Simon Fraser University

Freelance Researcher + Conversion Copywriter

Event Coordinator

Working independently to execute several tourism festivals (Tour des Iles 2024 (current),  Tour des Iles 2023,  Earth Day 2021) on Galiano Island, under the event executive team.

Developing daily programming within the grant vision and scope.
Hiring, coordinating and working with entertainers, workshop leaders, and vendors.
Scheduling and overseeing daily logistics including setup and teardown, tech, and operations.
Managing volunteers and hiring staff.
Maintaining a budget and tracking spending, invoices and payments.
Building relationships and cooperation with local community, local small businesses, vendors and volunteers for smooth event operations.

Working remotely, coordinating with team lead via video: Reliable, with professional communication and computer skills.

(Contract and grant-based projects)

Resource Center Coordinator / Reception

Maintaining a clean, safe, inclusive reception space and office. Greeting a diverse population, ensuring people feel welcomed and heard.
Answering inquiries requiring a solid understanding of regulations and services offered.
Assisting people applying for employment programs, scholarships, training, and resources.
Maintaining a high level of privacy, safety and inclusion for community members, and directing them to the correct resource.

Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre

Special Event  + Project Coordinator | Resource Center Manager

Researcher:
Conducting in-depth Interviews with community members (applying research framework) to glean insights about member's online communities, values, and lifestyle to improve value and community services.
Assessing community health metrics such as engagement, belonging, values and participation to recommend improvements needed to attract, engage and retain members.
Assisting with writing and compiling recommendation reports, using a strategic framework.
Received formal mentorship from Carrie Melissa Jones, author of Building Brand Communities. 

Community Moderator | Educational Training Community 

Completed online training for community builders and moderated the Buidlig Brand Communities educational platform for one term.
Posted engaging, thought-provoking questions and conversational prompts
Organized online events and meetups with members
Posted training videos including 'main points' breakdown and discussion prompts

Carrie Melissa Jones, LLC

Online Community Moderator | Online Communities Researcher

I worked with Saas and tech companies, uncovering insights for growth strategies using, leading research, and copywriting projects.

My main roles:

Client Services and Communication
Managing multiple client projects simultaneously and tracking deadlines, reviews, follow-up and communication
Writing proposals, contracts, and on-boarding new clients
Setting up milestones, expectations and deadlines

Administration
Scheduling meetings with multiple stakeholders
Using tech tools for efficient organization and project execution (Hubspot, Notion, Loom, Gsuite, Zoom etc)
Using CMS (Customer Management Software) tools to send, track and organize communication, such as Hubspot, Asana, Wrike, and some SalesForce.

Research and Project Management 
Meeting with executive (product, marketing)  teams to establish goals, KPI's and milestones for research, content and copywriting project execution.
Scheduling and initiating interviews / meetings (with clients, customers etc)
Running customer and audience research programs ( surveys, interviews, competitor/ market research)

Document Writing &  Presentation Delivery
Working with subcontractors/ partners to compile proposals, contracts and other strategic client documents
Excellent presentation skills using software and video for remote presentations (Loom, Canva, Powerpoint) etc
Explaining and defending recommendations based on Jobs to Be Done framework

Research Analysis and Recommendation Reports
Competitive research
Win/Loss analysis
Survey design and outreach

Content Strategy and Copywriting
Using Excel, Dovetail and Notion to parse and present insights
Using relevant Voice of Customer and customer research to write compelling, evocative, and sales-driven
copy, video scripts, web copy, product pages

Social Media Strategy
Developing content calendars 3 months in advance utilizing research and insights
Monitoring LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to improve output and strategy
Writing content using insights

Emerge Insights

Client Services | Content Strategist  | Research Project Coordinator | Market Researcher

Front Desk and Operations

Front desk operations: answering phones, emails, and fielding inquiries.
Scheduling appointments for technicians, updating changes with professionalism and urgency.
Excellent organization, multitasking, and prioritization skills.
Booking rooms, and sharing resources (supplies, rooms, staff) with multiple departments.
Maintenance, inventory, and office management
Inventory of spa retail boutique

Sales

Fielding and replying to emails with professionalism
Upselling products and booking spa events (wedding and retreat)
Selling retreat and large party packages

Client Services

Greeting guests and ensuring clients receive the value that was promised.
Coordinating special requests.
Working with outside vendors such as wedding planners to create desired successful events for clients
Preventing escalations and working with sensitive clients.
Solving problems with fairness, urgency, and professionalism

Galiano Oceanfront inn and Spa

Client Experience and Operations Coordinator 

Increased partnerships and grew accounts by 220%  through outreach, cold calling and relationship building with decision-makers in my channel of Educational Institutions K-12 in several territories. 

 I ultimately increased sign-ups significantly for UME by generating demand and sign ups in new territories. 

Researched target clients, crafted unique value propositions for segments, and created sales enablement materials for each.   Communication, daily email + phone calls  or social interactions with potential leads. 

 Booked discovery interviews to understand goals, constraints, and needs. Followed up, and provided solutions to generate and maintain relationships.

 Developed a deep understanding of prospects struggles, goals and their Industry to present value and solutions.

Monitoring social media, Industry news  to stay on top of trends, for prospecting opportunities.

Sent warm, qualified leads to executive team for follow up. 

Initiated event and tradeshow marketing, acting as brand representative.  Managed photography social media, promotion and campaign metrics. 

Executed PR activities like story pitching and achieved local print media coverage. 
Advocating for customer-led growth contributing to product and marketing strategy  in a cross-functional team.

Thriving in, and understanding the hustle and initiative needed in a start-up culture. Taking on new tasks and responsibilities as needed. Working remotely, using Googe Drive, Trello, Asana Project management software, as part of a small start-up team.

UME Academy

Partnerships and Outreach Manager

Facilitating workshops, and teaching classes with 5-15 learners while onboarding them successfully to UME's game design platform. 
Using video, slideshows and stories to encourage and demonstrate  great designs.
Creating content to help students adopt new features, take on challenges and reach their desired design plans faster.
Listening and understanding  goals and intented design outcomes.
Continually looking for ways to communicate better, adapt and improve the learning experience. 
Answering questions with good 'tech empathy' for various levels and learning styles, struggles and needs. 
 Encouraging advanced engagement with the software by demonstrating integrations, and productivity tricks.
Staying on top of trends in technology,  e-learning, and storytelling to keep presentations interesting and interactive.

Instructor and Workshop Facilitator (STEM, Game Design)

Acted as the primary liaison for students, staff and inter departmental communications for Digital Design and Game Design departments

Planned schedule for Digital Design and Game Design Programs through 8 week term cycles

Administrative, clerical, curriculum planning, and event coordination duties while assisting the Program Manager

Vancouver Film School

Student Services and Program Assistant

Document Management

Creating and sending documents (press releases, proposals and copywriting projects) for review
Writing Press Releases
Copyediting

Research and Fact Checking

Calling and verifyng facts with government agencies, courts, businesses and other institutions

Pitching Stories
Developing stories for clients
Writing Media Kits
Pitching stories via phone and email successfully
Maintaining and Building Media Lists

Anna Zaleska