Skills
My experience is concentrated in call centers and Customer Service (Customer Facing), with a lesser amount of time spent in administrative or clerical (Messages and Contact) roles. I have 12 years of practical work experience in these areas as well as supplemental experience waitressing, financial planning, small business support, and three seasons as a university fire crew member in Alberta.
Summary
*12+ years customer service and technical support in a variety of fields
*Excellent written and verbal skills
*Experienced with creating various types of documents including reports and timesheets for payroll.
*Experience with several different working environments including standard office environments, fieldwork, and work-at-home.
*Self-starter with ability to work with minimal to no supervision
*Computer literate
*Proven ability to learn new software applications quickly and accurately
*Experienced with online environments and browser-based search tools
*Comfortable with database applications
*Ability to apply logic and real-world experience to locate relevant information using a variety of digital tools including social media applications such as Facebook, LinkedIn, LiveJournal. Also comfortable with chat, email, web-based search engines, online databases, podcasts, video, forums, and bulletin boards.
*WHIMIS, FCC Radio License, helicopter and chainsaw safety training
Experiences
Employment History
Otsukaiban - Owner/Entrepreneur Montreal, ON November 2021 - current
*Developing a virtual online office. Planned offerings will include event planning and business start-up packages. Boutique Fashion Brands - Gypsy Blue Jeans, Spirit Wolf Gear, Trail Gear and Casuals.
Superior Propane - Customer Service/Sales History Guelph, ON September 2012 - January 2016
*Handled inbound customer service calls. Answered technical questions, identified billing and service issues, booked and dispatched technicians for emergency and regular service work.
Circles (Burlington) - Credit Card Concierge Burlington, ON June 2012 - September 2012
*Responsible for researching online information for the cardholders of a high-end credit card. Researched and recommended restaurants, hotels, and entertainment options for cardholders or family members, usually for business trips. Requests could include anything, from booking a last minute table in a Las Vegas nightclub to creating and booking a vacation for two in Italy.
Staples - Quill Division - Electronic/Customer Service Representative Halifax NS June 2006 - April 2011
*Handled inbound customer contacts via telephone, chat, and email. Provided one-touch solutions for customer queries. Processed quotes, orders, and returns. Provided accurate product information. Followed up with customers if required.
HPShopping.Com - Inbound Sales Halifax, NS 2004
*F/T Responsible for inbound sales of peripherals as well as returns and saves on laptops and desktop computers.
Wendy’s - Front cash and Sandwich Maker Cole Harbour, NS 2003-2004
*P/T Responsible for Counter, running, back window, sandwich making, and cleaning front restaurant as needed.
Pinehill Equestrian Centre - Stable-hand Lawrencetown Beach, NS 2003
*Duties included mucking out stalls, feeding the horses and putting them out in the paddocks.
ICT - Rogers/Fido - Customer Service Representative Lower Sackville NS September 2004 - May 2006
*Handled inbound customer contacts via telephone. Provided one-touch solutions for customer queries - accounting, technical troubleshooting for cellular phones, sales, and returns.
Robin’s Donuts - Counterperson and Storefront Halifax NS 1999-2000
*Responsible for making sandwiches, all counter sales and cleaning, as well as the cleaning of the front store area.
Marg’s Discount Shoes - Floor Sales Sharbot Lake ON - 1997
*Responsible for sales and service in a discount shoe store selling men’s and women’s shoes, sneakers, boots, and work-boots.
Whispering Pines Stables - Stable-hand and Trail Ride Guide Sharbot Lake, ON 1995 - 1998
*P/T stablehand and occasional guide for on-site trail rides.
Charles J Givens Organization - Financial Consultant/Customer Service Rep - Toronto, ON 1992-1995
*Duties included answering financial planning questions over the phone or via fax. Topics generally covered general knowledge questions regarding mutual funds and small business.
Kaslo Ambulance - Driver/ Attendant Kaslo, BC, 1990-1991
*P/T Responsible for driving, stocking the ambulance, patient care during pick-up and transport. Industrial First Aid “A”
IHOP - Waitress Lethbridge, ON 1989-1990
*P/T waitress responsible for waiting tables, cleaning the back counters, making desserts and loading ice-cream machine.
Tim Hortons - Night-staff, Donut Finisher Lethbridge, ON 1989-1990
*F/T responsible for night cash, finishing the donuts, stocking and cleaning shelves and cases, stocking soup station and cleaning the bathrooms and restaurant.
Mother’s Pizza - In-Bound Order Processing Calgary, AB 1988 - 1989
*F/T Data entry order processing, pizza orders for 16 stores
Alberta Forest Service - University Student Forest Fire Fighter Seasonal May-September 1989-1991
*Three seasons as a university crew fire-fighter out of the Bow Crow and Edson forest regions. Low hazard duties: responsible for equipment and park maintenance duties, various temporary projects including tree planting, park trail construction, slash burning along highway areas vulnerable to arson and accidental fire as well as invasive weed control in the cattle lease regions of Banff National Park. High hazard: occasional helicopter spotter crews, some initial attack as well as hot-spot ground crew. WHIMIS, FCC Radio License, helicopter and chainsaw safety training included.
Hobbies & Interests
Camping, writing, 3D graphic art (collage for business, hobby, and website use as well as graphic novels). I also have an interest in horseback trail riding (hourly and touring) and would like to get involved with motorcycle distance touring. Three years experience with off the grid living.
Education
LaSalle College, Montreal, Quebec, 2023 - current
*Fashion Design - classes (to date) include: design concept, patternmaking, Adobe digital tools, study of raw materials, basic sewing (straight-stitch and overcast), and French
St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
*Digital Engineering, 1997 (incomplete) - classes included circuit design, math, tort law for Ontario, Visual Basic, business and technical writing
*Business Administration, 1998 (incomplete) - classes included marketing, accounting (beginner and intermediate), human resources, creative writing, and business software
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
*General Studies, 1989 (incomplete) - Classes included ethics and logic, history of 20th century thought, and fitness for law enforcement
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
*General Studies, 1988 (incomplete) - classes included computer programming, Russian, social geography, linguistics, assembler, and math for computer programming
Middleton Regional High School, Middleton, Nova Scotia
Matriculation, 1988
Honors and Awards
1988 - T.H. Raddall Bowwater Mersey Award for Writing (Senior High School)