Meet the Team

Our team brings a deep understanding and proven track record gained from a variety of roles including product management, software development, sales and business development in corporate and startup environments.  With industry experience in software, media, marketing communications and consulting our experiences span a variety of stages from initial product launch to scaling winning businesses competing in global markets. 

Leadership

  • Peter Evans

    Peter Evans

    Co-Founder & CEO

    Peter has worked with breakthrough technologies in sectors as diverse as healthcare, cleantech, digital media and information technology. Over the years he’s developed strategy and marketing programs for organizations operating in complex markets with a focus on technology and business model innovation, product management and thought leadership strategies. Prior to founding ExpertFile, Peter founded the technology advisory services practice at the MaRS Centre - one of the world’s top tech hubs and accelerators. Over his 10 years at MaRS he consulted to over 300 companies on strategy, and fundraising. His corporate and startup experience includes CMO roles at Platespin (later acquired by Novell) and FloNetwork (acquired by DoubleClick/Google). Prior to this he was the founding Director of Media Research at MediaLinx LLP/Sympatico where he helped scale Canada’s first national consumer Internet service and was part of the team that developed a partnership with Lycos. Over the years Peter’s client work has been recognized through industry awards and featured in media such as Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Strategy Magazine, PR Week and Harvard Business Review Online. He holds an MBA degree from Queen's University and studied Strategy & Innovation in the Executive Program at the MIT Sloan School. He holds British and Canadian citizenship.

  • Robert Carter

    Robert Carter

    Co-Founder & VP Product Development

    Robert brings a wealth of corporate, consulting and startup experience across a range of disciplines including product management, marketing and research to help drive product innovation and execute on the core business and marketing strategies for ExpertFile. In addition to a decade of hands-on consulting with technology and growth companies with Riverdale Partners, a strategic advisory firm, he has also held a variety of roles including Goldfarb Research, Bell Canada (Sympatico Internet), SaaS marketing provider FloNetwork (acquired by Doubleclick | Google) and PlateSpin - a developer of server infrastructure management software (later acquired by Novell). Robert holds an MSc. in Marketing Management / Research from the University of Guelph.

  • Deanne Taenzer

    Deanne Taenzer

    VP Partnerships & Business Development

    Deanne leads our partnerships and business development and actively works with our ExpertFile clients to more effectively tap into their expertise to build reputation, relationships and revenue. Her current focus is with research universities, corporations, and healthcare organizations looking to drive engagement with a range of audiences including media, sales prospects, patients, partners and donors. Her marketing, sales and business and channel development experience has been gained through roles at Dunn & Bradstreet, Microsoft, Blackberry and InfoTech Research Group. Deanne is a graduate of York University in Toronto.

  • Dan Stanhope

    Dan Stanhope

    VP Software Development

    Dan has over 15 years experience developing high traffic, interactive web applications for leading media properties and software firms with a strong focus on user experience. He most recently played an integral role in the creation of the front-end architecture for Torstar Digital’s proprietary Content Management System used to power many leading digital media properties. Prior to Torstar, he held a role as a Senior Web Developer for Platespin (acquired by Novell Inc. in 2008). While at Platespin, he designed and implemented key product features related to systems such as licensing, software update notifications and payment processing. His web development experience focused on leading server-side development projects while working at organizations including Market Link Solutions and Brock University. He holds a BSc. in Computer Science from Brock University and a Computer Science Technology Diploma from Sheridan College.

Board

  • Randall Howard

    Randall Howard

    (Chairman), General Partner, VERDEXUS Partner, Cognition Fund and General Partner, ArchAngel Network of Funds

