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Lois Marsh

Account Manager – Category Communications

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NOW HIRING: ACCOUNT MANAGER, TECH

Toronto, ON | Remote | Permanent Full-Time

[ Overview of the Role ]

Are you ready to be a Category leader?  Category Communications is on the lookout for a dynamic and visionary Account Manager to join our team with deep experience and relationships in the tech industry. As an Account Manager, you’ll be at the forefront of leading the charge for our clients, working alongside the best in the business to craft compelling stories that redefine the industry categories we represent. If you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, loves to forge meaningful client relationships, and is ready to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of communication, you’re exactly who we’re looking for. At Category Communications, we believe in fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth.‍

[ About Category ]

Category Communications is a forward thinking public relations agency that is on a mission to collaborate passionately with industry changemakers and founders by providing strategic communication solutions that drive real business impact. Founded by Chantel Cassar and Lauren Arnold, Category Communications takes pride in its relationship with clients, recognizing them as the architects of change in tomorrow’s leading industries. Category’s suite of services include media relations, thought leadership, social media management, influencer marketing, event planning, and crisis communications. The Category approach goes beyond traditional PR; we immerse ourselves in the heartbeat of each industry, fostering curiosity, clarity, connection and care in our communication strategies. To learn more, visit www.categorycomms.com.

[ Account Manager Responsibilities ]

  • Develop strategic PR plans based on our clients business objectives
  • Build, maintain and lead the relationship with the client
  • Prepare or review all client material including PR plan, strategies (media & digital), key messaging documents, pitches, content calendars, reports and more to ensure they are error-free and presentable
  • Build and maintain relationships with media and influencers
  • Maintain and monitor workflow and assignments by effectively delegating, coaching and guiding junior team members
  • Be the leader of the account team by effectively managing both the client and internal teams to ensure projects are on time and results are being generated
  • Offer solutions to clients, teams and new business challenges
  • Manage, motivate, mentor and connect with junior staff to develop their skills based on their unique needs
  • Contribute to Category Communications’ collaborative team culture
  • Be curious in your Category and keep up to date with industry trends, news and best practices
  • Be connected and attend industry-related events for PR/Marketing and our client’s industries.
  • Help train and mentor junior talent
  • Support with new business development where applicable

‍[ Qualifications ]

  • 3-5 years experience in the public relations industry, agency experience is preferred
  • Experience within the technology ecosystem – working with technology clients either agency side or client side
  • Collaborative – you have a demonstrated track record of developing trusted client relationships that turn into organic and new business
  • Successfully executed earned media programs that have landed top tier coverage
  • Curious mindset with a sharp level of strategy to execute media relations, corporate communications, crisis communications and thought leadership programs.
  • Excellent writing skills and an eye for a new media angle
  • Highly organized with an acute attention to detail
  • Connected network and key relationships across media and influencers
  • Passionate about the business world with a focus on technology and real estate
  • Great communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Relationship-centric approach to clients, team and media
  • You like to celebrate wins and learn from mistakes

‍[ Compensation & Benefits ]

Category Communications values your dedication and talent. The salary band for this role ranges from $70,000 – $90,000, reflective of your experience and expertise. We will also be offering a bonus structure that rewards our dedicated team members based on the company’s overall  performance. In addition to compensation, Category is proud to offer an array of benefits designed to enhance both your professional and personal life.

Comprehensive Health and Medical Benefits: Your well-being is our priority. Gain access to a leading health and medical benefits package.

Access to our industry-leading team of business advisors: We’re committed to ensuring you have the best mentorship in the game. Each quarter, you will have access to career planning and coaching sessions with our leading team of business advisors.

Remote-first: The future of work is flexible – where you want to work is up to you. We will hang out with you IRL only as much as you want to hang out with us. We’ll always provide opportunities to engage and plan with your team and clients in person, but ultimately – we trust you to do what’s best for you.

Industry leading vacation and benefits policies: In order to excel, time off to travel to, be with family, and to recharge is essential. We’re offering best-in-class vacation policies (hello, 4-week minimum!) and benefits that make sense.

Curiosity Fund: As a collective, learning and personal growth is in our DNA. Each employee will have a monthly curiosity fund spending account that can be put towards upskilling courses, a new hobby, wellness activity and more.

‍[ Location ]

Category Communications is a remote-first work environment. The ideal candidate is based out of Toronto, ON.‍

[ How To Apply ]

‍If you’re ready to be a Category leader and contribute to the success of our clients and growth of our agency, please submit your resume, coverage letter and two writing samples to info@categorycomms.com with the subject line: “Category Account Manager – [Your Name]”

‍Category Communications is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

‍The close date for this job application is May 17th, 2024.

