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We See Clearly to Extract the Key Elements of Your Business

We work to sort through the business clutter & extract the key elements of your business. We help you see the essence of your business and its relation to your customers’ needs.

strategy
We plan creatively to inject innovation into your business

Toro employs a strategic innovation process to help you look beyond the established, to set plans based on the future. We facilitate you to develop in-depth strategic marketing plans including goals, strategies and most importantly ‘action items’ that map out the steps to get there

"All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."      –Sun Tzu

action
We act boldly to ensure impact during the execution of your strategy.

Even the most innovative business plan is just a stack of paper if it isn’t coupled with a clear plan for action. Toro ensures the plans we develop together clearly outline what is to be done, by when, by whom and for what cost. We go one giant step further to not only develop innovative strategies, but to roll-up our sleeves and help implement them.

"Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure."      –Albert Einstein

research
We See Clearly to Extract the Key Elements of Your Business

We work to sort through the business clutter & extract the key elements of your business. We help you see the essence of your business and its relation to your customers’ needs.

strategy
We plan creatively to inject innovation into your business

Toro employs a strategic innovation process to help you look beyond the established, to set plans based on the future. We facilitate you to develop in-depth strategic marketing plans including goals, strategies and most importantly ‘action items’ that map out the steps to get there

"All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."      –Sun Tzu

action
We act boldly to ensure impact during the execution of your strategy.

Even the most innovative business plan is just a stack of paper if it isn’t coupled with a clear plan for action. Toro ensures the plans we develop together clearly outline what is to be done, by when, by whom and for what cost. We go one giant step further to not only develop innovative strategies, but to roll-up our sleeves and help implement them.

"Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure."      –Albert Einstein

TORO CLIENTS

We have helped drive innovation in a variety of industries, both private and public and successfully worked as an "out-sourced member" for the following clients:

ARMS Reliability Engineers
Alberni Valley Drag Race Association
Canadian Home Builders' Association
Central Vancouver Island School Districts & VIU
Chemainus Native College
Cimarron Engineering
Coastal Community Credit Union
Collicutt Energy Services Ltd.
Community Literacy Plan – Nanaimo-Ladysmith
Framework and Partners
Gwa'sala'-Nakawaxda'xw
Horne Lake Caves
Island Savings Credit Union
International Underwater Surveyors
Kemex
LA Radio Group
Ladysmith Employment Navigators
Marketing Association of Credit Unions
Native Education College
North Peace Savings
Quadra Island Credit Union
School District 68, Aboriginal Education
Sunshine Coast Credit Union
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Vancouver Island Economic Alliance
Vancouver Island University

Stephanie Johnson

MA Interdisciplinary Studies

250 . 729 . 6788
Email Stephanie

Stephanie Johnson is a co-founder of Toro Marketing Inc., a management consulting firm located on Vancouver Island, BC since 2003. She brings 25 years of experience working with organizations across Canada spanning leadership, employee culture, community engagement, stakeholder communications, market research and strategy development. Stephanie led the development of a Truth and Reconciliation policy for a B.C. school district that resulted in the creation of a first of its kind, co-governed school on reserve with the First Nation and Board of Education. Her strategic mind and strong creative flair infuses innovation and insight into clients’ projects. Her empathy and sensitivity with community engagement activities meets the diverse needs of all communities. Stephanie lives on the unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw mustimuxw (Nanaimo People). She is an active language champion and learner of hul’q’umi’num’ – the language born from the land she lives upon. She is grateful to the many Elders and Knowledge Keepers who’ve been so generous with sharing their stories and teachings.

Karen McDonnell

250 . 618 . 7611
Email Karen

Karen is a co-founder and principal owner of Toro who brings more than 25 years of business and consulting experience to her clients. As both a marketing strategist and a supply chain management professional, Karen has developed a unique perspective from both sides of the negotiating table. She has worked as a strategic planning consultant for organizations in public, corporate and non-profit sectors conducting market research, working with client’s teams to extract key information, writing business plans, and developing project plans for successful implementation. Karen moved to the purchasing side of the negotiating table working with a petrochemical company on a $2.5 billion expansion and employed her strategic planning expertise to facilitate consolidated purchases amongst Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) firms. During this time Karen gained SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional) designation from the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada. Most importantly, Karen’s skills include market and capability assessments, industry expert interviews and trend identification, community consultation and engagement, strategy and partnership model development, business plan writing, and project management.