Meet the
team
We’re a team of strategists, technologists and creatives ready to collaborate on projects that make a positive impact for our clients and the public. We stay humble, take risks, challenge convention, and push the limits of what’s possible.
Melanie Ackland
(she/her)
Senior Project Manager
Joanna Adamiak
(she/her)
Business Development Lead
Ryan Baillargeon
(he/him)
Founder and CEO
Ryan is a technologist whose passion for progressive change led him on a journey of discovery to understanding the role digital can play in organizing and campaigning. Working to mobilize people for cancer control, democratic reform, climate change, social justice, and anti-slavery causes, Ryan has helped organization bridge technology to help execute their theory of change. HIs approach is grounded in the ethos of people power: that at the right time, with the right people, and with the right tools, big systemic change is possible.
After serving as Technical Director for organizations like Leadnow, and WalkFree, Ryan was inspired to build Grassriots as a place where talented people could bring their passion, enthusiasm and expertise to social sectors organizations. Ryan hopes to continue to shape Grassriots as a place where innovation thrives and talent is built that is committed to building a better nonprofit sector.
Ewerton Barbosa
(he/him)
Developer
Bee
(she/her)
Beesiness Development
Bob
(she/her)
Digital Wildlife Technician
Boba
(he/him)
Animal-Human Communications Liaison
Bodie
(she/her)
Anti-Walk Advocate
Daryl Brewer
(he/him)
Senior Front End Developer
Cinthia Bunford
(she/her)
Senior Digital Strategist
Chewie
(he/him)
Junior Nap Analyst
Corky
(he/him)
Se-purr-ity Analyst
David & Alexis
(David: he/him, Alexis: she/her)
Quality Pawsurance Manager (David)
Furrlance Brand Invigorator (Alexis)
Sarah Dillon
(they/she)
Creative Lead
Dumpling
(he/him)
Lead Mar-cat-ing Officer
Einstein
(he/him)
Senior Operating Spoodle
Sara Falconer
(she/her)
Director of Strategy
Sara is a digital strategist, storyteller and team leader who has been building innovative campaigns that drive real impact and command social change for almost 20 years. Previously, she led the national digital communications strategy for the Canadian Red Cross, transforming the use of social media in disaster response. She planned and executed campaigns for some of the top global brands, including WWF-Canada and Google.
As Director of Strategy for Grassriots, she is responsible for defining, guiding, and developing leading-edge digital strategy for all of our clients. She brings her creativity and passion for social change to fundraising, advocacy, website, annual planning, communications, and digital transformation projects. Sara believes deeply in lifelong learning and supporting team members by providing interesting challenges and opportunities to grow.
Woodford Fitzgerald
(he/him)
CCO Chief Companion Officer
Terra Gillespie
(they/she)
Senior Marketer
Leah Henderson
(she/her)
Managing Director
LEAH IS A PASSIONATE FUNDRAISER and ORGANIZER with nearly 20 years of leadership experience that ranges from multi-tier campaign strategizing to rebuilding organizational equity structures through diversity and equity training. Utilizing small donor programs, major gifts, direct mail and telemarketing, Leah has led the development and execution of many successful campaigns, sourcing millions of dollars in fundraising for many organizations within the non-profit sector.
Leah is passionate about collaborating with clients to influence social change. Her approach is queer, feminist, and stems from a strong commitment to anti-oppression.
She has worked across issues, with a primary focus on anti-racism education, Indigenous Rights, Climate Justice and the intersections of those issues within the electoral and social justice spheres. Leah is a former director for Naomi Klein’s Climate Justice organization, The Leap, which served as a strategic advisor to organizations including Sunrise, Fight for $15 and Fairness, Justice Democrats, Momentum, and the Migrant Rights Network.
Hollis
(he/him)
Relationship Architect
Khaleesi
(she/her)
Strategy-born of the House Pawgaryen, Breaker of Email Chains & Mother of Rioters
Elena Kostenko
(she/her)
Chief Financial Officer
Vitaly Kostenko
(he/him)
Financial Controller
Tammy Kovich
(she/her)
Project Manager
Johanna Lawrie
(she/her)
Director of Project Management
Pete Leaning
(he/him)
Senior Developer
Anna Lermer
(she/they)
Senior Digital Strategist
Lola
(she/her)
Pawty Planning Committee
Luz
(she/they)
Head of Purring
Maira Moraes
(she/her)
Art Director
Peas
(she/her)
Hyphenated Specialist
Penny and Georgie
(she/her & they/them)
Acats Receivable & Creative Catsultant
Renata Quelhas
(she/her)
Senior Project Manager & Development Resourcer
Roxy
(she/her)
Jr. Risk Analyst
Sol
(she/they)
Hiding Specialist
Sookie
(she/her)
Resident House Goblin
Jaycee Tu
(she/her)
Digital Strategist & Project Manager
Joyce Waquil
(she/her)
Digital Strategy & Marketing Coordinator
contact-
WE ACKNOWLEDGE that our work here takes place on the traditional and current Indigenous territories of the Anishinabek Nations, the Haudonsaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations, the Huron-Wendat and the Petun First Nations, among others.
