Our story.
You’re on a mission to solve some of the greatest health challenges of our time. We’re driven to make sure your mission becomes a reality. As an entirely life science-focused communications agency, we’ve embraced the concept of going a mile-deep instead of a mile-wide.
Backed by decades of experience working with hundreds of biotech, digital health and pharma companies, we know the ins and outs of the industry like no one else. Our wide-ranging knowledge helps us pivot quickly and resolve problems effectively, regardless of your disease focus.
The team.
Sure, we’re communicators. But we’re also artists, scientists, big thinkers,
storytellers and patient advocates. Above all else, we’re your partners:
launching you to wherever you need to go.
Heidi Chokeir, Ph.D.
Managing Director
In addition to serving as a senior strategy lead, Heidi is CanaleComm’s unofficial chief scientific officer—always ready to “get her geek on” as she dives deep into the science that makes each client unique.
Since joining CanaleComm in 2011, Heidi has put to use her background in science, innate storytelling skills and strategic thinking for clients ranging from the smallest of venture-backed biotech startups to the largest healthcare company in the world. She’s passionate about simplifying scientifically complex stories into messages that are compelling for audiences important to life science companies, including investors, potential partners and patients.
“The best part of my job is being able to dig into some of the coolest science in the world without having to come home with Coomassie blue stains on my clothes.”
Heidi has planned and implemented award-winning public relations campaigns resulting in media coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, IN VIVO, BioCentury, BioWorld Today and Biotech Nation. Prior to CanaleComm, Heidi served as account supervisor at Russo Partners, working primarily with early-stage biotech companies and research institutions.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry with a minor in mathematics from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in macromolecular and cellular structure and chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego.
When not hosting elaborate dinner parties, Heidi likes to relax with a glass of cabernet while playing her antique piano.
Jason Spark
Managing Director
Jason mixes a background in science with more than 15 years of experience in life science business communications.
His experience covers corporate communications, investor relations and public relations for early stage private startups, as well as for commercial-phase publicly held companies. He has led corporate brand communications, investor communications, M&A communications and crisis communications programs, and has spearheaded successful campaigns around FDA approvals and product launches. Due to his work developing award-winning investor and public relations programs, clients have received widespread recognition through top-tier placements in print, broadcast and online media.
Prior to joining CanaleComm in 2010, Jason was a vice president in the life sciences division of Porter Novelli’s health care practice. Jason was one of the original employees at Atkins + Associates, a life science communications agency that was later acquired by Porter Novelli.
Previously, he served as a regional marketing representative for the Varsity Group, an agency deploying strategic marketing campaigns for organizations such as Ben & Jerry’s and Habitat for Humanity.
Jason currently serves as the president of the San Diego chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI). He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a major in biology and a minor in economics.
Ian Stone
Managing Director
Since joining CanaleComm in 2013, Ian has provided leadership and strategic direction to numerous client accounts, with an emphasis on media relations and investor-facing communications. He has created and implemented strategic communications platforms for life science companies at virtually every stage of development, with projects that range from launching an initial corporate identity, to announcing venture rounds and clinical data, and supporting IPOs, commercial product launches and company acquisitions. Ian’s work has led to client news coverage in media outlets that reach key audiences, including industry, investor, medical and mainstream publications.
“It’s a privilege to focus my career and apply my talents to support companies whose advances in healthcare will create a better world for my children.”
Prior to joining CanaleComm in 2013, Ian served as an assistant vice president and led a San Diego office for New York-based Russo Partners. Earlier in his career, he supported communications in oncology and other disease areas for Pfizer’s La Jolla Research and Development campus. Ian received a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of California, San Diego. Outside of work, he can often be found hiking or visiting theme parks with his wife and three children.
Kory Koske
Executive Creative Director
Kory brings tremendous creative energy and more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotech experience to the Canale Creative team as their Executive Creative Director.
He has worked across multiple therapeutic areas and audiences and with several traditional and digital media platforms. Kory’s fine art experience affords him unique insight into brand relationships to create and manage innovative visuals and weave inspiring stories.
Kory holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he played football as an offensive lineman for the Running Rebels. He even played against eventual National Football League MVP Peyton Manning during Manning’s tenure as a Tennessee Volunteer. The Running Rebels may have lost that game, but you can be sure Kory gave it his all, as he’s known to do.
No stranger to adventure, he earned his pilot license before he’d gotten his driver’s license. He quite literally flew before he could drive. Over the past several years, his career has echoed this sentiment, steadily rising in altitude until he was soaring through one accomplishment after another. His storied background is filled with numerous fine art and design awards from organizations like PM360, The RX Club, the American Association for Respiratory Care and the San Diego American Marketing Association. Each one of these accolades another testament to his talent, ingenuity and the respect he commands from his colleagues.
