8020Info Profile:  Bios

   Photo by Rob Whelan 

Robert A. Wood
CEO/President, 8020Info Inc.

With more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, research,  communications, marketing, media management and facilitation, Rob’s career began after his formal education at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (Commerce ’76), where he concentrated on applied mathematics/statistics, research, and marketing.

He followed that with two years working as Executive Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services and then two years as an award-winning newspaper editor.

His career background includes his role as Managing Partner of Wood & Wood Communications, a marketing strategy, research and communications consulting firm, which was later purchased (in 1999) by Enterprise Canada Research. This company undertook dozens of studies for clients as varied as radio stations, newspapers, hospitals, political parties, community colleges and municipalities.

In 1987, Rob’s career took him to the Frontenac County Board of Education, as Manager of Administrative Services and Communications. Here he oversaw office administration, marketing and communications for the Board office, and managed the service unit that supported the Board of Trustees.

During the 1990s, prior to launching 8020Info Inc., Rob served first as Program Director/ Director of Research and then as General Manager for the CHUM Radio Group where he managed four radio stations in eastern Ontario — two in Kingston and two in Brockville.

A former part-time instructor specializing in marketing and public relations at the St. Lawrence College School of Business, Rob has been a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops, including presentations in Halifax, Gander, Summerside, Waterloo, London, Sudbury, Kingston, Brockville, Belleville, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

In his current practice, he has been actively involved as a consultant on a variety of strategic planning, public consultation and marketing communications projects. (See http://www.8020info.com/about-8020info/)

He is also busy as a facilitator – in a typical year he would lead more than 100 focus group or planning sessions, public meetings and workshops.

8020Info received the Small Business of the Year Award in 2002, and Rob was also nominated for Business Person of the Year. In 2016 he was inducted into Kingston’s Business Hall of Fame for his mentorship and community leadership.

As a community leader, he currently is board chair for the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, serves on the Queen’s Family Health Team Advisory Board and Queen’s Family Medicine Standing Research Committee, is an advisor to the Kingston Social Value Fund, a member of the residential hospice fundraising cabinet and a founding member of the SPEAKingston board (a group supporting smart growth in the community).

He has been active for more than two decades on community boards and task forces such as the Downtown Kingston! Marketing Strategy Committee, Kingston Technology Council, Kingston Technology Exchange Centre, the Grand Theatre Advisory Board, Kingston Cultural Initiative (serving as founding chair for three years), Kingston Symphony,  the Queen’s Journal Board, the Whig-Standard Community Editorial Board and the Community Committee to Honour Great Kingstonians.

In his spare time he studies Mandarin.

Harvey Schachter
Consultant & Facilitator, 8020Info Inc.

Harvey is a consultant, editor and writer, specializing in management and business issues. He writes the weekly Managing and Power Points columns for The Globe and Mail and contributes to various publications, including Kingston Life and Canadian Government Executive. He also has worked on a variety of projects for various levels of government

Harvey has spent the bulk of his career in the mass media, giving him a unique understanding of how ideas and images are assimilated by a community, and has blended that with practical management and marketing experience.

After obtaining his B. Comm., Harvey edited the McGill News, taking it into the top ten rankings for North American alumni magazines, and then spent four years at the Toronto Star, as an education and feature writer. Harvey worked at The Kingston Whig-Standard for 16 years and held a variety of senior positions, including Planning and Promotions Manager, and Editor, winning an Owl award for his marketing work and two National Newspaper Awards for his writing.

Kathryn A. Wood
Director and Consultant, 8020Info Inc.

Kathy Wood (Rob’s sister) has more than 25 years experience advising and providing project implementation support to businesses, institutions and not-for-profit organizations. She holds two degrees from Queen’s University (a B.A Hons. in Economics – 1977 and a B.Sc. Hons. in Environmental Science – 1996). As well as serving now as President/CEO of her own firm (Pivotal Momentum Inc.), Kathy is a Director of 8020Info.

Kathy has a strong background in market and public opinion research including more than 100 research projects of all types (telephone surveys, focus groups, intercept studies, one-on-one interviews, literature reviews, and secondary data analyses). She has also developed communications plans, handled crisis communications for multiple clients, has developed training programs in media relations, and coached clients to success in these interactions.

As the name of her firm implies, Kathy is now focused on supporting clients with strategy redevelopment in times of uncertainty and disruptive change, and pairs this with financial/economic modelling that allows clients to understand the implications of their current path as well as test the probable outcomes of scenarios they may be considering. She has translated this expertise into a 31-day self-directed eWorkbook for small business owners seeking a distinctive path to growth and success. Kathy is a project developer, manager and facilitator of transformative projects in agriculture, regional economic development, labour markets, technology, tourism, and a range of public sector services.

Other 8020Info Resources:

Depending on project requirements, we are able to propose or recommend services of experienced writers and associates for various creative assignments.  We can also draw on the specialized expertise of members of our advisory board.