Deborah Knight is a seasoned marketing and public relations professional with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry.  As the President of dkpr public relations inc. in Toronto, a provider of full-service marketing and digital strategies, this agency has been one of Toronto’s top entertainment management and strategic marketing firms for the past 23 years. Deborah is responsible for overseeing aspects of the company’s operations, including client management, business development, and strategic planning. From Broadway shows to touring bands and working with Hollywood celebrities, Deborah has pretty much done it all. She has toured to 38 States and 9 Provinces, worked in Cannes, London, New York, Los Angeles with Tony Award winners, Emmy Award winners, Oscar award winner, Grammy award winners and even Hollywood Walk of Fame recipients.

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Prior to founding dkpr, Deborah held several leadership roles at top-tier agencies and international companies where she gained extensive experience in branding, advertising, promotions, and digital marketing. She has also worked with a diverse range of clients across various industries including healthcare, consumer goods, travel and tourism, fashion, interior design and fine art, retail, finance, insurance, automotive, cosmetics, skincare and airlines.

Throughout her career, Deborah has demonstrated a strategic knowledge of marketing trends and best practices, which she leverages to help her clients achieve their business goals. She is also committed to driving positive social change through ethical business practices. 

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Deborah has enjoyed mentoring young people and has been a part time College Professor in Arts Management for many years at Centennial College’s School of Communication, Media Arts, and Design at the Story Arts Centre in Toronto. She recently taught music marketing, law, marketing and public relations at The Trebas Institute during the past three years and was the Department Head of the Event & Venue Management Program.

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Areas of expertise include marketing, advertising, designated certification in digital advertising (Instagram, Facebook), crisis communications, business strategies, business development, sponsorship, project management, negotiation, team leadership, entrepreneurship and media relations and spokesperson training. Deborah has won several awards in writing newsletters from Marketing Magazine and has been nominated by Ontario Tourism for an award for a project in Niagara Falls to promote the region.

Her education: Hons. B.A. in Arts Administration from the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, Post Graduate Diploma from George Brown College in Marketing and Fundraising for the Arts, Crisis Communications Training the Raglan Institute and the Schulich School of Management, Leadership Workshop, music training the Royal Conservatory of Music, U of T and Tanglewood Music Festival (Boston Symphony Young Vocal Program).

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Not for Profit volunteerism includes: Founder of The Water Drop Project in Canada to supply much needed water tanks to basic schools in Jamaica in 2016 as a legacy project while she was Lieutenant Governor for Kiwanis International. Currently, Board member of the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation on the executive leadership team as Treasurer, 20 year member of the club. Currently, Board Member of University of Toronto, Scarborough Alumni Board.