Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)
Date: May 2021 - Present
Position: Lead, Content Marketing
Position duties: As the Lead of Content Marketing with PSHSA I am responsible for developing and managing PSHSA's content marketing strategy. I manage our social media platforms, create graphics for various day-to-day and campaign-specific marketing needs (paid advertising included), manage and execute newsletters, write and edit copy for blogs, presentations, and various written pieces, brand documents for the website and external stakeholders, and other tasks as needed. I also help staff presenting at external events create eye-catching, informative and on-brand PowerPoint presentations.
Position duties: As the Lead of Content Marketing with PSHSA I am responsible for developing and managing PSHSA's content marketing strategy. I manage our social media platforms, create graphics for various day-to-day and campaign-specific marketing needs (paid advertising included), manage and execute newsletters, write and edit copy for blogs, presentations, and various written pieces, brand documents for the website and external stakeholders, and other tasks as needed. I also help staff presenting at external events create eye-catching, informative and on-brand PowerPoint presentations.
Achievements: Since starting with PSHSA I have worked on numerous projects that have excelled my skills within the field of design and increased my knowledge in the field of health and safety within the public sectors. I created a set of social media how-tos for staff on how to use social media to promote new PSHSA initiatives and course offerings and create marketing toolkits for our various campaigns for staff and stakeholders to share with their audiences.
To stay connected with the public sector organizations and official and non-official holidays, I created a quarterly-updated content calendar with dates like National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, Vaccine Day and Paramedic Services Week in order to connect with our audience and promote PSHSA's values and commitments.
RTA School of Media at Toronto Metropolitan University
Date: August 2020 - May 2021
Position: Communications and Events Assistant
Position duties: During my contract employment with the RTA School of Media under FCAD at Toronto Metropolitan University, I assisted the Communications and Events Coordinator with tasks related to email marketing, virtual event planning, newsletter creation and distribution, internal and external communications, website editing, and various other tasks. I helped to create a new social strategy to revamp our social media presence, created a set of guidelines for general communications dos and don'ts, assisted with recruitment strategies, alumni outreach, paid advertising for program recruitment, and oversaw the work of student Instagram Coordinators for the RTA Media Production program.
Position duties: During my contract employment with the RTA School of Media under FCAD at Toronto Metropolitan University, I assisted the Communications and Events Coordinator with tasks related to email marketing, virtual event planning, newsletter creation and distribution, internal and external communications, website editing, and various other tasks. I helped to create a new social strategy to revamp our social media presence, created a set of guidelines for general communications dos and don'ts, assisted with recruitment strategies, alumni outreach, paid advertising for program recruitment, and oversaw the work of student Instagram Coordinators for the RTA Media Production program.
Achievements: When I first started with RTA, I brought forward the idea of revamping our social media presence. We had platforms that weren't getting enough love in promoting events, alumni, student work, and other initiatives within the Faculty of Communication and Design (now known as "The Creative School").
I started up an Instagram page for the Media Production program to boost recruitment along with paid advertising for both Media Production and New Media programs. Three weeks into the launch of our account, we hired on two Media Production student volunteers who I am in charge of overseeing, providing guidance to, approving posts, and assigning work to.
Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni
Date: May 2019 - April 2020
Position: Social Media Specialist
Position title changes: Partway through my employment with Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni, my position title was changed from Social Media Assistant to Social Media Specialist.
Position duties: During the final year of my undergraduate degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, I was a career boost student with Alumni Relations. I Scheduled and curated content for Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and at the end of each month, I used Hootsuite and in-app analytics tools to track progress and set goals for the following months. To find content for our platforms, I researched articles and stories to share from the TMU news database, TMU-related websites, and general research. I conducted interviews for various alumni feature projects, took photos around campus, created graphics, visited the archives department for #TBT material, and organized various google document files and spreadsheets for the marketing team.
Position duties: During the final year of my undergraduate degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, I was a career boost student with Alumni Relations. I Scheduled and curated content for Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and at the end of each month, I used Hootsuite and in-app analytics tools to track progress and set goals for the following months. To find content for our platforms, I researched articles and stories to share from the TMU news database, TMU-related websites, and general research. I conducted interviews for various alumni feature projects, took photos around campus, created graphics, visited the archives department for #TBT material, and organized various google document files and spreadsheets for the marketing team.
Achievements: When I started with Alumni Relations back in May 2019, their Instagram page only had 32 followers. With hard work and strategic thinking, the follower count hit a total of 690 when my contract ended.
META 2020
Date: January 2020 - May 2020
Position: Public Outreach Coordinator
Position duties: As the leader of the outreach team, I created and ran our social media profiles, wrote creative copy, coordinated media promotions, photography, and organized interviews for the upcoming META exhibition of 4th-year thesis projects made by graduating students in the New Media program at Ryerson University.
Position duties: As the leader of the outreach team, I created and ran our social media profiles, wrote creative copy, coordinated media promotions, photography, and organized interviews for the upcoming META exhibition of 4th-year thesis projects made by graduating students in the New Media program at Ryerson University.
