Michel Neray

Current

Past President, Toronto Chapter at Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
Chief Differentiation Officer at The Essential Message

Past

Founder and President at Portfolios.com - now Creative Shake
Copywriter at MacLaren McCann
Senior Copywriter at Muller Jordan Weiss

Account Executive at Scali, Mccabe, Sloves
Account Executive at DDB Needham

see less...

2 more...

Education

McGill University
University of Waterloo

Recommended

35 people have recommended Michel

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Marketing and Advertising

Michel Neray’s Summary

I am driven to help my clients discover their true differentiation beyond the superficial spin and bumpf that characterizes most marketing and branding.

That's why the Essential Message is your authentic competitive advantage.
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Michel Neray has a science undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo, a second-degree black belt in Karate and an MBA from McGill University. He's married with three children, two dogs, two canoes and one motorcycle.

He also has over 25 years of experience as an award-winning copywriter, an Internet pioneer, a tradeshow pitchman and a senior sales and marketing executive.

Michel has worked with major corporations including Honda, Volvo, Upjohn, Alias-Wavefront, Nikon, The Royal Bank, The Quaker Oats Company, Marathon Brokerage, Guardian Mutual Funds, Mackenzie Financial and many, many others -- big and small.

An online pioneer, Mr. Neray was one of the first marketing professionals to embrace the Internet by building websites as early as 1993. In 1994, Michel co-authored a book entitled “The Great Crossover: Personal Confidence in the Age of the Microchip”, which made it to Jack Canfield’s Achiever’s Recommended Reading List.

Michel founded Portfolios.com in 1995, the world’s first online source directory for creative professionals and one of the first websites based on community generated content. Since creating The Essential Message® in 2003, Michel has helped thousands of independent professionals and entrepreneurs as well as growing corporations find a better way to differentiate, position and brand themselves.

In 2005, his chapter, "Everything Starts With A Conversation" was selected as the lead for the book, "Sales Gurus Speak Out" and re-published in 2008 for 'Awakening The Workplace Volume 3'. He is also a co-author of "In the Company of Leaders" (2008) with 40 top North American leadership experts and authors.

Michel Neray’s Specialties:

Personal branding, Sales Messaging, Differentiation, Marketing, Branding, Creative Strategy and Copywriting

Michel Neray’s Experience

Past President, Toronto Chapter

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

January 2008 — Present (2 years )

As 2008 CAPS Toronto Chapter President, we increased chapter revenue by 22%, increased total asset growth by 53% and increased membership by 11%. But eyond the membership numbers, the high profile sponsors we attracted, the phenomenal programming… all of these things are proof of the great, positive contribution we make as individual speakers, as an association and as a community.

And that’s reflected fully in the pride, energy and enthusiasm you feel in the room at every event.

As 2009 Past President, I get to support all the board members as needed and work on a few of my pet projects that I didn't have time for in 2008. What fun!
Chief Differentiation Officer

The Essential Message

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

January 2002 — Present (8 years )

Your Essential Message is the absolute most compelling thing about who you are and what you do. It would make anyone want to do business with you…(if only you could tell them what it is.) Like anything worth finding, discovering your Essential Message takes a little work… and a little help.

That’s where we come in. Our unique approach, and belief in the importance of core messaging, informs everything we do at The Essential Message. And we mean everything.

More than just enjoying higher sales with less effort, our clients, audience members and Bull Pen members tell us that they gain the confidence, momentum and resilience that can only come from being absolutely clear about their strengths and unique difference - both as a company, and as individuals.
Founder and President

Portfolios.com - now Creative Shake

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

1995 — 1999 (4 years )

Portfolios Online was the world's first online searchable directory of creative professionals. It was sold to BrandEra.com in 1999 and I was part of the team that then acquired the Black Book.
Copywriter

MacLaren McCann

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; IPG; Marketing and Advertising industry)

1985 — 1987 (2 years )

copywriter way back when it was just McLaren...
Senior Copywriter

Muller Jordan Weiss

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

1984 — 1985 (1 year )
Account Executive

Scali, Mccabe, Sloves

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

1983 — 1984 (1 year )
Account Executive

DDB Needham

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; OMC; Marketing and Advertising industry)

1981 — 1983 (2 years )

way back when it was Needham, Harper & Steers. (And if you remember that, you're old too.)

Michel Neray’s Education

McGill University

MBA , 1979 — 1981
University of Waterloo

BSc. , Chemistry , 1976 — 1979

Additional Information

Michel Neray’s Interests:

Martial arts, whitewater and wilderness canoeing, sport motorcycle riding

Michel Neray’s Groups:

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, (CAPS), 2008 President of Toronto Chapter
Affiliated with The National Speakers Association (NSA) and The International Federation For Professional Speakers (IFFPS)