    Randall is a prolific serial technology CEO and investor, primarily focused on software-based, B2B businesses with a strong element of mobile and web. In his role as General Partner at Verdexus, a strategic advisory firm, he draws from a rich set of experiences working with early and mid-stage companies in Canada and Europe. Prior to 2001 was founder and CEO of MKS, a global lead in application lifecycle management solutions, which was sold in 2011 to Parametric Technology Corporation for $304 million. He is passionate about building a globally competitive tech ecosystem locally and invests heavily to assist in that mission. He has a passion for transformation and growth in the world of Social Enterprises and believes that a new crop of "Social Innovation'' organizations can truly change the world. His deep experience as a corporate director and strong knowledge of strategy, governance, strategic risk assessment and financial literacy have been put to work through his investments, community service and philanthropy. As part of this personal mission he helped found Innovation Guelph and serves as the Board Chair of Centre Wellington Community Foundation and is a Director and Treasurer of Roseneath Theatre. He most recently founded the Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators in the visual arts community, which aims to inspire positive social change through creativity and connectedness in a time of unprecedented economic, environmental, social, and cultural challenges. Randall holds degrees in mathematics and computer science from the University of Waterloo.

  • Lance Laking

    Lance Laking

    General Partner, Graphite Ventures

    Lance has a wealth of experience as a founder, operator and investor. Prior to joining MaRS IAF in 2009, from 2001 Lance was the CEO of BTI. At BTI, he was responsible for securing more than $55M in growth capital, establishing a global team and forging major OEM partnerships. (BTI acquired by Juniper Networks in January 2016). Lance was also Executive Chairman at Granite Networks where he led the sale of the company to Rogers Communications. Prior to BTI, Lance co-founded a Canada-wide semiconductor and component representative, from which a division was acquired by HUBER+SUHNER, a Swiss-based wireless and optical component manufacturer, where Lance established the Canadian subsidiary and local assembly manufacturing. As an active member of the Ottawa Innovation Ecosystem, Lance is a member of the CapitalAngel Network, the InvestOttawaVenure Advisory, the L-Spark Accelerator Selection, and the SaaSNorth Steering committees. Over the course of his 12 years with IAF he has led 30+ investments including e-Zinc, Flosonics Medical, MindbridgeAI, Ranovus, Raven, Rockport, Upchain and Welbi. Notable exits include Privacy Analytics, 360pi, and You.i.tv. Lance is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a BA from the University of Waterloo (Accountancy and Economics), and has completed the Executive Development Program at Queen’s University and the Quantum Shift Program at the University of Western Ontario.

  • Terry Foster

    Terry Foster

    CEO, LimeLight Network

    Terry has a wealth of MarTech experience in global markets including the UK, US, Middle East and Canada over the last 20 years, He has held a number of senior leadership roles including President of Cision Canada and Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of BurrellesLuce. He is an experienced strategist with a deep understanding of how to build innovative MarTech solutions and a proven track record of developing diverse and high performing teams. He also serves on the board of directors for Thomson-Gordon Group and is Chairman of the GenWell Project.

  • Peter Evans

    Peter Evans

    Co-Founder & CEO

    Peter has worked with breakthrough technologies in sectors as diverse as healthcare, cleantech, digital media and information technology. Over the years he’s developed strategy and marketing programs for organizations operating in complex markets with a focus on technology and business model innovation, product management and thought leadership strategies. Prior to founding ExpertFile, Peter founded the technology advisory services practice at the MaRS Centre - one of the world’s top tech hubs and accelerators. Over his 10 years at MaRS he consulted to over 300 companies on strategy, and fundraising. His corporate and startup experience includes CMO roles at Platespin (later acquired by Novell) and FloNetwork (acquired by DoubleClick/Google). Prior to this he was the founding Director of Media Research at MediaLinx LLP/Sympatico where he helped scale Canada’s first national consumer Internet service and was part of the team that developed a partnership with Lycos. Over the years Peter’s client work has been recognized through industry awards and featured in media such as Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Strategy Magazine, PR Week and Harvard Business Review Online. He holds an MBA degree from Queen's University and studied Strategy & Innovation in the Executive Program at the MIT Sloan School. He holds British and Canadian citizenship.

