Learn from Producers Who Actually Produce
Our core instructors are seasoned producers and executives who have led award-winning work across every corner of the industry. They bring decades of experience from top agencies and production companies, translating lessons from real productions into clear, actionable guidance. Their collective expertise covers everything from film and digital content to experiential activations and advertising campaigns—making Producer U a masterclass in modern producing.
Instructors
Erin Ruth Clare
Erin Ruth Clare
A bilingual Senior Event Director and Producer with extensive experience leading large-scale experiential marketing and global events. She’s produced high-impact activations for Nike, Ferrari, Coca-Cola, Shell, TD, and FIFA World Cup, alongside major nonprofit campaigns for the Canadian Cancer Society and MADD Canada. Her expertise spans logistics, vendor management, sponsorship activations, and complex event execution—balancing creativity with precision. Known for her ability to align teams, vendors, and clients through detailed planning and clear communication, she consistently delivers seamless experiences that elevate brands and inspire audiences.
Jen Dark
Jen Dark
A veteran Head of Integrated Production and Consultant with over 25 years of experience leading cross-disciplinary teams and delivering award-winning campaigns across every medium. She has built and scaled production departments for top agencies and in-house studios, driving creative innovation and operational efficiency. Her expertise spans traditional, digital, experiential, and branded content ecosystems, consistently balancing craft, speed, and strategy. Known for her calm, solutions-oriented leadership, she’s a trusted executive partner who guides global campaigns, optimizes workflows, and mentors future leaders. Her career reflects a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and the evolving art of integrated production.
Helen Garcia
Helen Garcia
A seasoned operations leader with over 20 years of experience guiding teams, streamlining workflows, and helping agencies deliver complex digital projects with clarity and confidence. Over her career, she’s worked across marketing, creative, and technology teams—building the systems, structure, and trust that keep great ideas moving forward.
Helen has led operational transformation at multiple agencies, where she’s known for simplifying the complicated, connecting people and process, and making teams feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. She believes that great project management isn’t about bureaucracy—it’s about communication, alignment, and understanding how to get the best out of each other.
Passionate about mentoring the next generation of producers, Helen brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to digital operations. Her goal is to help others find their rhythm—balancing creative energy with smart, sustainable systems that make the work (and the people behind it) thrive.
Cynthia Heyd
Cynthia Heyd
An innovative production leader with more than 35 years experience in the advertising industry working with TV, digital, radio, web content, and new media projects. She has driven production evolution in management roles at BBDO, Y&R, CBC, and TAXI Canada.
She launched a number of companies after leaving the agency world in response to the ever changing marketing landscape. Today, she is at the helm of The Deli Production Agency working with agencies and brands to determine how best to create content for all mediums.
Terry Kavanagh
Terry Kavanagh
A Senior Producer with over 30 years of experience producing award-winning broadcast and digital content for major brands including Visa, PepsiCo, Ford, RBC, and Molson. Currently at Omnicom Production, she supports TBWA\Canada and BBDO Canada, bringing deep expertise in creative production and collaboration. She has also held various production roles, ranging from Producer to Head of Production, at Young & Rubicam, MacLaren McCann, Ogilvy, and JWT to name a few. A respected mentor and former member of the ICA Production Advisory Committee, she’s known for her integrity, professionalism, and passion for excellence in every project she leads.
Kevin Saffer
Kevin Saffer
A Toronto-based executive producer and co-founder of The Deli - a boutique production agency known for crafting high-end commercials and cutting-edge experiences for major international brands including Amazon, Google, McDonalds and more. With a career that spans over two decades in film, television, and advertising, Kevin began his journey in film and TV production in Canada, gaining hands-on experience in everything from scripted network TV series to feature films for major studios. His creative sensibility and sharp production instincts eventually led him to the agency world, where he honed his skills as an agency producer, helping shape content and campaigns for leading brands across North America.
In 2012, Kevin pivoted from agency life to entrepreneurship, founding a series of production companies culminating in The Deli. As an executive producer, he has been behind some of the most innovative experiential and event work in Canada, including large-scale brand activations, immersive installations, and hybrid live/digital campaigns for global clients. Kevin’s work blends storytelling with technology and cultural insight, consistently pushing the boundaries of how audiences engage with brands in real life
Phil Sylver
Phil Sylver
A creative problem-solver and brand builder with over 20 years in advertising. As Head of Creative, Brand & Content at Skip (formerly SkipTheDishes), he oversees all creative output, driving standout campaigns that merge cultural relevance with long-term brand growth. A hands-on “player/coach,” he has led award-winning work for brands like GM, Coca-Cola, TD, and Reebok at agencies including TAXI, DDB, and Bensimon Byrne. From SkipTheDishes’ “Playoff Pants” to Kraft’s Bulldozer BBQ, his ideas break through clutter and connect with real audiences. Known for building enduring brand strategies and high-performing creative teams, he brings both strategic vision and craft-level detail to every project he touches.
