Tech & Media Industry Experience. Team Collaboration. Results.

Bruce Dorland has lived technology and software for years. After starting his career in professional services at Arthur Anderson Business Consulting, he moved on to Brightspark, a leading VC and incubator, where he led Product Management for software startups in the ecommerce and mobile application spaces. Tucows is where he led Product Management for SaaS Messaging Services. His products were used by over 3 million users globally at large Service Providers & Enterprises including Virgin, Comcast, and Hughes Network Systems. Bruce co-founded gdR to bring a new level of tech industry insight and professionalism to recruiting. Bruce holds his Honours Bachelor in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, has received his Pragmatic Marketing product management certification and is certified in Rapid Application Development.

Melissa Grossman brings a rich combination of recruitment, digital media and consumer goods experience to gdR. After a highly successful career as a brand builder and marketer with Spin Master Toys, AOL and Brightspark, Melissa moved into recruitment and human resources in both corporate and agency roles. Her technology, media and recruitment industry experience provides a critical and unique connection between both. Melissa co-founded gdR to elevate the recruiting experience for both clients and candidates and to ultimately help innovative companies find game changing talent. Melissa is Vice President of the Larry Grossman Foundation for Kids charity and is co-founder of the Inspire Network. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario.

Wendy Firestone has been an integral part of the gdR team since 2008. She has been incredibly successful at identifying talent and matching them with strategic career opportunities, whether at innovative startups or large multi-nationals. Her focused passion for talent acquisition has allowed her to help establish and grow some of our most successful industry relationships. Through her active community involvement and eye for industry trends, she has learned the tech and media landscape inside and out. Wendy earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario.

Dave Vu joined gdR to make a difference. Tech and media are intense passions for Dave that he translated into finding its top talent. Previously at Oracle, Dave successfully sold enterprise software to large organizations across North America, working closely with customer execs to understand their needs and create solutions that took their business to the next level. With a solid foundation of software and systems, Dave’s industry knowledge enables him to accurately represent our clients and engage in meaningful dialogue with candidates. Dave holds his MBA from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.

Anna Starasts is drawn to the unexpected, the disruptive and the original – something that working in tech and media offers in endless supply. Anna joined our team from Toronto-based cleantech software company Zerofootprint, where she led Marketing Communications and became well acquainted with the fast-paced environment of a tech startup. A social media aficionado and natural relationship builder, her role as our industry liaison, online community manager and resident trend-spotter is a natural fit. Anna earned her M.Sc Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics and her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Brandon Shim-Ping has a passion for building the tech teams behind great products. Brandon joined us from the strategic solutions group at a global recruiting brand where he sourced tech talent for midsized software vendors, as well as the development, professional services and product teams of industry leaders like IBM, Telus, Rogers and Bell. His insight into the local job market and dedication to understanding the culture of our clients makes Brandon a natural fit for the gdR approach: we’re your trusted, knowledgeable partner in finding the best tech talent. Brandon graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science, with a double major in Cognitive Science and Psychology.