Meet the Committee

Brian Biroscak is Senior Research Institute in the Weitzman Institute at Community Health Center, Inc. (Middletown, Connecticut, USA). His line of research is focused by a social justice perspective with emphases on violence and injury prevention. He has a strong research interest in system dynamics modeling, which utilizes ‘feedback’ insights and computer simulation to hypothesize, test, and refine explanations of systems change. His background in social marketing—which integrates commercial marketing with other approaches to influence behaviors that benefit individuals and the greater social good—is particularly valuable for prevention efforts. As Evaluation Lead for the CDC-funded Florida Prevention Research Center at the University of South Florida, he works to increase the research and evaluation capacity of their staff and students. Concurrently, he seeks to do the same as Senior Research Scientist for the Weitzman Institute.

François Lagarde, M.A., has held the position of Vice-President, Communications and Collective Engagement, since 2012. The Chagnon Foundation is Canada’s largest family foundation and is dedicated to the prevention of poverty through educational success of children and youth in Quebec. François brings to the Foundation his exceptional experience and achievements. Since serving as Vice-President of ParticipACTION in the 1980s, he has acted as a consultant in social marketing and communications for more than 170 community, public and philanthropic organizations at every level. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal, where he teaches social marketing since 1999. He received the University of Montreal Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has built up a solid reputation both nationally and internationally. As a sought-after speaker and trainer, he has taught in all the Canadian provinces as well as in 12 other countries. He has written dozens of publications on social marketing and health promotion. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Social Marketing Quarterly.

Pam’s journey to social marketing was an indirect route after a 20 year career as a Canadian Armed Forces logistics officer where she specialized as a Food Services Officer. Feeding soldiers in Canada and on deployed missions might not be the idea of a traditional social marketing environment, but the challenges influencing real behaviour change with a specialized audience require innovation and engagement. She brings a wide range of organizational, operational and leadership skills.

Trained as a dietitian, she has worked as a nutritionist in public and community health in policy and program development and implementation focusing on healthy eating and active living. She has a special interest in adult education and training.

Returning to Canadian Armed Forces as a civilian, she now provides the strategic communications, social marketing advice, products, expertise and coordination for the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces public health promotion programs for military members in-garrison, on deployments and, by extension, to their families and others in their occupational, family and social environments.

Sandra Paredes is a health communications specialist at Westat.  As a researcher and mission-driven problem solver, she designs solutions for high-profile and complex problems fuelled by a deep belief that health and well-being are a basic human right.  Sandra works with Federal health agencies to develop health communications campaigns using social marketing and design thinking. As a native Spanish speaker, she develops Spanish-language health education materials.  Sandra graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s in psychology and minor in Spanish literature and holds a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in health communication.

Tracey wanted to make a difference in the world. Her role as President and owner of Pinnacle Communications has allowed her to do just that. She has been a practitioner in the field of social marketing, brand development, advertising and communication for 29 years. Tracey has a deep understanding of designing and implementing strategies for campaign success. Her most recent projects include smoking cessation and prevention, reduction of infant mortality, diabetes prevention and control, binge drinking prevention, opioid misuse and abuse prevention, and environmental protection and sustainability. In 2009 she contributed to Social Marketing Quarterly with her article “Implementing a Community-Based Social Marketing Program to Increase Recycling”. Tracey holds a master's degree in Communication, Culture & Technology from Georgetown University and lives in Baldwin, MD with her husband Brian, three daughters, and six goldfish.