Kim Zaninovich
Kim Zaninovich
An Executive Producer with a career spanning entertainment, marketing, and digital innovation. She began at Buena Vista Pictures and 20th Century Fox before joining E! Entertainment Television, later transitioning into online marketing for major studios and game publishers. Now VP Executive Producer at The Martin Agency, she leads interdisciplinary teams delivering award-winning campaigns across broadcast, digital, and experiential platforms. Known for uniting creative vision with strategic execution, she’s built a reputation for clarity, collaboration, and leadership that empowers teams to bring ambitious ideas to life.
Elliot Feld
Elliot Feld
Elliot is a commercial director and producer known for creating high-end branded content across multiple platforms. He brings a wealth of production experience, shaping campaigns that not only look great — they perform. His digital work has generated over a billion views on YouTube alone. He's worked with top global brands including Facebook, Google, Coca-Cola, and Apple, and has collaborated with a wide range of talent — from Clint Eastwood and Gal Gadot to Ben Affleck, Bill Maher, Lindsey Stirling, and Tony Dungy.
Clare Dietrich
Clare Dietrich
With more than two decades of experience across client-side and agency settings, Clare, better known as Cash, combines wide-ranging expertise to lead integrated production. Her career spans everything from global campaigns to boutique creative projects, giving her a deep understanding of how to scale ideas without compromising craft. As an Integrated Senior Producer and Head of Broadcast/Production consultant, she has led large, multi-tiered productions, partnered closely with production companies, and built long-standing relationships with clients and internal teams.
Renowned for her calm command under pressure, Clare blends clear communication with strong commercial awareness to navigate complex production challenges. She approaches every assignment with a solutions-oriented mindset, ensuring creative ambitions are fully realized while upholding the highest standards of execution. An adaptable and articulate leader, she brings mature judgment, thoughtful collaboration, and well-developed project management skills to every stage of the production process.
Neil Walker Wells
Neil Walker Wells
Neil is a world-travelling, non-conformist creative chameleon always on the lookout for a crazy idea and a smart way to make it. He’s launched Virgin Atlantic in the Middle East, sparked furious debate for GoDaddy in the NBA, stepped up the NFL’s fantasy game, created a world first AI campaign for Nissan, refreshed the CBC brand, and helped save lives with Signal for Help. The work has seen him grace every major award show worldwide. After stints at TBWA, Saatchi&Saatchi, McCann, Y&R and Ogilvy he’s now CCO at not so secret, an agency he co-founded to give himself and his production partner a new model designed to make creativity great again.
Stephanie Walker Wells
Stephanie Walker Wells
Stephanie is president and co-founder of not so secret - a creative advertising and production company uniquely positioned to concept and produce brand content. She has been involved in production for the past twenty years, working with some of largest EMEA and Canadian production houses and ad agencies. Along the way she has developed an extensive portfolio of television commercials and has experience with big budget long format productions. On any given day she could be found shutting down six lane highways in Dubai for General Motors, wrangling locations and crew on Mission Impossible and Star Trek, overseeing the construction of ads for IKEA, or casually placing 51st in the 2024 One Club creative rankings. On top of running not so secret she continues to consult with agencies and in-house production departments bringing a mix of strategic insight, creative problem solving, and an instinct for collaboration to every project she touches.
Evan Blacker
Evan Blacker
Evan Blacker is a production and operations leader with extensive experience across commercial production, virtual production, and studio operations. As Director of Operations at 2D House, he oversees day-to-day facility management, virtual production workflows, client services, and cross-department coordination—bridging creative ambition with practical execution.
Evan works closely with producers, agencies, and technical teams to demystify emerging tools like LED volumes, Unreal Engine, and ICVFX, helping productions understand when and how virtual production can be used effectively. His approach is grounded in real-world production experience, with a focus on clarity, communication, and making complex processes feel approachable rather than intimidating.
Board of Advisors
The Producer U Board of Advisors is a council of accomplished producers, creatives, and industry executives who help guide the direction of the platform.
Their collective experience spans global campaigns, feature films, and emerging technologies in storytelling and media.
They ensure our curriculum, partnerships, and mission stay rooted in the realities of today’s production landscape—and focused on the future of the industry.
Tasha Dean
Tasha Dean
A Chief Revenue Officer at The Martin Agency, where she merges commercial strategy with creative ambition to drive growth. Formerly the agency’s Head of Production, she rebuilt its production model and guided global campaigns for Apple, Nike, GEICO, and JPMorgan Chase. Known for championing craft and emotional resonance, she builds systems that balance creativity and business impact. Her approach connects high-quality production with measurable outcomes, ensuring bold ideas thrive within practical frameworks. Respected for her ability to unite artistry and strategy, she continues to shape how modern agencies deliver meaningful work that resonates across culture and commerce.
