My Offer:

Two offers:

1) Like so many who have been generous with me in my life/career, I want to “send the elevator back down" by providing limited one-on-one access to like-minded creative people in my network (and beyond). I derive reward and meaning when I get to enjoy radical open-mindedness and thoughtful discourse with folks seeking new perspectives and paths forward. I am particularly keen to help the creative community in Vancouver connect and increase its capacity, but I tend to get inundated by requests to connect, so my hope is that this platform will help me serve others while maintaining what's little of my time and sanity. ;-)

2) Become the go-to for creative, memorable, meaningful facilitation.

My ideal target audience:

I love shift disturbers and community changemakers. My tribe tends to be creative professionals, community organizers, and curiosity junkies seeking ways to increase their effectiveness and impact. I really enjoy connecting with humble, driven, high performers keen to do the work required to shift norms, disturb patterns of mediocrity, and make positive change in their lives, careers, and communities.

Reach out if you want to:

• design and host a FANTASTIC event
• become a better facilitator
• do the work required to shift norms within your organizational culture
• disturb patterns of mediocrity within your organization
• make strong, positive and lasting changes within your organization
• refine you, or your executive teams, hosting or presenting skills
• connect to more of the right people
• explore new opportunities and avenues within your organization
• become more involved in the community and need some pointers on how to best do that

Why me:

⇨ I have been a director at an interdisciplinary design and architecture firm with three offices and over 100 employees.
⇨ I founded and managed a successful brand strategy and communication design consultancy for 20 years.
⇨ I founded, produce, and host the Vancouver chapter of CreativeMornings, a popular monthly free breakfast lecture series on creativity.
⇨ I have process designed and facilitated numerous workshops and retreats for leaders, companies, and organizations of various kinds.
⇨ I have been a design and communications instructor and mentor for many years.
⇨ I am obsessed with the intersection of culture and cuisine, and the only thing I enjoy more than eating is cooking for others.

A little bit about myself:

Perhaps the most valuable information about myself I could so people can assess whether we'll work well together are my core values. After all, these strong beliefs are what form my unique identity and guide my decisions and behaviour. After much reflection and personal work, I have distilled my core values down to four words that spell the acronym RISK: RELATIONSHIPS, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, and KNOWLEDGE.

⇨ I chose the word RELATIONSHIPS to represent the value of being connected to others, of belonging to a community where I feel seen and accepted, flaws and all. The value of relationships motivated me to surround myself with those I know I can trust and count on to be there for me. I suppose another word for this might be loyalty.

⇨ The value INTEGRITY is based on my belief that a life well lived is guided by truth, honesty, and honour. For me that often involves demonstrating a strength of character to do the right thing, even—or especially—when it comes at a cost. As a result, I can be a fairly forthright, even blunt, person at times.

⇨ I adore being in SERVICE and actively seek out opportunities to share my talents, creativity, resources, and energy with people and organizations in ways that benefit others, causes, or society without asking for or expecting anything in return. I'm kind of a keener that way.

⇨ For me KNOWLEDGE is the intersection of curiosity and intelligence. I am in awe of the world and as a result feel compelled to constantly pursue new experiences, new approaches, and new learnings that allow me to be more aware, more empathetic, and more effective. Being a lifelong learning has served me well as a creative professional.

The acronym RISK works to express something about who I am too as I don't tend to avoid risk and often invite others to lean into the discomfort and seeking new perspectives, trying new approaches, and taking personal and professional risks. Kinda works, hey?

What it’s like to work with me:

I'd be more interested in what others say about working with me, so I suggest a quick search for my LinkedIn profile which includes some recommendations. But I will say this: I bet working with me can at times be energizing and enlightening, while at times I am pretty sure my approach can feel challenging and emotional. My process and style can be fun and engaging, with lots of ideas and opportunities presenting themselves, but also I tend to challenge those I am serving with hard questions and sometimes uncomfortable honesty. If you can't handle a good laugh and being pushed to face difficult realists, then we might not work well together.

Fun fact about me:

⇨ My favourite quote is “There is no truth. There is only perception.” (Gustave Flaubert)
⇨ I love being wrong (when it leads to learning and correction)
⇨ I collect probing, often uncomfortable questions (can you handle being vulnerable?)
⇨ I have been called a “limbic energy machine” (i.e. I give and feed on energy)
⇨ I have studied the culinary arts and love cooking for others (more than eating even)
⇨ I have a coulrophobia-level dislike of clowns (I don’t that’s useful info, but anyway)
⇨ I am an ordained Dudeist Priest and can perform marriage ceremonies (Seriously, Google it)

Professional experiences:

• Director, TILT Curiosity Labs at HCMA Architecture + Design
• Co-founder, Managing Partner at Industrial Brand
• Senior Production Planner at Hemlock Printers
• Founder, Producer, and Host at CreativeMornings/Vancouver
• Organizer & Host at Likemind Vancouver
• Fellow & Past President at Graphic Designers of Canada
• Board Member at Story Money Impact
• Dialogue Associate at SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
• Advisory Board Member at Urbanarium
• Producer at Interesting Vancouver
• Co-founder at Foodists

Educational experiences:

• Bachelor of Arts at Trinity Western University
• Bachelor of Arts at University of British Columbia

My portfolio:

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