  • Robert Carter

    Robert Carter

    Co-Founder & VP Product Development

    Robert brings a wealth of corporate, consulting and startup experience across a range of disciplines including product management, marketing and research to help drive product innovation and execute on the core business and marketing strategies for ExpertFile. In addition to a decade of hands-on consulting with technology and growth companies with Riverdale Partners, a strategic advisory firm, he has also held a variety of roles including Goldfarb Research, Bell Canada (Sympatico Internet), SaaS marketing provider FloNetwork (acquired by Doubleclick | Google) and PlateSpin - a developer of server infrastructure management software (later acquired by Novell). Robert holds an MSc. in Marketing Management / Research from the University of Guelph.

Advisors

  • David Meerman Scott

    David Meerman Scott

    Marketing Strategist, Keynote Speaker & Bestselling Author

    David is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, investor and advisor to emerging companies, and bestselling author of 12 books, including "Fanocracy" and "The New Rules of Marketing & PR." In his work with Stage 2 Capital, he advises some of the most promising new businesses in the world - companies that are transforming their industries by delivering disruptive products and services. He has also been an advisor to HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS), since 2007 when the company had a handful of customers and fewer than 10 employees. At HubSpot, he helped the team with rapid sales and marketing strategies that have grown the company to more than 100,000 customers in 120 countries and $880+ million in revenue in 2020. He has contributed to successful exits of companies as a member of the board of directors of NewsWatch KK (sale to Yahoo Japan) and Kadient (sale to Sant) and served on the board of advisors of Eloqua (IPO followed by a sale to Oracle), GrabCAD (sale to Stratasys) and YayPay (sale to Quadient).

  • Mark Greenfield

    Mark Greenfield

    Web Accessibility Officer, University at Buffalo - State University of New York (SUNY)

    Mark Greenfield is a highly regarded, influential member of the higher education web community. He is an experienced consultant and an award winning speaker who is known for his thoughtful vision of the future of the web and technology on college campuses. He is very active in the web community serving on numerous boards and committees including the HighEdWeb Board of Directors and the conference chair for the 2013 HighEdWeb National Conference. Greenfield has worked at the University at Buffalo (UB) for 35 years in a variety of technology positions. He currently serves as the campus Web Accessibility Officer providing central oversight, technical expertise and guidance, leadership and vision to support campus accessibility efforts. In addition to his work at UB, Mark has consulted with dozens of colleges and universities across the world. He specializes in strategic planning, web governance and management, web accessibility, user centered design, and emerging technologies.

  • Justin Shaw

    Justin Shaw

    Higher Education Consultants

    Justin Shaw in his capacity as a partner with ExpertFile assists the company with strategic partnerships in the UK, Ireland, United States and Australia. As part of this role he works with the extended ExpertFile team to conduct ‘expert audits’ (to help universities to identify the most appropriate academics for external profile-building based on external demand and key marketing strategies). Justin is also the Chief Higher Education Consultant for Communications Management, a consultancy specialising in addressing issues of reputation, communications, media performance, influence and engagement for universities. In this role he has worked with more than 90 universities around the world and has undertaken projects for the London School of Economics, University of London (as a whole), SOAS University of London, The Royal Veterinary College, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Birkbeck University of London, and Goldsmiths University of London. Justin previously led communications at the University of Hertfordshire and his early career was spent in print journalism (where he won a Reporter of the Year Award). He is a Fellow of the CIPR and has written several reports and papers on issues of reputation management for the higher education sector. He is also a Fellow of the higher education management consultancy The Halpin Partnership.

  • Jeffrey Cohn

    Jeffrey Cohn

    Global Managing Partner, Elevate (DHR International)

    Jeffrey has over two decades of experience as a partner and succession expert at global leadership advisories firms including N2Growth, Elevate Partners, Spencer Stuart, and Heidrick & Struggles. A frequent contributor for the Harvard Business Review on topics like leadership and innovation; quoted over fifty times as a CEO expert by Fortune, Economist, Wall Street Journal, The Street, and USA Today; a frequent contributor on CNBC's Closing Bell show about CEO leadership; created panels at the World Economic Forum in Davos; and co-authored an award-winning book, “Why are We Bad at Picking Good Leaders, A Better Way To Evaluate Leadership Potential.” He has also spoken, lectured and participated in leadership panels at Oxford, INSEAD, and Harvard.