About Mary

Mary Charleson is President of Charleson Communications, a consulting company specializing in marketing research, strategy and advertising development. Mary’s career spans over 20 years in media sales, advertising creative development, production, marketing management and research. She established Charleson Communications in 1991. She holds an MBA in marketing, teaches courses in marketing and leadership for City University of Seattle, the University of Phoenix, Sprott-Shaw Degree College and guest lectures at Capilano College. Since 2002 she has written a monthly column on strategic marketing issues for Business in Vancouver. Her writing has also appeared in Marketing Magazine, Marketline, and the Toronto Star. Mary is a professional member of CAPS (The Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) and is a frequent conference speaker and workshop leader. She has been quoted numerous times by print and TV media for her opinions on social strategy and marketing to women.

Mary holds a BA from the University of Waterloo, Waterloo Ontario and an MBA from City University, Seattle WA where she concentrated her studies in the area of Marketing and strategic analysis.

She has had extensive training with Statistics Canada on survey methods, questionnaire design and analysis. She is a graduate of the Vansec Professional Sales program offered through SME and the University of British Columbia.

Mary is a member of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA), a past board member of Sales & Marketing Executives Vancouver (SME), and a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA). She has served on the Marketing Board of Directorsfor the Vancouver Playhouse and the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

She shares a love of sailing, skiing and the great outdoors with her husband and their two children. She has pride and passion for her work, lives the day with enthusiasm and looks to tomorrow with confidence!