Bridging the gap between technical know-how and compelling communication

Over 15 years of experience in enabling clients to achieve their objectives through strategic, effective communication. Expert at delivering results for clients. Excellent interpersonal skills. Solid business and technical background. Skilled in both writing and design.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW

KC CONCEPTS INC., July 1995 – present

Business Communications Specialist

Project Management

• Manage successful submissions of complex bids, including construction and multi-year service proposals. Result: On-time, compliant proposals that helped get clients to the negotiation table.

• Develop comprehensive transition plan for large outsourcing project in Southern Ontario. Liaise with general manager, team leads and client to ensure a smooth transition of employees and services to a new business entity. Results: high scores on employee transition satisfaction surveys.

• Document outsourcing project methodology. Result: standardization and efficiency in subsequent projects.

Proposal Writing

• Collaborate with sales and technical teams to write national and international winning proposals valued in tens of millions of dollars. Client industries include IT, Geographic Information Systems, Hospitality Services, and HR Services. Submissions are directed to end customers in business, government, and military sectors. Results: On-time, persuasive proposals that contribute to business growth. Creative story-telling approach to presenting services for global client adopted by other countries.

• Create and improve proposal processes, templates, boilerplate content, and an online boilerplate library. Results: Faster proposal development process and improved quality and consistency of client communications.

Change Communication

• Develop and implement organizational change management and communication plans for transition phase of outsourcing projects in BC, Alberta and Ontario.

• Consult with clients to develop effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

• Develop communication vehicles: presentations, newsletters, web sites, correspondence and collaborated on press releases and announcement activities.

• Results: Successful transitions with high satisfaction levels and the required uptake of employment offers for the new operations.

Business and Strategic Plans

• Consult with entrepreneurs and corporate executives to develop and polish business plans and associated presentations for consumer goods, e-business, IT services, and software development businesses.

• Develop Strategic Vision papers and project charters for long-term projects in a variety of sectors.

Online and Print Marketing Materials

• Create new web sites and consult on clients’ web strategy, structure and implementation. Results: Unique sites that separate clients from the pack and deliver a quick return on investment and an excellent end-customer experience.

• Develop marketing plans and supporting text and graphic content for brochures, newsletters, web content, white papers, magazine articles, press releases, advertisements, trade show signage and posters, CD labels, presentation folders, PowerPoint templates and presentations, and client correspondence.
  Result: Clear, consistent brand and product communication.

Technical and Training Documentation

• Research, write and design technical and training manuals for clients in consumer goods, IT, and utility businesses.

• Collaborate on Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Reports for SR&ED consulting practice.

NORTHWEST DIGITAL (HP Dealer, Microsoft Solution Provider), Vancouver, February 1986 – October 1994

Branch Manager, June 1993 – October 1994

• Responsible for all aspects of branch operation, including staff of 17.

• Results: Grew sales of services and maintained margin in an increasingly competitive market. Sales of support services bypassed previous year’s total sales by mid-way through third quarter in fiscal 1994.  Total sales for training services by July 1994 were up over 400%.

• Manage client consulting and network installation projects and write consulting reports on topics including network security and document management. Result: Additional revenue generation.

Marketing Manager, November 1990 June 1993

• Manage special projects, strategic planning, as well as on-going corporate marketing responsibilities.

• Results: Turned support services cost centre into profit centre – service revenue went from zero in fiscal year 1991 to $400,000 in fiscal year 1992. Added training on high end Microsoft software to product line in 1993.

• Evaluate and recommend products, develop pricing, manage sales and technical employee training, cultivate vendor relationships, and produce company newsletter.

• Set up new division with 6 staff and 1 million in sales per month. Coordinate the consolidation of Alberta, Manitoba and BC NWD reseller customers to be serviced by this new division.

Senior Sales Consultant, February 1986 – October 1989

• Achieved highest sales in B.C. for 1989 fiscal year, with sales over one million dollars in both 1988 and 1989. Consistently over quota and above target margin income.

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, February 1984 – December 1985

Western Canadian Field Systems Analyst, Vancouver, B.C.

IMPERIAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY, January 1980 – October 1981

Programmer/Programmer Analyst, Toronto, Ontario

EDUCATION

Humber, Toronto, Ontario, 1980

Computer Programming Diploma

• GPA of 4.0 out of 4.0

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, 1978-79

Applied Science and Engineering, part time

• Achieved over 90% in each course

McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, 1973-77

B.Sc., Major in Biology

• Graduated with Honours

• Cumulative GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Creativity Innovation and Change, 2014 – Penn State (Coursera.org)

• Qvidian Proposal Automation, 2013 – Qvidian

• Various Proposal Webinars, 2008-2013 – APMP, Qvidian, Tom Sant, Consult 101

• Change Communications, 2006 – Strategic Connections Inc

• Employee Focus Groups, 2006  – IABC Seminar

• Copyrights, 2006 – SFU Seminar

• Writing for the Internet, 1999 – UBC

• Graphic Design, 1995 – UBC

• Marketing, 1994 – UBC Executive Program

• Consulting Business Essentials, 1993 – Microsoft Consulting Group

• Negotiation Skills, 1993 – UBC

SKILLS

• Microsoft: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, Visio

• Qvidian Proposal Automation

• Page layout: Quark Express, MS Publisher

• Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Writer

• Web: HTML, Macromedia Dreamweaver

• Languages: conversational French and Spanish

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• International Association of Business Communicators, BC Chapter

• Founder and manager of the chapter’s Special Interest Group for independent communicators

• IABC Awards Judge

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals, Canadian chapter

• Society for Technical Communication, Canada West Coast Chapter