glad that there are now non-stop flights to Iceland from Winnipeg, so he can visit home from time to time.
Robert Tardiff, Developer, Flash Specialist
Rob was hired specifically to build interactive game modules for an online learning platform – earning him the nickname FlashRob (cause we have another Rob already.) Now a full time developer, in a room full of quiet focused programmers, he is the most quiet, and perhaps, the most focused. Work softly, and wear big headphones.
Wes Hanney, Software Developer
In another time/space, you would find Wes on the steps of the Parthenon debating philosophy, or up in the lab inventing something, or going boldly where no Earthling has gone before. There is no such thing as a simple “chat about the weather” – Wes loves to explore ideas and push the boundaries of conventional thought. Does the same thing in his web development skills – always looking for the new – better – harder - faster approach to his project, getting it done is job one!
James Robb, Software Developer, Flash Specialist
One part detective and one part deep thought diver, James is always looking into new technologies and immersing himself in every aspect of each project he is involved in. His passion for “everything web” and his “go-get’em” attitude fuels his enthusiasm for the question and the answer. He loves to solve the mystery of “why” – so much so that we might buy him a Sherlock Holmes hat – or maybe a scuba tank for those deep questions.
Stirling Netzlaw, Software Developer
Stirling likes to stay plugged in to podcasts, blogs, videos – anything to do with information technology and social media – so he always has something to talk about that is up to date and interesting. He is always looking for the opportunity to connect people to new ideas, and that warmth is part of his customer service ethic – thinking about the real people who will be using the online applications that he will be building for our clients’ website, and putting himself in his most comfortable pair of “user experience shoes”.
Steve Chubaty, Software Developer
"The Steve" is cleverly disguised as a humble programmer, but in reality he has plans to save the digital planet once his super-secret super hero identity is revealed – through the complexity of his code and the functionality of the software he builds. His motto is “When others say they can’t, I WILL” – he loves a challenge and never turns one down. He has fit right in with the dev team – his ready wit set to disarm unwary opponents.
Administration
Marnie Grimolfson, Office Manager
Marnie has been part of Modern Earth for years, working behind the scenes and in the office as co-owner of the Business Centre. We welcome her to the front office as Office Manager, where her warm smile and infectiously joyful personality welcomes our clients.
Neovation (our sister company)
Dan Belhassen, President, Founder & CEO
Since 1999, Dan set the pace at Modern Earth, building a team of Earthlings, and developing a wide range of products and services that provided business solutions for the online world. Now settling into the role of CEO, he continues to research and develop new ideas to open exciting and unexplored business vistas.
Susan Hurrell, Marketing & Communications
Susan has worn many hats in her time with Modern Earth - content writer, SEO specialist, social media strategist, email marketing manager, morale officer, marketing & communications director. She's a generalist who specializes in finding the right words and the right strategy to get the message out there in the digital universe.
Chad Norris, Software Development Manager
Who do you call when good code goes bad, or well-behaved programming decides to take a walk on the wild side? None other than that great Canadian Action Hero, Chad Norris! With the same combination of brains and brawn as his famous Uncle Chuck, Chad faces every problem with steely determination and a deep belly laugh, doing his patriotic duty to bring misbehaving bugs into line with a few roundhouse kicks to keep the programming wheels turning smoothly.
Alex Richards, Graphic Designer
“Oh Yes! It’s another Learning Opportunity!” Alex joins the Earthlings from ACC in Brandon, after a two-month internship. Alex has demonstrated excellent design skills and work ethic - we're very excited she's joined the team!
David Kelly, Software Developer
Mr. Kelly is part of our growing team of International Earthlings, and was quite the world traveler before moving to Winnipeg from Australia. He says he likes snow. We believe him when he says he likes cricket, computer games and vegemite. David takes a wide view of the information age, and says “Each of us is now empowered with the entire written history of humanity. I want to be a part of turning silicon into a progressive revolution.” We believe him. (but not about the snow).