Alexis MacMillan
President

Alexis has worked with the Christie team for over twenty years and has been a partner since 1993. In 1997 she became President of Christie Communications succeeding Bob Christie. Alexis leads project teams based on her ability to focus on client needs and her thorough-going knowledge of every component of the process. Alexis is very flexible in project work. She is comfortable in board rooms, client offices, field shoots, and in the backcountry. As a rock climber, she’s offered to hang off cliffs if we ever need a multimedia producer, director, writer, or digital photographer to work on a rope. In her spare time, Alexis loves to create paintings and play the piano.

Jon Hill
Vice President

Jon joined Christie Communications in 1997 as a multimedia programmer. Jon became a project manager in 2002 and Vice President in 2008. Jon’s background in programming and visual design, combined with extensive experience with CD-ROM, Internet, and Intranet development gives him experience that is essential to producing Christie Communications’ interactive projects. His focus is project management, production management, and quality assurance. Jon is an active member of the Edmonton running community. He has completed many half marathons and marathons in locations such as Las Vegas, Calgary, and New York.

Phil Simons
Producer

Phil joined Christie Communications in 1992. In addition to being a talented visual designer and computer courseware author, Phil is a creative technical wizard. He has the rare ability to combine effective instructional design and user interaction with efficient and complex programming. Phil’s role has changed with the growth of the company, his focus is project management, production management, and multimedia production. He is the developer of the Christie Administrator Learner Tracking System. Phil holds a B.A. with a major in Psychology. He enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his boys’ soccer teams.

MaryAnne Zimmerman
Office Manager

Along with Office Management, MaryAnne works with our multimedia production team in the creation and testing of programs. She ensures that our courses, installation programs, and computer managed instruction systems function on all required operating systems. MaryAnne also assists in the marketing of our services by reviewing on-line bidding systems and producing proposals. MaryAnne creates and designs much of our print work. Her professionalism, cheerful personality, and determination are valuable assets to our team. MaryAnne enjoys spending time with her family. Her interests include antiques, history, hiking, politics, and travel.

Richard Spence
Producer

Richard became a member of the Christie Communications’ production team in 2005. Richard brings his strong attention to detail and technical insight to all of our projects. His role is primarily production management and interactive programming. Richard is skilled in Flash, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop. He is also trained in Technical Drafting, AUTOCAD, and other technical illustration technologies through Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (N.A.I.T.). Richard’s interests include building web sites and Internet applications. In his leisure time, Richard enjoys traveling, 5-pin bowling, running, and aquaria.

Steven Watkins
Developer

Steven joined our team in 2006 as a multimedia developer, digital photographer, and programmer. Steven's drive to learn new technologies and techniques keep him above the technological curve. His interests include photography, video games, and Internet development. Steven has been a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals since 2005. In his spare time, Steven likes to workout, play golf and travel to other countries. In 2006, Steven's golf team won the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce golf tournament at Blackhawk Golf Club. Steven's technical abilities and strong work ethic make him a wonderful addition to the team.

Eric J. Stormer
Writer 

Eric joined our team as a writer in 2007. He has a B.Sc. in Mathematics and close to a decade of experience in business communications and software development, working both in government and the private sector. Eric puts his passion for words, understanding, and expression to work for clients to deliver the right message to the right audience. Married with two daughters, he enjoys composing music, reading, and walks in the woods.

Marilyn Kontz
Writer 

Marilyn joined our team in 2009 after finishing a Master of International Relations and Master of Arts in International Communications. She has five years experience working in communications for Edmonton's not-for-profit sector audience. Intercultural communication has become a great passion for Marilyn and she is excited to contribute to Christie Communications' programs for diverse audiences. Marilyn has travelled extensively, but when she's in Edmonton she likes to use her personal time walking and biking the river valley trails or knitting.

Jai Basra
Developer 

Jai brought his flair for graphic design and multimedia creation to Christie Communications in early 2008. A graduate of The Art Institute of Vancouver, he is adept at using Flash, Photoshop, and 3D modeling software. Jai enjoys watching and playing ice hockey and travelling to exotic locales.

Natasha Bowen
Illustrator/Animator 

Natasha joined our team as a multimedia illustrator, animator, and author in early 2008. She brings a heartfelt passion for graphical artistry to her job.
In her spare time, Natasha enjoys on-line gaming, reading popular thriller novels, and spending time with friends and family.

