The Marr Team
At Marr Consulting Services, we have earned our living not only in the areas of environmental consulting, active transportation and public consultation, but also in making good business decisions about tourism potential and in understanding a changing market. Hands-on, practical experience combines in this team with eclectic and innovative experience in managing complex projects involving a variety of stakeholders. We are well experienced in applying rigorous study principles to fully evaluate the opportunities, constraints and especially the consequences of decisions. The diversity of the Marr Consulting team provides clients with a creative and multi-disciplinary team.
Ruth Marr, M.Sc. – President
As the President of Marr Consulting Services and founder of Randonnée Tours, Ruth brings knowledge and passion to consulting assignments. A M.Sc. in Plant Ecology was the impetus for an initial career in environmental consulting. A love of travel and active pursuits, such as cycling and hiking, led to the creation of an innovative adventure travel business. The two experiences combine for a unique perspective on business, tourism and the environment. Ruth acts on her knowledge and love of these topics every day, with a strong emphasis on practical and business-oriented solutions, and has garnered an excellent reputation in the industry. She has a successful track record of directing projects, ensuring that they are completed on time and meeting or exceeding the client’s expectations. Her business experience ensures that projects are rooted in reality and have clear objectives. Ruth is also a published author of guidebooks on cycling and walking in Manitoba and regularly commutes by bicycle or on foot and is an avid off-road cyclist. She is very involved in volunteer activities that complement these interests.Michelle Holland (née Kuly) – Senior Consultant
With an education in both communications and urban studies, Michelle brings valuable insight on communications, public consultation and project messaging to the team. Over the course of ten years, she has developed a niche focus in translating planning and policy “speak” into clear, concise information for public consumption. During a three-year tenure leading the award-winning, Philadelphia-based Next American City magazine, and throughout her career, she has demonstrated a consistent ability to use these skills to build public consensus around innovative urban projects and ideas at a local and national level. At Next American City Michelle instituted a strategic overhaul of the magazine’s visual and editorial approach to broaden its audience and bring profile to ground-breaking urban initiatives. Michelle’s work has resulted in strategic partnerships with the likes of The Rockefeller Foundation and Bank of America, a new visitor attraction strategy for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and public support for several community-based initiatives in Winnipeg. In 2008 Michelle was named “One to Watch” in Philadelphia Magazine.
Kristin Westdal, M.Env. – Senior Consultant
Kristin is a writer, researcher and senior consultant with Marr Consulting Services. Kristin joined Marr Consulting after completing her Masters researching movement and diving of narwhal in the Canadian Arctic. Prior to starting her Masters she owned and operated Kayak Churchill, an eco-tourism kayaking and whale-watching outfit based in Churchill Manitoba. She is no stranger to consulting, however, having previously worked for Marr Consulting & Communications and Randonnée Tours. Bringing with her management, research, and communication skills as well as experience in small and northern communities, Kristin has established a reputation for a diverse skill set demonstrated by the wide variety of projects in which she has been involved. These range from compiling Traditional Ecological Knowledge from Inuit elders on killer whales in the Eastern Arctic, to planning the City of Winnipeg’s Bike to Work Day, to assistant teaching a course on ecotourism in Central America. Kristin commutes by bicycle and often spends her holidays cycling, hiking or kayaking.
Erik Dickson, B.Sc. (Hons) – Consultant
Erik is a writer, researcher and consultant with Marr Consulting Services. Erik played a key role as the communications liaison for public questions and comments as well as an Active Transportation advisor and researcher as part of the City of Winnipeg Building the Network Bikeways project. He also aided in the preparation of Open House materials and has experience in assisting with the running of public consultation meetings. Erik has also been involved in the design of active transportation facilities as part of the Route 90 Active Transportation project. Erik has experience conducting key person interviews as a team member looking at parks, recreation and tourism issues for the environmental assessment of the Pointe du Bois Modernization project for Manitoba Hydro in rural Manitoba. Erik also acted as the communications liaison for public comments on the Public Consultation Report for the Rural Municipality of Ritchot Artificial Flooding Study for the Manitoba Floodway Authority, which he also authored. During three seasons with the Forestry Section of Manitoba Hydro, Erik’s work with outside groups on joint projects honed his communications skills and strengthened his ability to recognize the need for and initiate projects. Erik is an enthusiastic active commuter who is continually promoting sustainable practices.
Negar Hakimjavadi, M.Env.Des. – Consultant
Negar is a writer, researcher and consultant with Marr Consulting Services. She played a key role in the Route 90 Active Transportation study to propose the best routes and facilities in the project area and was one of the team members on the City of Winnipeg Building the Network Bikeways project. She is also the lead designer on the Marr team, preparing maps and graphical materials for workshops, open houses and other public consultation meetings. As a researcher she worked in the creation of the “Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism Operators”, conducting online research and compiling the information into concrete tools and tips for small and medium tourism enterprises. Negar was also the lead writer and researcher for an exploration study on the potential for business development in carbon offset and reduction programs within Manitoba. Previously Negar has worked as a writer and researcher on several environmental impact and risk assessments on dam reservoir and oil and gas pipeline construction. She completed her Masters in Environmental Design with a thesis focused on Hospital Landscape Designing and Healing Landscapes. She was also involved in recreational areas landscape and environmental evaluation and recreational zone designing as a student.
Through a close working relationship with Scatliff+Miller+Murray Inc., the core Marr team draws on their experience and expertise in municipal planning, landscape architecture and graphic design, and also partners with other consultants and specialists as required.