Beyond the Headlines

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Beyong the Headlines

In today’s fractured media landscape, Canadian journalists are out numbered by PR professionals and are increasingly taking on multiple beats. As PR professionals, we seek to double down on placing stories for maximum brand exposure, yet journalists are receiving an over whelmingly large volume of pitches.

Join us for a candid discussion titled Beyond the Headlines about the dos and don’ts of media outreach in Canada straight from the source – the media.

Our lineup of media professionals includes:

Lauren Toffan, Chase Producer/Writer, CTV News

Lauren is a passionate journalist and storyteller. She is currently a staff Chase Producer with CTV News Channel but she has taken on several roles working as a segment producer and writer in both breaking news and current affairs programming. Before joining CTV, she wore many hats working at CBC, ranging from digital reporter for CBC Windsor, Associate Producer for CBC’s Parliamentary Bureau and writer for CBC’s Power and Politics. She has strong news judgement, excellent storytelling skills and frequently selects pitches and conducts interviews each day. She is fascinated with the changing media landscape and hopes to contribute her skills and keep telling great stories for years to come.

Truc Nguyen, Freelance writer and editor

Truc Nguyen is aToronto-based freelance writer and full-time communications professional whose work has appeared in Elle Canada, FASHION, Toronto Life, Refinery29 and The Globe and Mail. Previously, she worked in the fashion and market departments of Teen Vogue and Vogue Living, and as a senior editor at Flare, where she styled celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Grimes for the magazine’s cover stories.

Mali Raja, Staff writer, Corus Entertainment

Mali is involved in all things content-related and acts as the face in front of and behind the camera for a number of brands in Canada. At Corus Entertainment, she creates video-first content, regularly contributes written articles and manages influencers for brands such as Slice, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada,Showcase, History, Global TV and previously ET Canada and Complex Canada. In her free time, she is a freelance UGC creator and social media manager with a focus on fashion, food and lifestyle.

The panel will be moderated by Rasha Fawakhiri, Principal, RF Communications.

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2024

Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm (EST)

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

To register for this event, please click here

Registration Fees:

First 20 Members/Student Members FREE

Members – $10.00 + HST

Non-Members – $15.00 + HST

Student Members – $10.00 + HST

Students Non-Members – $15.00 + HST

Check out CPRS Toronto’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts for updates.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

PR Sparks 2024

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PR SPARKS 2024

PR Sparks gives you the chance to visit Toronto’s top PR firms. This event is a great opportunity to network and learn from the best people in the public relations field.

Veritas (10 am to 12 pm)

Agnostic (1:30 pm to 3:30 pm)

Costs:

Student Members $15.00

Non-Members $20.00

Registration here

 

CPRS Toronto Spring Mixer

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The sun is shining bright, signaling that it’s time to step out and embrace the warmth. The CPRS Toronto Board of Directors invites you to join us for our Spring Social on May 1st! Come mingle with industry peers and executives at Watson’s Toronto.

Your ticket includes drinks and bites as you build connections and relationships with fellow communications professionals spanning the industry. Let’s raise a glass to celebrate the achievements of the first quarter and toast to the sunny, warm days awaiting us ahead.

Act quickly to secure your spot, as we have a limited number of tickets available. We look forward to seeing you at Watson’s for an evening of cheer and good company.

DATE:           Wednesday, May 1, 2024

TIME:             6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

LOCATION:   Watson’s, 398 Richmond Street West

COST:            $20 Students | $25 Members | Non-members $35

SAVE THE DATE – ACE AWARDS GALA

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Junior Associate – McMillan Vantage

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Junior Associate
McMillan Vantage
Description

The business

When businesses or organizations have a pressing challenge, McMillan Vantage has the senior expertise with a deep understanding of what you need to know, when you need it most. Our vision is to become the firm of choice for clients requiring government relations, strategic communications, advocacy, Corporate Purpose and Sustainability advisory services. McMillan Vantage is unique in Canada thanks to our strategic partnership with one of Canada’s leading national business law firms—McMillan LLP. Learn more here.

The role

Do you know how to write a compelling message? Do you think critically from all angles about the steps organizations take in the face of a crisis? Have you developed and pitched a story to media?

If you’re looking to build a career in communications, issues management, public relations, crisis communications and digital, marketing and social impact consulting, McMillan Vantage is hiring a Junior Associate to support the firm’s strategic communications and PR work.

