Communications Roles
Communications Officer, City of Hamilton, June 2011-Present
Provide a broad range of communications services to internal clients such as develop communications strategies, coordinate media and employee campaigns, offer senior-level writing, editing and revision and coordinate media relations.
Director, Internal Communications for Sodexo Canada, October 2007-June 2011
Strategic and operational communications development and implementation; Content development and adaptation; Editor-In-Chief of Intranet 2.0 for Canada: went live first in the world at Sodexo & won Gold for Spirit of Progress Award 2010 for Intranet Implementation.
Communications Specialist, Cancer Care Ontario, January-June 2007
Strategic and operational communications; learning management system, user support and adoption strategies, release implementation and various communications-based tasks.
Senior Consultant, Design Services, Prinova Technologies, March-September 2006
Managed client-facing projects to deliver communications documents by developing content and design concepts, presenting design concepts to key stakeholders, managing client expectations, and working closely with team of designers.
Senior Communications Advisor, Government of Canada, April 2000-March 2006(From Communications Officer to Senior Communications Advisor)
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), Health Canada, The former Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
General Assignment Reporter, The Ottawa Sun, March – August 2001
Published more than 100 articles, including at least four front-page stories and several line stories
Online Database Administrator /Client Liaison, Ian Martin Limited, Ottawa, Ontario July 1999 – April 2000
Coordinated online interactions to ensure smooth stakeholder communications created , wrote & edited newsletter and managed membership for group of engineers
Management Team Leader, BPS National Call Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland September 1997 – April 1998
Managed 50 + agents in sales environment, handled emerging communications issues and strategic planning with team leaders.
Publishing Sales / Editorial Representative, Prentice Hall Canada, Montreal, Québec 1995-1997
Managed $1.4 million - dollar territory in English as a Second Language ( ESL ) textbook industry.
Educator, Contracts with Cégèp Maisonneuve, de St-Jérome, Ahuntsic & Okanagan University College On contract 1992-1995
Taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for Business and Communications to adults. Also taught French Immersion to high school students.
Provide a broad range of communications services to internal clients such as develop communications strategies, coordinate media and employee campaigns, offer senior-level writing, editing and revision and coordinate media relations.
Director, Internal Communications for Sodexo Canada, October 2007-June 2011
Strategic and operational communications development and implementation; Content development and adaptation; Editor-In-Chief of Intranet 2.0 for Canada: went live first in the world at Sodexo & won Gold for Spirit of Progress Award 2010 for Intranet Implementation.
Communications Specialist, Cancer Care Ontario, January-June 2007
Strategic and operational communications; learning management system, user support and adoption strategies, release implementation and various communications-based tasks.
Senior Consultant, Design Services, Prinova Technologies, March-September 2006
Managed client-facing projects to deliver communications documents by developing content and design concepts, presenting design concepts to key stakeholders, managing client expectations, and working closely with team of designers.
Senior Communications Advisor, Government of Canada, April 2000-March 2006(From Communications Officer to Senior Communications Advisor)
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), Health Canada, The former Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
- Developed communications products and strategies for high-profile projects internally and externally;
- Actively organized and facilitated change management activities and teams;
- Advocated employee engagement activity and values at management tables throughout all three departments;
- Acted as high-level confidante to senior executive (ADM) on sensitive issues;
- Identified and addressed emerging issues and crises;
- Reported on ongoing plans for major communications projects.
General Assignment Reporter, The Ottawa Sun, March – August 2001
Published more than 100 articles, including at least four front-page stories and several line stories
Online Database Administrator /Client Liaison, Ian Martin Limited, Ottawa, Ontario July 1999 – April 2000
Coordinated online interactions to ensure smooth stakeholder communications created , wrote & edited newsletter and managed membership for group of engineers
Management Team Leader, BPS National Call Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland September 1997 – April 1998
Managed 50 + agents in sales environment, handled emerging communications issues and strategic planning with team leaders.
Publishing Sales / Editorial Representative, Prentice Hall Canada, Montreal, Québec 1995-1997
Managed $1.4 million - dollar territory in English as a Second Language ( ESL ) textbook industry.
Educator, Contracts with Cégèp Maisonneuve, de St-Jérome, Ahuntsic & Okanagan University College On contract 1992-1995
Taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for Business and Communications to adults. Also taught French Immersion to high school students.
Freelance Work
Publisher/Editor/ Arts Promoter, Thursday Night Café, February 2004 – 2006, Researched, wrote, edited and developed story ideas for this e-zine created to focus on the arts, entertainment, creativity and independence. Promoted artists and the arts in Canada through advertising and publicity, including part-time publicist work. Planned editorial agenda, supervised design, layout, art, photography and electronic distribution.
Freelance Writer, Article for Ottawa City Magazine August-September Issue – 2004 Followed flute player to Montreal to audition for Cirque du Soleil.
