I’m angling for the position of Writer/Editor with your organization.
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, wrote and verified copy covering virtually all Faculties and often presented technical material to a broader audience. My article, New ways to slice the mapping pie, and its accompanying commissioned illustration is an example I also profiled new staff members, like Beatrice Medicine, and supplied photography, illustration and design skills. Other writing duties included press releases and contributing material for annual reports.
After almost five years with the U of C, I accepted a position as a Journalism Instructor at Grant MacEwan, where I taught newswriting, photography, graphic design and mass media. 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. Settling in Nanaimo I freelanced as a weekly reporter for The Nanaimo Business Examiner writing on many business related issues, an example being the development of a submersible camera.
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.
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. Highlights of this period include the co-authoring of a series of mathematics workbooks and the production of the student illustrated video of my children’s story, The Apple of Albert’s Eye.
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 (including PowerPoint) Illustrator, Photoshop and video editing programs, like Movie Studio. As an active artist, I am used to the submission process. Examples include my submission to paint a mural for Richmond and a proposal to mark the 100th anniversary of the Prince George (parts one and two).
Since returning to Canada, I have served as a Community Support Worker and Residential Care Worker for the Prince George Association for Community Living and Thompson Community Services, respectively. My first-aid training for these positions has lapsed but I am confident I can recertify. I have a valid Class 5 Alberta driver’s license.
I have also served as a Licensed Property Manager in Prince George and Courtenay, after successfully completing the required coursework in the field at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. This work has given me the skill to develop and maintain databases using a specific software.
I believe I am an excellent candidate for this position. Let me suggest, then, that we meet to discuss the contribution I could make to your organization in this role.