The Plank Office

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Creative digital solutions.

CO-FOUNDED IN 1998 BY WARREN WILANSKY, Plank Multimedia Inc. is an advanced website & digital creation company that focuses on developing websites, with one guiding principle – to do things differently. Our aims are simple: to find ways to work with you to use digital solutions that will help to enhance your company or organization, and to offer you and your users new and inventive ways to benefit from our creations.

For your website, we insist that it offer you real, direct, and measurable value for your investment. We build unique reporting systems that will make you see how effective your site is. Our content administration tools allow anyone in your organization with basic computer skills to keep the site up to date, giving you lightning-fast turnaround with no external costs.

Since every project is different we tackle each task individually to offer unique solutions tailored specifically for you. Our expertise in visual design, motion graphics and interactive content means you will reap full advantage of all creative possibilities. We make things easy for you by listening, understanding, and exceeding all of your expectations.

But it’s not only our design and technical skills that set us apart.  At Plank, we always design with someone in mind – your users and your potential users. It may sound simple, but it’s something very few digital designers do.

But forget all that. You only need to remember one thing - we build websites that matter.

 

 

Meet the Team

 
Warren Wilansky

Principal & Founder

Warren Wilansky

Warren Wilansky is the mind behind project strategy, idea-generation, and defining the big picture. His extensive research skills, creative diplomacy and enthusiastic brainstorming motivates project creativity at Plank. Prior to founding Plank, Warren worked as Project Manager / Senior Designer at HBE Software. Warren has delved into many facets of the creative world including CD-ROM production, working as a musician, radio music direction, and magazine production. With a BA in Communication Studies from Concordia University and a vast array of creative projects under his belt, Warren knows what it takes to get things done no matter the project.

Press, Recognition & more

  • Past Contributor, allmaple.com
  • Featured Article, Hour Magazine, Technology Issue
  • Speaker, Yes Montreal Young Entrepreneurs conference, 2001
  • Speaker, Building Film Websites, 2003 SXSW Conference
  • Warren's high-class food review


 
Allen Mendelsohn

VP

Allen Mendelsohn

Allen Mendelsohn brings a unique mix of skills to his position of VP. As both an MBA (with concentrations in marketing and international business) and a practicing attorney with years of experience in both worlds, he has what it takes to help take Plank to the next level. Allen takes full advantage of the brilliant creative and technical minds at Plank to help tailor innovative Web and multimedia designs that integrate into any marketing plan. Plank's vision for all of our projects is to blend creative, technology, and marketing into a cohesive solution. Allen helps make that possible.

Allen is also



 
Mitchell Amihod

Developer

Mitchell Amihod

Developer, integrator, designer, project manager, and so much more – what can’t Mitchell do? One of his former employers said of him “his astounding facility for learning has made Mitchell our de facto jack-of-all-trades.” From his formal education background at Concordia University’s exclusive Communications program, through a number of positions at highly-respected and diverse companies like Spafax, Blue Dot, the Montreal Mirror and Chambers & Partners, Mitchell has done it all. Now he’s doing it all for Plank.

Mitchell's (not-so) secret identity



 
Sarah Bagnall

Account Executive

Sarah Bagnall

Getting things done and communicating with clients, all with a creative eye – the perfect combination for Plank’s new Account Executive. Sarah has a wide range of project management experience in both public relations and marketing, including stints at PUMA Canada and Optimum Public Relations (a division of Cossette). Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Communications Studies from Concordia University, as well as a Fine Arts certificate from Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici (LdM) in Florence. Her creative background gives her an appreciation for design that serves all of Plank’s clients well, while her warm demeanor allows her to develop the personal relationships with clients that make her such an outstanding Account Executive. So make sure to get in touch with her – she’s guaranteed to be able to speak your language.