Achievements: During my time as the Public Outreach Coordinator, I created all social media platforms from scratch and we saw great results. The META 2020 Instagram page sits at 155 follows, the Facebook page has 182 likes and follows, and the event page for our physical exhibition had 133 responses before we had to cancel the in-person event due to COVID-19. Our META 2020 Online Preview gallery event through zoom had just under 70 visitors for the opening ceremonies.
Toronto Metropolitan University New Media Program
Date: October 2018 - May 2020
Position: Instagram Content Creator
Position title changes: Prior to September 2019 I was a social media team member, and was moved up to the Instagram content creator, allowing me to take partial control over the Instagram account feed, rather than just uploading stories.
Position duties: Creating Instagram feed and story posts for my program's account. Once the post is approved, I share the content and respond to comments. I also respond to direct messages we receive and like and comment on other posts within Ryerson and other affiliated people/organizations with the program. Starting March 2020, during the start of COVID-19, we decided to hold on posting to the feed due to lack of content (considering we no longer have access to the school or supplies), and have been instead posting virtual events, random new media findings, informative content, etc. to our story.
Position duties: Creating Instagram feed and story posts for my program's account. Once the post is approved, I share the content and respond to comments. I also respond to direct messages we receive and like and comment on other posts within Ryerson and other affiliated people/organizations with the program. Starting March 2020, during the start of COVID-19, we decided to hold on posting to the feed due to lack of content (considering we no longer have access to the school or supplies), and have been instead posting virtual events, random new media findings, informative content, etc. to our story.
Achievements: The year prior to becoming the Instagram content creator, I was the VP of Marketing for my course union and made it one of my priorities to include New Media more in the whole RTA community. Under the school of RTA there are three programs and New Media being the smallest, I found there wasn't as much representation. Successfully I assisted in marketing events and fundraisers held by the New Media faculty and our community, to the rest of RTA during my position as VP of Marketing with our course union and after my tenure by reaching out to our course union more frequently about sharing our content.
Course Union for RTA Students (CURTAS)
Date: August 2018 - May 2019
Position: VP of Marketing
Position title changes: August - November 2018 I was a Social Media Coordinator who assisted the VP of Marketing on various occasions. In November 2018 the VP of Marketing stepped down from CURTAS and I stepped up to the plate to take over all VP of Marketing duties until my position contract ended in May of 2019.
Position duties: Running the Instagram and Facebook accounts for CURTAS, creating graphic elements, creating marketing plans, event promotion, photo editing, sending daily updates to the Twitter coordinator, scheduling meetings, being the liaison between the VPs and President with the rest of the marketing team, and making sure all deadlines are met.
Position duties: Running the Instagram and Facebook accounts for CURTAS, creating graphic elements, creating marketing plans, event promotion, photo editing, sending daily updates to the Twitter coordinator, scheduling meetings, being the liaison between the VPs and President with the rest of the marketing team, and making sure all deadlines are met.
Achievements: I made it one of my priorities to include New Media more in the whole RTA community. Under the school of RTA there are three programs and New Media being the smallest, I found there wasn't as much representation. Successfully I marketed events and fundraisers held by the New Media faculty and our community, to the rest of RTA during my position as VP of Marketing with our course union.
When I took over as VP of Marketing, I was starting in the middle of a semester with two large events happening within the next few months of my starting. While the yearly gala ended up being canceled, the TARA Awards for RTA students was my next priority. I worked alongside our graphic designers to mimic the graphics made by the TARA committee for the CURTAS after-party, hired photographers, and posted continuously on our story. In the end, we had a great turnout for the event.
Kayla Thomson Media
Date: September 2014 - Current Day
Position: Freelancer
What I offer: Photography, videography, video editing, and QR menu design
What I offer: Photography, videography, video editing, and QR menu design
Who I've worked with:
Toronto Metropolitan University - New Media SIM Night
Toronto Metropolitan University - New Media META 2020
Toronto Metropolitan University - Alumni Relations
MacDonald Turkey Point Marina
The Jetty Bar and Grill
Sandbar On The Beach
Simcoe Composite High School - Music Department
Odd Company (Band)
Cider Keg Wholesale
JDK Designs
LinkedIn portrait sessions
Turkey Point Tourism
Date: July 2020 - Current Day
Position: Social Media Manager - Founder
Position duties: I curate content, manage the website, and attract followers to showcase the beautiful scenery and small businesses that our little town has to offer.
Position duties: I curate content, manage the website, and attract followers to showcase the beautiful scenery and small businesses that our little town has to offer.
I answer questions regarding our tourist attractions such as beach access, camping, food and beverage, and where to stay. I have worked with local business owners to promote their businesses and put together an end of summer giveaway.
Achievements: One thing I began to notice as a former resident with family and other connections still in this small town, was the lack of advertising for tourism. Using my education in social media and my experience building websites, I took it upon myself to create a Turkey Point Tourism brand to advertise just how wonderful our small town is. Over the past few months the instagram following has grown to 500 followers, and has been reposted by accounts such as BlogNorfolk and Ontario's South West . I have also received lovely messages and photo tags from people who discovered our town by my work on the instagram page.
Other small side projects (inactive accounts):
Time-Warp
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