Resume

Senior Marketing and Communications Professional

Years of experience managing projects from concept to creation to completion
Creator of innovative marketing strategies utilizing maximum value for minimum investment
Strict adherence to deadlines and budgets while producing high-quality, award-winning projects
Organized, detail-oriented, excellent interpersonal and communication skills 

~ Strategic marketing expertise

~ Corporate communications

~ Project and publication management

~ Print production award winner

~ Employee and supplier management

~ Public and private sector experience

~ Client and agency background

~ Proofreader extraordinaire

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President/Entrepreneur, Lisa Michaels and Associates

1998 – present

Freelance marketing and communications services for clients including the Town of Oakville, City of Burlington, Region of Peel, City of Mississauga, George Brown College, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, Canadian Urban Transit Association, Burlington YouthFest, St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School, Punch Communications, Chapman Morris Advertising, The Tax Management Centre, Ogilvie Rothchild Inc.

~ Wrote awards submissions, resulting in three provincial awards in 2001 and 2002

~ Produced 486-page business directory, 208-page course catalogues, 16-page recruitment brochures, 8-page newsletters, 4-page client proposals, 2-page articles and one-page media releases, direct mail letters, articles and postcards

~ Obtained and analyzed printing, design, photography and direct mail quotes and recommended pricing and production schedules for clients, saving both time and money

~ Taught continuing education course – Developing a Freelance Communications Business

Marketing Services Manager, BOC/Linde Canada Limited

2005 – 2008

~ Senior role responsible for strategic marketing and communications planning

~ Managed a marketing budget of $1.2 million, staff of three and variety of external suppliers

~ Completed 192 projects in first year, up from 40 the previous year

~ Increased web hits by 250% with fresh design, modern navigation and pertinent content

~ Increased sales by 61% in three months using a direct mail strategy to 25,000 customers

~ Reduced expenses by 25% for advertising, on-hold messages, design and printing

~ Implemented new branding style and guidelines for publications, signage and stationery

~ Participated in global peer groups, senior management and North America communications teams

Production Manager, Group Multimedia Network Corp. (advertising agency)

1997 – 1998

~ Supervised design studio team of 5-15 graphic designers and multimedia artists, support staff and freelancers for high tech clients including AST, Samsung, ATI and MGI Software

~ Accomplished major update in company culture and increased productivity by reversing habit of multiple outdoor coffee breaks by day, frantic catch-up work for clients by night

Manager of Marketing, Retail Experts (conference and trade show)
1996 - 1997

~ Created public relations plan, resulting in articles in Canadian Business magazine

~ Liaised and teamed with CEOs and company presidents involved in seminar presentations

~ Supervised trade show floor and solved AV problems, delivery crises and personnel issues

Production Co-ordinator, Strategies International (packaging design studio)

1996

~ Supervised photography updates to company portfolio, resulting in improved corporate presentation

~ Supervised design studio and suppliers for production of beer bottles, tissue boxes and packaging

Publications Co-ordinator, George Brown College

1990 – 1996

prior positions - Communications Officer, Student Recruitment Officer, Public Relations Assistant 

~ Managed publication of fifteen 100+ page course catalogues from galleys to printing to direct mail three times a year, with print run of 100,000 and distribution to 50,000 GTA households

~ Recommended and implemented in-house typesetting system, resulting in annual savings of $60,000 and recovery of 100+ hours of lost time from production schedule

~ Implemented catalogue size change at a time when paper prices were rising. Resulted in 20% savings of printing budget, with no loss of readability. Subsequent adoption by other colleges.


AWARDS

Freelance work for clients resulted in three awards:

~ 2002 Conny Award of Excellence for Programming – wrote submission about Emergency Nursing program, for the Centre for Continuous Learning

~ 2002 Premier’s Award – wrote submission about Health Sciences alumni Anthony E. Brissett, M.D., for the Alumni Association

~ 2001 Premier’s Award – wrote submission about Applied and Creative Arts alumni Paul Rowan, co-founder of Umbra, for the Alumni Association

Personal awards:

~ 1995 Conny Award of Excellence for Course Catalogues at Community Colleges

~ 1995 Trillium Award of Merit for Course Catalogues at Community Colleges

~ 1994 Trillium Award of Excellence for Course Catalogues at Community Colleges


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and EDUCATION

Courses and seminars in Management By Objectives, Proofreading, Copy Editing, Newsletters, Photo Research, Time Management, Desktop Publishing, Buying Printing, QuarkXPress, Desktop to Print Production, Presentation Skills, Race and Ethnic Relations, Networking, Communication Styles, Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Knowledgeable about mutual funds, tax strategies and financial planning – passed Mutual Funds and Labour Sponsored Investment Funds licensing exams in 2000 and 2001. Eleven years of French study; two years of Spanish study; enjoy using other languages on international travels. Intimately familiar with all aspects of running a business.

York University                  Bachelor of Arts degree, major in History

Centennial College             Corporate Communications program

Ryerson University             Film and Photographic Arts program