 
Patrick McFern

Intermediate Developer

Patrick McFern

If we were to tell you that someone was a health and fitness nut, doesn’t play video games, and is completely flexible in his work methods and style, would you say he was a developer? Our guess is no. But that’s exactly what Patrick is – the self-described “anti-stereotypical” programmer. Oh sure, he can slap together a PC from scratch in under an hour, but then he’ll then he'll head out for a day of riding (snowboarding, of course!). He’s got formal training, with both a Bachelors of Computer Science from Concordia and a DEC (Computer Science) from Vanier. He’s got a ton of experience too considering his age, including stints at Motorola, OZ Communications and Airborne Entertainment. He has found his way to Plank where says he’s thrilled to take on the real responsibility that comes with working in a smaller company. From what we’ve seen so far, he’s the perfect fit!



 
Joël Perras

Intermediate Developer

Joël Perras

Bio coming soon!



 
Steve Bissonnette

Production Director

Steve Bissonnette

Steven Bissonette finds slick, elegant solutions to all our technological challenges, while keeping creativity and design at the forefront. It’s reflected in the work he has done on our most forward-looking projects for Airborne Entertainment, Redknee solutions, and multiple projects for Michael Moore. Over his nine years at Plank, Steve has constantly been researching to develop our technological and creative infrastructure using a broad range of modern Web technologies, and passing it on to all our clients. Steve now uses all his experience and skills to guide our busy production team and help everyone meet the high standards he has set for Plank. Brilliant technical solutions without sacrificing creativity, now with an all-new dash of leadership – it’s the Steve Bissonette way.

Recognition and more Steve



 
Geoffrey Weeks

Interactive Director

Geoffrey Weeks

With an extensive background in Photography and Film, Geoff brings a unique visual style and a passion for creativity to the Plank team. In joining the Plank team Geoff's role is to mesh his strong sense for motion graphics (as the producer of a series of short films at HardMardBoulevard.com) and his love and passion for Internet design and technology into cutting edge productions. From developing a series of community based websites to his involvement with the Montreal Fringe theatre community, Geoff has been adding to the cultural landscape of the Internet for years. Be prepared for some of Plank's work over the next few years to spring from HIS brain!

Other Geoff stuff



 
GW Brazier

Creative Director

GW Brazier

GW’s design experience is just too extensive to fully list here. Airborne Entertainment as Senior Designer, Art Director of The Montreal Mirror, and Co-Founder of Blue Dot Communications, is just a taste of what he’s done. GW turns to a Cary Grant quote to describe his web design philosophy – “it takes 500 small details to make one favourable impression.” Plank’s creative vision has been placed in GW’s immensely capable hands. He says he wants our sites to have an organic quality, to have them go deeper than just the face. Not overly slick, but laden with real craftsmanship. Sites that stand out and are unique – sites that have a voice.

GW's claim to fame



 
Jennifer Lamb

Interactive Designer

Jennifer Lamb

As with all of Plank’s people, Jennifer Lamb has a diverse background that serves her well in her capacity as Interactive Designer. Jennifer has the formal training, having studied in the exclusive Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montreal. Jennifer then found her way to Plank where she thrived in her first go-around. Her impeccable skills led to industry recognition, including Macromedia’s Site of the Day for her design of dcianfarra.com, and multiple acknowledgments by Taschen for lowprofile.ca. Jennifer then took off to the wilds of Asia, living in Taiwan and experiencing the world. But we’ve welcomed her back home, and now our clients will benefit from all of Jennifer’s skills and creativity.

More Jennifer



 
Nancy Beaton

Production Specialist

Nancy Beaton

The creative eye that takes some of the most beautiful photographs we have ever seen has been let loose at Plank. Reared in the wilds of Newfoundland, Nancy found her way to Montreal where she has taught herself more about web design than could ever be taught in school (though she has plenty of formal education too). You can’t keep her in one place too long, as she travelled the world near & far. Her travels included an internship with Alternatives developing websites in India for NGO’s, which fit in nicely with her self-described leftist and social cause philosophy. Captivated by nature and that which surrounds her, we marvel at her ability to recognize the aesthetics in everyday life. Now all her skills are put to great use bringing Plank websites to life.

Through Nancy's Eyes