The strength of our company lies in the professionalism and knowledge of our team. With a collective experience that spans more than four decades, Coletta & Associates can be counted on for a high level of integrity and have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding results for our clients. We have represented many of our current clients for more than five years and work with their respective staff on a daily basis to develop and implement their projects. We strategize with our clients to define valuable opportunities and drive the ideas to obtain the best possible outcome.

Christine Coletta has run her successful Coletta & Associates firm since 1986. Her personal experience and project history provide vast knowledge to each project that the company undertakes, and the relationships she and her team have built over the years are invaluable. Christine sets the pace and tone for the Coletta & Associates’ “can-do” attitude and entrepreneurial spirit.

Christine’s career started in the hospitality industry where she spent several years working in management roles in Vancouver-based restaurants and hotels. She went on to work in restaurant construction development and oversaw the construction phase, marketing and management of several successful fine dining establishments.

From there, Christine formed her own consulting firm in 1986 and worked on several provincial and federal government initiatives including the design and marketing of the hospitality industry training program “Serving it Right” and the Canadian International Conference Task Force. She held the position of executive director to the newly formed British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) for nine years. While at the BCWI Christine was instrumental in putting VQA wines on the map and defining Okanagan Wine Country. Christine created marketing and branding programs that built awareness for BC wines across Canada and in international markets.

Since ending their nine-year contract with the BCWI, the Coletta team has worked on several major initiatives for clients including; Vincor Canada, New Variety Development Council, PICO, the Vincor 2010 Sponsor Launch, Wines of Chile, Wines of Australia, Tourism Whistler, Pilot Pacific Development Inc., Washington Wine Commission and Transcontinental Media Group. In March 2008 at the 30th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Christine was awarded the “Spirited Industry Professional” award for her industry contributions.

Off duty activities include training at the gym (ask her what she can bench), walking Ryder – her fourteen year old Lab - and making dinners for her ever-expanding extended family. She can also be found in Summerland, BC driving her Massey Ferguson tractor (of course with air-conditioning) and tending the Pinot Gris at the family’s 10-acre Switchback Vineyard.

Leeann Froese has been with Coletta & Associates since 1996, and oversees strategy and communications for many of Coletta & Associates' activities. Leeann's genuine, warm and outgoing personality, combined with her energy and consistent attention to detail make her a natural on the Coletta team. Leeann specializes in developing marketing and communications plans and excels in garnering press coverage for our clients, claiming it is her role to make them famous.

As a marketing and communications specialist, Leeann has cultivated exceptional relationships with the people we work with and in particular, journalists: locally, in the Okanagan Valley, and across the country.

Leeann has a diverse background and range of experience, from food and beverage and retail management to marketing and sales. When Leeann joined the Coletta team, she was performing a marketing student placement. She was hired to assist with the duties performed for the British Columbia Wine Institute, and has been an integral part of the team since.

In addition to her diploma in marketing from Langara College, Leeann has pursued additional education while working for Coletta & Associates. At Langara College she also completed the Media Writing & Public Relations Communications certificate program. Additional and previous education includes marketing, visual merchandising and theatre arts courses at Mount Royal College in Calgary, graphic design courses at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, French language courses at Langara College as well as a real estate development course through SFU. Leeann holds the Higher Certificate from the UK’s Wine and Spirits Education Trust.

Away from her desk, there is no “spare” time: Leeann’s life is full of activity with her husband and sons. She enjoys running, teaching her little one how to swing a bat, attempting home renovations and trying to catch up on her book club reads.

Julian Scholefield has worked with Coletta & Associates since 1995. His easygoing nature and positive attitude make him a natural fit in the Coletta team environment. Julian retains great relationships with our colleagues in the trade, and is looked upon as one of those people who “knows everyone”. He is currently the account lead on many of our projects, including Wines of Chile, Vancouver magazine among others.

Julian has worked in the restaurant industry, construction industry and in retail. His responsibilities at Coletta & Associates are wide ranging, but he is especially suited to the technological and logistical side of the business. If Coletta & Associates does an event, Julian is on top of it! He excels at recruiting participants, site planning, logistics and the kind of detail that separates a successful event from a failure. Julian’s best assets are his hospitable personality and his ability to stay relaxed in time-crunched or stressful situations, or when faced with unexpected circumstances that require level thinking.

Julian's education includes courses in graphic design, architecture and building technology at BCIT along with language and public relations courses at Langara College. He has completed the first two levels of the International Sommelier Guild’s wine education program and is also Serving it Right Licensee certified and can speak French.

