There’s a good chance this isn’t the first time you’re learning that Kyle Turk has just joined Ottawa-based Altis Recruitment as its new vice-president of marketing.
His LinkedIn announcement, posted last week during the first day on his new job, quickly attracted 600 reactions, along with a couple hundred comments of a congratulatory nature.
You see, the opportunity to work for a national firm such as Altis was just too good for Turk to pass up.
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“I’m hoping to make a big impact,” said the 2018 Forty Under 40 award recipient.
Turk is a well-known face in Ottawa business circles, both from his years of working as head of marketing for Welch LLP and Welch Capital Partners and, more recently, as vice-president of marketing for executive search firm Keynote Search.
Don’t let Turk’s social and affable demeanour fool you. He proved himself a champion fighter in 2019 during the annual white-collar boxing gala for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
“Fight for the Cure is probably the fundraiser I’m most proud of,” said the 37-year-old married father of two. “That was a lot of fun.”
In his new role at Altis, Turk will be building out strategic plans, implementing new marketing technologies, running marketing campaigns and helping with content. “It’s somewhat of a similar role to what I was doing at Keynote but it’s on a bit of a larger scale because the company is quite a bit bigger.”
Altis, which employs more than 200 people, does recruiting for both contract and permanent positions, as well as technology recruitment. Just days into his new job, Turk was feeling very positive about his new employer. “Everyone’s been very, very welcoming and going out of their way to make time to help onboard me and help me get integrated into the business,” he said. “I’ve been super impressed with them, so far.”
With hybrid work environments all the rage these days, Turk expects to be at the office about 50 per cent of the time. He’s working with a marketing team now, which is a change that he very much welcomes. “It’s a lot more collaboration,” he said of his new position.
Turk, who was born and raised in Peterborough, has been working in his field since graduating 15 years ago from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., where he studied business administration with a major in marketing.
It was his role as co-founder and director of marketing for Faces Magazine that brought him to Ottawa from Halifax in 2010. He successfully launched the publication in the nation’s capital before selling it several years later.
Turk said he loves being exposed to the different facets of marketing, along with figuring out the analytics behind the buyers’ journey. “I find it really interesting to evaluate how different things work and resonate with one target market versus another.”
He also enjoys finding creative ways to engage new audiences and to attract new clients using social media. “I love that social media gets to be part of my job. It’s fun, and it’s a great way to connect with people and stay in touch with everyone.”
Turk acknowledged that it wasn’t easy to leave Keynote, where he had worked for more than three and a half years. “Honestly, I loved Keynote. I still love Keynote. I had a really great relationship with the entire team there. I loved the people and getting to see everybody every day. It was a good spot to make an impact and grow the company.”
Turk said he’s excited to be joining Altis, which he believes will offer him further career growth. He’s also looking forward to working with Kathryn Tremblay, CEO and co-founder of Altis Recruitment, excelHR, excellTR and Altis Technology, as well as Ottawa’s 2021 CEO of the Year.
“I feel like I’ve found my career home with such a high-performing team that will motivate me to bring my A-game and best version of myself to work every day,” said Turk.
Also on the move across Ottawa
Veteran construction executive Kevin Cinq-Mars has joined Bellai Alliance Civil as its new president. Cinq-Mars was most recently working at Thomas Cavanagh Construction as its president following a 10-year career with Tomlinson Group of Companies, where he held the position of president for four years. He also worked for years at Waste Management, holding various executive roles.
Canada’s largest RV Dealership has announced the promotion of Darcy Beckstead to president of the group. Beckstead worked with Leisure Days RV Group from 2006 until 2009 and, before rejoining the group in March 2021, worked for Mierins Automotive Group. He will oversee a portfolio of 32 RV dealerships in Canada. “Darcy brings a tremendous amount of business and financial experience to the role,” said Leisure Days RV Group CEO Pat Butler in a press release. “I look forward to Darcy providing the leadership to our group to help us as we continue to grow our business.”
Public and government relations professional Danielle McGee has joined Ottawa Community Housing Corporation as its new manager of public and stakeholder relations. She had worked for more than 10 years as director of community relations for Mayor Jim Watson, who has decided not to run again in this fall’s municipal election.
Carrie Irvine has been hired as the new senior director of marketing, membership and communications for the Rideau Club, a private social club in Ottawa that’s been around since 1865. She brings to the role nearly 20 years’ experience in marketing, including a combined 10 years as director of marketing for St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
Lydia Blanchard has joined the Ottawa Art Gallery as its new chief development officer after working for the past three years as director of community engagement for the CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) Foundation. Blanchard started her career in the hospitality industry working in sales for The Minto Group’s Minto Suite Hotel, Fairmont Château Laurier and other local hotels.
The Dovercourt Recreation Association board of directors has announced its hiring of Sureen Gosal as its new executive director. Gosal, who started last month, was formerly the executive director of the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre. He replaced John Rapp, who retired last month. Similarly, the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group has announced that it has hired Sarah Routliffe to fill the big shoes left by Mary Tsai, the longtime executive director prior to her recent retirement. Routliffe spent more than 14 years at the Jack Purcell community centre in Centretown, working her way up to general manager, followed by executive director.
Hats Off
Several Ottawa entrepreneurs and professionals made the latest list of appointees to our country’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada. The list includes longtime tech entrepreneur Eli Fathi, who retired last year as CEO of MindBridge Ai; award-winning Canadian wildlife photographer Michelle Valberg, who also founded the Project North charity; and Gowling WLG partner Jacques Shore, who is past board chair of the Library and Archives Canada Foundation and current president of the Ottawa Titans Field of Dreams Foundation.
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