
Curriculum vitae
Areas of expertise
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Extensive writing, copy editing and communication experience as a journalist and in the public sector;
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Proficient in Canadian Press Style, MS Office, iCreate (CMS), InDesign and Photoshop;
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Specialist in plain language;
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Internal communications;
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Converting complex concepts and projects into engaging copy for print and web-based media;
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Developing and executing detailed work plans, providing strategic advice and finding stories in unusual places.
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Spotting a misplaced apostrophe in a single glance.
Professional experience
Copy writing and editing
Loops and Lattes by Nicola Ross (copy editor, three editions); scriptwriter for City of Kitchener video series (2021-2022); Back to Basics: A Practical Guide to Everyday Life by Stephanie Andrews (copy editor, 2019); Corin Raymond (copy editing Dirty Mansions book and album liner notes 2019); wrote website for Aimtom Canada (2019).
Boxbrite Technologies, communications leader July 2020 to September 2021
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Writing website and social media content, media releases and blog posts for company LinkedIn page;
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Coordinating media pitches and interviews;
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Internal communications;
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Consulting on LinkedIn profiles for team members who are new Canadians.
Conestoga College, computerized notetaker 2019-2020
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Taking notes in class for people who are Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing.
City of Kitchener, communications and marketing associate 2007 to 2018
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Research, conduct interviews, write and lay out content for publications, Your Kitchener and City Talk, the newsletter for employees, using Canadian Press Style guidelines.
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Converting complex information and concepts into relevant, engaging copy for external audiences.
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Developing, writing, implementing and evaluating comprehensive tactical plans for clients, for internal and multi-partner external communications and engagement initiatives, including social media campaigns and managing the development of design, production and delivery of marketing materials.
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Collaborating on all communications and marketing for infrastructure services, including engineering, transportation and operations, and finance and corporate services, including the city budget and all People Plan communications for human resources, as well as photography, writing and communications plans. Executing a comprehensive communications plan for the City of Kitchener’s 2016 employee culture survey.
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Member of selected internal committees and groups, including diversity, learning council, employee culture survey (2016), Lean In (co-founder).
Metroland Publishing, reporter and editor 2001-2006
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Sourcing, researching, interviewing and writing/photographing stories for weekly community newspapers in the Eedy Group: Minto Express, Arthur Enterprise News, Fergus-Elora News Express and Elmira Independent (interim editor).
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Mentoring high school students and younger reporters in skill development. As interim editor of the Independent, managed a staff of two reporters, one administrator, two designers and one salesperson.
Irish World, arts editor, London, UK 1998-2001
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Filled a 12-page weekly entertainment section in national weekly newspaper with well-written content and photographs for the Irish community, including conducting interviews, reviews and photography and assigning stories to freelancers.
Education and training
Conestoga College, Kitchener, ON, Diploma of Journalism (print) 1997-1998
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Bachelor of Arts, history 1988-1992
University of Waterloo, Certificate of Community Engagement 2007
Indigenous Canada, University of Alberta 2018
Effective Writing for the Web (University of Waterloo) 2018
Reframing Justice, Crime and Prevention, Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (2017)