Cynthia Heyd
Cynthia Heyd
An innovative production leader with more than 35 years experience in the advertising industry working with TV, digital, radio, web content, and new media projects. She has driven production evolution in management roles at BBDO, Y&R, CBC, and TAXI Canada.
She launched a number of companies after leaving the agency world in response to the ever changing marketing landscape. Today, she is at the helm of The Deli Production Agency working with agencies and brands to determine how best to create content for all mediums.
Jacinte Kirkland
Jacinte Faria Kirkland
A studio architect and operational strategist with over two decades of experience building creative infrastructure for global brands and agencies. As Managing Director at Addition, an R/GA Company, she leads teams at the intersection of creativity and AI, scaling systems that sustain ambitious work. Her leadership roles at Stink Studios, Psyop, B-Reel, and Acne have shaped campaigns for Google, PayPal, WeTransfer, and NBCUniversal. Through her consultancy, Farlanding, she advises organizations on studio design, workflow optimization, and leadership transitions. A Webby Awards Executive Member and Judge, she’s known for her calm precision, organizational acumen, and ability to turn complexity into clarity—building systems where creativity thrives.
Jonny LP
Jonny LP
As a producer of branded content, documentary television, and feature films, Jonny has a longstanding history of creating compelling, story driven content with large, well known brands. He has produced for brands like Coke, Ubisoft, Mattel, MasterCard, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Budweiser, and BMW. In long form, he has worked with broadcasters like Discovery, History Channel, and more.
As an Exec, his feature film “White Lie” premiered at TIFF ‘19, was nominated for 4 CSAs and chosen as TIFF’s “Best of Canada 2019”. He recently produced and co-directed the award winning short documentary “Ask an Iranian”. His content has accumulated hundreds of millions of views.
Jennifer Paul
Jennifer Paul
Jen has spent more than 25 years helping teams bring big ideas to life while learning what makes production succeed. She co-founded Bandada, a senior freelance collective that proves distributed teams can deliver exceptional results without the layers of a traditional agency.
Over time, she saw how much critical knowledge lives in people’s heads — details that rarely make it into documentation but keep everything running smoothly. She created TeamKit to make that knowledge visible and usable, capturing the real ways teams operate so momentum isn’t lost when people move on.
Jen believes great production is about creating the conditions for people to do their best work. She teaches from lived experience, sharing the systems, habits, and human insight that help teams build resilience and stay on track when things get complicated.
Kevin Saffer
Kevin Saffer
A Toronto-based executive producer and co-founder of The Deli - a boutique production agency known for crafting high-end commercials and cutting-edge experiences for major international brands including Amazon, Google, McDonalds and more. With a career that spans over two decades in film, television, and advertising, Kevin began his journey in film and TV production in Canada, gaining hands-on experience in everything from scripted network TV series to feature films for major studios. His creative sensibility and sharp production instincts eventually led him to the agency world, where he honed his skills as an agency producer, helping shape content and campaigns for leading brands across North America.
In 2012, Kevin pivoted from agency life to entrepreneurship, founding a series of production companies culminating in The Deli. As an executive producer, he has been behind some of the most innovative experiential and event work in Canada, including large-scale brand activations, immersive installations, and hybrid live/digital campaigns for global clients. Kevin’s work blends storytelling with technology and cultural insight, consistently pushing the boundaries of how audiences engage with brands in real life
Ben Sharpe
Ben Sharpe
Ben Sharpe is the founder of Beautiful Universe, a representation and advisory company connecting the Canadian market to world-class creative studios across design, animation and mixed media.
Before launching his own company, Ben was an Executive Producer at Hornet in New York, where he helped expand the studio’s live-action and mixed-media capabilities. Previous to that, he was Head of Production at adam&eveDDB London, leading production at the UK’s most awarded agency and overseeing acclaimed campaigns for brands including PlayStation, John Lewis, and EA Sports.
Earlier in his career, Ben was an Executive Producer at Blink Productions in London and held agency roles at JWT Toronto, TAXI, and Publicis London. His international experience across agency, production, and studio environments informs his work helping brands and creative companies navigate an evolving global production landscape.
Phil Sylver
Phil Sylver
A creative problem-solver and brand builder with over 20 years in advertising. As Head of Creative, Brand & Content at Skip (formerly SkipTheDishes), he oversees all creative output, driving standout campaigns that merge cultural relevance with long-term brand growth. A hands-on “player/coach,” he has led award-winning work for brands like GM, Coca-Cola, TD, and Reebok at agencies including TAXI, DDB, and Bensimon Byrne. From SkipTheDishes’ “Playoff Pants” to Kraft’s Bulldozer BBQ, his ideas break through clutter and connect with real audiences. Known for building enduring brand strategies and high-performing creative teams, he brings both strategic vision and craft-level detail to every project he touches.
