IABC/BC President’s Awards
IABC/BC’s success depends on the continued passion and dedication of our volunteers. It’s important our volunteers know how much we value their contribution. The President’s Awards is how we thank our star volunteers for going above and beyond in their work and recognize their contribution.
People who win the President’s Awards have made major contributions to both the chapter and our membership this year. Winners are hand-selected by the IABC/BC President and Executive Committee.
Who is eligible for a President’s Award?
All IABC/BC chapter members in good standing who volunteered during the 2010/2011 year are eligible for this award. This includes general committee members, board members, and members of the executive committee. Nominations can be made by any IABC/BC Chapter member.
The President’s Award has two categories:
President’s Award: Outstanding New Volunteer
Honours the contributions of an individual new to volunteering with IABC/BC. An Outstanding New Volunteer typically is in their first or second year of volunteering.
President’s Award: Volunteer of the Year
Presented to a volunteer who has made a significant impact on the IABC/BC chapter through their volunteer work. This award is open to all volunteers.
2011 Nomination deadline: TBA
Nominees will be listed on this page, and the Winners will be recognized at our annual Bronze Quill Gala.
Questions? Email volunteers@iabc.bc.ca
2010/2011 President’s Award Nominees
Meet this year’s President’s Awards nominees! These are star volunteers who have gone the extra mile in their volunteer work with IABC/BC.
Next time you see a Presidents Awards nominee, make sure you thank them for their contribution!
Chelsea Watt Nominated For: Volunteer of the Year
In Chelsea Watt’s two years of volunteering with IABC she has played various roles in both the Student Services committee as well as Member Services. A member of BC Hydro’s Digital Communications team, developing social media strategies and content, Chelsea has experience in corporate communications, including employee communications, collateral production, and web communications.
Chelsea was encouraged by friends to become more active in IABC and quite frankly she just got tired of hearing about “the cool things they were doing and the people they were meeting”. Chelsea has lent her energy and expertise to this year’s two IABC 101 events, as well as managed the Brand Yourself student event and a communication student survey.
The most rewarding part of volunteering for Chelsea is the great feedback she gets from members, especially students, about the value of a session and watching the growing lines of enthusiastic people eager to talk to that night’s speaker or IABC board members. While Chelsea’s been busy volunteering with IABC she has made invaluable connections with some very talented people within the industry.
Upon hearing of her nomination for this year’s President’s Awards Chelsea says that she is surprised and honoured, and that it is the incredible group of people involved with IABC that makes the experience so rewarding. Chelsea sends out a big thanks to everyone who has supported her and her advice for future volunteers? “DO IT! One of the best decisions I’ve made for my career, hands down”.
Kate Best Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year
After attending social events and workshops where she was encouraged to volunteer, Kate Best started working with IABC/BC’s Professional Development and Events Committee in September 2010. As a consultant at NATIONAL Public Relations she brought a wide range of expertise to the committee with her experience in “media relations, event planning, internal communications, communication planning, writing and social media.”
Since volunteering Kate has not only benefited professionally, she’s had a lot of fun too! Kate credits her volunteer work with IABC for connecting her with fellow communicators and expanding her professional network.
Kate’s favorite memory volunteering is with her colleague Channing Rodman, the two “had a lot of laughs” while filming video clips to promote an IABC social media workshop.
She was surprised to hear of her nomination saying, “I’m having lots of fun volunteering, so it’s nice to know that you think I’m doing a good job.” Kate encourages everyone to volunteer as a way to meet “some amazing people!”
Samantha Shah Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year
Samantha Shah, Director of Sponsorship, brings home the IABC bacon, so to speak. While Samantha specializes in marketing communications and brand building, it was through IABC that she “discovered a new talent for leading sponsorship efforts.”
It was the accreditation process that initially led Samantha to IABC, which was “worth every ounce of effort” she adds, but it’s the people that are the driving factor in her continued dedication. One of Samantha’s favorite memories from IABC was “sitting in John’s basement trying to draw things with my eyes closed while playing Cranium… I’ve never taken even one art class… needless to say it was not pretty.”
