Skills

WRITING & COMMUNICATIONS

• Communications consultant for multiple arts-related events/organizations.
• Developed engaging and informative materials for nonprofit’s member base, incl. print ads, annual reports, web content, press releases, emails.
• Founder of Third Beat Magazine (www.Third-Beat.com); coverage cited by the Toronto Star, Time, Vanity Fair, New York Times, and more.
• Created new standard messaging for Ontario Government (ServiceOntario) correspondence.
• Developed attention-grabbing promo voiceover copy for major tv and radio stations, and personality-driven news and entertainment copy for online & pay-per-view tv program.
• Post-secondary education in journalism, and trained in comedic writing by writers of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live.

ARTS/COMMUNITY

• Active on the Board and Committee levels for non-profit arts groups since 2001.
• Active volunteer in the arts since 1996.

TECHNICAL

• Implemented new email marketing software for non-profit’s membership base (5000 members and 12000 program participants).
• Teacher/consultant for beginner WordPress users.
• Expert level skills in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher).
  Programs: Adobe Creative Suite, Filemaker, FTP, QuarkXPress, & more.
• Mac & Windows proficiency.

MARKETING & PROJECT ADMIN

• Coordinated production and distribution of marketing materials for national retail chain, working closely with designers, media buyers, and media sales representatives.
• Board representative on Marketing and Special Events committees for arts venue.
• Main administrative coordinator for non-profit’s annual fundraiser, generating revenue of $1 million.
• Managed social media for major entertainment industry awards and festival, increasing Twitter followers by 26% within two weeks of 2011 event.
• High-level executive and board support, including managing calendars, booking travel, taking minutes, and accounts payable/receivable.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Media Buying Certificate
Advertising Association of Winnipeg – 2003

Writing for The Daily Show
People’s Improv Theatre, New York – 2008
(J.R. Havlan, Writer, The Daily Show)

Writing for The Colbert Report
People’s Improv Theatre, New York – 2008
(Tom Purcell, Exec. Producer, The Colbert Report)

Writing (Sketch & Television)
Various (Second City Toronto, FilmLab, Impatient Theatre Co.) – 2008-2010

Various social media, WordPress, and SEO workshops (Social Media Week and Podcamp Toronto)

Experience

BOARDS & COMMITTEES

Chair, Communications Committee
Canadian Comedy Awards & Festival [2012]

Communications Committee
Canadian Comedy Awards & Festival [2011]

Organizing Committee/Communications
Toronto Improv Festival [2011]

Board Member
Osborne Village Cultural Centre, Winnipeg [2007]

Board Member and Marketing / Special Events Committees
West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg [2001-2005]

WORK HISTORY

Writer
Ontario Public Service [Contract - Jan. - Mar. 2012]

Editor/Publisher
Third-Beat.com
[2008 – present]

Staff Writer
Naked News
[2010 – position eliminated]

Project Coordinator
EMA Partners Toronto
[Contract x2 - 2009; 2010–2011]

Communications Coordinator
RGD Ontario
[2008 – position eliminated]

Special Projects Coordinator
Rady JCC
[2005-2007]

Writer, Producer & Host, Laugh Tracks
CJUM-FM Winnipeg
[2005-2007]

Entertainment Reporter
Uptown Magazine
[1999 – 2007]

Promotions Assistant
Corus Radio Winnipeg
[Contract – 2004]

Sales Promotions Assistant
TMG (A joint venture of CTV/GlobalTV)
[2001-2004]

Marketing Assistant
Ben Moss Jewellers
[2001]

Client Services Representative
Kenna Marketing
[1999-2001]

Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Uniter
[1995-1996]