Spotlight's Partners

Susan Elliott

Susan Elliott has broad experience in strategic communications, specializing in reputation management for high profile individuals and organizations. She has previously worked as a communications manager for the National Hockey League, and was Manager of Communications with Edmonton Regional Airports Authority during and after a contentious public referendum on airport consolidation.

In addition to extensive governmental experience, which included senior positions in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office, she was National Director of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. A gifted writer, she has managed strategic communications for high profile individuals including former Prime Minister Joe Clark and Conservative national leadership candidate Jim Prentice.

Ms. Elliott provides clients with strategic and communications expertise and helps organizations to craft effective government advocacy strategies. She works with businesses to develop communication marketing plans including public and stakeholder consultations.

Ms. Elliott is a regular commentator on public affairs television programs on CTV, CBC Newsworld, A-Channel and ROB TV.

Jason G. Hatcher

Jason Hatcher offers clients a breadth of experience from both business and politics. He has worked in many capacities in the Canadian political system including advising federal opposition critics in the areas of Transportation, Public Works, and Indian and Northern Affairs; and was a member of the Question Period strategy team for the PC National Caucus. Mr. Hatcher served as Director of Operations for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada during which time he organized a series of national consultations and chaired the 2002 convention planning team for the Party's national convention. In 2002 Mr. Hatcher was named to a federal-provincial committee from Newfoundland and Labrador headed by the Premier and the provincial Leader of the Opposition that studied the political options for dealing with the province's fishery crisis. Mr. Hatcher acted as press secretary and primary spokesperson for Jim Prentice's national leadership campaign in 2003, and currently contributes political commentary and analysis for media organizations across Canada.

Jason Hatcher specializes in strategic message development and media relations. Mr. Hatcher works with organizations to enhance their public reputations and to develop communication, stakeholder consultation, and government advocacy strategies.

Originally from St. John's, Newfoundland, Mr. Hatcher is educated in both English and French. He studied political science and business administration in Newfoundland and Quebec before attending law school at the University of Ottawa.

Randy Dawson

Randy Dawson has had over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sector and significant government and political experience at both provincial and national levels before co-founding Spotlight Strategies Inc.

He served and as Chief of Staff to the Canadian Minister of Constitutional Affairs and before that as Special Advisor to the Alberta Provincial Treasurer. As the senior political advisor, he served as the Minister's liaison with the Alberta Ministry of Finance, working with officials in the preparation of the annual Budget and attending Treasury Board, the cabinet committee consisting of the Premier and senior Ministers charged with budget making decisions. This position involved considerable interaction with other Ministers, particularly the Energy Ministry, in the development of public policy or negotiating agreements with the private sector.

Mr. Dawson subsequently served as the Provincial Treasurer's Negotiator for the Public Sector Pension Plans - developing a framework that resulted in the successful resolution of a $3.5 billion unfunded liability and a new corporate governance arrangement for the five pension boards that included municipal and provincial government workers, provincial government managers, university and college academics, and police.

After service in government, Mr. Dawson established Alberta Spirits Inc. He has turned this operation into one of the top specialty retail liquor stores in Alberta, sold recently to the largest liquor store chain in Alberta.

On behalf of Spotlight's clients, he is actively engaged in government relations advocacy with the provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Click here to read "The New Kingmakers," from the July 1, 2008 edition of Alberta Venture. (PDF)