Spotlight's Partners

Susan Elliott

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

Her extensive experience in government and politics includes senior positions in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office. She has managed strategic communications for high profile individuals including former Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Clark and current Environment Minister Jim Prentice. She was the Communications Manager for the P.C. Party in the 2008 Alberta provincial election.

Ms. Elliott provides clients with strategic and communications expertise and helps organizations to craft effective reputation management strategies. She works with clients to develop and implement strategic communication plans including media relations, stakeholder relationships, electronic media and social networking, advertising, and traditional print, audio and visual tools. Ms. Elliott has also recently launched an Event Planning branch of Spotlight Strategies, Events by Spotlight, specializing in corporate event planning.

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 over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. One of the co-founders of Spotlight Strategies, Mr. Dawson also has significant government and political experience, at both provincial and national levels.

He served 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 turned this operation into one of the top specialty retail liquor stores in Alberta, and eventually sold it to the largest liquor store chain in the Province.

On behalf of Spotlight's clients, he provides strategic counsel on matters relating to relationships with governments, stakeholders and the public, working primarily with clients in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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