The Spark
The Spark is Spark Centre’s quarterly publication centred around the incredible technology and innovation happening across Ontario’s eastern corridor. We focus on hot new ventures, products and services from up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and talk about what’s happening in business news and how it relates to pop culture. We feature businesspeople, entrepreneurs, leaders and companies doing amazing things in the worlds of tech and innovation right in our backyard. The Spark launched in 2016 and we’ve come a long way since. Our Summer 2019 issue saw a major redesign that featured a bold change to the magazine’s editorial lineup and design.
If you think you have a story that fits The Spark’s editorial, please contact our editorial team today.
About Spark Centre
Spark Centre is an Oshawa, Ont.-based business incubator that provides advisory services, office space and day-to-day operational support to early-stage and rapidly growing innovation and technology entrepreneurs. We assist companies that need knowledge and support to help them launch, develop and grow. Clients gain access to industry experts, workshops, networking events and business advisory services. Services also include access to funding and investment, start-up support and operations management. Through collaboration with funders and stakeholders, we are building a world-class innovation centre and global ecosystem.
Kristina Svana
In addition to being the publisher for The Spark, Kristina manages the development and execution of the overall marketing strategy for Spark Centre and provides direction, guidance and leadership to the marketing department. Kristina is helping to grow the organization The Spark Centre as a the catalyst of Durham Region’s innovation culture.
Melanie Marler
Melanie leads the creative design for The Spark and Spark Centre’s brand. She also provides support for all of Spark Centre’s high potential clients and manages Creative Spark. With an accumulated 20 years of experience in design, Melanie has been able to hone her design skills and gain valuable knowledge of both the editorial and packaging fields with experience designing for Wildly Delicious, Slingshot Inc., Zaxis Publishing, Homemaker’s and Canadian Business Magazine.
Lisa Van De Geyn
Lisa is a longtime veteran of Canada’s magazine scene who has worked at or freelanced for several of the country’s venerable titles, including Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Today’s Parent, House & Home, Best Health and Reader’s Digest.
Katie Dupuis
A veteran of the magazine industry in Canada, Katie has worked at some of the country’s most iconic brands. She began her career at Chatelaine, where she moved up the ranks from editorial assistant to assistant managing editor, and then transitioned into special projects at Rogers Publishing where she contributed to the company’s stable of titles. She then spent three years as managing editor of Today’s Parent, before taking on the editor-in-chiefship of custom content magazine Walmart Live Better. She left the corporate world in 2016 to co-found Chick & Owl Design Co., a boutique editing and design firm, with her older brother, Matt. An award-winning writer and content packager, she is also known for being a workflow guru and eagle-eyed proofreader.
Melissa Nowakowski
Melissa drives the development and execution of Spark Centre’s communications and public relations strategy. She manages the organizations internal and external communications, actively runs Spark’s social channels and writes content for The Spark: Business and Innovation Magazine. Melissa also works directly with local and national media outlets to ensure Spark Centre and its clients are at the forefront of innovation and technology.
Melissa has over 15 years of experience in communications and public relations, having worked at Corus Entertainment and Harper Collins as a Senior Publicist.
Kailee Somers
Kailee is responsible for developing Spark Centre’s event strategy and ensuring we are actively supporting and showcasing our entrepreneurs at all of our events. She leads the planning and execution of TechEx, Durham Region’s Startup Grind Chapter and AVIN, and represents Spark Centre at various community events. Kailee also works closely with partners in the ecosystem to ensure Spark Centre and its clients are active and supporting “Do It In Durham” during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Sunday Lek
Sunday is responsible for keeping the Spark Centre brand consistent across all print and digital channels. She designs and maintains all of Spark Centre’s websites and domains, and assists with design and production of The Spark: Business & Innovation magazine. Sunday also provides web and design services to all of our clients and partners in the community via Creative Spark.