Profile

A mid career professional seeking a public relations position where his skills in writing, research, media relations, planning, project management, social media and a recently earned PR Certificate can be leveraged.  

Achievements

·         Managed the community relations component of the Be Tire Smart PR campaign on behalf of the Rubber Association of Canada reaching a diverse audience on the ground exceeding client expectations.

·         Built the Oakville Camera Club brand through proactive Community media engagement, build relationships with local arts groups and leverage the photo sharing site Flickr. Membership grew from 15 people in the founding year 2006 to 85 in 2009.

·         Executed a media relations campaign on behalf of the Analog Photography Users Group to promote the launch of a conference highlighting film photography, generated positive media coverage with CBC Radio One’s Metro Morning.

Skills and Abilities

·         Writing news releases, features, backgrounders, speeches, brochures, reports and web copy.

·         Accomplished project manager, signing off on creative concepts, hiring and supervising PR Interns, ordering collateral and display materials for the Be Tire Smart Care-Van.

·         Acted as primary media spokesperson, being on message with print and broadcast community media with the Be Tire Smart community outreach campaign.

·         Hands on experience using social media including blogs, Facebook and Twitter. 

·         Created media plans for the Oakville Camera Club Capture Oakville Photography Competition and the 2007 Picture the Cure fundraiser.

·         Engaging public speaker with experience delivering presentations, how-to seminars and product knowledge sessions for customers and store employees.

·         Developed and executed incentive marketing programs for clients at Carlson Marketing Group including Royal Bank Visa Gold, Microcell (Fido Wireless), First Line Mortgages, Motorola, Scotiabank, GE Medical and State Farm Insurance targeting different audiences.

Education

·         G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Ryerson University Certificate in Public Relations. Graduated 2008.

·         University of Toronto, Erindale College, Honours Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and History. Graduated 1991.

Work History

·         Rubber Association of Canada/Xposure PR, Contract Project Manager of the community outreach segment for the Be Tire Smart PR campaign, 2008.

·         Rona Lansing Oakville: Specialty Sales: Paint Department, 2005 to 2006.

·          Servco Service Group: Merchandising Representative (Toronto West), 2003 to 2005.

·          Serv-Tek Asset Management: Inside Sales Representative, 2002 to 2003.

·         Carlson Marketing Group Canada Ltd.: Buyer Incentive Rewards Group, 1997 to 2001.

·         Zellers HBC Canada: Buying Assistant hardware and automotive categories, 1996.

·         Home Depot Canada: Retail Paint and Décor Sales (Oakville Store), 1992 to 1996.

Software Competency

·         Microsoft Office, custom inventory databases, and hands user of different social media applications.

Professional Affiliations and Volunteering

·         IABC/Toronto, 2006 to present. Partnership manager, marketing communications committee 2009-2010.

·         Co-founder and Vice President of the Oakville Camera Club since 2006.

·         Volunteer Public Relations with Picture the Cure Cancer Fundraiser July 4-31, 2007 at the Steam Whistle Brewery.

·         Volunteer Media Relations with the inaugural Analog Photography Users Group conference, May 4-7, 2006.

Personal Interests

·         Photography: Fine art photographer http://funwithcameras.blogspot.com  

·         Reading current affairs, sociology, pop culture, business issues, politics, history, and fiction.

·         Member of the Caledon Ski Club.