About Left Right Minds

Allyson McGrane

Strategy

Allyson McGrane is a Vancouver-based business consultant who specializes in the arts, non-profit and small business start-ups. As a partner in Left Right Minds Initiatives, Allyson is now working to develop ways for businesses and non-profit organizations to leverage the technical advantages of a customized website into their real-world business strategies. She has over seven years of experience with consulting, mentoring and teaching workshops to adults including working as a part-time facilitator with the S.E.A.R.C.H. program at the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture. Since 2001, she has worked with over 75 non-profit arts groups and helped raise more than $1 million to fund various projects. She is also a lawyer who graduated from the University of Victoria, and now runs her own sole practice as McGrane & Company. Allyson serves as the board president for TTS Theatre Terrific Society – an organization which focuses on providing theatre education and performance opportunities for disabled artists.

Shane Birley

Technology

Shane Birley is a Vancouver-based web developer, writer and blog consultant with over 12 years of experience in developing websites. As a partner in Left Right Minds Initiatives, Shane is now working to develop websites using content management systems where his clients can edit and update their own web content. Shane also runs Vicious Bunny Creative, a business blogging and content creation company. He gives tech workshops at West Coast Community Enterprises and did extensive research for the published book BitTorrent for Dummies written by local authors Susannah Gardner and Kris Krug, and co-wrote Blogging for Dummies. He has a background in improvisational theatre and a B.A. in English – these qualifications enable him to translate difficult computing concepts into easy plain language. Shane is a member-at-large for the board of The Karen L. Colussi Foundation – an organization which supports and encourages Montessori programs in Victoria, BC.

Susan McCarthy

Accounts Receivable

Susan graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in Business Administration and then began a Masters degree in Sport and Recreation Administration. When she was finished with her formal education, she moved west, where she gained an invaluable education by starting her own business which she owned and operated her for 8.5 years in Vancouver, BC, until August 2007 when she sold it.

She now assists small business owners in streamlining their business processes and accounting systems.

Serendipity

Office Dog

Serendipity is a Vancouver-based pug, who spends much of her time working hard at being the cutest dog possible. Her input at meetings is often invaluable.

Chris May

Tour and Production Manager

Chris May is a Vancouver-based tour and artist manager as well as being an established travel and logistics consultant, with over ten years experience in the entertainment industry. He has run tours and major events across six continents, and thoroughly enjoys international logistics and tour planning. Chris is a graduate of the Arts and Entertainment Management program at Capilano College. His production experience includes work as production manager at Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre, as production coordinator at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts and as associate producer for New Music West 2004.

During Chris' touring career he has been on the road with The Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson and spent two years tour managing Australian blues/roots musician Xavier Rudd. Chris has managed a variety of international touring and recording artists including Carus and The True Believers and Martyn Joseph. Chris lives in Burnaby with his partner, and is very happy to be working with Left Right Minds Initiatives.