Skill summary

• experience in researching, processing and disseminating information

• a forthright and friendly style honed by years in customer service and public relations

• proven ability to learn systems quickly and meet deadlines

• proficient with general office tools Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and Adobe Pagemaker, Illustrator and Photoshop

• keen leadership skills developed through extensive volunteer efforts


Employment history

Freelance Writer
October 1997 – present

• created articles (up to 2000 words) on a wide variety of topics: investigative journalism, local history, humour pieces and social commentary for fab, a free Toronto biweekly and Fresh, a national glossy bimonthly

• invited to join a panel discussion aired on CBC Radio (Sunday, March 15, 1998) and proved to be almost as clever and witty live as I am on paper


The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, Toronto
April 1999 – present
Public Affairs Coordinator

• acted as liaison to nearly 1200 charitable organizations across Canada, government representatives from every level and numerous media outlets

• created or redesigned databases in Excel and Access to handle vast amounts of information — contact info, media clippings, even possible food allergies of Annual Symposium attendees

• managed the registration process in Toronto and assisted Edmonton and Montreal sites

• responsible for booking the Vice President’s travel and hotel arrangements, tracking his expenses and assisting in the planning of speaking engagements


The Albert Britnell Bookshop , Toronto
July 1996 – March 1999
Bookseller / Special Orders

• matched and enhanced the reputation of Toronto’s best bookstore with an exceptional knowledge of the store stock and a feel for what our customers wanted

• worked both on the sales floor and in the Special Orders department, researching small publishing companies to find international and obscure books

• brainstormed advertising ideas and scored with the well-liked ‘Goldilocks’ ad: “Not too big, not too small — Britnell’s just feels right”


Glad Day Bookshop , Toronto
July 1994 - May 1996
Assistant Manager and Bookbuyer

• promoted to Assistant Manager and Bookbuyer after only a year of working as a clerk

• analyzed sales data and ordered stock to maintain and develop one of the best specialty book collections in Ontario

• managed Canadian Accounts Payable and regularly met with publisher representatives to negotiate quantity purchases

• scheduled shifts, supervised the staff and wrote the monthly newsletter


Education

University of Toronto
September 1997 – January 1999

studied Psychology/Criminology


Volunteer history

Perfomers for Literacy , Toronto
May 2000 – present
Reader

• read aloud to groups of children in the downtown Toronto community

• encouraged a love of reading in the kids while indulging my performing streak


Bravo! NewStyleArtsChannel , Toronto
March – April 1999
Communications Intern

• interned during the day in the publicity department before being lured away by the CCP

• answered questions from the public and helped file the vast amounts of press clippings on Bravo! programs

• became quickly familiar with the Broadview library database program that CityTV uses to keep track of all their programs


TAGL Crisis Counseling Phoneline , Toronto
July 1995 – December 1998
Counselor / President, Board of Directors

• coordinated evening telephone shifts for over thirty other volunteer counselors

• participated in planned fundraising events with local clubs and networked with other groups to keep the volunteers informed


Shoreham Public School, North York
February 1992 – June 1993
Teacher's Aide

• supervised a rambunctious group of eight year olds in a Grade Four classroom

• quickly became one part tutor, one part social worker and one part policeman

• made a difference in the reading skills of students


The Ministry of Health , Hamilton
March – June 1991
Co-writer/Actor

• joined ‘Reality Check’, an educational play about AIDS, produced by the Ministry of Health and performed in Hamilton-area high schools

• suggested a ‘TV studio’ narrative device to link the loose collection of scenes and skits

• subsequently had to write numerous scenes in just days to live up to my idle suggestion but was ultimately able to perform my own dialogue as the show’s new host


References

• available by e-mail