People

Meet the people behind the work.

Kent Wakely

Founder, Managing Partner

As managing partner at Fruition Interactive, Kent Wakely plays a lead role in the company’s business development and account management, project management, and user experience evangelism.

As a user experience evangelist, Kent is dedicated to building great online experiences. As an Internet marketing and business strategist, Kent draws upon his fifteen years of experience in designing and building interactive online tools – including multimedia, Web-based contests, surveys, e-marketing and promotions – that excite and engage users.

Kent has worked in industry segments that include government, financial services, non-profit organizations, arts and culture as well as healthcare, media, and publishing. He began his career in 1993, developing Web applications for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs and e-learning modules for the University of Guelph. In 1995, Kent helped the Web development practice for Web Networks/NirvCentre – a unique online space serving the non-profit community in Canada

In 1996, he launched the first Web site for Toronto’s NOW Magazine, where he led all interactive media efforts for 4 years. In 2000, Kent worked as an interactive strategist, developing interactive online tools and applications for Mediconsult.com that provided online health information and services for doctors and patients. Prior to launching Fruition Interactive, he worked with blue*spark where he played a lead role on a nation-wide rollout of radio station Web sites for Rogers Broadcasting.

Kent studied at the University of Guelph. He is a Certified Internet Marketing and Business Strategist (CIMBS) and is a certified Agile project leader (CSM). He has been selected to serve as a judge on the Canadian New Media Awards panel since 2005, and is Fruition Interactive’s representative at the Toronto Board of Trade and Interactive Ontario.

Mitch Fanning

Vice President, Strategy

Mitch’s expertise in online marketing and new media has been earned through 12 years of consistently creating strategies and partnerships, with relentless passion, that produce results. He has had the good fortune to work across a variety of brands and verticals, including: Media (NBC.com, BNN.ca, The Globe and Mail, Rogers Plus); Financial (Deutsche Bank); Consumer Packaged Goods (Nestle); Travel (Sears Travel); as well as with Canadian web start ups, one of which made it to the PROFIT 100.

He shares his insights on marketing, new media, and business on the Fruition Interactive blog and as a columnist for Business Niagara Magazine (owned by Sun Media Corp.).  Mitch also frequently speaks to groups about online marketing, including Landlord WebCon and is active with many business and socially-oriented organizations, including Toronto Board of Trade, Centre for Social Innovation, Social Media Club, and Social Media Club Niagara.