COMMUNICATIONS
STRATEGIST

Every day I’m hustling–building brands, managing reputations and delivering campaigns that get noticed and make a difference to my clients’ bottom line.

My communications philosophy? It’s in a state of constant and rapid flux. Tomorrow, practices will be different than today, but the foundation of good storytelling remains intact.

One thing I know is that it takes hard work and perseverance to position a brand for opportunities (last I checked, they didn’t fall from the sky). Brands are now defined as the sum of all conversations. The winners will be those who embrace this change and become part of it.

Have worked with Jo on a number of files, including development of our ThinkHQ website. She’s awesome! Smart, responsive, and thorough. Highly recommend!

~ MARC HENRY, ThinkHQ Public Affairs Inc. quote

It was a pleasure to work with Jo on the development of both my campaign website and my official Senate website. She is highly professional – responsive to requests and able to explain the ins and outs of “tech” – and the quality of her product is excellent. I have received many compliments on both the design and functionality of the sites that she has created for me. I would certainly recommend her work.

- SENATOR DOUG BLACK, Canadian elected Senator representing Albertans quote

I collaborate on projects with other awesome freelancers who mostly work from our home offices or random coffee shops. Need a SEO specialist? Check. Photographer? Check. Pollster? Check. Illustrator? Check. This independent spirit allows us to be nimble and adapt quickly to trends.

Everything is customized to the client, the challenge and the audience. Have a specific need or do you need to roll out a large campaign? I call on the best in the industry to work alongside me to produce outstanding results. We gauge success by return on investment, interactions and influence.

By marrying the power of strategy with premium aesthetics, the brand we create for your business will enchant your clients, drive ROI and ensure a solid reputation for years to come.

Offering a complete suite of services–from brand design and website development and partner with Not Your Average Jo to provide companion offerings in public relations, marketing and issues management.

Shannon Larkins, Brand Strategist

Shannon Larkins, owner of Blackcoffee Studio, premium brand development agency, delivers luxury brand experiences to clients at home in Calgary, Canada and across the globe. We work with them to develop brands and reputations for entrepreneurs and businesses a cut above.

Collen Lavender, Writer

Colleen Lavender loves a good turn of phrase. An eager writer since she learned her alphabet, Colleen has an ear for storytelling and an eye for detail. That winning combination means crafting the right message for clients is always top-of-mind.

With a master’s degree in English, she has done more than her fair share of essay writing. Way back when that meant using a typewriter. If she knew then what she knows now about writing compelling copy, she would have fought the dreaded word count forced on students and focused – as she does now – on strong openings, lively language and finding the right voice for the audience.

For 30 years, Colleen has worked as a professional communicator for an international non-profit, a Calgary post-secondary school and a host of other clients. Not Your Average Jo turns to Colleen to help create content with spark. She brings solid experience, plus – she’s just wacky enough to fit with the groove of our unconventional but oh-so-effective team of professionals with spunk.

MY TEAM

I began by getting a BA in Public Relations from the University of North Dakota, worked in politics as a press secretary, then continued at the University of Southern California where I received my MA in Communication Management. This move of course had absolutely nothing to do with harsh Manitoba winters. I also hold a Digital Marketing Certificate from the Canadian Marketing Association and continue to take a variety of courses to ensure I’m up on the latest trends.

Then it was back to Canada to continue my career in communications. I’ve been involved in many different projects in a range of sectors—almost two decades in the business now—for corporate, government, non-profits and small business. Check out my LinkedIn profile to see more about where and who I’ve worked for.

Along the way, I’ve helped with a number of disaster relief efforts—a highlight being a spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross in NYC at Ground Zero during 9/11.

But before I start working with you, I want to know this: what do you believe in? Because what drives you is what will drive me. I’m inspired by clients who love what they do, and believe in it.

Jo was a pleasure to work with in re-designing our firm website. She was creative, thoughtful and resourceful. She was very patient in guiding us through the process and always had solutions to the glitches we had along the way. The result is a website that is modern, dynamic and easy to navigate. I highly recommend Jo to any company needing to revitalize their image and their website.

~ GILLIAN A. SINCLAIR, Retired Barrister & Solicitor, Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP

Working the photo activation off-shoot company Hip Image where we bring brands to life & have a little fun at the same time.

Not Your Average Jo gave our company website a complete facelift. Jo is, indeed, anything but average. She kept and eye on the budget, wasn’t shy to put forward suggestions, managed her various ‘sub-trades’ efficiently and kept us on time and on budget. We would recommend Not Your Average Jo to any organization, large or small, thinking about making their website totally not average.

- ADAM PEKARSKY, Pekarsky & Co quote