Matthew Howard Email and Phone Number

- In response to changing consumer attitudes towards personal communication, launched Heronet.ca: a full-service communications provider, offering consumer and SME internet connectivity, television, home entertainment solutions, voice communications and telephony services in Ontario and Quebec. Marketed to customers as a flat-rate-fee based offering, Heronet has grown steadily on the strength of it’s promotional offering, personal service, and technical excellence. HeroNet holds one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings within independent Internet review boards across Canada. -I originally founded HeroNet to help people discover an alternative to the "big guys." My sole focus was to build a brand with a "just the product" approach that would sell itself. This allowing for minimal advertising investment and focusing on our subscribers relevant word of mouth vs. Google ad words. Every element of this brand has been created internally to help broaden my understanding and ability to do web development / web creation, online marketing, graphic design, ecommerce and to refine my skills as an entrepreneur. Every skill applied to achieve this goal has been self taught and learned directly from Google searches and Youtube instructionals.

- Responsible for key and strategic accounts Canada-wide, including department stores, monobrand retail accounts, and large multi-unit independents.- Led sales growth within the Canadian market. Met and exceeded aggressive sales growth year-over-year while providing tailored service to customers from shop-floor to showroom. Launched brand within Hudson’s Bay Company, Surplus Clothing, and the G-Star Toronto flagship store.- Create, conduct, and follow-up on in-store Product Knowledge to all accounts on a regular, seasonal basis. Work closely with retail management and buying and merchandising teams to ensure constant improvement of retail sales performance of the brand down to a SKU-level.- After pioneering and rolling out shop-in-shop concepts in the Canadian market, (including construction of a 70M2 shop-in-shop partnership with The Show-Room on Queen Street West in Toronto), Worked with franchise partners to introduce the G-Star monobrand retail concept, and assisted in the launch of our Toronto store. Prior to launch, controlled initial merchandise buy, coordinated with Amsterdam head office Retail team on store design, construction, VM, as well assisted in the launch, planning and execution of press events leading to the official openings. On opening, continued to work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful execution of retail concept, including in-season KPI performance, brand marketing activations, sales training, management training, new product and brand coaching, and staying ahead of all in-season opportunities.

- Senior video editor for one of Quebec’s most successful post-production studios of the early 2000's. Led teams of up to 4 assistant editors on post-production work for a number of TV properties, advertising projects, and corporate videos.- Portfolio includes, amongst others:100 detours – Seasons One and TwoMa maison Rona – Seasons One through ThreeRona Dream Home – Seasons One and TwoLegendes Urbaines – Season OneClin D’Oeil – Season SixDetonation (CPAC Television Network) – Season 1Mes vieux tout neuf – Seasons Two and Three- Managed all internal technical projects, including initial setup of high capacity network infrastructure and implementation and training of Avid video editing platform to new trainees.

- Managed and assisted in organization-wide implementation of all new software and hardware initiatives, including installation, programming, troubleshooting, and training of new hardware and software initiatives while the Mint adopted technological application to a once manual environment.- Lead on support of hardware automation initiative that would enable communication between “dumb” technologies (i.e. coin counters, logistics equipment, quality control equipment, and laboratory devices) and intelligent hardware platforms.- Created and coordinated system training program and executed training with (Assay/Lab, Sales and Marketing, IT, Finance, HR, Refinery, Shipping and Vault dept etc.). Conducted one-to-one training with executives up to “C-“Level on new platform.- Integral part of IT department team on organization-wide upgrade of Microsoft suite (XP, Outlook 2000).

- Established retailer of computer systems and peripherals in Downtown Ottawa. Hired to handle all operational and technical aspects of the new retail concept, including design and build-out of retail location, design of all marketing and promotional materials, executing concept launch, and coordinating all administrative aspects of the business (legal, accounting, etc.).- Divested interest in the business to avoid conflict of interest upon joining the Royal Canadian Mint.

- Worked with consumer accounts to assist on any technical enquiries

- Worked in the Visa Processing division of the Immigration department to process and file Visa applications on behalf of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and DFAIT. Responsible for receiving all visa applications, collecting and processing all Right of Landing Fees, and ensuring all applications are followed-up for appropriate processing.