D. Ball, President, InPrint Media Sales:

“Ulrike’s skills are wide‐ranging, from graphic design to copy‐writing to web site design, all accompanied by supervisory skills. She coordinated our corporate rebranding project for web and print media and wrote, designed and managed our various documents for training materials, user manuals and marketing collateral. Because we were a small but growing web services company, Ulrike also functioned as HR coordinator, system designer, quality tester and managed a staff of up to six at various times.

Ulrike is an excellent employee and contractor, very thorough and with the ability to complete projects while managing multiple competing demands on resources. She is well‐suited to project and task management, and can contribute in many areas. She will be a valuable and multi‐faceted asset to any company.” Client samples

L. Mutrie, Project Manager, Ingenuity Works:

“We hired Ulrike for her creativity, educational foundations, and passion for both cycling and communication. It was a perfect match for the position as cycling ambassador for the Canadian Heritage Interactive Journey.

She, along with her teammates absorbed the vision of the project, “Understanding Through Involvement,” and participated in a nine-week journey, educational project and internet site to foster communication and discovery…Ulrike ensured all students she met understood and learned from the team’s experiences. Ulrike was also cognizant of the importance of the sponsoring stakeholders and partners that the teams represented, and adhered to their standards and philosophies.

The common theme was Ulrike’s ability to craft programs and products for various groups and then to communicate those messages in a way best suited the audience.” Client samples

A. Walker, Co-Publisher and Creative Director, Momentum Magazine/momentumplanet.com:

“Ulrike brings an adventurous spirit and a critical mind to her work. I appreciate the clarity of Ulrike’s communication in her written work – and I have been impressed over the years with how this extends outside of the work and into real life. Uli has a wealth of experience which weaves into her writing and conversation.

“We can always count on Ulrike to create clear, purposeful and focused writing. I find that Ulrike is particularly good at bringing her wholistic “bigger picture” vision to whatever topic she is addressing at the moment.” Client samples

C. MacPhail, Director, Urban Advertising and Design:

“Ulrike carried out all her duties with great skill – her art preparation was exact, efficient and quick – and she was very adept at organising the art department.”

J. DeTracey, Buzz Marketing and Associates:

“…Ulrike is a highly organized individual who has great planning skills and feels comfortable when speaking to groups in impromptu situations…I strongly feel that Ulrike would be an asset. She is adaptable and sincerely interested in learning.” Client samples

P. Fremes, PhotoVancouver:

“Ulrike’s work was of very high, professional calibre. Ulrike went well above and beyond the call of duty by supplying me with very useful marketing ideas, as well as design service. Although work with a client can be stressful, I found Ulrike able to remain cool and calm… she is a strong leader, empathetic, dedicated and hard-working. She is very easy to get along with and accommodating to other’s needs. She’s also high-spirited and fun.”

Product/Service: Provide queried or assigned editorial content for print and web outlets. Areas of specialty include sustainability, transportation, tourism/travel, alternative health, and cycling.

Document: I researched and wrote freelance articles for general- and special interest newspapers, magazines and web sites.

Samples: Sustainability (Momentum Magazine) – Transportation (The Georgia Straight) – Travel/tourism (The Globe And Mail) – Alternative Health (Shared Vision) – Cycling (The Province) – more editorial samples

Excerpt:

Joe Breeze: on naked bikes and self-propelling prophecies ~ MTB pioneer admits trail biking was a “diversion” from his real passion

… Joe uses the word “efficient” surprisingly often when he describes bikes. “Bicycling is the most efficient method of transport ever born or devised,” states Joe matter-of-factly. “Maybe I wasn’t aware of that when I first learned to ride at age five, but I soon was entranced with how far I could get down the road with so little effort.” He also learned that a better pedal stroke and a better bike made biking even ~ better. Jokes the still-ardent commuter cyclist, “it was a self-propelling prophecy.”

It was Breeze’s love of efficiency ~ as well as his advocacy efforts with the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and proddings from his new business partner John Doidge ~ that prompted his next step. “[John] had been to many bike shops expressing his desire for a purpose-built bike with fenders, a rack, lights, kick-stand, et cetera ~ and the common response was, ‘why would you want a bike like that?’”