With his wife and two young girls at home Julian has very little time to himself, but enjoys doing anything active; including cycling, running, soccer, squash, and wakeboarding. If Julian finds himself sitting still, he can likely be found listening to music and continuing to work on his wine education by sampling different wines from around the world, preferably with friends.

Kate Crothers is a recent addition to the Coletta & Associates team. Kate focuses on communications and media relations and assisting with event management.   Her upbeat personality, strong work ethic and sharp eye for proofing make her a strong team member.

Kate has a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of British Columbia, where she also took classes in Wine Science. Her past work experience in banquet service and private catering makes her an excellent addition to the event management team.

Kate has always loved good food and wine.  When not at her desk, Kate can be found cooking, gardening, walking her dogs, or reading.

At Coletta & Associates since 2008, Alana Dickson is responsible for organization and administration as it relates to our client events. Her background in the hospitality and construction industries serve Alana well as it relates to the setup and execution of our various projects. Her bright smile and engaging personality make her a favourite with clients and suppliers, who also love her because she is professional and attentive.

Alana grew up in Prince George, and initially had studied in the Okanagan to be a massage therapist. She decided that wasn’t for her, and before she joined the Coletta team her education also has included training in web design, project management, marketing, human resources, and accounting. She is Serving it Right Licensee certified and has traveled to wine regions in 4 countries.

When away from her desk Alana enjoys playing volleyball, tennis and weekend getaways.

As the Coletta team’s “feet on the street” in Toronto, Christine Liber has worked with Coletta & Associates since 2008. She runs her own successful publicity company, and with almost twenty years of experience, she has worked all sides of the industry.

Christine launched her career and earned her stripes at Universal Concerts Canada where she handled publicity, marketing and promotions for Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre and also worked on a host of national tours that included Lollapalooza, Neil Young, Lyle Lovett, Barenaked Ladies, Lilith Fair and The Tragically Hip.

She has worked as publicist for such television networks as Treehouse TV, CMT - Country Music Television, Discovery Kids and Teletoon and has worked as a unit publicist on a variety of television series including The Zack Files (YTV/Fox Family), the Emmy-nominated Angela Anaconda (Teletoon/Fox Family) and the lifestyle series Divine Design with Candice Olson (W Network/HGTV U.S.).

Recently Christine worked with New York's Metropolitan Opera on their 'Live in HD' project, a series of performances that were broadcast from The Met live via satellite into movie theatres across Canada and around the world.

Christine is friendly, energetic, and upbeat, with sharp wit. Her strong work ethic combined with a “can-do” attitude and responsive professionalism makes her a reliable publicity contact for the press. In recognizing the difference between, promotion, publicity and public relations, Christine has built a reputation for providing exactly what is required to achieve outstanding results for her clients. 

Alison Scholefield, through parental association, has been involved in the wine industry since birth. The daughter of two wine industry professionals, Alison has known how to identify wine scents from a young age, and works in the Coletta office part time through high school and university. Aside from this, Alison spent a season working at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in the Cellar Door Bistro and another toiling in her family’s Pinot Gris vineyard.

Now entering fourth-year university studying history and French language, Alison only works with Coletta & Associates part time under the watchful eye and guidance of Leeann Froese, specifically on communications, media relations and event management for our domestic winery clients. Alison, who is fluent in English and French (and has a working knowledge Spanish), is a skilled communicator. Her professionalism, sunny disposition and dedication to the team make her a valuable asset.

When away from her desk, Alison can likely be found at the family’s property in Summerland, working on her dive from the swimming platform on Okanagan Lake.

Andrew von Rosen acts as creative director for many of Coletta & Associates’ special projects and has done so since 1997. Overseeing his own design firm, Andrew von Rosen Creative (founded in 1989), Andrew leads an array of projects and provides superior graphic design services.

Andrew and his team of designers have warranted a reputation for satisfying the needs of a wide range of clients. Andrew is known for excellence in award-winning design projects, reliability, a professional cooperative spirit, and the ability to stay on time and on budget. Andrew and his team are well-loved by their clients for turning jobs around quickly to meet demanding print deadlines, and charging fair fees to do so.

Design and production and deadlines keep Andrew’s plate rather full, but when he has time “waiting for the PDF to spool” Andrew can be found watching hockey or hanging out with his sons, preferably at the ball park.