We’re looking for a strong communicator, a critical thinker and a tight writer who’s developed a unique perspective to communications work through education and relevant work experience (paid or volunteer).

Team Vantage operates in a hybrid model. You are encouraged to spend the equivalent of two days a week in office; the role commences May 13, 2024, or on a mutually agreed upon date.

The responsibilities

McMillan Vantage consultants are talented, highly organized team players with the ability to work effectively on several projects at the same time. Some of the responsibilities for a Junior Associate include:

  • Developing excellent first drafts of materials such as communications plans, messaging and Q&A documents, briefing or issues notes, Power Point presentations, media releases, content strategies, and social media content under the direction of more senior consultants.
  • Researching and distilling complex information to support product development and briefings; familiarity with AI platforms and uses.
  • Maintaining media engagement to understand and flag emerging issues and trends affecting our clients.
  • Producing video, written and graphic content for websites and social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, IG and Twitter); understanding social media analytics and reporting.
  • Supporting media and social strategy development, drafting media and influencer lists, ideating on pitches and building relationships.
  • Performing traditional and social media monitoring scans and reporting across various platforms to deadline.
  • Managing projects involving multiple stakeholders and service providers (including graphic designers, photographers, videographers, etc.), and developing systems to keep the team on track.
  • Delivering account support such as organizing meetings, producing call summaries, creating project schedules and recapping action items.
  • Learning about new sectors and issues in support of McMillan Vantage new business development.

The qualifications and competencies

  • Completed an undergraduate or master’s degree in communications, journalism, political science, history, or a related field
  • Proven experience working independently with strong time and project management skills
  • Excellent verbal, writing and editing skills in English (French is an asset)
  • Ability to learn while doing and commitment to continuous improvement
  • Share in our commitment to advancing The Vantage Way and producing the highest quality of work for our clients

The details

Please apply by submitting a resume and thoughtfully answering the Application Questions found here:

https://recruiting.ultipro.ca/MCM5000MCMIL/JobBoard/d0d34ca0-11c1-46ef-a1d3-182991da3190/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=7fbd1f53-8372-4230-9812-219c6f38aa40

A cover letter is optional.

We thank all applicants in advance, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

President’s Message – March 2024

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Are you maximizing the benefits of your CPRS Membership?

A CPRS membership is what you make it. If you buy a membership and forget about it for the year, it is a waste of money. More importantly, it is a wasted opportunity. Used it to its full potential, a membership is an incredible tool that can propel your career.

A CPRS membership is as valuable as you make it. Simply buying a membership and neglecting it for the year would be a waste of both money and opportunities. When used to its fullest extent, a membership becomes a powerful tool that can advance your public relations career.

Here are five ways your CPRS membership can help you soar.

1. Networking

Networking plays a vital role for PR professionals, whether they are looking for their first job, considering a career change, or are content in their current role. CPRS organizes various networking events each year, providing chances to build lasting connections with peers, potential employers, key media personalities and other folks who can help you with your career. Don’t just take our word for it: According to a LinkedIn poll 80% of professionals find networking is essential to their career success.

2. Professional Development

With an estimated 6,000 active PR professionals in Canada, it can be challenging to distinguish yourself. By joining CPRS, you can set yourself apart. We offer various professional development opportunities including online seminars, webinars, and in-person events. Additionally, our website provides online resources to help you learn new skills or polish up on ones you already have. Moreover, we offer professional designations for practitioners at any career stage. These designations serve as tangible proof of knowledge, are important resume builders, demonstrate your commitment to the profession and act as building blocks to your PR and communications career.

3. CPRS Awards

Both the Toronto and National chapters host annual awards with a wide array of categories. Winning a CPRS award is another way you can differentiate yourself from peers because it is third-party validation that your work is recognized as industry leading.

4. Volunteer opportunities

All CPRS chapters operate as charitable organizations, run by passionate volunteers who are committed to strengthening our industry. We invite all our members to join us. Volunteering is an opportunity to meet and connect with peers, network, get to know industry leaders and gain valuable experience.

Check out the CPRS Toronto website to learn about more your membership benefits or reach out to our Membership Chair Sozan Mirawdaly. And remember, your membership is only as good as you make it.

CPRS Toronto Call for Nominations for 2024-2025 Board of Directors

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CPRS Toronto Call for Nominations for 2024-2025 Board of Directors

The Call for Nominations for the 2024-2025 CPRS Toronto Board of Directors are now open!

Participating on the board enables you to extend your professional network, add to your portfolio and resume, enhance your corporate governance skills and learn from your industry peers while contributing to our profession in a meaningful way.