Rinaldo Tessuti De Lucca
Portuguese Advisor/Developer

Rinaldo Tessuti De Lucca holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Aided Architectural Design and a Bachelor degree in Architecture and Urban Planning. Rinaldo has thirteen years experience as a professor in Architecture, Pedagogy, Graphic Design, Arts and Journalism, and Publicity faculties. He is experienced in curriculum design and course development, and has carried out research in learning objects, distance learning, web design, usability, visual perception, visual memory, and cognition. Rinaldo has worked in Brazil and Canada. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

Rinaldo likes to spend his personal time on Laser and Holder 12 sailing, surf kayaking, Aikidô, Karatê, photography, and mountain biking.

Hassan Bouakir
Arabic and French Advisor

Hassan has been our Arabic/French advisor and author for the Arabic/French versions of UNDSS Advanced Security in the Field as well as other Christie projects. Hassan joined our production team in 2005. Besides being fluent in Standard and Moroccan Arabic, Hassan is also fluent in French and German. Hassan holds his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language and Literature, a Computer Programming Diploma, a German Language Certification, and is working towards his Bachelor of Education. Some of Hassan's interests include photography, videography, reading, writing and traveling.

Hassan also enjoys learning new languages, and sports. Hassan's knowledge and pleasant personality make him an important member of the Christie team.

Trevor Meister
Developer/3D Immersive

Trevor joined Christie Communications’ development team in 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta with majors in Mathematics and Physics. For nearly 20 years, Trevor taught Junior and Senior high Mathematics, Physics, and Science for Edmonton Public Schools and served 4 years as a district Mathematics and Technology Integration consultant. A desire to stay at the leading edge of Educational Technology developments led Trevor to spend 2 years as an independent researcher and freelance developer. He focused on emerging social networking and social media tools, with an emphasis on developing 3D tools and environments for learning and collaboration on 3D Virtual World platforms, in particular, Opensimulator, Wonderland, and Unity 3D.

Trevor is married with 3 boys and is kept busy exploring the wonders of technology, robotics, and electronics. He also enjoys the outdoors, curling, and playing guitar, harmonica, pan flute, banjo, and saw.

Ruth Moore
Writer

Ruth joined the Christie Communications team as a writer in 2009. Ruth is a creative, organized, and detail-oriented professional. Ruth has experience in program and curriculum development for diverse audiences in both the not-for-profit and private sectors. Ruth completed her studies in adult education and computer programming at Seneca College and Centennial College in Ontario. Ruth’s passion for intercultural communication is expressed through her personal interests in cross-cultural friendships, ethnic fashion, and ethnic cooking.

Keith Koshman
Developer

Keith joined the Christie Communications team in 2010. A graduate of NAIT’s Computer Systems Technology program, he has experience in website design and a variety of programming languages. Keith’s personal experience in animation and music composition bring creative flair to his work. In his spare time, Keith enjoys racquetball, street hockey, and classic video games.

O’Jay Robinson
Developer

O’Jay became a member of the Christie Communications team in 2010. He developed a broad range of technical skills through his Computing Science degree from the University of Alberta and his personal exploration of 3D immersive technologies and game development. In his personal time, O’Jay enjoys providing a foster home for orphaned and sick animals through the Edmonton Humane Society and captaining his hockey team.

Wei Yang
Chinese Advisor 

Wei is our Chinese Advisor. Fluent in Mandarin, she works with our multimedia production team on a part time basis developing our Chinese instructional materials. In her spare time Wei enjoys traveling and reading.

Olga Grimes
Russian Advisor

Olga works on a part-time basis with our multimedia authors to create new media courses in Russian. In addition to being fluent in Russian, Olga has studied English and German at the Moscow Regional Pedagogical Institute. Olga also interpreted negotiations in the Kremlin for the Secretary of President Yeltzin’s Administration, the Minister of Defence, and the President of the Central Bank of Russia. Olga is currently working at Christie to help create a Russian version of the United Nation’s Basic Security in the Field CD-ROM and Intranet training program.

Beto Bustos
Spanish Advisor

Beto works with Christie Communications on a part-time basis as our Spanish language advisor. He graduated with a corporate law degree from the University of Acapulco-Mexico. Beto is a veteran marathoner and certified personal trainer who regularly leads running clinics and serves as a guest speaker for athletic seminars and events.

Carolla Christie
Writer

Carolla has a degree in computing science and over 40 years experience in instructional design. With her focus on putting a human face on computing, she has been head of several departments at Athabasca University, including Production Services, Computing Services, and Computing Science. Carolla joined the company soon after its inception. She currently spends her time on the design and development of print, multimedia, and Internet/Intranet courses. Carolla also provides research, writing, and editing for other company projects, particularly in the health, safety, and environmental areas. As a grandmother, she is increasingly finding herself working on projects, on her laptop, in Lethbridge, where she frequently visits her son, daughter-in-law, and 2 grandsons. Some of Carolla’s interests including soap stone and wood carving.