Erika Ensign Email & Phone Number

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Senior Writer - Tourism and Sport - Ministerial Correspondence Unit

Writer-Editor -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Strategically draft correspondence and convey information in a way that is sensitive to individual needs and situations and support the department’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Conduct independent research to ensure accuracy and consistency with the department’s priorities and position, including review and analysis of government and stakeholder reports, business plans, internet websites, current events, department staff, and other sources as necessary• Ensure effective, timely coordination of cross-division responses through consultation with program areas• Consult with manager, writers, ARTS coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Update and maintain Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Review all standard messaging before publishing• Balance competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provide support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhere to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Acting Senior Writer -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Consulted with Manager, Writers, ARTS Coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Reviewed all briefing notes and some correspondence for clarity, brevity, plain language, and adherence to internal templates• Launched and led Writers Community of Practice meetings, published follow-up notes, and acted as a liaison between the writers and manager• Updated and maintaind Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Reviewed all standard messaging before publishing for Writers’ use• Maintained positive relationships with program area staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Executive Advisors, Priority Issues Coordinators, Deputy Minister’s Office, Minister’s Office, and contacts in other ministries• Balanced competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provided support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhered to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Writer-Editor -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Strategically draft correspondence and convey information in a way that is sensitive to individual needs and situations and support the department’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Conduct independent research to ensure accuracy and consistency with the department’s priorities and position, including review and analysis of government and stakeholder reports, business plans, internet websites, current events, department staff, and other sources as necessary• Ensure effective, timely coordination of cross-division responses through consultation with program areas• Consult with manager, writers, ARTS coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Update and maintain Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Review all standard messaging before publishing• Balance competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provide support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhere to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

• Direct day-to-day operations of Ministerial Correspondence Unit• Consult with Minister’s Office, Deputy Minister’s Office, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Communications and Public Engagement staff, writers, ARTS coordinators, and other internal stakeholders to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Review briefing notes and some correspondence for clarity, brevity, plain language, and adherence to internal templates• Lead bi-weekly team meetings, administration meetings, and one-on-one check-ins with all Ministerial Correspondence Unit staff• Attend and contribute to regular meetings with Deputy Minister's Office and Assistant Deputy Ministers office staff• Encourage professional development of staff via annual performance excellence process• Update internal communications intranet website for Ministerial Correspondence Unit• Update and maintain Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Review all standard messaging before publishing for writers’ use• Maintain positive relationships with Minister’s Office, Deputy Minister’s Office, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, program area staff, and contacts in other ministries• Balance competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provide support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhere to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Writer-Editor -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Strategically draft correspondence and convey information in a way that is sensitive to individual needs and situations and support the department’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Conduct independent research to ensure accuracy and consistency with the department’s priorities and position, including review and analysis of government and stakeholder reports, business plans, internet websites, current events, department staff, and other sources as necessary• Ensure effective, timely coordination of cross-division responses through consultation with program areas• Consult with manager, writers, ARTS coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Update and maintain Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Review all standard messaging before publishing• Balance competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provide support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhere to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Acting Senior Writer -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Consulted with Manager, Writers, ARTS Coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Reviewed all briefing notes and some correspondence for clarity, brevity, plain language, and adherence to internal templates• Launched and led Writers Community of Practice meetings, published follow-up notes, and acted as a liaison between the writers and manager• Updated and maintaind Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Reviewed all standard messaging before publishing for Writers’ use• Maintained positive relationships with program area staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Executive Advisors, Priority Issues Coordinators, Deputy Minister’s Office, Minister’s Office, and contacts in other ministries• Balanced competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provided support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhered to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Writer -- Ministerial Correspondence Unit for Alberta Environment and Parks• Strategically drafted correspondence and conveyed information in a way that was sensitive to individual needs and situations and supported the department’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Conducted independent research to ensure accuracy and consistency with the department’s priorities and position, including review and analysis of government and stakeholder reports, business plans, internet websites, current events, department staff, and other sources as necessary• Ensured effective, timely coordination of cross-division responses through consultation with program areas• Consulted with manager, writers, ARTS coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement staff, Assistant Deputy Ministers’ offices, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Updated and maintained Ministerial Correspondence Unit Style Guide• Reviewed all standard messaging before publishing• Balanced competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provided support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhered to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Writer -- Correspondence and Information Services Unit for the Alberta Climate Change Office• Participated on the creation and steering team for the office’s intranet website• Collected and maintained library of standard messages and process documentation• Regularly reported on incoming requests, including statistics on topics and source of correspondence• Strategically drafted correspondence and conveyed information in a way that was sensitive to individual needs and situations and support the office’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Conducted independent research to ensure accuracy and consistency with the office’s priorities and position, including review and analysis of government and stakeholder reports, business plans, internet websites, current events, department staff, and other sources as necessary• Ensured effective, timely coordination of cross-office responses through consultation with program areas• Consult with manager, writers, ARTS coordinator, Communications and Public Engagement staff, Deputy Minister’s Office, and Minister’s Office to ensure the unit delivers needed products on an appropriate timeline• Review all standard messaging before publishing• Balance competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Provide support, writing advice, and training to department staff• Adhere to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Writer -- Executive Correspondence Unit - Alberta Environment and Parks• Strategically drafted correspondence and conveyed information in a way that is sensitive to individual needs and situations and support the department’s position on any issue, using appropriate style and tone for a variety of sources and audiences• Balanced competing priorities under tight timelines for multiple action requests on a daily basis• Adhered to Minister’s preferences and meet standards for English grammar, as per the unit’s style guide, Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Edmonton, Canada Area

