If I ever get around to
writing an elevator pitch,
it’ll go something like this:
I help you figure out what
your organization wants or
needs to say to the world.
And together we identify the
audiences you hope to inform,
inspire, persuade or reassure.
Usually I write the words
that come next. Or at least the
ones that appear in big type.
I also collaborate with other
members of the creative team
– including designers, web developers
and video directors – on strategy,
development and execution.
All to help you achieve
something good that wouldn’t
have happened otherwise.
You’ll find more details below.
(Unless this is your floor.)
PROJECTS
Brand narratives, B2B campaigns, CEO messages, brand/testimonial videos, sustainability reports, stakeholder presentations – the common threads are strategic thinking and creative collaboration.
- Branding programs
- Executive speeches
- Brand/testimonial videos
- Annual reports
- CSR/sustainability reports
- Fundraising campaigns
- Investor communications
- Corporate websites
- Brand marketing sites
- Internal communications
- Company histories
- Public-facing strategic plans
- Research case studies
- Program-driven advertising
- Travel marketing sites/catalogues
- Digital marketing campaigns
- Brand and content guidelines
- Communications workshops
CLIENTS
Financial services, technology, higher education, research, healthcare, loyalty marketing, luxury goods, travel/hospitality, transportation, mining, engineering, architecture, real estate, law, media/entertainment, executive search, innovation strategy – and artisanal distilling.
- AIR MILES
- Antarctica21
- Backroads
- Bank of Canada
- BMO Financial Group
- BMO Harris Bank
- Brown + Hudson
- Canadian Blood Services
- CIFAR: Canadian Institute
for Advanced Research - Counter Tax Lawyers
- Davies
- First Quantum Minerals
- George Weston Limited
- Greater Toronto Airports Authority
- ideas42
- Institute for Clinical
Evaluative Sciences (ICES) - Insurance Institute of Canada
- Ironworks Distillery
- Kingstec Technologies
- KPMG
- Lenczner Slaght
- LoyaltyOne (Alliance Data)
- Moveable
- Munk School of Global Affairs
- OCAD University
- Ogilvy Renault
(now Norton Rose Fulbright) - Osgoode Hall Law School
- Quadrangle Architects
- RGD: Association of
Registered Graphic Designers
- Rotman Commerce
- Rotman School of Management
- RWDI
- Schoology
- Sun Life Financial
- TAXI
- Thomson Reuters
- Toronto Pearson
- Tourism Toronto
- Trillium Health Partners
- UBC Investment Management Trust
- Universities Canada
- University of Toronto Asset Management (UTAM)
- University of Toronto Scarborough
- University of Toronto
School of Continuing Studies
HISTORY
I’ve been a solo consultant since 2008. Prior to that I worked with clients such as Butterfield & Robinson, Relais & Châteaux, Krups and the Curious Paper Collection during 16 years as a founding partner of Viva Dolan Communications and Design.
My various collaborations have been recognized with nearly 500 awards, including three Gold Quills from the IABC, two golds for annual report writing in the ARC International awards and a writing award from British Design & Art Direction. I’ve winced at my photo in Communication Arts and Applied Arts, among other magazines, and contributed work to more than 20 books on creative communications.
I started out in book publishing, was a freelance writer/editor in Canada and the UK, and did corporate writing for clients across the Americas. Way back, I earned an Honours BA at McGill and an MA at the University of Toronto.
