MRSI Benchmarking Inc.
Head office: Vancouver
In 2008 Tara Landes returned to her native Vancouver and began looking for work. This quest ultimately led to her realization that the work she loved is the work she was already doing at Management Research & Solutions in Toronto. David generously allowed her to piggyback on the name and some of the intellectual property she had developed while employed at Management Research & Solutions to create a new firm, MRSI Benchmarking Inc.
Tara Landes, President
Tara joined Management Research & Solutions in 2000 bringing several years of sales experience in the technology and public markets sectors. In her role as Director of Implementation Services, Tara spent most of her time implementing lasting, valuable change for clients. She was involved in researching and disseminating best practices across the Implementation Team and ensuring an appropriate customization for each client. In 2008, Tara relocated to Vancouver and founded MRSI Benchmarking. A sought-after speaker on a wide range of business topics, Tara obtained a BA (Honors) in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario and earned an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. (More)
Leonard Firkus, P. Eng., Director
Leonard joined Management Research & Solutions in Toronto in 2003 following a successful career as a Professional Engineer in transportation in Vancouver. Earlier than Tara he came to his senses and moved back to Vancouver, leaving the work he loved behind in Toronto. He was in a corporate development role which ended when Tara’s relentless pursuit convinced him to join her in 2009 as a founding member of MRSI Benchmarking. He has worked as a Benchmarking Analyst and Implementation Consultant in over 100 different client businesses spanning a vast spectrum of industries. Leonard’s disarming style combined with his analytical background has proven a very effective combination in working with the leadership and senior management of companies to identify and implement lasting change with a strong focus on delivering results.
Leonard is a registered P.Eng. with a BASc from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business (London Ontario). He is also a committed father of 2, outdoor enthusiast and avid curler. (More)
Jonathan Bennett, Director
Jonathan Bennett joined MRSI Benchmarking in 2011 as Director, Marketing and Communications. A seasoned communications and marketing executive, Jonathan’s strong creative and strategic background provides a valuable asset to our clients. An award winning communicator, Jonathan’s past roles include Chief Communications Officer at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre where he was a member of the hospital’s senior management team. He is a winner of the prestigious “Communicator of the Year” award given by the Ontario Hospital Association. Jonathan has worked in the health care sector, the book publishing industry, and the non-profit sector. Also a widely published writer, he is the author of five critically acclaimed books. As a volunteer, Jonathan served a member of the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society where he was President for a term, and as a board member of the Writers’ Trust of Canada. (More)
Jon Caiger, Project Manager
Bringing a wealth of experience to our clients as Project Manager, Jon has held senior positions in the banking industry including, most recently, Associate Director and Senior Private Banker at BMO Harris Private Banking, and Senior Account Manager, Commercial Banking at Bank of Montreal. Prior to this, Jon was a Project Manager with MRSI in our Toronto office for four years. He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at UWO, an LL.B. from the University of Toronto, and did his undergraduate work at Queen’s University. Jon has a sterling track record of creating value and facilitating improvement in almost every area of our client’s business—individual performance improvement, accountability systems, sales improvement, financial controls, operations improvement. Simply put, Jon is one of those rare people who is Jack of all Trades and Master of all. All that and he’s a fun guy to be around. (More)
Ashley Ward, Management Consultant
Delivering superior results for our clients, Ashley Ward goes more than the extra mile to ensure the MRSI experience delivers meaningful, lasting change. Whether she is working directly at a client site, supporting business development, or checking in with former clients, Ashley’s commitment, hands-on experience, and focus are evident to all who work with her. Before joining MRSI as a Management Consultant, Ashley was a Design Consultant at California Closets. Prior to that, Ashley was a General Manager at College Pro Painters where she also owned a franchise for four years, experiencing first-hand the same ups and downs of running a small business that many of her clients now face. She holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at UWO and an undergraduate degree in mathematics and biology from Acadia University. An avid sports enthusiast, Ashley plays competitive soccer. (More)
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Management Research & Solutions Inc.
Head office: Toronto
David Cook, CEO and Founder
David’s ability to connect with business leaders comes from his passion for excellence and the pursuit of potential. Included in that pursuit is the recognition that positive change starts with the leader, which inevitably requires breaking out of old patterns of thinking. David challenges management teams to think creatively, work together to solve problems and take ownership of results. He has built a unique and highly engaging implementation team with the same drive to truly impact clients, and he continues to be personally involved in the recruitment process to ensure the MRSI team has the traits required to produce lasting and valuable change. David is a graduate of the Ivey Business School (HBA).
Paul Smith, Director
Prior to joining MRSI in 1998, Paul worked in a wide variety of industries including retail, government, hospitality and oil and gas. This breadth of experience served him well, while he was the Managing Partner of the Ivey Business Consulting Group in 1997.
Paul joined MRSI in 1998 and has worked in all facets of the business. As the Director of Support Services, he spends his time working side by side with senior management to navigate long-term change efforts. The Support Services department typically works with clients after a direct implementation has concluded. Paul enjoys the focus on long-term habit creation and particularly the leadership development of executives and CEOs during and following the initial change process. Paul also has a high aptitude for research and plays an integral role in the investigation and integration of best practices through all MRSI departments.
Paul obtained an MA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, and earned an MBA (Honors) from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.(more)
Peter Pocklington, Director
Prior to joining MRSI, Peter spent eight years working in private equity conducting economic, company and competitive analysis on potential acquisition targets across a variety of industries. Once acquired, Peter provided operational support to portfolio companies with an intense focus on enhancing top and bottom line performance.
Peter began his career with MRSI in 2002 implementing best practice solutions. In his current role as a Benchmarking Analyst, Peter is focused on benchmarking his client’s business processes against best practices and discussing the resulting operational gaps to company leadership. Peter’s ability to quickly identify, quantify and prioritize operational gaps adds clarity to a variety of change management options.
Away from the office, Peter enjoys windsurfing, hiking and reading a wide variety of philosophical texts.
Peter completed a BA in economics at the University of Western Ontario and earned an MBA (Honours) from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.(more)
