Experience

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  Redbrick Communications

  • Mississauga, Ontario

  • Vice President

    • Sep 2016 - Present
    • Mississauga, Ontario

    Redbrick has built a strong reputation helping individuals and organizations tell their stories authentically and effectively. We offer highly sought-after training on media relations, issues management, social media, public speaking, plain language and more. All of us have been in the trenches ourselves and understand what it takes to be an effective communicator.As Vice President, I use my 18+ years of being "on the inside" to provide strategic counsel, planning and training to clients. I love giving people the skills they need to take their organizations and knowledge to a new level. I also love helping reach an audience (whether internal or external) in a meaningful way - in a way that helps an organization successfully reach its goals and resonates with the public with whom they are connecting.Whether the goal is to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy, engage staff internally, lead them through change, enhance an online presence, launch a new initiative, or manage an issue that is brewing or has already blown up in the public eye, I will evaluate the situation, understand the organizational need, and take a strategic approach that provides results.

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  City of Cambridge Ontario

  • Ontario

  • Interim Director of Communications (as part of Redbrick)

    • Nov 2016 - Jun 2017
    • Ontario

    I was brought into the City of Cambridge to help advise and lead their communications activities, media relations and issues management while they hired a permanent director. What was intended as a short-term, part-time assignment, quickly morphed into a longer-term, full-time commitment that I highly enjoyed. Never a dull moment, I not only advised on the City's communications function, offering strategies and beginning to guide staff to take it to the next level, I also got engaged with some critical initiatives and issues, such as:- led the response (internally and externally) and was the media spokesperson to two back-to-back labour disruptions - led the change management process for an organizational restructuring and advised the CAO and leadership on key messaging- advised on a high-profile issue involving a local councillor- began the change communications strategy and consultation for the rollout of a new corporate-wide finance/HR system- consulted daily with the executive leadership team, the mayor, councillors - developed a new council report writing guide for staff, introducing a new report template (based on best practices across Ontario municipalities)

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  Halton Region

  • Canada
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Communications Advisor

    • Nov 2013 - Jul 2016

    Managed staff and led all communications planning and implementation for areas related to Health, Social Services, Public Works, Planning and Economic Development/Tourism - all high-profile, public-facing divisions for the Region. I provided strategic advice and consultation to all levels of staff across the organization and managed significant issues/crisis management related to the December 2013 ice storm, August 2014 Burlington Flood and more.

  • Communications Specialist

    • 2008 - Nov 2013

    communications strategy development using RACE formula; media relations; PR strategic advice and consultation; social media strategic planning, implementation, analysis and support; public health focus; public speaking; research and analysis

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  Ontario Ministry of Government Services

  • Communications Co-lead/Analyst

    • Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

    Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Enterprise Financial Services Division (EFSD); Developed and implemented internal public relations and communications strategies to support the initial implementation and ongoing rollout of the government’s financial system and its related services to 60,000 staffNotable achievementsAwards – as part of EFSD teamAmethyst award for outstanding achievement in the Ontar OPSSilver award for quality excellence at the Public Sector Quality FairShowcase Ontario Award of Merit for the rollout of iExpensesCreated and successfully implemented over 50 communications plansProject managed eight years participation in six annual tradeshows, including the largest in the OPS: Showcase OntarioAdvised on emergency communication contingency planning as part of the division’s Emergency Resource PlanningLed EFSD participation in video for the Associate Deputy Minister: interviewed staff, wrote script, coached participants and coordinated with videographer

  • Acting Executive Assistant/Special Advisor

    • Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

    Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, EFSD; Provided expert support and strategic advice to the ADM related to divisional finance and administrative functions for a high-profile division. Notable achievementsInformed and advised ADM of emerging/contentious issues related to upcoming union strikeKey liaison in all facets of the division’s Corporate responsibilities to the Associate Deputy Minister’s officeDeveloped strong, respectful relationships with senior management, mediated conflicts between staff and maintained focus on divisional goalsPrepared 10 briefing notes and coordinated divisional functions with the DM’s office

  • Business Information Specialist/Communications

    • Oct 1998 - Oct 2006

    change management, internal communications

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  My Body, My Baby

  • Owner/Instructor

    • Jan 2004 - Jan 2006

    Owner and sole proprietor of Halton-based business providing fitness and yoga classes for pregnant women and new mothersNotable achievementsGrew business threefold in two years with successful marketing campaigns,Evaluated client satisfaction through eight written surveys, Web evaluations and ongoing face-to-face communication to improve and expand services offered

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  Minsitry of Solicitor General

  • Project Support Coordinator

    • Jan 1998 - Jan 2001

    Ministries of the Solicitor General, Attorney General, Correctional Services: Integrated Justice Project; Coordinated and executed communications programs for a major, tri-ministry government project, while providing expert administrative support to all levels of staff.