Langara College

Writer | Storyteller | Communications Professional

Destination British Columbia

Global Content Team (Contractor)

Proudly based in Squamish, BC, Substrate Studios offers social media marketing, digital strategy, brand identity and graphic design services for clients in the tourism and lifestyle industries. Amber co-founded Substrate Studios with her husband in 2016 and leads the business development, account management and strategy arm of the consultancy.  Clients have included Tourism Squamish, the District of Squamish, Destination British Columbia, LA Pride, Pacific Wild Foundation, Hootsuite and many more. 
Amber has worked on a variety of projects in the following capacities: 
- brand strategy
- creative director
- copywriting and editing
- influencer and advocacy programs
- social media strategy 
- media buying 
- content marketing plans
- coaching and workshops
- corporate brand identity 
- PR and communications

Substrate Studios

Co-Founder and Head of Marketing

As a Content Lead, I took on the position of working with the Destination BC Marketing Programs team, to develop a spring campaign targeted to the domestic market (BC and Alberta). This position included the following: 
- developing a content strategy and supporting roll-out plan
- assigning and editing stories written by content writers
- collaborating with functional leads in developing their accompanying influencer, social media, email, and PR plans
- liaising with various tourism stakeholders
- Wordpress production

Global Content Team (Contract)

As a regular contributor to the Global Content Team, Amber has worked as a content lead on a variety of content marketing campaigns targeted at British Columbian travellers, including the 2020 spring marketing campaign and Covid-19 tourism recovery campaign. Tasks included: 
- Content Planning 
- Editorial writing
- Advertorial writing
- Copyediting
- Wordpress page design and layout 
- Stakeholder relations
- Working with freelance writers

In this role, Amber was responsible for media accreditation, overseeing day-to-day operations in the media centre and event communications to the Whistler community.

Crankworx Events Inc.

Crankworx Media Centre Team (Contractor)

In this role, Amber executed a variety of tasks for the social media team, including running a six-figure Facebook advertising budget to boost engagement metrics; reporting and analytics; content development; and managing the global community manager team responsible for social media channels in Australia, UK, China, Germany and Mexico.

As a marketing manager on TELUS' dynamic digital team, Amber primed creative integrated campaigns that drive business results and build brand equity for a wide portfolio of teams, including fibre to the home, consumer acquisition, loyalty and retention, corporate sponsorships and community investment. 

During her tenure, she was instrumental in implementing process improvements and
developing strategies to take the brand's social presence and strategic vision to the next level. As a member of the organization's Centre of Expertise, her responsibilities included:

- hiring and supervising social media specialist
- developing and overseeing team budget 
- key contributor to 360 marketing campaigns with out of home, TV, print and digital components
- content marketing strategy development, deployment and optimization
- social media channel evolution (Instagram)
- developing social media playbook
- overseeing growth and promotion of peer support forum, TELUS Neighborhood
- campaign management and implementation across portfolios
- producing and running training modules
- priming operational interlock transitions
- maintaining agency and vendor relationships

TELUS

Marketing Communications Manager

6S Marketing (which is now operating as Major Tom) is one of Canada's leading digital marketing agencies, focusing on SEO, online advertising and social media. In this role, Amber oversaw social media strategy development and implementation for a variety of clients, including Vancity Credit Union, Topshop Canada, the University of Northern British Columbia, and BlueShore Financial. 

As the Social Media Committee Head at 6S Marketing, Amber also lead a number of business development initiatives, including a panel on Crisis + Issues Management during Social Media Week 2012, a grassroots marketing campaign during SXSW Interactive 2013, and an agency partnership with Hootsuite Enterprise. 

Her role also included developing various vendor relationships with companies, such as Facebook, Twitter, Klout, Songza.

Responsibilities included:
-Community Management
-Email Marketing Strategy Development
-Campaign Creation 
-Data Analysis and Social Media Monitoring
-Social Media Training
-Crisis and Issues Management Training

6S Marketing

Social Media Manager

In this position, I contributed content and managed a team of writers, who produced weekly columns on accessible outdoor adventures for urban actives based in the Metro Vancouver area.

Vancouver Is Awesome

UNPLUGGED: Outdoor Editor and Writer

The former publication, whistlerisawesome.com, was a subsidiary of Vancouver Is Awesome from 2011-2014. Under the contributor name, "Miss Whis", I contributed weekly content, documenting lifestyle, outdoor culture and entertainment news and experiences in and around Whistler.

Writer - Whistler Is Awesome

In this role Amber was a well-respected member of Whistler Blackcomb's marketing team. Her two primary functions in this role were: Supervisor of the Destination Media Relations program and Social Media Strategist.

On the PR side, she supervised a direct report and oversaw major Travel Media Relations efforts, as well as represented the company during in-market travel.

On the social media side, her responsibilities included both daily online community management for 10+ social media channels, as well as high-level social media strategy. 

Duties included: 
-Leading a 10-person social media cross functional team
-Hosting annual social media summit for employees
-Campaign tracking and reporting
-Creating a social media policy and internal training program
-Managing internal and external content creation (video, blogs, photography)
-Working with Quality Assurance to develop a customer service process
-Fostering collaborative relationships with corporate partners and other internal/external stakeholders  --Public speaking
-Blogger outreach 

The highlights of this role include working on Whistler Blackcomb's first viral video "Shit Skiers Say", and being part of a content marketing campaign that was featured on TED Ads Worth Spreading.

Accolades: Supervisor of the Year

Whistler Blackcomb

Media Relations and Social Media Strategist

Amber reported to the Public Relations and Communications Manager, overseeing all Destination Media and Social Media initiatives for Whistler Blackcomb. In this role, she also gained event promotion experience, extensive crisis communication training and gained more strategic autonomy.

The highlight of this role was her contribution to the PR efforts for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, as well as her involvement in PR and social media for Kokanee Crankworx, the world's largest freeride mountain bike festival.

Senior Media Relations Officer

In this volunteer position, Amber wrote daily blog updates covering the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

Dose.ca

Writer, TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival Blog

In this role, she supported the Public Relations Supervisor in fulfilling destination media visit itineraries and participating in daily social media community management. Amber also wrote press releases and advertorial copy; managed general public relations inquiries, devised pitch calendars and completed other administrative duties for the PR Department.

The highlight of this role was her contribution to the launch of the world-record breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola in December 2008.

Accolades: Employee of the Month on several occasions, as well as the the bi-annual I.C.E. Award for Continuing Excellence.

Public Relations Coordinator

Visiongain is an industry intelligence firm that specializes in the mobile and pharmaceutical industries. Amber was editor of four daily newsletters covering mobile and pharmaceutical news, and editorial assistant and contributor to the company’s monthly business-to-business publication, 3G Bulletin. 

Accolades: Received salary increase within first six months of employment.

Visiongain

Newsletters Editor

During this maternity leave position, Amber covered a variety of subjects, including health-care, politics, city council, music, art, human interest, travel and more.

Amber Turnau