Joe’s answer? Given the choice of a reasonably-priced town bike that is efficient and fun to ride; or an expensive car that is frustrating to drive, why wouldn’t you want a bike like that? Breeze created what he calls a “civilized vehicle” ~ a ready-to-go bike that shares the basic features of a car: “…fenders for grimy roads, lights in case it gets dark, ways to carry stuff things and protect your clothes; and the ability to stay upright when parked.”

“They’re like a European town bike,” says Joe of his new Town and Range models, “but I tailored them to my view of the North American market which requires a sportier bike.” Unlike the boutique Dutch-style bikes becoming popular with Yaletown flat-landers, a Breezer’s geometry and lightness make it agile enough to sprint up Vancouver hills. And unlike the bare-bones mountain-bike styles you find everywhere else, a Breezer is not naked.

“We’ve been selling naked bikes for decades!” exclaims Joe with exasperation and just a hint of confession. He explains that while experienced bike owners know they have to add after-market accessories to a recreational bike to make it useful in the city ~ novice riders (and the majority of the population) don’t. “I’ve run into people over the years who have said to me, ‘why can’t bikes be useful?’”

If the Joe Breeze of twenty-five years ago is guilty of denuding bikes of their useful accessories, he’s now making amends. Today Breezer’s motto is “Transportation for a healthier planet” and the company has officially switched from recreation to transportation bicycles. “It is time to unite cyclists, environmentalists, and health and cycling advocates,” Breezer proclaims, “so that bicycles will be fully appreciated as the wonderful vehicles that they are.”

Now that sounds like a self-propelling prophecy….

Product/Service: Wellington Business Digest provided profiles, information and statistics to its SME readership.

Document: I researched, interviewed and wrote short and medium-length front-book pieces on business people.

Samples: Soil Test Delays Millrace Construction – Future IGA Site Reviewed by LACAC – Harvey Woods Holdings Impressed by Dominion Group

Soil Test Delays Millrace Construction

Construction of the Millrace on the Grand condominium has slowed to a halt while developer Gordon Rotter and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment try to solve a coal tar puzzle.

Originally scheduled to begin construction early this year, the 176-unit, three tower complex on Water Street North will not get off the ground until next spring, said Rottar of C.N.A. Holdings, developers of the project.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment identified the property as a potential location of coal tar in the spring and Rottar agreed t contract a sample dig and study to test for it presence.

Coal tar is a product of the gasification works that were common to most towns including Cambridge in the late 1800’s, said Fred Hicks, senior environment officer with the ministry. The “gasworks” heated coal to release gas for domestic and industrial consumption and buried the residue coal tar as waste.

Although coal tar contains hundreds of chemicals, the Ministry is mainly concerned with the carcinogenic compounds that are soluble in water. Hicks said that the river could carry these chemicals away from a site where coal tar had been buried and “since we’re on wells, there’s concern that the tar will affect home owners.”

Like Rottar, the Ministry must wait for the results of the study before it can make any recommendations to resume construction on the property. Rottar has estimated that it could cost as much as $3-million to remove any tar-soaked soil.

“I’ve spent thousands of dollars on those bloody tests,” said Rottar. “Nothing against the Ministry, they’re just doing their jobs; I just think they’re seeing something that is not there. I’d like to challenge the Ministry to find one man, woman, child or budgie that can prove that there is coal tar on that site.”

The target completion date for the $27-million “mini-harbourfront” project had been September 1988 but future owners of the residential units are going to have to wait until September 1989.

“We’re all pretty frustrated,” said Rottar. “I don’t want to get to the age of ninety before I see this project finished.” ###

Future IGA Site Reviewed by LACAC

Warrenheath Investments of Toronto wants to develop on a Preston site that an advisory committee to city Council considers historically significant. A delegation representing the developers approached the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) in August, said Margaret Goodbody, chairperson of the Cambridge LACAC.

Sam Taggart, a real estate manager with Warrenheath said they were “looking for guidance and advice” concerning a site on 927 King Street East.

The developers’ plans include a 30,000 square foot IGA supermarket with an additional 5,000 square feet to be leased to smaller retail businesses.

Warrenheath has entered a contractual agreement with site owners Strathern Housing Group as well as a re-zoning application with the City of Cambridge. Construction can begin on the site as soon as the zoning process is completed, “optimistically by mid-November,” said Taggart.

