Alissa Sklar, Ph.D.

Dr. Alissa Sklar is an established expert in economic development communication, digital marketing, and social media. She runs Sklar Consulting, providing digital marketing strategy and sector analysis to clients across North America and Europe. In addition to Golden Shovel Agency, she has worked with clients including the fDi Intelligence Portfolio, comprising GIS Planning and other data-driven products, a service from the Financial Times (where she served as VP of Marketing for 11 years), Violet PR, Research FDI, and REsimplifi.

Dr. Sklar is co-author with Anatalio Ubalde of "Economic Development Marketing & Priorities" (3rd edition), published in March 2024 by the Financial Times. Based in Montréal (Canada) she works directly with clients around the world to develop and fine-tune marketing campaigns to promote their regions for investment. Using a customized, collaborative approach, Dr. Sklar works with practitioners to expand the reach of location brands in economic development.

With a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication and Cultural Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Dr. Sklar has worked extensively in both private and academic sectors, serving as a social media consultant for economic development agencies, full-time faculty member at Concordia University’s Department of Communication Studies, and research faculty at McGill University.