www.kolanta.net

2002 - Present

Duane started as General Manager and Managing Editor for www.kolanta.net when he arrived on the south Thailand island of Ko Lanta in 2001.

After three years Duane became the sole owner of the website and subsequently created a new automated site with a team of designers, programmers and search engine experts.

Today the "Best of Ko Lanta" is one of the island's top Google-ranked ecommerce websites attracting 300+ unique visitors a day.

Mango House Resort

2005 - Present

In 2005 Duane created a boutique resort project by renovating three, 100 year-old Chinese shop houses in Lanta Old Town, in southern Thailand.

For details see:

www.kolanta.net/SOUTHERNLANTARESORT.htm 

Today, the resort operates with guest house rooms, over-the-sea villas and a 50-seat bar and bistro. Asian media are already calling Mango House "one of Southeast Asia's most unique resorts". It is currently open and operating.

Baan Mai Property Development

2004 - 2005

Duane created and marketed this 28-home development project which was launched the day before the December 2004 tsunami hit Thailand's shores.

Through pre-launch PR, web marketing and tradeshow participation, 45 potential buyers were scheduled to visit the island to view the future site of Baan Mai Village.

The project was canceled in February 2005 when all potential buyers decided not to visit the tsunami-torn region.

Ko Lanta Fishermen's Fund

2001 - 2007

Duane created a grass roots charity and a supporting public relations campaign to raise funds for fishermen on Ko Lanta affected by the tsunami.

The media coverage was extensive with articles in top Asian and international media outlets like Channel News Asia, ABC News, BBC News, Reuters News Service, Associated Press and many more.

Mix Communication History

1987 - 2001

In 1987, Duane started Mix Communications after three years of working in the promotions department of CKWX/KISS-FM Radio and a year contract at Expo 86 as the entertainment publicist for THE LABATT'S BLUE LEGENDS OF ROCK 'N ROLL concert series.

From the outset, Mix provided publicity services for event producers in the Vancouver market but the company eventually expanded to offer a full range of marketing and communications services.

In its last year of operation, Mix wrote media sponsorship deals in excess of $5 million, helped secure over $6 million in editorial coverage and played a part in attracting over 2 million patrons to their clients’ events.

Pacific National Exhibition

1995 - 2000

Mix started their relationship with the PNE in 1995 by providing entertainment publicity services for the STAR SPECTACULAR CONCERT SERIES.

By 1998, Mix's duties increased to include media sponsorship and promotion and media relations management for the PNE Fair and the Playland Amusement Park.

In 2000, Mix secured $2.7 million in media promotional value for the PNE, surpassing Mix's 1999's total of $1.9 million and $1.7 million in 1998.

Cloverdale Rodeo + Exhibition

1994 - 2000

In 1994, Mix was retained to handle the marketing and communication duties for the annual event which included graphic design management, media sponsorship, media negotiation and buying, media relations and onsite media center management.

Mix played an instrumental part in the re-branding of the event as "more than a rodeo" and helped take it from a local event to one of BC's highest profile events.

In 2000, with an ad budget of under $100,000, Mix secured marketing value for the event in excess of $2 Million including six weekend-long, on-location radio station broadcasts and five "official guide" print supplements.

Canadian Airlines Chinese New Years

1996 - 2000

Mix was responsible for the media relations and print supplement writing for these very popular festivals in Vancouver and Toronto.

In 1998 the event won the Canadian Event's Industry Award for "Best Festival." In 1999, the final year of the festival, 300,000+ people attended the 2-city, 3-day event.

Music + Cultural + Sports

Mix provided marketing and publicity services for concert festivals, tours and cultural events that included:

PNE Entertainment Publicity (1998-2000)

PNE Star Spectacular Concert Series (1996-1998)

Valor Cup University Hockey Tournament (1998)

Loretta Lynn BC Concert Tour (1997)

Stein Valley Music Festival (1987-1989)

Labatt's Legends of Rock 'n Roll Concert Tour (1987)

Labatt's Legends of Rock 'n Roll Concert Series (1986)

LIFE Boat with Jane Goodall (1995)

Vancouver International Pow Wow Festival (1993-1994)

Theatre Productions

Mix acted as the marketing and communications management for several successful theatre productions, providing campaign concept and design, ad negotiation and buying, media sponsorship and media relations services.

These productions included:

Joseph and his Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat (2000)

RCMP Musical Ride

The Wizard of Oz (1999)

Godspell (1998)

Godspell BC Tour (1998)

World Wrestling Federation (1995-1996)

Sesame Street Live (1987-1988)

New Product Publicity

Mix created and implemented new product publicity campaigns for:

The Vancouver Canucks Coin Collection (1993-1994)

Lenspen (1993-1994)

International Water Guard (1992-1993)

ITel Interactive Media (1992-1993)