Experience:

Freelance Columnist
Chatham This Week, 2013-2026
Wrote about a wide variety of subjects, ranging from personal to political. When the newspaper was shut down by Postmedia earlier this year, the column came to an end.

Marketing Co-ordinator
Maizex Seed, Tilbury, 2021-2024
After filling in on a maternity leave for the marketing manager of this national seed company, I was invited to stay on in the marketing department. My primary focuses were on social media development and event planning.

Marketing Communication Co-ordinator 
PRIDE Seeds, Pain Court, 2015-2020 
Tackled a wide variety of tasks at this national seed company, including website updates, writing and editing various forms of communication, from emails, to media releases to seed guides. I was also responsible for a significant amount of graphic design which included large signs, social media posts, handouts, invitations, etc. Also involved in event management, from small meetings and media conferences, to larger multi-day events. 

Call Centre Agent 
Minacs, Chatham, 2014-2015 
Employed as an inbound call centre agent. The position involved answering a wide range of inbound telephone calls, primarily from Chrysler customers and dealers. 

Exhibit Designer 
Buxton Historic Site & Museum, 2013 – 2014 
Worked as a contract exhibit designer which encompassed a wide variety of tasks, including historical research, writing and design of built and digital features. Designed a number of large museum panels to help tell the story of Buxton’s black history, as well as visioning and designing several built features including a walk-through Gate of No Return and an abolitionist printer’s feature. 

Reporter/Photographer 
Chatham This Week, 2006 – 2012 
Worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer, covering a wide range of topics. Served as the municipal council reporter and worked on numerous hard news and human interest stories with accompanying photographs. Also wrote a regular weekly column. Spearheaded the newspaper’s entry into the social media and was involved in updating its website on a regular basis. Created news videos. 

Editor 
The Observer, Sarnia, 1998 – 2006 
Served as special features, entertainment and desk editor, as well as working as a reporter. Served as launch editor for glossy magazines in three different markets and designing, editing and layout of a hardcover book featuring 100 years of the newspaper. 

Editor
Chatham-Kent Citizen, Oct. 1997 – Jan. 1998
Served as the editor of this short-lived weekly publication within the purview of The Chatham Daily News. Managed two other staff members and was responsible for generating story ideas and assisting with execution of articles, opinion pieces and photographs. Was also responsible for laying out the publication.

Editor
The Chronicle, Rodney, ON, Aug. 1994 – Oct. 1997
Worked as the sole editorial member of the publication, writing stories and opinion pieces, taking photographs and laying out the weekly newspaper.

Customer Assistant
STN Chatham, April – Aug. 1994
Answered telephones to assists customers of this early long distance alternative to Bell Canada.

Editor
Chatham-Kent Business News, April – Sept. 1993
Served at the helm of this briefly-lived publication, interviewing local members of the business community and taking photographs.

Editor
Petrolia Topic, Petrolia, ON, 1987 – June, 1992
Was asked to return to this publication as editor. Responsibilities included managing one reporter, covering several local councils, writing news stories and opinion pieces. Was also responsible for taking photos and laying out the newspaper, as well as liaising with the general public.

Editor
Courier Press, Wallaceburg, ON, 1987
Responsibilities included managing one reporter, covering local council meetings, conducting interviews and writing news articles and opinion pieces, as well as taking photographs for this weekly newspaper.

Reporter/Photographer
Petrolia Topic, Petrolia, ON, 1986 – 1987
Responsibilities included taking photographs and writing articles under the direction of the editor of this weekly newspaper.

Store Manager
Baskin Robbins, Chatham, ON, 1983 – 1985
Responsibilities including managing staff at two locations, managing inventory, submitting financial reports and maintaining a safe and clean work environment.

Acting Editor
New Hamburg Independent, New Hamburg, ON, 1982 – 1983
On my first day of work at this weekly newspaper, the editor resigned and I was appointed acting editor. Responsibilities including researching and writing stories, photography, developing film and photos and managing the layout of the newspaper in conjunction with staff at Fairway Publications in Kitchener, ON.

Printing Compositor
The Manor Press, Deal, Kent, England, 1977 – 1978
I spent a year between Grades 12 and 13 at Chatham Collegiate Institute working in England. My responsibilities included designing and creating print jobs using both handset type and linotype. I was also responsible for dismantling the jobs and sorting the type back into the appropriate drawers.