Communications Specialist – Sovereign Insurance

Please consider me in your search for a Communications Coordinator.

After completing my Education degree at the U of A (with a major in art) and serving as a writer/production editor for the Students’ Union, Gateway, I joined The University of Calgary as a Communications Officer II. In this position, I worked with university administrators to develop and implement strategic communications plans for students, staff, faculty and the public. As co-editor of the bi-weekly, Gazette, I researched and wrote news and feature articles on virtually all Faculties and often delivered technical information to a more general audience. I also profiled new staff members and supplied photography, illustration and design skills.

After almost five years with the U of C, I accepted a position as a Journalism Instructor at Grant MacEwan. Moving to Vancouver, I joined Southam Business Communications as Western Editor for Canadian Forest Industries Magazine, providing copy on all aspects of the business including harvesting, safety and milling. I then settled with my family in Nanaimo writing stories, for example, about the development of a submersible camera for The Nanaimo Business Examiner and providing front-page stories for the Nanaimo Daily Free Press.

My Nanaimo experience also includes almost five years running a direct-mail advertising franchise, Val-Pak. As owner/operator, I helped small to medium size businesses develop direct-mail advertising promotions. Part of my duties included analyzing customer responses for clients.

As Marketing Manager for forest equipment manufacturer T-MAR Industries, my duties included conducting customer surveys; producing advertising copy, brochures and videos; and launching the company’s newsletter, The T-MAR Times. I also designed T-MAR’s annual trade-show booth and helped represent the company at the Truck Loggers Convention in Vancouver. One highlight of this period includes the company’s participation in “Demo 2000” a “live-forestry” exhibition in the BC interior. I scripted and directed the company’s participation in the show.

A downturn in the industry led to 10 years overseas teaching in Libya, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the UAE and Japan. In that time, I developed lesson materials using language carefully chosen for ESL students that ranged in age from grade-three to adult. 

Returning to Canada in 2012, I relocated to Prince George, BC and launched my WordPress website to highlight my creative abilities in writing, photography, art, music and video production. I have a working knowledge of MS Office, Illustrator, Photoshop and Movie Studio.

I use my blog and twitter account to foster my belief in a better world. I have a working knowledge of MS Office, Illustrator, Photoshop and Movie Studio. I use my blog and twitter account to foster my belief in a better world. As an artist, I’ve submitted many proposals for commissions, including a two-part proposal (parts 1 & 2) to the City of Prince George for a work commemorating the city’s centennial. I also served as team-leader in submitting an RFQ to design a Holocaust Memorial for Ottawa.

 

I note you are looking for a creative communicator; someone capable of developing unique and compelling content across a variety of platforms (electronic, print, social media, video, audio). For this, I believe you’ve met your match in me. Who else would write a children’s story about an apple’s search for meaning and turn it into a student illustrated video? Who else would create a quilt using NRA baby bibs (yes, they sold them) to raise awareness of the need for a debate around gun control? Who else would design a Holocaust Memorial referencing the “striped pajamas” associated with that experience? And, who else would create a LifeStar as a gentle foil to its popular opposite? A final example, my video application for the position of Traveling Ambassador with Air Transat demonstrates my story development, directing, video production and music writing skills.

I believe my experience in communications in so many arenas and my ability to craft messages “thinking outside the circle” make me an ideal candidate for this position. Accordingly, let me suggest we meet to discuss the contribution I could make to the Sovereign Insurance in filling this important role.