About - Not Your Average Jo Communications

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.

Our direct marketing concept was a wee vision just over a year ago. Enter Jo! She has provided so much strategic guidance, incredible vision, outstanding communication and amazing contacts. The ideas and energy never stop!

~ KIM WACHTLER, Burke Creek Ranch quote

Jo did a rebrand of our building business — what a success it was. She has an exceptional team each with specialist expertise coupled with flair and imagination. But what sets Jo apart is her uncanny ability to listen and build a story around the individual personalities. The process is extremely professional but hugely enjoyable. Jo makes it fun whilst sticking to schedule. Our business has been transformed more than we could ever imagine and we couldn’t be more grateful.

- DORIAN MEDLICOTT, Beacon Mountain Homes quote

A Little
About
Me

Born and raised in the rural Métis community in southwestern Manitoba’s Turtle Mountains, home of the infamous Turtle Derby, I spent many hours as a child collecting lean, mean racing turtles—hoping to make the big win.

When it was time to choose a real career (there’s not much advancement in turtle racing), I decided to pursue my love of news—but from the other side of the desk in PR.

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.

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.

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

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

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.

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.

Colleen 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.

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