Chris Whitside CV: Click to download in .pdf format

• Excellent writer of employee and customer communications

• Seasoned writer and producer of video projects

• Experienced business and project manager

• Content and database management for web sites

• Good knowledge of IT, telecom industry and education issues

Asigra Inc. (Contract) 2010 – 2011 

Marketing communications specialist

• Writer - brochures, e-guides, sales support material and blog posts

Hewlett Packard (Contract) 2008 – 2009

Partner marketing communications and portal management

• Editor of HP News for Partners and HP INTERNAL Channel News

• Editing, creation and management of promotion communications for partners

• Webmaster and brand management on the partner portal

• Member of various partner portal management and improvement teams

• Provided training on web tools for internal self-publishers

FundSERV (Contract) 2003 – 2007

• Articles for company newsletter focused on new services and technologies, re-branding of services and business unit profiles. Plus 2004 Annual Report.

• Producer of web video for customer communications

Freelance Web Developer 2001 – 2007

edvolution.net, stripeart.com, mittrobe.ca, whitesideancestry.org

• Design, writing, production and database management

The Mitt & Robe Company 2001 – 2005

Sales of personal protective products and training

• Sales

• Creation of marketing materials - Web site development, product data sheets, flyers, etc.

• Inventory database management using Business Vision, Access, SQL

TELUS (Contract) 1998 – 2000

Writer/Producer of employee communications

• Researching, interviewing, writing stories for company newspaper and intranet

• Writing, reporting (on camera) and producing employee news videos

• Other assignments included media releases, customer letters and VP level speeches

Accomplishments:

• Contracted for internal communications during the merger of TELUS and BC TEL. Many stories were produced in support of change management issues and employee education in the area of brand management.

• Managed communications for TELUS virus defence program. Communication campaign included print and Intranet stories, bulletins, posters, live presentations, video and cascading messages from management. Campaign was successful in ensuring that employees took responsibility for virus protection on their desktops.

Sampling of other contract clients and projects 1998 – 2001

• Loomis Courier - 20 minute employee orientation video for national operations

• Trader.com - glossy booklet introducing Rewards and Recognition program for national sales team

• B.C. Government - video coverage of various Nisga'a treaty events

Storyteller Services Inc. (Wilson Communications Inc) 1989 – 1997

Managing Director

• Writing and production of videos

• Business management, project and budget planning, proposals

• Media relations training and media monitoring management

• Media archive service for Alcan - database management

• Management of Alcan in BC newsletter distribution database

Accomplishments

• Wrote and produced dozens of quality projects including public relations, employee orientation and training videos

• Worked well with senior clients from conception and budgeting of projects to presentation and distribution

• Wrote and produced quarterly news videos for Alcan's Kemano Completion Project. These videos were very successful in keeping thousands of construction workers, suppliers, contractors and managers aware of progress on this $1.5 billion hydroelectric project. The broad distribution of these videos was instrumental in maintaining support for Alcan's position on environmental issues surrounding the project.

• Provided media relations training for government and private industry. Presented sessions on preparation for television and radio interviews; interviewed and critiqued clients; facilitated recording equipment and crews for training sessions

• Managed the monitoring, recording and distribution of television and radio news stories that focused on issues critical to clients

• Redesigned and managed large mailing-list databases for clients of Wilson Public Relations, including Alcan and BC Family Law Practitioners

• Trained Wilson PR staff in maintenance of databases and telephone procedures for new subscribers and members. The new databases were much easier for staff lacking database expertise.

• Basic desktop publishing and proposal writing

• Clients included: Alcan, HSBC, BC Government, BC Family Law Practitioners, Port of Kitimat

CKVU Television 1984 – 1988

Writer/Producer – “Vancouver Show”, “Video Gallery”, “T.G.I.F”

• Writing and directing of stories, continuity and show segments

• Managing and training of junior staff

• Planning and on-air production of live shows

Accomplishments:

• These were a variety of shows featuring live and taped stories about Vancouver current affairs and entertainment. The Vancouver Show required the creation of two hours of live and taped television five nights a week.

• Researched, developed and wrote hundreds of stories, directed crews and talent on location, wrote show line-ups and continuity, supervised junior producers and editing of stories

Knowledge Network 1987 (Contract)

Director of “Depression: Feeling Good Again”

• An award-winning half-hour production, sponsored by Upjohn Pharmaceuticals, on the nature and treatment of depression

• Contributed to writing and development, created storyboards, directed talent, crew and editors

Software Tools

Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage, NetMeeting, SharePoint, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, BusinessVision, and virtual meeting/training tools

Education

• Bachelor of Applied Arts in Radio and Television Arts, Ryerson University, Toronto  

• Independent Television Production program, Centennial College 

• Context “Excellence” Program - Personal and Professional Development