When Kory’s not busy bringing brand visuals to life or mentoring junior creatives, he loves staying active. He’s an experienced horseback rider, ice skater, baseball and basketball player. He was also the first United States National Masskrugstemmen (strongman) champion, and he has a black belt in both American Karate and Chinese Kempo.
Maureen McEnroe, CFA
Managing Director, Investor Relations
Maureen McEnroe is the Managing Director responsible for growing Canale Communications’ Investor Relations offerings. She brings a wealth of knowledge on Capital Markets, financings, financial communications and company positioning and messaging.
Maureen first developed her clinical skills through her nursing career. Her entry into the financial world started at Prudential and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets; she developed a practice area focused on biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology and bioinstrumentation/life science tools equities. Her financial research, writing and analytical skills were honed during the 10 years Maureen wrote sell-side research and marketed her universe to the buy-side. Maureen then spent more than four years employed at the healthcare hedge funds, Merlin BioMed and Iguana Healthcare, evaluating investments in private and publicly-traded healthcare companies. Additionally, Maureen has provided marketing and strategic advisory services to companies and family offices, and investment advice/buy-side analyses to hedge funds via her consulting company, MAC Healthcare Consulting.
“I started working in the biotechnology world when there were approximately 12 publicly traded companies. I watched the industry grow in numbers and complexity, all while providing solutions to previously untreated diseases and conditions. I am excited to continue to work in a strategic advisory capacity with companies in such a dynamic market.”
As a former analyst and investor, Maureen is particularly adept at positioning companies to attract attention from the Street. Maureen has a track record of evaluating private and public companies for investment. Her background in nursing coupled with her MBA and financial analytical skills provide rare industry insights and the ability to evaluate, develop and present company messaging clearly and concisely.
Financial modeling, risk assessment and a firm’s competitive position are the keys to evaluating a company’s relative valuation and potential for success. Maureen excels at analyzing these elements and positioning companies to highlight their assets and advantages.
Maureen earned her Bachelor’s from Columbia University School of Nursing (New York, NY) and her Master’s in Business Administration from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University (New York, NY). Maureen is a registered nurse (RN) and has been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 1995.
In her spare time, Maureen enjoys family time, traveling and reading.
Carin Canale-Theakston
Chief Executive Officer
Carin Canale-Theakston is CEO of Canale Communications Inc., where she also serves as the chief culture officer, principal strategist and resident sommelier.
Carin is involved at some level with every client, providing communications insights to life science executives and contributing to strategic planning. She founded CanaleComm in 2010 after serving as president of the life sciences division of international public relations firm Porter Novelli—and before that, as managing partner of boutique life sciences firm Atkins + Associates.
Given her prominence in Southern California’s biotech industry, few people realize Carin’s public relations career began in the technology world, working with companies making faster phones and first-generation tablets. But more than two decades ago, as the tech market was crashing, Carin leapt into the biotech sector, defining her role in an even more exciting innovation industry.
“During my tenure in the biotech industry, I have seen practically every possible biotech victory or crisis play out—so I can provide a level of insight that’s uncanny in the communications agency landscape.”
Carin has supported companies of all types, sizes and stages, ranging from tiny biotech startups and venture capital firms, to the world’s largest healthcare company and everything in between and is viewed as a trusted resource for strategic direction for their companies. It is this approach to her business that led to Carin being awarded an E&Y 2019 Entrepreneur of The Year in the San Diego region.
A sought-after speaker and moderator, Carin serves as vice chair of the board of directors for San Diego-based Biocom, the largest regional life science association in the world, and co-chairs the Biocom Capital Development Committee. She is also a director of the San Diego Venture Group, where her efforts help bring additional investor capital to San Diego’s early-stage life science companies.
Under her leadership, CanaleComm received the Best Places to Work Award from the San Diego Business Journal, and has won dozens of Edward L. Bernays Awards, granted by the Public Relations Society of America’s San Diego chapter. Carin, an active member of the Mission Hills Town Council, also was named “Woman of the Year” in 2016 by California Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins and has been named to the “San Diego 500” list of influential business leaders in the life sciences for the past four years.
Carin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with a minor in Marketing, from the University of Tulsa. Email her at [email protected] or connect on LinkedIn.
Pam Lord
In Memoriam











































































Perspective.
A few of our musings, updates and life science communications tips.