For Samantha being nominated is an honour given the “privilege of working with truly world-class people on an almost daily basis.” For those considering volunteering with IABC, Samantha says that “If you want to make new friends, have fun and make a difference… this is the place to be.
Melissa Sanderson Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year
Melissa Sanderson has been an IABC member for the past two years, first in Calgary and now here in Vancouver where she works in the architectural industry focusing on communication, marketing, and proposal writing.
Like many IABC volunteers, Melissa works behind the scenes making things run smoothly. As the manager of the weekly Connect E-Newsletter, she creates and edits the content that keeps all IABC-ers in touch with the latest chapter news.
Melissa joined IABC to obtain relevant experience working with other communicators, and she’s done just that! Many of her favourite volunteer experiences involve collaborating with Jay Sew!
Both surprised and honoured to be nominated, Melissa recommends that more people join and volunteer with IABC saying “even if you don’t have a lot of time, a little bit of IABC involvement helps your career go a long way.” She notes that through volunteering her “confidence has excelled,” which has had a positive effect on her career
Alicia Olive Nominated for: Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year
Alicia Olive is currently finishing her 1st year in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Public Relations Diploma Program. Though still discovering the different avenues a career in Communications offers, she plans to focus on Public Relations or Media Relations, in either the tourism or non-profit sector.
Wanting to immerse herself in Communications as soon as she started school, Alicia joined IABC/BC having heard “great things about the people, volunteer positions and networking opportunities.” In January she started volunteering as a fill-in webmaster and is now a “full-fledged member of the Marketing Communications Committee.” She also writes for the CONNECT E-Newsletter, with an article published in the January issue, and another one coming up in May.
This nomination is “totally unexpected” for Alicia, and she appreciates knowing that her colleagues believe her “work is worth the nomination!” She advises future volunteers to sign up for “jobs you don’t know how to do, because you’ll gain valuable skills that will look good on your resume.”
Alicia has gained many skills since volunteering with IABC; “I knew nothing about website updates, Drupal platforms and WYSIWYG’s before this, and now I have a great foundation of knowledge that will serve me for the rest of my career” she says.
In addition to skills, Alicia has gained new friends during her time volunteering, “Jason Sew trains me via phone on how to do website updates I haven’t done before and we always have a good laugh. We share a similar sense of humour and trade funny blog posts”. Alicia has found volunteering to be “well worth it” and says “you’ll meet incredible people who are extremely helpful!”
Jason Sew Nominated for: Volunteer of the Year
Currently a Co-Director on the Marketing and Communications Committee, Jason works hard to foster a positive environment in which everyone has the opportunity to grow and develop career-ready skills. Outside of his work on the IABC/BC Executive Board, he is an Internet marketing specialist whose company Stickywords Marketing focuses on search engine optimisation and web content strategies that help small businesses attract online customers and generate web traffic.
Getting nominated for “Volunteer of the Year” came as a surprise for Jason who is “humbly appreciative for the honour,” but gives all the credit to the volunteers he works alongside. He recounts the recent “Dare to Lead” conference in Calgary as his favourite memory. During the professional development and team-building conference he “began to understand just how big the IABC family is across Canada and around the world.”
When Jason first joined IABC in 2002, he volunteered simply as a way to gain relevant career experience. But as he continued, he realized that “volunteering in small but highly engaged teams was a great way to meet and collaborate with other bright, like-minded people in communications.”
Jason strongly encourages people who are considering volunteer work to take action. “Get out of your comfort zone, get involved and start exercising parts of your brain that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to!” He adds, “The more helpful you are as a volunteer, the more people will hear about it and go out of their way to help you achieve your career goals.”