“There are several pieces to this complex,” said Goodbody speaking of the 2.89 acre site. “Two of the buildings were found to be of considerable architectural and historical value.” A number of buildings sit on the property but the LACAC is mainly interested in a three-storey former grist mill and a small stone stable built by Cambridge founder Jacob Hespeler.

Goodbody estimates that Hespeler built the stone mill in 1840 to manufacture vinegar. Over the years the building housed a major Preston carriage factory and a number of furniture companies.

LACAC’s recommendation to council will state that “no action should be taken that would result in the demolition of either of these two buildings.”

In the case that council decides to restore the buildings, Warrenheath will not go ahead with its plans. “It is a competitive market, and the company (IGA) needs a site that will accommodate them,” stated Taggart. Alternative locations do not include the Cambridge area. ###

Harvey Woods Holdings Impressed by Dominion Group

The Dominion Fashion Group is going through another growth spurt. Dominion Textile Incorporated finalized its sale to Harvey Woods Holdings of Toronto at the beginning of September for an undisclosed amount.

Formerly the Penmans Company, the 200,000 square foot knitwear manufacturer changed its name to the Dominion Fashion Group a year ago to reflect its diversification into sports, recreational and casual wear.

In the past two years, the Dominion Fashion Group has continued to produce its Penmans brand of knitted sportswear as well as working under license for Weider Sports Equipment, Beach Boy casual wear, Everlast casual wear and Champion sweats and activewear.

“We were attracted to the superb manufacturing facility,” said Ron Jones, vice-president and chief operation officer of Harvey Woods Holdings. The Toronto firm’s operations are similar to Dominion Textile’s, said Jones, and the Dominion Fashion Group would become a sister company with Harvey Woods Holdings. The Dominion plant employs 550 and owns approximately seven acres of surrounding land at its Savage Drive site.

Bill Courser, vice-president of operations at the Cambridge plant does not anticipate any immediate changes to the plant’s operation. Harvey Woods Holdings does not intend to transfer staff or management to the Cambridge plant “in the foreseeable future” said Jones.

Harvey Woods Holdings operates several garment manufacturing plants in Canada including plants in Hanover, London and Woodstock in Ontario. In addition to their brand of underwear and socks, the company manufacturers Kayser and Van Raalt lines of lingerie as well as Buckeye Jeans.

The sale took effect at the end of August, but the deal officially closed in September. ###

Product/Service: CTC required new content for their U.S. consumer web site. In particular, they needed to collaborate with partner stakeholders to market Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Document: I researched and wrote 18 World Heritage Sites web site and print brochure content. Criteria included strict adherence to the CTC brand style guides, templates, psychographics and SEO markers. Note: This project is not yet released.

Samples: Gwaii Hannas, BC (2-page PDF) – Gros Morne, NFLD (2-page PDF) – Canadian Rockies, BC-AB (2-page PDF)

Excerpt:

Title: Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek

Brand Experience in 3 words: Raft. Icefields. Flow.

Teaser (17 words): Whitewater raft through Yukon wilderness, camp at the foot of a glacier, heli-portage a raging canyon.

Description (205): Settle back, the hull of your inflatable raft makes a good backrest. Sniff the breeze, it’s carrying hints of the Pacific Ocean 160 miles downstream. Touch an ice floe, while others release from Lowell glacier with explosive booms. Listen to the whisper of a bald eagle’s wings, then watch it disappear in the jagged peaks of the North Coast Mountains. Grasp your paddle, the Alsek River is ready to carry you into the vast wilderness.

Drift on an iceberg-dotted lake, then step ashore to explore a glacier 60 miles long. Scan scrubby alpine meadows for moose and mountain goats. Pitch a tent on a spruce-lined mountainside, watch Dall sheep graze nearby. Toast North America’s tallest mountains and largest icecaps with a gin and tonic chilled with 10,000-year-old ice.

Climb aboard a chopper for a breath-taking heli-portage over the fierce whitewater rapids of Turnback Canyon. Hover over river bends and cliff drops, then descend to your expedition camp near the Alaskan border.

Share chardonnay, Arctic char and camp songs with experienced guides and fellow adventurers. Hear the history of the First Nations people who still hunt and fish here. Savor this moment: the realization of a journey of a lifetime.