Laura Babcock
President and Owner, POWERGROUP Communications

Laura is well known throughout Ontario for her outstanding marketing and communications skills and media expertise. A lead business strategist and trainer, she is also currently the host of the political television show Hamilton Hotline, and a regular panelist on CTS's Michael Coren Show. Laura teaches the "Integrated Marketing Communications - Strategic Planning Perspectives" course at McMaster University. Laura's articles have been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. Laura worked as a television reporter and weekend anchor for the CBC, a television producer for TV Hamilton, and was the Executive Director of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and Hamilton Safe Communities Coalition.

Client Experience:

Laura's clients have included companies such as Hanes Brands International, Lulu Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Zenon Environmental, John C Munro Hamilton International Airport, McMaster University, The Toronto District School Board, Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), Philips Lighting Canada, the Hamilton Port Authority, The Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association, Shaklee Canada, Dundee Wealth Management, Freedom 55 Financial, Ross & McBride LLP, Sullivan Festeriga LLP, Gowlings LLP, the Hamilton Bar Association, Stonecroft + Partners, The Ontario Funeral Services Association, CMX Research, Clearfield Energy, Dan Lawrie Insurance, The Mayer Institute, the City of Hamilton, Assante Wealth Management, Tricogent, Downtown Hamilton BIA, Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, The Hamilton Training Advisory Board, Social Planning and Research Council, and many more. She has also worked with all three levels of government, Boards of Trades and Chambers of Commerce. Laura's has also worked with many not-for-profit organizations nationally and locally including Shelternet, the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, United Way of Hamilton and Burlington, The Bob Kemp Hospice, The Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, The James South District, etc.

Community Involvement:

Laura is currently the Co-Chair of the United Way Mayor's Gala, Marketing Chair for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chair of the new Hamilton Business Ambassador's Committee.

She has served in a volunteer capacity as a member of the Hamilton Mayor's Special Advisory Committee on Growth Related Integrated Development Strategies (GRIDS), the Board of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, the Board of the Hamilton Philharmonic, the Board of the Canadian Club of Hamilton, the Board of the Rotary Club of Hamilton AM, the I Love Hamilton initiative, and the Celebrate Hamilton initiative. She donates her time and marketing and communications expertise to many other local charities and organizations.

Achievements & Awards:

During her tenure as Executive Director for the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, an organization with over one-thousand member firms, she facilitated the re-branding of the Chamber's image, the relocation of its premises, introduced many innovative marketing and communications strategies resulting in a 15% growth in New Membership and renewed financial stability.

Laura was the first Executive Director of the Hamilton Safe Communities Coalition, and helped to earn Hamilton the designation of the Largest Safe Community in Canada.

She is the co-creator of the annual Hamilton Spirit of the Community Award and Celebrity Roast, the Hamilton POWER Conference, and the Hamilton POWER Report. Laura is also the Editor of The District News and has spearheaded marketing efforts for Hamilton's historic James St.

Laura has created and produced numerous television shows, promotional videos and the documentary "State of Emergency -- The Plastimet Fire". Laura has received awards for her work as a journalist, as well as the Community Producer Award from TV Cogeco Cable 23 and a finalist for The 2003 Hamilton Woman of the Year in Communications.