Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)
Date: May 2021 - Present
Position: Lead, Content Marketing
I manage our social media accounts including the creation and execution of paid social advertising, the writing of copy and graphics for our use and included in internal promotional toolkits for staff use. Since I started with PSHSA, our LinkedIn audience has grown by 6,000 followers bringing us just shy of 13,000 and our last paid social campaign saw over 2 million impressions between LinkedIn and META platforms for a duration of 6 months.
Design is another large part of my position. I design ads for both print and digital uses, posters for events, PowerPoints for presentations, layouts for document design and the designing and execution of email marketing. Since I started with PSHSA, our newsletter subscribers have increased by 2,000 subscribers.
I have also started a new quarterly initiative within the Marketing and Comminutions team, a monthly report called the “Marketing Minute” where we share insights into our numbers on social media as well as email marketing and on the website, projects that have been completed or are coming up, and any personal updates from the team. Other duties related to design and communication as assigned.
I have also started a new quarterly initiative within the Marketing and Comminutions team, a monthly report called the “Marketing Minute” where we share insights into our numbers on social media as well as email marketing and on the website, projects that have been completed or are coming up, and any personal updates from the team. Other duties related to design and communication as assigned.
Committees:
- EDI Employee Resource Group
- Psychological Health and Safety Committee
- Note taker for the Fire Services Health and Safety Advisory Committee Under Section 21
- Annual General Meeting Planning Committee
RTA School of Media at Toronto Metropolitan University
Date: August 2020 - May 2021
Position: Communications and Events Assistant
As the Communications and Events Assistant, I assisted with the planning of content for our social media accounts and executed on planned content, helped with the planning of events, design and execution of email marketing to all RTA students and faculty, website updates, design of social and event promotional graphics, program recruitment including paid advertising, overseeing the work of student Instagram coordinators.
Some of my achievements include:
- Creating an event series to give students the opportunity to relax during exams. This included game and movie nights. This also gave first-year students the opportunity to get to know one another better outside of the virtual classroom since they had started university during a pandemic.
- The creation of the Media Production program Instagram account.
- Revamping the RTA School of Media’s social media presence through the promotion of not just events but alumni and student projects.
Committees:
- Note taker for the EDI Committee
Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni
Date: May 2019 - April 2020
Position: Social Media Specialist
I curated and executed social content, completed monthly analytics to track progress and set goals, conducted research for articles and stories to share about the university and alumni to our audience, conducted interviews for various feature projects, took photos around campus and created graphics for social use.
Some of my achievements include:
- The "Adventures With Eggy" Instagram campaign where I took photos of a small stuffed version of TMU's old mascot around campus, at events and at alumni-owned businesses
- Creating an Instagram content plan that saw our following increase from 32 to just under 700
META 2020
Date: January 2020 - May 2020
Position: Public Outreach Coordinator
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.
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.
Unfortunately, we had to cancel the in-person event due to COVID-19. However, 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
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. I created Instagram feed and story posts for the program's account.
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.
I ran the Instagram and Facebook accounts for CURTAS, created graphic elements, marketing plans, event promotional material, photo editing, provided daily updates to the Twitter coordinator, scheduled meetings, was the liaison between the VPs/President and the rest of the marketing team, and made sure all deadlines were met.
I ran the Instagram and Facebook accounts for CURTAS, created graphic elements, marketing plans, event promotional material, photo editing, provided daily updates to the Twitter coordinator, scheduled meetings, was the liaison between the VPs/President and the rest of the marketing team, and made sure all deadlines were met.
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.
Turkey Point Tourism
Date: July 2020 - Current Day
Position: Founder
I curate content to showcase the beautiful scenery and small businesses that our little town has to offer and answer questions regarding our tourist attractions such as beach access, camping, food and beverage and where to stay.
I curate content to showcase the beautiful scenery and small businesses that our little town has to offer and answer questions regarding our tourist attractions such as beach access, camping, food and beverage and where to stay.
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 and experience in social media, I took it upon myself to create a Turkey Point Tourism brand to advertise just how wonderful our small town is. The Instagram account has grown to over 1,000 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 through my work on the Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Kayla's Reading Corner
Date: February 2022 - Current Day
I curate content on Instagram for the Bookstagram community including photography, photo editing, writing book reviews and copy for other posts, trend research and creating a "Kayla's Reading Corner" brand. Since the launch of my account, I have reached over 1,400 followers.
Other small side projects (inactive accounts):
Time-Warp
Project Home
Kayla Thomson Media