Kristin Ramsey Nominated For: Volunteer of the Year
You may only know her as ‘KR’ on IABC/BC’s twitter account, Kristin Ramsey, manages the daily updates for the chapter’s social media channels. A recent SFU grad with a B.A. in Communication, she has a full plate in her 3rd year as an IABC volunteer. In addition to running the social media promotions and contests that engage members online, Kristin also plays a supporting role on the PR committee.
Outside of her IABC roles Kristin works as the Communications Director for a Vancouver singer/songwriter. She is also interested in marketing within the book and magazine publishing industry, which she plans to focus on in the future.
The President’s Award nomination leaves Kristin honoured and surprised. She credits her experience with IABC as “one of the best choices I made as an undergraduate for my communications career,” saying that she’s “really enjoyed getting to know my Marketing and Communications team…we always have fun. It’s been an amazing experience to work with such a passionate and creative group of people.”
Encouraging others to join and volunteer Kristin says, “Go for it. Dive in. This is the perfect opportunity to take on responsibility and challenge yourself in areas you wouldn’t have a chance to otherwise. Volunteering has been invaluable to my career.”
Leslie-Ann Drummond Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer
Specializing in Marketing Communications, Leslie-Ann Drummond loves marrying visual design with story. She has been volunteering with IABC since 2010 as the President of the IABC/BC Headliners Toastmasters club.
Leslie-Ann joined IABC to expand her professional network and gain more experience in social media. She credits her involvement in both Toastmasters and the Social Media Special Interest Group for improved leadership skills and connections that have led to career opportunities and great friends.
Crediting Toastmasters for a lot of the fun she has, Leslie-Ann recounts two of her favourite speeches: Lawanda Paterson’s The History of the Fork and Catherine Ducharme’s The Signs of Aging. She says that she enjoys being a member of the Headliners because “The club feels more like friends getting together for fun than just a Toastmasters group.”
Surprised and honoured by her nomination, Leslie-Ann encourages others to volunteer saying, “Getting involved supercharges your benefits and accelerates your ability to get to know people. Within a few months I could walk into an IABC event and actually KNOW people, and feel comfortable in a crowd. That’s a big bonus for me!”
Nicole Moon Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer
Nicole Moon’s involvement in IABC/BC began when she was searching for an opportunity to connect with fellow members of the communications and marketing industries in Vancouver. She has been volunteering with the Professional Development Committee since 2010, helping with events and Bronze Quill Awards judging.
Having majored in Marketing at SFU Nicole has had opportunities to work with both corporate and non-profit organizations, and has “developed a strong passion for branding and writing.” She adds that nothing satisfies her more “than being able to celebrate the most successful components of an organization or its place as a positive member of the business community”.
In exchange for all of her hard work Nicole has gained a sense of professional connectedness. The great people and the team atmosphere make every event fun, though she reflects on the Holiday Social as a highlight saying, “It was fantastic to see that event come together and to watch everyone get into the Holiday spirit.”
Nicole values the experience and connections that she’s made through IABC, saying that “Volunteering with so many others who come from diverse backgrounds and have a broad range of talents helped me realize the value of getting out and getting involved! It has really added a whole new level of satisfaction to my career.”
Jeanette LeBlanc Nominated For: Outstanding New Volunteer
Serving as an event manager on the Professional Development and Events committee, Jeanette LeBlanc has helped plan a number of socials and workshops since she started volunteering in 2010. In her job as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the BC Cancer Foundation, she specializes in public relations, writing, planning special events and social media.
When Jeanette’s not busy volunteering her expertise, she’s soaking up IABC wisdom as a mentee in the Mentorship Program, which she credits for many great connections. A networking and professional development enthusiast, she appreciates the connections that IABC facilitates and knows that without a doubt her career has felt a positive impact.
Jeanette is flattered to be nominated and feels that “Volunteering is worth the time and effort because what you gain in return is priceless. You won’t know what you will learn until you volunteer, but know that each event, connection, and referral will bring you career insight and opportunities.”
