WSI & Our Marketing Team
Any organizations' resources can be stretched by the variety of demands it faces. By tapping into our worldwide skills base we are are confident that we will always bring to bear the correct knowledge and expertise for every project.
About WSI & Our Marketing Team
We believe in a team approach to internet marketing at WSI. By combining business & marketing executives, website design & development professionals, great content writers, social media experts, paid search professionals, and search engine & analytics experts, we can develop an integrated strategy that makes the most effective use of your marketing dollars.
Because we all have different skill sets, our round-table of professionals can work on their individual area of expertise and in harmony with each other to develop a solution that is professional and optimal from every standpoint.
We know that great design, search engine position or even the newest technology, alone, will not be enough to effectively maximize the power of the internet. It is the combination of creative, analytical, technical and business minds that can best ensure success. Meet our Portland, ME and Chicago, IL team below.
WSI Local Marketing Team
Ryan Adams, President
Ryan leads the local Portland, ME and Chicago, IL office as lead WSI Certified Internet Marketing Consultant and business owner. Having successfully developed several start-up companies, both online and offline, he launched his next venture and opened a WSI Internet Marketing franchise in 2 states.
Ryan graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Southern Maine as well as receiving several advanced certifications from Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business and Cornell University. He is also a Google Certified Analytics consultant and holds several certifications in internet marketing from SEMPO, the leading educator in the field of internet marketing. To date Ryan has helped 100's of web sites and companies thrive online.
Leah Adams, General Manager
Leah manages the day-to-day operations in the Sanford and Portland Maine offices. She is a native of Kennebunkport and received her Bachelors in Marketing with a minor in Leadership and Women from Simmons College in Boston, MA.
Prior to joining WSI, Leah has spent her post grad years working for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, Gillette, and Joslin Diabetes Center. She brings to WSI her marketing and business experience working for larger corporations and non-profits, and helps small to medium sized companies implement effective strategies on a smaller scale.
Ron Rodi, Director of Business Development
Ron Rodi is the Director of Business Development and Marketing Advisor for WSI in the greater Chicago area. Ron is actively involved with his clients, providing strategy and planning and internet consulting to determine the next step to their overall marketing plan. A graduate from Marquette University in 1999, Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Marketing and Public Relations.
His current venture succeeds extensive sales and marketing experience, growing his territory from $2 million to $25 million over his career. Focused now on growing the WSI business in Chicago, Ron is eager to help his clients excel with the many tools WSI has to offer. An active member of the Lakeview community and member of multiple organizations throughout Chicago, Ron and his wife Jennifer have lived in the Lakeview neighborhood for 4 years.
Lisa Fields, Director of Online Marketing
Lisa is responsible for developing and executing online marketing strategies for WSI and their clients.
Lisa is an experienced Marketing professional who has expertise in various aspects of Internet Marketing; including social media, SEO, e-mail marketing, web site development, web site optimization, and much more. Most recently Lisa worked with international software company, Panda Security, managing their online B2B and consumer initiatives. She also has considerable experience growing e-commerce business for various types of markets, increasing online sales exponentially.
Katharine Rancourt, Social Media & Lead Generation Strategist
Katharine leads our Social Media and Lead Generation strategies for WSI clients. She graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a B.A. in Public Relations and Marketing Communications. Her professional career has been focused in the advertising and marketing arenas. Working for advertising agencies ISM in Boston and BCF in Virginia Katharine represented brands like the Barbados Tourism Authority, The Massachusetts Port Authority, Red Lion Hotels, Amelia Island Florida and the Virginia Aquarium. Katharine managed print, radio, television and online ad campaigns as well as managing client websites and lead generation.
Katharine currently lives in Lebanon, NH with her husband Will and their daughters.
Mike Evans, Internet Marketing Consultant
Mike Evans is a WSI Internet Marketing Consultant. With 8 years of print publishing experience in Chicago, Mike came to WSI with the firm understanding that the way for businesses to reach customers is quickly moving to digital.
He has a passion for helping clients grow their businesses using internet marketing and achieving their marketing goals with strategy and creativity. Mike is constantly learning innovative ways to grow a business in this competitive economy. He holds a BA in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Iowa (2001) and is an active participant in Chicago's growing Interactive Marketing community.
Patrick Liddy, Content Writer and Social Media Marketer
Prior to joining WSI, Patrick’s primary experience has been in financial research and analysis. He has worked as a governance ratings analyst and content writer at GovernanceMetrics International and research associate with ValuFinder Group. Patrick also has experience writing grant proposals for various Maine-based foundations and small businesses.
Patrick graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management at the Muskie School of Public Service.