Contributing Editor/ Writer, Nelson Street News: September 1999 – December 2000: Articles for arts and culture magazine.
Main Feature Writer, Fuzician Magazine July 1999 – July 2000: Main music features for music industry magazine.
Writer/Photographer, United Way/Centraide October – November 1999: Articles for The Ottawa News and Kanata Courier on community events/people, + photos, for Community Media Project.
Freelance Writer, Article for Ottawa City Magazine August-September Issue – 2004 Followed flute player to Montreal to audition for Cirque du Soleil.
Contributing Editor/ Writer, Nelson Street News: September 1999 – December 2000: Articles for arts and culture magazine.
Main Feature Writer, Fuzician Magazine July 1999 – July 2000: Main music features for music industry magazine.
Writer/Photographer, United Way/Centraide October – November 1999: Articles for The Ottawa News and Kanata Courier on community events/people, + photos, for Community Media Project.
Media Arts Activity
Member Writer with The Northshore Wordsmiths in Burlington. 2009-2011.
Founder (one of six) of Retro-Act, Women’s drama/ playwright collective aimed at participating in drama production activities from A-Z 2004 – 2006 > Researched, wrote, edited and developed plays for production.
Volunteer Staff, North By North East Music Industry Conference (NXNE) For 2 years: since 2004
Volunteer Host, Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest at Gold Circle (Special section adjacent to Main Stage with private bar & facilities.) For 3 years: since 2003
Acquisitions Editor, Board of Directors Ottawa Independent Writers (OIW) 2003 - 04
Fiction Writer, Published Sing, Girls, Sing! in November 2005 with Lulu Press – A novel for girls age 8-12 about four Canadian girls who use music to overcome their homesickness. Takes place in Ottawa.
TV Voice-over Host/Writer, Rogers TV Front Row Centre Sept – December 2002: Researched, wrote, edited and recorded voice-overs for weekly live-music show on Rogers TV in Ottawa.
Singer, September 2000 – June 2002 Female a cappella quartet called Solera: sang professionally around Ottawa, appeared on the NewRO; sang the anthems for Ottawa Lynx baseball.
TV Arts & Entertainment Reporter, Rogers TV the ticket, February 2000 – February 2001: Wrote stories for weekly arts and entertainment show on Rogers TV & performed live-to-tape music interviews. TV Interview Portfolio: Chantal Kreviazuk, Wide Mouth Mason, Sum41, Jeff Healey, the Punters, Garrity, Natalie MacMaster & Larry Garner.
Editor-in-Chief, The Algonquin Times: October 2000 – March 2001: Wrote and edited stories, developed story ideas, planned editorial agenda, ran meetings and assigned stories. Supervised production, performed layout of front page, QuarkXpress, represented newspaper, as required.
Singer, Vox Femina Choir, 1999 – 2001, Memorial University Choir, 1997 – 1998 McGill Choral Society 1995 – 1996 & Okanagan University College Choir, 1994 – 1995.
Founder (one of six) of Retro-Act, Women’s drama/ playwright collective aimed at participating in drama production activities from A-Z 2004 – 2006 > Researched, wrote, edited and developed plays for production.
Volunteer Staff, North By North East Music Industry Conference (NXNE) For 2 years: since 2004
Volunteer Host, Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest at Gold Circle (Special section adjacent to Main Stage with private bar & facilities.) For 3 years: since 2003
Acquisitions Editor, Board of Directors Ottawa Independent Writers (OIW) 2003 - 04
Fiction Writer, Published Sing, Girls, Sing! in November 2005 with Lulu Press – A novel for girls age 8-12 about four Canadian girls who use music to overcome their homesickness. Takes place in Ottawa.
TV Voice-over Host/Writer, Rogers TV Front Row Centre Sept – December 2002: Researched, wrote, edited and recorded voice-overs for weekly live-music show on Rogers TV in Ottawa.
Singer, September 2000 – June 2002 Female a cappella quartet called Solera: sang professionally around Ottawa, appeared on the NewRO; sang the anthems for Ottawa Lynx baseball.
TV Arts & Entertainment Reporter, Rogers TV the ticket, February 2000 – February 2001: Wrote stories for weekly arts and entertainment show on Rogers TV & performed live-to-tape music interviews. TV Interview Portfolio: Chantal Kreviazuk, Wide Mouth Mason, Sum41, Jeff Healey, the Punters, Garrity, Natalie MacMaster & Larry Garner.
Editor-in-Chief, The Algonquin Times: October 2000 – March 2001: Wrote and edited stories, developed story ideas, planned editorial agenda, ran meetings and assigned stories. Supervised production, performed layout of front page, QuarkXpress, represented newspaper, as required.
Singer, Vox Femina Choir, 1999 – 2001, Memorial University Choir, 1997 – 1998 McGill Choral Society 1995 – 1996 & Okanagan University College Choir, 1994 – 1995.