Tina Powell

Pilon School of Business
Program: Business Administration – Marketing
Year of Graduation: 1983
Year of Induction to Hall of Fame: 2010

Tina Powell is an award-winning communicator, a nationally published journalist, a best-selling author, and an inspiring guest speaker.

Tina began her career in the ad industry. After graduating from Sheridan in 1983, she joined National Trust, going on to become Director of Advertising.

Tina eventually turned to writing, her first love. She began her own business, Write Away, which focused on the world of advertising and copywriting. After becoming a mother of two, she embraced children’s literature.

In 2004, Tina incorporated her own publishing company: Big Fat Pen Publishing Inc. Through an innovative corporate publishing program, Tina sold more than 600,000 books and worked with companies such as BeeMaid Honey, Dempster’s Bread and Mars Canada.

An accomplished journalist, Tina has written for Canadian Business Magazine, the Toronto Star, Make-Up Artist Magazine and Canadian Health and Lifestyle. She now uses her passion for writing and communications know-how as a coveted speaker and children’s author. Her publishing company, Winnipeg, Man.-based Peanut Butter Press, focuses on quality picture books for children to enjoy.

Tina’s books focus on topics such as good sportsmanship, self-reliance, sibling love, physical fitness and pet ownership. Some of her titles include Freddy and the Blue Jays, Fernando’s Fun-tastic Friends and Brandon’s Big, Bad Barfday.

Her titles have raised an awareness for organizations such as Food Banks Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, Children’s Aid Society, Kids Help Phone, Raise-a-Reader and Jays Care Foundation, among others.

Tina has a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Commerce from York University and an English degree from McMaster University. She is also a member of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers and the Canadian Children's Book Centre. She received a Certificate of Recognition from the Government of Ontario for her significant contribution to children’s literature.

“To this day, I still reflect upon and utilize what I learned at Sheridan. It will always hold a special place in my life and in my heart.” — Tina Powell