Chris Gusen Email & Phone Number

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

I manage 350 Canada’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts; plan, create and publish a range of content for those channels; and collaborate with regional and global teammates on all aspects of our digital work including emails, ads, campaign pages and blog content.Content Strategy: As part of 350 Canada’s small and nimble digital team I play a key role in developing digital engagement plans and planning content for all our campaigns.Content Production: I use my writing, design, and video editing skills to create engaging content that attracts new followers and motivates our supporters to take action.Audience Growth: We have tripled our Instagram following in the past year, an accomplishment I attribute to more consistent posting, new content formats, and digital ads.Analytics: I monitor the key performance indicators for our social channels and prepare a weekly report on KPIs and content performance for discussion with the rest of my team.Teaching: In addition to my main responsibilities, I have worked with my colleagues to design and present training sessions and online events throughout the past year.

Canada

Edmonton, Alberta

I stepped down from my role at the Alberta Government to volunteer full-time in the climate movement and advance freelance projects that align with my values.CLIMATE ORGANIZINGOur Time Campaign:I joined Climate Justice Edmonton (CJE) while the organization was acting as a local hub for Our Time, a national campaign supported by 350 Canada. As part of our effort to make climate change the top federal election issue, I did everything from canvassing to training volunteers to media relations to content production.Workshops and Trainings: As part of my work with CJE, I co-facilitated regular in-person and online workshops on our vision and strategy for winning a Green New Deal for Alberta.Global Climate Strikes:I facilitated planning workshops for the coalition of groups that organized the climate strikes in Edmonton, built the Edmonton Climate Strike website, and supported promotion and media relations efforts.Municipal Organizing:I worked with the Edmonton Climate Hub and Extinction Rebellion Edmonton to organize citizens to attend and speak at city council meetings focused on the City of Edmonton’s climate plans. We successfully pressured city council to speed up action on its energy transition plan and declare a climate emergency.Events:I co-organized an event series (Green Drinks: Climate Emergency) on different aspects of the crisis. It helped normalize talking about climate change while at the same time introducing people to solutions and to groups organizing for action.FREELANCE WORKMy most significant freelance projects have been for Taproot Edmonton, where I curated climate news and wrote about the City of Edmonton’s energy transition policies, and for the Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project (ALDP). ALDP hired me to support communications and media relations during a critical period when the federal and provincial governments were developing plans for orphan well cleanup funding as part of their COVID-19 recovery stimulus.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I led a 13-person team of designers and communications specialists responsible for providing design services to clients across the Government of Alberta and managing the Alberta Government’s brand standards.• Communications: I managed a constant stream of projects that required me to quickly grasp new government policies and devise the best ways to communicate them to the public. Some of the work I did that is most relevant to the climate crisis includes supporting the Alberta Climate Change Office’s outreach efforts and reimagining how the government communicates about responsible recreation on public lands.• Brand Strategy and Graphic Design I audited government communications materials and led the development of brand standards redesigned for accessibility and updated for an increasingly digital government. I was recognized for this work with the New Public Servant Award for Emerging Excellence from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC).• Strategic Planning: In addition to my responsibilities to my immediate team, I was a member of the Office of Communications and Public Engagement’s executive team, which shaped the strategy and operations of the 300-person, $40-million department.

Edmonton, Canada Area

Make Something Edmonton was a community-driven civic engagement and city branding initiative funded by the City of Edmonton, managed by Edmonton Economic Development and guided by a diverse board of community leaders. Instead of just using traditional marketing tactics, we focused on empowering the artists, entrepreneurs, and community organizers whose efforts actually make a city better. We gained international recognition for this innovative approach, receiving the City Nation Place Award for Best Expression of Place Brand Identity in 2016.• Digital Marketing and CommunicationsI developed a wide range of digital communications materials, including a redesigned Make Something Edmonton website that drove a 30% increase in traffic. • Public Engagement CampaignsI planned and executed campaigns and a micro-grant program that supported citizens with ideas to improve their neighbourhoods and the whole city. • Leadership, Stakeholder Relations and Project ManagementI led the MSE team, worked closely with the MSE board, supervised subcontractors (designers, writers, photographers, videographers), and built relationships with City of Edmonton staff, business and community leaders, and institutional partners.

Edmonton, Canada Area

• Managed MSE's social channels. Doubled Twitter following. Grew Facebook audience 25%.• Wrote content for the MSE website, newsletter, blog and print materials• Worked with freelance photographers, videographers and writers to develop MSE content.• Organized and facilitated panels, workshops, talks and other events.

Toronto

I worked with stakeholders from across staff departments, faculty and the student body to develop a new brand strategy for Canada’s top-ranked MBA program. I managed major initiatives such as transitioning to a new website, comprehensively re-evaluating how we communicated with prospective and current students, and redesigning the program's print materials. Each project required me to quickly master new skills and over the course of my time at Rotman I developed expertise in a range of marketing techniques:• Brand strategy (worked with marketing and recruitment teams to clarify the program's story)• Content marketing (created infographics, interviews, articles, and blog posts)• Web design and content management (HTML, CSS, Sitecore CMS, Google Analytics, SEO)• Market research (conducted focus groups and competitive analyses)• Newsletter writing, design, and list management (MailChimp)• Presentation design (PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi)• Social media management (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)• Online advertising (wrote copy and built landing pages for Google AdWords campaigns)• Event planning (assisted recruitment team in updating event strategy)• Video production and planning (organized video shoots and collaborated with editor on final videos)• Brochure production (overhauled content and concept for print brochures and managed redesign)

Toronto, Canada

• Redesigned print and digital materials to improve the effectiveness of career education offerings.• Helped the Career Centre's business development team align their efforts with student needs and preferences through research, analysis of past employment data, and outreach to new employers.

Bangkok City, Thailand

I was part of a small team tasked with the daily operations and continual advancement of a recently established Master's Program at Thailand's oldest university. • Maintained positive relationships with program’s existing donors.• Nurtured new partnerships to fund scholarships for disadvantaged Southeast Asian students. • Raised the program’s visibility through management of website; production of newsletter and printed materials; and revitalization of alumni and institutional networks. • Co-organized seminars, conferences, and field trips.

Oversaw the finances, operations, and strategic management of Queen's University's student-run newspaper, television station, radio station, student guide, and yearbook. • Hired and provided ongoing support to a team of managers. • Worked constructively with printers, advertisers, and other businesses.• Facilitated successful grant applications and funding drives.

Highly involved in the production of a non-profit, student run magazine. Responsible for writing content, editing and contributing to the creative direction of the publication.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

• Collaborated with a team of faculty and students to update and edit a handbook for students participating in an exchange to China. • Regularly advised students preparing for the exchange and carried out a self-directed analysis of past exchange experiences.