Bryan Mayo, Developer/Programmer
Bryan Mayo is has been a Developer/Programmer for over 22 years, developing everything from simple board games to 3-D first person shooter games. He received a mathematics pin and a certificate in computer literacy for Apple computers his freshman year, being his first introduction to even using computers, he fell in love with computers and hasn't looked back earning several certifications in various computer programming languages.
Bryan has also taught Graphic Arts and Desktop Publishing for 3 years and continues to design and build sophisticated programs and applications in a wide variety of industries.
WSI Corporate Team
Ron McArthur, President (WSI Corporate)
Having joined the company in 2004, Ron McArthur continues to focus WSI efforts on the growth and profitability of our customers, Consultants and partners within the WSI e-Marketplace. Ably positioned at the helm, Ron has built a team that embraces the concept of strong relationships in all their interactions within our global community. With his long standing experience in the franchise industry and unrelenting focus on providing superior customer service, Ron leads the WSI team towards realizing the company’s vision - to be the world's leading provider of Internet solutions to the small and medium size business (SMB) market.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Ron’s previous assignments include being President of Hudson’s Bay Wholesale (a division of the Hudson’s Bay Company). Ron was also President of Van Houtte’s largest Office Coffee division and Executive Vice President of their corporation’s Mergers and Acquisitions department.
Valerie Brown-Dufour, VP Business Strategy and Innovation (WSI Corporate)
As Vice President of Business Strategy and Innovation, Valerie leverages the collective intelligence of the WSI network to lead the company through strategic projects that enhance the value of the WSI offering. Focusing on growth opportunities for the expanding network of Internet Consultants, she plays a pivotal role in the implementation of key initiatives such as WSI’s Oracle-based enterprise business system. Drawing from her comprehensive understanding of international franchising, Valerie drives innovation and value to enrich and make unique the WSI experience for all audiences.
Maribel Guiste, VP Franchise Operations (WSI Corporate)
Maribel Guiste, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) leads WSI Franchise Operations in her role as Vice President and is WSI’s liaison to the International Franchise Association (IFA) and Canadian Franchise Association (CFA). In managing the day-to-day operations of the Franchise Training and Support team, her responsibilities include ensuring that WSI Consultants and their clients enjoy the highest level of service and support from WSI headquarters. Maribel has an educational foundation in training and psychological development and has been a successful entrepreneur herself. With this background she brings ongoing value to the WSI system providing leadership in customer service excellence. As a member of the WSI team for close to a decade, Maribel remains committed to help deliver the most complete and progressive training, tools and support programs enabling WSI Consultants to grow their businesses profitably and serve their clients better.
Len Taylor, CA.IT, VP IT (WSI Corporate)
As an IT certified Chartered Accountant, Len brings a business focus to all system related projects ensuring the solution is in line with the operational needs. Len Taylor has been working with the Oracle E-Business Suite of products since 1993 and led many implementations, in addition to using the system for day-to-day operations for nearly ten years of his career. He is a member of the Toronto Oracle User Group Board of Directors and has presented and published white papers on various topics related to the Oracle systems. After beginning a consulting relationship with WSI in the fall of 2006 relating to the Oracle system implementation, he joined the company in 2007. In addition to his focus on implementing the Oracle system for the WSI e-Marketplace, Len’s responsibilities include leading the company’s IT team in the sourcing, development and application of solutions that deliver premium value to system users, providing world-class systems and operational reliability for the use of both Head Office and the WSI Consultant community.
Kishor Vyas, Controller (WSI Corporate)
In his position as Controller, Kishor’s mandate is to manage the fiscal responsibility of the Company and ensure due diligence of financial best practices company-wide. Kishor performs a strategic role on the WSI Management team to help plan, provide and mobilize appropriate resources required by WSI Consultants and partners within the e-Marketplace. Kishor is focused on driving significant process improvements to help WSI receive the maximum return on resources deployed. In addition to utilizing his skills for financial matters, Kishor leverages his experience to facilitate strategic decision making and consistent direction that drives additional sustainable profitability for the entire WSI network.
WSI Strategic Implementation Team
Our WSI Implementation Team includes specialists in the following categories:
- Business and Marketing Professionals
- Project Managers
- Certified Google Analytics Consultants
- Google Adwords Certified Marketing Specialists
- Search Engine Institute Certified Marketers
- SEMPO Certified Internet Marketing Professionals
- Production Managers
- Joomla Web Development
- Dot Net Nuke Web Development
- Social Media Specialists
- Web Graphic Designers
- Technology Developers
- Website Programmers
- Flash Developers
- Website Copywriters/Content Writers
- Blog Writers
- Photographers (if needed)
- Internet Marketing Specialists
- Print Designers
- Email Marketing Campaign Implementation