Award-winning excellence in podcast production, comunications, and media solutions

Verity! Podcast (Doctor Who) -- Technical Producer, Brand Manager, Co-host -- November 2012 - present--Hugo Award finalist 2014, Parsec Award finalist 2013, Parsec Award winner 2016Beginner's Puck -- Co-creator, Co-hose -- March 2017 - presentLazy Doctor Who -- Co-producer, Co-host -- April 2015 - presentUncanny Magazine Podcast (short fiction, poetry, interview) -- Co-producer, Reader -- October 2014 - present--Parsec Award finalist 2015--Hugo Award winner 2016, Parsec Award winner 2016--Hugo Award winner 2017, Parsec nominee 2017The Audio Guide to Babylon 5 -- Co-host -- May 2014 - presentTotal Party Kill (Dungeons & Dragons) -- Player -- June 2014 - presentThe Incomparable (geeky pop culture) -- Panelist -- September 2013 - presentApex Magazine Podcast (short fiction) -- Producer -- June 2014 - December 2014

Edmonton, Canada Area

• Worked with management, end users, and IT to analyze gaps in service and how best to meet those needs• Assisted with development and implementation of IT-related processes and software updates• Wrote documentation for all IT processes and procedures• Trained end users on new software, hardware, and IT processes• Drafted company-wide communication originating in IT department• Tested and track implementation of new software• Tracked and report on long-term implementations and projects• Served as a point of contact for all IT-related questions/complaints as well as vendor queries• Used Zendesk to track all IT issues from complaint to resolution• Communicated with vendors to order equipment and ensure delivery• Maintained inventory of hardware and software• Administered corporate social media accounts

•Created and revised documents including certificates of analysis (CofAs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials while adhering to internal style guidelines•Wrote customer-facing notification letters detailing product changes and issues•Entered and maintained product quality information using enterprise resource-planning software•Maintained and tracked documents using content management software•Trained employees on new/updated software, using custom training documents•Reviewed receipt inspection documentation, and released product into inventory•Reviewed product batch binders for compliance with good documentation practices•Recorded and tracked metrics for multiple rounds of document updates

•Created documentation for multiple audiences: technical, clinical, executive•Coordinated documentation projects across multiple areas and roles•Developed, implemented, and trained staff on new documentation processes•Reviewed and edited work of other writers•Assisted with software quality-assurance testing

•Coordinated all aspects of training classes for captioning assistants•Wrote and maintained training and technical documentation for programs and processes•Trained new Training Department and supervisory staff•Tracked company-wide employee information using spreadsheets and database systems•Performed technical troubleshooting, and tested both software and hardware•Trained, supervised, disciplined, and terminated new captioning assistants•Captioned phone calls using voice recognition technology

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Communication Arts: Radio, Television, And Film

High School