There are a number of positions available depending on your passions and interests. The board will work with successful candidates to determine the role that best suits.

CPRS Toronto members interested in serving on the board for the 2024-2025 term should provide their resume to Lois Marsh at marshl@marsh-executive.com

In an effort to best represent the diversity of Toronto and our industry, we encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and those with diverse backgrounds to submit their application.

The term will start after the Annual General Meeting. Having an APR, more than five years of communications experience or being an active volunteer are assets, but not required. All members are invited to apply before the deadline of March 31, 2024.

Get in touch and let’s work together to build your professional profile and network!

Thank you!

Crafting a Winning ACE Award Submission

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Crafting a Winning ACE Award Submission 

The Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards has celebrated Toronto’s talented and innovative public relations community for over twenty years. An ACE Award is synonymous with talented insight and skillful execution, helping to raise the winner’s profile, generate new business opportunities, and elevate the profession across organizations and sectors.

Join us for our upcoming webinar to learn more about the CPRS Toronto ACE Awards submission requirements along with strategies and tips on developing a winning entry. The session will be delivered by past judges and winners who will provide firsthand insights on being successful.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Virtual (via Zoom)

Members, non-members and students are invited to join this free session.

To register for this event, please click here.

We hope to see you there!

 

Beyond the Message – Celebrating Black History Month

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This Black History Month, seize the opportunity to elevate your understanding of PR and communication.

Join us for our upcoming event, Beyond the Message – Celebrating Black History Month, as we explore awe-inspiring storytelling that not only talk the talk but walk the walk. Together, we’ll look at some of the most inspiring PR and Communications campaigns that successfully resonated with the essence of Black history and culture.

Best part? You will also get tips and best practices on how to create your own campaigns that embody diversity, equity, and inclusion focused on celebrating Black History.

Our stellar lineup of Guest Contributors includes industry luminaries who have shaped the landscape are:

Daniella Etienne, Owner, Le Code Switch Agency

With over two decades in strategic marketing and program development, Daniella Etienne, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, focuses on the inclusivity question in the business landscape. Committed to lifelong learning, she strives to provide equitable access to knowledge and opportunities. A cultural and diversity expert, her career journey includes managing partnerships at Universal Music Canada and leading global marketing campaigns at Pandora. Currently, with the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, Daniella champions narratives that center on equity-deserving communities. In 2022, she founded Le Code Switch, a bilingual inclusive marketing agency. Awarded for anti-racism contributions, Daniella is a respected communications specialist and board member at Racial Equity Screen Office (RESO), working with various clients, including supporting the marketing and copywriting efforts of the Inclusion Now Office at McCarthy Tétrault to name a few, shaping equitable change while upholding her guiding principle: “Nothing about us without us”.

Renee Weekes Duncan, Senior Vice President, Golin Canada

Renee Weekes Duncan is a strategic integrated communications leader adept at devising robust, meaningful and creative strategic campaigns that make a major impact and deliver tangible results.

As a senior vice-president at Golin Canada, she’s created, managed and implemented PR, D&I, influencer, social media and content programs, including leading D&I communications at Rogers.

She specializes in relationship building, developing campaigns that drive impact, and has worked with high-profile brands across North America such as Nike, P&G, RBC, CBC and Nestle.

In 2017, she co-founded Code Black Communicator Network, an organization created to provide a space for learning, growing and knowledge exchange for Black communications professionals.

Lesli Fairweather, Senior Marketing Manager, Roots

Lesli Fairweather is a marketing professional with a passion for crafting compelling brand stories and driving strategic growth. With over 17 years of experience working within a Marketing and PR capacity, her proven track record of success has been honed through her experiences in both the Canadian and U.S. markets. Lesli has successfully overseen marketing initiatives for renowned brands such as, Sephora, NARS, BareMinerals, and Lacoste Footwear.

Specializing in executing omni-channel communication strategies, Lesli currently leads PR and Social Media at Roots, and brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership. Whether it’s shaping a brand’s tone, optimizing budgets, or fostering innovative collaborations, Lesli thrives on creating impactful and sustainable brand experiences.

These influential voices will share their success stories, strategies, and tips. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and celebrate Black History.

Event details 

Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024

Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Location: Zoom

Registration Fees:

  • First 20 Members/Student Members FREE
  • Members – $10.00 + HST
  • Non-Members – $15.00 + HST
  • Student Members – $10.00 + HST
  • Students Non-Members – $15.00 + HST

To register for this event, please click here

We hope to see you there!