Today is International Employee Appreciation Day and it couldn’t come at a better time!2020 was a year of learning to quickly adapt and change and we grew and in 2021 we are stronger than ever. This team has a lot to do with that!!Thank you for making a difference in Graf-Martin and in the organizations and ministries we support. We're grateful for the people who make us smile, the people who make work fun, and the people we can count on to get the job done! Your hard work and creativity is appreciated by all!

Meet our Staff!

From Ellen:

Ben has been on the Graf-Martin Communications team since October of 2015, and has become a fundamental piece of all our online campaigns. He is experienced with most online advertising platforms, and has continued to revitalize our in-depth targeting to boost our results. He’s got a passion for numbers and data, and loves finding new ways to utilize the information that we have. During our comprehensive brand processes, he really digs in to find the most important themes and trends in our client’s audiences. He was born and raised in Elmira Ontario, but has lived in Germany and enjoys travelling the world. He also enjoys being lost in the woods, pomegranates, and learning absurd facts. Ben shows up with a smile, every single day. He loves the deep data dives, and when he does that deep dive, his enthusiasm is infectious!

Cheryl joined Graf-Martin as Managing Director in 2020 and her results driven approach to her work had an immediate impact on our whole team. Cheryl works alongside Ellen to deliver our clients the results they need with a laser-like focus and passionate commitment. Cheryl has been working in the social justice advocacy field for over 25 years with experience ranging from local community advocacy projects to international advocacy campaigns. Her passion is to motivate and enable Canadians to be active participants in local, national and international communities working to ensure full well-being for the least of these. Cheryl has an Honours BA in History and Political Science from Carleton University and an MA in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University. She is married and a parent to two university aged children. She loves hiking, biking, roller-blading – anything that gets her outdoors. Cheryl’s dedication to doing our job, well, inspires us! She helps our clients and our team shine, by bringing clarity and heart!

Dan joined GMC in 2021 as our Marketing Manager. Dan combines a heart for social justice with a strong background in communications, advocacy, and marketing. He spent 10 years with World Vision Canada, helping lead advocacy campaigns focused on child protection and child health, leading a marketing communications team and supporting a stewardship team. Dan thrives in collaborative settings, and excels at knitting together marketing strategies that are complimented with engaging content and events. Dan, his wife and two young children can often be found hiking trails in and around Guelph. Dan’s inquisitive nature, and commitment to growth – as well as a sharp mind to keep projects on track, are a welcome addition to our team.

Nat – Nathaniel joined Graf-Martin in the fall of 2019 as our Junior Marketing Assistant. Since joining our team Nathaniel has contributed greatly to our database of Canadian church leaders and works alongside Ben with our digital outreach, consumer engagement innovation and social media ad management. He also uses his passion for audio equipment in his role as the technical producer of our audio and video podcasts recorded at GMC. Outside of work, Nathaniel has an intense passion for music and a complicated friendship with his housecat, Theophilus. Nat made our podcast possible, through his technical skill and willingness to try new things. Now, those same qualities make him valuable in so many other areas!

Shannon began working at Graf-Martin at the start of 2020, and brought with her 15 years of experience in the digital and influencer marketing world. She also happens to be one of Canada’s original top bloggers and influencers. Shannon has a knack for developing relationships, which in the PR & Publicity world, makes her feel right at home. When she’s not networking, growing online communities, or helping others amplify their message, she co-pastors a church in Kitchener with her husband Dave, and has for the past 25 years. They serve on a local and international level, along with their 4 kids (and a new daughter-in-law). Shannon is incredibly resourceful, genuine, and quick to smile – and build deep relationships with a view to making others shine. Her natural ability to connect is so refreshing! 

Laura works tirelessly behind the scenes as our Office Manager. She joined the team in May 2018, and her fingerprints are all over our work - even if you don’t see them! Laura’s dedication, eye for detail, and thinking a project through, is a gift! She makes sure we do things right – the first time. And, her laugh is a true joy!

Veronica started working with Graf-Martin Communications in January of 2020 as a Publicity Assistant. Her incredible work ethic, eye for detail and organizational talent has blessed every employee at GMC and she was quickly promoted to Marketing Coordinator. She now supports our client marketing processes at a high level with a dedicated eye for detail. She is a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Honours Communication Studies. Veronica comes from a church leadership background where she helped lead and develop community programs for children and youth. Veronica and her husband enjoy discovering coffee shops in KW and going on walks with their boisterous hound, Poto. Veronica’s quiet creativity is a welcome delight, with huge impact. Her willingness to jump right in and try new things is so encouraging to all of us.

Natalie: As an award-winning designer with 14 years experience in the industry, Natalie has worked alongside amazing organizations to help tell impactful stories through their brand messaging and visuals. Natalie is committed to innovative solutions that support the end goals of each unique project, uncovering what makes our clients shine. She was also proud to lead the design for GMC on a Canada 150 book project which was awarded first place at the New York Book Show. Natalie lives north of Toronto with her husband and two sweet boys, working as a remote, but invaluable, team member. After over 6 years with our team, Natalie’s fingerprints are everywhere, in the best possible way. We love the flexibility, creativity and commitment she brings to every project! Many thanks for all your hard work! You are valued and your dedication to this company and to our clients is appreciated.