Who’s behind the Buzz? The ChannelBuzz.ca team includes dedicated staff and a wide variety of seasoned technology journalists, analysts and solution providers. Here’s who’s on the team:
Robert Dutt – Head Blogger
Robert has been covering the Canadian IT channel since he graduated from college in December 1997. Coming out of J-school in the height of the expansion of the Internet with a basic knowledge of HTML, Robert joined CRN Canada as its online editor and grew to love the community. Over the years, his role changed (CRN Canada became eChannelLine) and he changed roles (rejoining CRN Canada under different ownership as editor in 2007) but his focus on the channel and on online vehicles remained steady.
Since the beginning of his career, Robert has been a leader in developing electronic news and information platforms for the Canadian audience, leading the development of what was to become eChannelLine and then later overseeing a redesign and new strategy for CRN Canada’s online properties.
In October 2010, Robert launched ChannelBuzz.ca, the first news and analysis blog platform for the Canadian IT channel community with the stated goal of cutting through the noise for Canadian VARs and MSPs.
In the rare moments he’s not blogging about the Canadian channel, Robert enjoys good friends, good food, and good mixed martial arts. (Actually, even bad mixed martial arts will do in a pinch. To him, it’s kinda like the old saying about a bad day of golf…)
You can contact Robert via e-mail at rob [at] channelbuzz [dot] ca or on Twitter @robdutt or view all posts by Robert.
Liam Lahey – Senior Contributing Blogger
Liam Lahey is a versatile, Web-savvy writer/editor with social media marketing and media relations experience.
Currently, Liam is an Online Community Manager at Partnerpedia.com, a customized Web application firm servicing enterprise companies worldwide.
He is the former Associate Editor of two daily, online information technology newsletters (eChannelLine.com & ConnectITnews.com).
Liam has been a business technology writer for more than a decade; published in Computing Canada, Computer Dealer News, ComputerWorld Canada, ITWorldCanada.com & others. He also contributes articles of varying subjects to Spacing.ca and the Toronto Community News.
Beyond ChannelBuzz.ca, Liam has also been published in the North Shore News (Vancouver), Toronto Sun, The Brampton Guardian, The Mississauga News, Today’s Bride, Maximum Fitness, Design Engineering and 24 Hours.
You can follow Liam on Twitter @LiamLahey or view all posts by Liam.
Chris Talbot – Senior Contributing Blogger
Chris Talbot is a freelance writer who came out of journalism school in time to cover the end of the world – or that’s what several sources said was going to happen because of the Y2K crisis, anyway. Since then, he has written about almost every major IT trend, from the rise of VoIP to cloud computing.
Since graduating from J-school in 1998, Chris has worked on staff as a writer and editor for some of Canada’s largest business, trade and consumer technology publications and websites, including Toronto Computes!, Network World Canada, eChannelLine, ConnectIT, and Silicon Valley NORTH. He is also the former editor of Total Gamer, Canada’s only (now defunct) video game magazine.
In 2010, Chris settled into the next phase of his career as a full-time freelance writer. Still specializing in writing about technology, Chris contributes regularly to ChannelBuzz.ca and other technology publications and websites. He also provides marketing copywriting and communications consulting services to SMB clients.
When not writing about IT trends, Chris is usually writing about beer and brewing for his own news and reviews Web site, Beer In Canada, and for the newsletter of the Canadian Amateur Brewers Association, of which he is a member of the board of directors.
You can contact Chris via e-mal at chris [at] christalbot [dot] com or on Twitter @ajaxwriter or view all posts by Chris.
Stuart Crawford – Contributing Blogger
Stuart Crawford is a longtime friend and supporter of the global IT channel and especially the channel here in Canada. For many years, Stuart played a critical role in the Microsoft, Dell and Tech Data channels, sitting on panels, councils and committees. Stuart continues to serve the Microsoft Partner community is the vice president for the west with IAMCP Canada and on the International IAMCP board.
In 2010, Stuart changed his focus from being a VAR and Managed Service Provider where he served with IT Matters (ES Williams) and Bulletproof InfoTech for the past 10 years. He now works with the channel developing effective online communication strategies, social media marketing, search engine optimization and MSP marketing plans for resellers around the globe. If there is a technology professional out there who understands the power of blogging and social media to build business it is this guy.
Stuart is the president and Chief Marketing Officer with Ulistic, a firm that he acquired in 2010. Ulistic specializes in helping resellers, VARs and Managed Service Providers bring their message to market through a balanced combination of traditional marketing strategies with online marketing. Need help with this stuff? Call this guy right away at 403.604.9464 or join their Facebook community.
You can contact Stuart at scrawford [at] ulistic [dot] com or view all posts by Stuart.
Lawrence Cummer – Contributing Blogger
Lawrence Cummer is a freelance writer with 15 years of experience writing for periodicals, business and communications agencies. He is former senior writer and editor of the technology trade publications Network World Canada and Communications & Networking Journal, respectively. As well, he was a senior contributor for Computer World Canada, Computing Canada and Computer Dealer News.
In addition, Lawrence spent more than eight years as a senior communications consultant at one of Canada’s leading mid-sized public relations firms, providing writing expertise and expert counsel a variety of Canadian and international technology clients in fields including software, imaging and printing and networking.
Since 2006, he has served as an independent freelance writer in a broad range of industries, building from his experience in turning complex topics into materials understandable for media, laymen and trades people. Currently, he serves publishing, corporate, and public relations clients in a broad range of industries including general business, information technology, network cabling and telecommunications, physical security, occupational safety, and home construction and general contracting.
You can contact Lawrence Cummer at lawrence.cummer [at] hotmail [dot] com or view all posts by Lawrence.
