Ottawa Consultants -
Welcoming Michael Wood to the team!

We have many people who work at Ottawa Consultants full-time and freelance. We will be introducing you to all of our consultants and thought we would start by welcoming Michael Wood to the team!

 

Michael Wood - Small Business Advisor,

Marketing, Government Relations,

Public Affairs, Public Relations,

Financing, Business Brokering.

 

 

 

Michael became the face and voice of small businesses throughout Ottawa, Ontario and Canada after the government-regulated shutdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Michael watched the gross sales of his event rental company decline by ninety-seven percent compared to the previous year, resulting in losses of more than five million ($5,000,000.00) dollars. He had to lay off all twenty-three (23) full-time employees. Michael had an incredible list of clients, including the National Hockey League, FIFA, Cirque Du Soleil, the Canadian Football League and many local fairs, festivals, conferences and trade shows.
 
Michael called a former City Councillor in March 2020 to ask if the city, the country's province, would shut down like he saw happening in Europe. The City Councillor told Michael to immediately start calling Provincial and Federal elected officials, which he did. Michael set up virtual round tables where hundreds of business owners could express their concerns directly to the federal, provincial and municipal governments. 
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These elected officials were from all political parties, including the Liberals, the Conservatives, the NDP and the Green Party, as he is entirely non-partisan. Elected officials who have met with Michael included former Minister Catherine McKenna, Minister Mona Fortier, former Chair of the Federal Finance Committee MP Wayne Easter, Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, Deputy Minister MPP Stan Cho and dozens more. Michael met with Erin O'Toole (former Leader of the Official Opposition), the current Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and a handful of other small business leaders. Michael has also met with top officials from the PMO and the Ontario Premier's Office.
 
Michael appeared twice before the House of Commons Federal Finance Committee (FINA) (June 2020/April 2021) as a representative of small businesses. He also appeared twice in August and November 2020 before the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (SCOFEA). Michael was invited to appear in January 2021 and the 2022 Pre-Budgetary Consultation with Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Michael consistently asked other small businesses interested in appearing to present before the committees as well. 
 
Michael has been seen and heard on many traditional media stations, including Rogers Radio, Bell Media Television and Radio, the CBC, the Globe and Mail, Postmedia and nationally on CTV News Channel. Michael also appeared internationally in the media in Australia and the United Kingdom.
 
On top of being one of our most in-demand consultants, Michael is currently an award-winning professor at Algonquin College, where he is a professor in a music, media and film program as well as the School of Business. Michael is also a former touring guitarist that legendary radio DJ Casey Kasem discovered. Michael is a published author, a voting member for the Juno Awards, and the former American Idol Insider for various Fox News stations in the United States.​

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Michael Wood's Awards & Recognition

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2021

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Algonquin College Alumni of Distinction, Business.

​​Premier's Award Nomination, Business.

​​Meeting Planners International (MPI) - Influence Awards.

Canada Pakistan Affiliated Chamber Of Trade - Small Business & Community Advocate Award.

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2019

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For Entrepreneurs By Entrepreneurs (FEBE Awards) "Community Giver" Award

​Healthy Communities Champion - City of Ottawa

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2017

 

Ontario 150 Nepean-Carleton Inspiration Award Awarded by Minister Lisa MacLeod

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2013

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Capital Educators Award Recipient

​Top 10 Under 40 Recipient Canadian Rental Association​

 

2009

 

Forty Under 40 Recipient

​Ottawa Life Magazine Top 50 Most Influential People in Ottawa.