Before Real Estate  I grew up on a small farm (ok in Alberta it would be called an acreage) in a small town near Hamilton, Ontario. I LOVED horseback riding, and raised and trained many horses in my "back yard." As a kid I wanted to be an equine vet, and so even when that dream faded the University of Guelph was the only place I could imagine going to school. I studied Ecology at Guelph, followed up by a Post Grad in E-commerce.
My internet related studies lead me to Toronto, and jobs at a few "dot coms" (all of which evaporated in the dot com bust). I developed a passion for project management and online marketing and took many professional courses on the subjects. I decided to find a more stable industry and real estate was the answer. I found a job I loved at Coldwell Banker Canada, eventually becoming the Director of Online Marketing.  What I Love
- Horsebackriding
- Biking
- Travel
- Cooking
- Learning
- Reading
- Photography
- The Mountains
Favourites - Music: U2, Coldplay, REM, Sheldon says I like "angry music" but I don't know what he's talking about.
- Books: Oh there are so many of them... Great Gatzby, Life of Pi, A Prayer for Owen Meany (and anything by John Irving), Skinny Legs and All (and anything by Tom Robbins), Time Travellor's Wife, The Book of Negroes, Pillars of the Earth and World Without End... I could go on and on...
- Movies: A River Runs Through It, Life as a House, The Usual Suspects, Slumdog Millionaire...
Contact Me My Job at Coldwell Banker Johnston Real Estate There are very few, if any brokerages in the Edmonton area with a full time marketing director. My job is to make our listings look amazing, make sure they are marketed to the fullest extent, and make our company easy to find and do business with. I have created a number of web sites for Coldwell Banker Johnston real estate, including Sell My Edmonton Home - a guide to selling your home in Edmonton, Find My Edmonton Home - with the best MLS search available in Edmonton, the Edmonton Real Estate Blog - Edmonton's #1 and original real estate blog loaded with stats and information on the Edmonton real estate market, and Join Team Johnston - all about working at our company. Professional Designations: - Professional eMarketing Certificate, Canadian Marketing Association
A 14-week course that presented the latest trends and best practices of e-marketing. Session topics included how to develop e-mail campaigns, address privacy concerns, use online marketing tools such as RSS feeds and blogs, and implement web site best practices. - Business Skills for Project Managers, The Schulich School of Business at York University
This course trains managers to align projects to their company's financial, strategic and marketing goals, via seminars and computerized project simulations. Graduates are able to manage projects beyond the triple constraints of time, budget and quality and lead projects according to market performance, shareholder value and strategic growth. - Advanced Flash, CTC Computer Training Centres
Flash is used to create graphics, animation and interactivity, for a web site or CD-ROM. - Commanding Presence™ Program
A workshop based course to achieve a substantial and permanent improvement in confidence and speaking ability.
My Resume Qualifications and Achievements - Developed and implemented an Online Marketing strategy for Coldwell Banker Canada
- Designed, implemented and promoted several proprietary software applications.
- Developed E-Commerce strategy and platform for four companies.
- Managed development of dozens of web sites from conception to completion.
- Regularly presented training programs and initiatives to groups of 15-500 professionals.
- Managed development of co-branded and white-labeled sites for two major portals.
- Established relationships and negotiated terms with 40 software suppliers to provide e-commerce services.
- Motivated and coordinated efforts of production teams including programmers, game designers, and web and graphic designers.
- Managed online store for an international software company.
Work Experience
Coldwell Banker Canada: Director, Interactive Marketing
2001-2005 - Created marketing strategy and implemented marketing plan that lead to doubling of traffic to corporate web site and leads generated each year.
- Participated in the development of the overall business strategy for the company.
- Presented technology and marketing portions of the strategy to franchisees at quarterly and annual meetings.
- Designed, implemented and promoted the first pay-for-use program in company history – network usage increased faster than any previous program. Additional pay-for-use programs are now underway, creating a new revenue stream for the company.
- Traveled extensively, establishing excellent relationships with brokers and sales representatives across Canada.
- Designed and managed development of numerous technology projects including proprietary software applications, and web sites.
- Developed and delivered training curriculum for thousands of Realtors in hands-on workshops across the country.
- Redeveloped existing software - a 300% increase in usage resulted within one year.
- Designed advertisements for use both on the web, and in print.
- Produced weekly e-newsletter communicating corporate initiatives and industry insights to franchised network as well as a bi-monthly newsletter to over 50,000 consumers.
- Hired, trained and supervised staff.
- Selected service providers and partners as well as managed relationships and negotiated contracts with them.
- Created a technology user group and chaired group meetings.
- Wrote technical specifications and documentation.
- Assisted in the planning and execution of corporate events and conferences.
Excite Canada (Rogers Communications): E-Commerce Producer/Project Manager
Sept. '00 - Oct. '01 - Developed e-commerce strategy for portal and managed all e-commerce projects.
- Conducted competitive and cost-benefit analysis and created strategy for new projects.
- Prepared specifications and functionality requirements documentation.
- Created mock-ups for new e-commerce initiatives.
- Presented proposals to potential e-commerce partners and merchants and managed relationships with them.
- Organized and participated in online events with celebrities and musicians including Joan Rivers, Nick Kypreos, soulDecision and Treble Charger.
- Managed creative development of e-commerce site.
- Represented the company at trade shows.
Nikolai.com Inc.: Web Project Manager
Apr. '00 - Sept. '00 - Developed and managed all production schedules, projections and budgets for all projects simultaneously.
- Presented proposals to potential clients and maintained relationships with clients while projects are under development.
- Defined the overall scope of projects and estimated timelines and budgets with business development and marketing directors.
- Ensured product met the requirements of the client and/or marketing department.
- Supervised 14 programmers, web designers, and games designers to make sure projects were completed on time and under budget
- Responsible for functionality, infrastructure, and content of 7 web sites concurrently.
- Determined the staffing requirements for projects and interviewed candidates.
- Prepared agendas and lead all project meetings.
- Prepared specifications and functionality requirements documentation.
- Identified new opportunities for the company and its clients.
- Suggested, implemented and managed changes to improve performance, appearance, and technical facilities.
AEC Info/Bricsnet: E-Commerce Manager
Aug. '98 - Apr. '00 - Managed all e-commerce operations including development, customer service, fulfillment (both digital and physical), and supplier relations.
- Managed creative development of e-commerce site.
- Initiated contact with dozens of vendors, discussed contracts and negotiated terms and margins.
- Ensured products were placed in our online store to vendors’ specifications.
- Coordinated the IT initiatives to ensure the site is functional at all times.
- Fulfilled orders and also maintained and packaged software products for electronic software distribution.
- Maintained digital inventory.
- Represented the company at trade shows.
- Built a database, which was used to create a new web site.
- Hired and supervised temporary staff members.
Education Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario
Post Graduate Diploma, Internet and Electronic Commerce University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Pure and Applied Ecology |