Jen Chan Nominated For: Volunteer of the Year
Jen Chan is one of IABC/BC’s great social media gurus, focusing on what she lovingly refers to as the “TwinkedInBook: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for all things IABC/BC.” An experienced volunteer, she has also served as the chapter’s webmaster, and as a writer for press releases and CONNECT Newsletter articles. Currently at IKEA, Jen covers all areas of internal/external marketing and communication in her job.
Jen joined IABC a few years ago as a lone communicator wanting to get back in touch with other industry professionals. To achieve her goal she threw herself into volunteering and joined the Mentorship Program, which created a great match with mentor Ryan Williams!
A proud moment for Jen was at this year’s Spring Social when the hashtag #IABCBC trended in Vancouver. She remembers the busy evening fondly saying, “I was live tweeting the event, and it was a blast – though it was a bit hard to do with a glass of wine in one hand, a Scrabble piece in the another, and trying to catch up with everyone.”
Jen encourages people interested in volunteering to get involved even if they only have a few hours a month to spare saying, “It doesn’t have to take up a ton of time – there are always smaller tasks that need to be done, and many of them can be done online so members on the Island, Interior, or northern BC can get involved!”
Ashley Pozzobon Nominated For: Volunteer of the Year
With over five years of volunteer experience with IABC/BC, Ashley has served on numerous committees and board portfolios including Volunteer Services, Bronze Quill Awards and Professional Development and Events. Currently, she is taking on the role of Co-Director on the Marketing and Communications portfolio.
As the Marketing Manager for JOEY Restaurants, Ashley manages all areas of internal promotions and brand touch points, as well as external programs and events. She is also responsible for the company’s social media strategy and day-to-day social media activities.
Ashley first joined IABC after it was recommended to her by a colleague. She recalls, “When I was first starting my career, a colleague and friend of mine recommended IABC to me and encouraged me to volunteer. I started volunteering and I was hooked!”
Ashley is humbled and grateful for her nomination, “It’s a huge honour and I am flattered! IABC continues to be an amazing experience and I am lucky to get to work with such wonderful and talented people. Thank you!”
Her involvement with IABC has helped to advance her career, while creating great friendships along the way. She says that “Volunteering allowed me to network with people in communications, while providing opportunities to gain experience and grow my portfolio.”
To those who are thinking about volunteering, Ashley says, “Go for it! It’s such a great way to meet people and get active.”
Laurie Dawkins Nominated For: Volunteer of the Year
An active volunteer with IABC/BC since 1995, Laurie has held a number of key roles including Past President. She was also Chair of the International Hospitality Committee that hosted the 2008 IABC World Conference in Vancouver.
Currently Laurie has both local and international volunteer roles. Locally, she is a co-instructor of the Accreditation Completion Program, and a guest lecturer on issues management and media relations for the Accreditation Preparation Program. At the international level, she is a co-chair of the Communication Leadership Track for the upcoming IABC 2011 World Conference in San Diego.
Laurie specializes in issues management, media relations and crisis communication. For the past 10 years she has been providing counsel in these areas for Vancouver Coastal Health, and is currently on loan to the Provincial Health Services Authority serving as the Director of Public Affairs.
Laurie is pleasantly surprised to be nominated saying, “I feel like I’ve kept a pretty low profile this year, but I’m honoured to be nominated since being thought of as a good volunteer in an entirely volunteer-driven organization is a huge compliment.”
Having volunteered with IABC for over 10 years, Laurie feels a strong sense of belonging with the organization. It has helped her take her career to the next level and she’s made some great friends. She reveals, “’IABC is my ‘community.’ It’s where I step away from my work and my family to expand my horizons about what’s going on in the larger profession.”
For the aspiring communications professionals, Laurie recommends joining IABC to gain new skills—and have fun at the same time. “When you’re part of an active organization like IABC, volunteering gives you the opportunity to keep learning, but in a fun and hands-on way” says Laurie. “You think you’re just planning an event or socializing with friends, and then suddenly you realize you’re picking up new skills and building an amazing professional network that will serve you well your entire career.”
