A bit about me
I like potatoes. And anything dairy.
I was in Ireland the first time someone pronounced my surname on the first try.
Je parle français – un peu.
My certificat en français langue seconde from Université Laval led to a 15-year career with Danone North America, a French-owned food and beverage company.
While there, I managed consumer affairs, regulatory compliance, and liability claims for brands like Evian Natural Spring Water.
I developed strong research, fact-checking, and marketing skills during those years at Danone.
I'll put those skills to work to ensure efficiency and accuracy in everything I produce for you.
My first 'real' job was in tourism.
Fun fact: My hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada is the only city on the awe-inspiring Bay of Fundy — and record-holder for the highest tides in the world.
I always wanted to be a writer.
Teachers and university professors told me I had talent. I wanted to believe them, but self-doubt would always creep in.
Then, my tourism boss asked me to write an article for a travel magazine. And it got published!
I still have a copy of the magazine among my most prized possessions.
My professional life has always involved some form of writing — technical writing, marketing writing, creative writing...
I never imagined I'd become a fundraiser.
In fact, early fundraising experiences — like peddling those promotional candy bars in school — ick! I hated it.
But when I started thinking of fundraising as the gentle art of teaching people the joy of giving* — well, that was my big aha! moment.
I found my thing — helping others learn the gentle art of fundraising communications!
* Hank Rosso, author of Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising
Now, I can’t imagine anything else!
Since those early days, I’ve spent years studying and mastering the art (and science) of fundraising.
Today, I’m one of only a handful of people in the world certified in Philanthropic Psychology, Fundraising Copywriting, Legacy Fundraising, and Digital Fundraising with the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy in the UK.
I’m also a regular tutor for the Institute’s fundraising copywriting course and serve as the chief copy coach for The Fundraising Academy. And I earned the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2021, further solidifying my expertise and commitment to ethical fundraising.
I won’t bore you with the details.
But if you want to know more about my professional experience, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Or just poke around my profile.
You'll find more about where I've lived, worked, and volunteered.
And while you're there, I do hope you'll hit the connect button. I love meeting new fundraising friends!
What's up with the giraffe?
Click if you're curious.
I'd love to learn more about you and how I can help you do even more good work and raise more money.
Get in touch!