At McSweeney & Associates my role is to help people understand why our data matters to their community. I help interpret complex data in ways that are understandable and actionable for community officials, stakeholders, and residents.McSweeney & Associates is a boutique economic development consulting firm offering realistic customer-specific solutions to local economic development challenges and opportunities since January 2001. Our passion is helping our clients to sustain and grow their communities. By working directly with staff, elected officials and community stakeholders we develop innovative yet doable solutions customized to each community.

•Perform research as needed to supplement the findings of our Operations Manager and Senior Research Associate•Incorporate data from a number of sources including EMSI Analyst, TalentNeuron, and Statistics Canada to provide pertinent data on Niagara’s labour force o Ensure that the data we provide is mobilized in a way that is digestible by officials who may not be versed in the particulars of our various datasets. Presenting the data in a manner that is easily understood is critical to the success of our undertakings o Work with local and provincial stakeholders to develop analyses that accurately measure data critical to their needs•Meet with local stakeholders to assess their needs and identify how Niagara Workforce Planning Board can best be of assistance•Worked with Niagara College to create an Experiential Learning Opportunity for ~100 international students, introducing them to local employers and helping develop their soft and hard skills o Produced multiple reports assessing the students’ willingness to live and work in Niagara, the factors affecting their decision after graduation, and how Niagara College and governments can help inform their decisions.•When needed, present relevant career data to local high school students to keep them informed on the trends that matter to them as they prepare for life after graduation•Craft monthly reports related to job postings, the state of the labour force, and specific industries within Niagara

• Coordinated all messaging and policy analysis for the Minister and ensured that I was aware of all issues across the province that may affect our ministry• Crafted new messaging when needed that reflected the tone of our government’s position and plan• Briefed the Minister on any new developments, policies, or regulations instituted in our Ministry• Coordinated with other Ministries on issues that may impact their respective Ministry or Minister, including providing advice and messaging related to our programs when necessary• Represented our Ministry at daily issues management meetings with the Premier’s Office• Accompanied my Minister to Question Period (QP) and ensured that he was fully briefed for that day’s QP and subsequent media scrums• Attended meetings with ministry officials to remain aware of all MNDM initiatives • During my time as LA I went above and beyond my duties, preparing reports for the Minister as well as engaging with stakeholders when appropriate, duties and responsibilities that would usually be reserved for roles more senior than a Legislative Assistant

• Engaged local Liberal stakeholders to ensure their involvement in the campaign• Oversaw 10-15 volunteers which included encouraging them to remain active during the campaign period and making sure that we made use of their respective skillsets appropriately• Ensured that all information received from canvassers was inputted into our database and that all data was easily accessible for the campaign manager and candidate when needed• In charge of election day which included volunteer coordination, media outreach, and issues management

As intern at the City of Niagara Falls I am assisting the Mayor and CAO's office with a wide range of tasks. I help with reports, speech writing, event planning, scheduling, coordinating with foreign delegations, and a number of other duties. I have personally organized and ran a number of events such as the Mayor's "unveiling of the Key to the City," and helped prepare reports that were brought to council.

As head research assistant I created a filing system that allowed for easy turnover of employers and quick access to critical information. Along with this, I effectively managed eight employees to ensure that all aspects of the study were carried out in a competent manner. Finally, due to a hands-off professor who trusted that I could accomplish all necessary tasks, I ensured that timely completion of all research work was done with limited oversight.

As union steward I effectively handled work-related complaints and harassment issues. Additionally, I managed any and all issues that arose between graduate teaching assistants and supervisors or department heads. As well, I was the point person for any procedural rules that peers had. Finally, I coordinated association events for graduate teaching assistants.

As a teaching assistant I mentored undergraduate students in order to help them expand their horizons by participating in extracurricular activities. I encouraged multiple students to join clubs and labs on campus, most notably the Democracy Lab where I was Graduate Student Director. As well, I taught exam-prep sessions on my own time that helped my students succeed. At the end of the year, due to the time and care that I invested as a teaching assistant, I received the Graduate Teaching Assistant’s Award after being nominated by my students. In doing so I became one of 20 award recipients chosen from over 2000 teaching assistants at Western.

At Militex Coatings I worked prepping, painting, and overseeing the production of various military equipment. The work is tough, but rewarding. At Militex I continued to learn how to work as a team member, work efficiently, how to be precise, and have a strong, dedicated work ethic.

My position at the London Ice Cream Company was producing, mixing, receiving, and storing ice cream. As a team of six or seven people at a time my fellow employees and I were largely left alone to manage ourselves and ensure that all our tasks were completed as scheduled. This taught me to be disciplined and lead myself and make sure that I did not let the company down even though I was largely expected to do jobs and tasks without any oversight. This was a great learning opportunity for me.

Working at Hospitality Services in Western provided me with an opportunity to further improve my skills in dealing with customers as well as my skills in handling pressurized situations. I worked in Western University's main dining area at restaurants such as Subway, Harvey’s, Manchu Wok, and Tim Hortons. Students and teachers would be in a rush waiting for their food and would expect it to be made and delivered in a prompt manner. This taught me valuable lessons on handling aggravated customers, preparing food well but in a fast manner, and making sure to follow orders very thoroughly so as to avoid the wrath of angry customers.

At Inventa I worked for Nestea's summer campaign "The Start of Something Different," which used guerilla marketing in order to promote their drinks. I travelled around with a team of five other people as we went to locations around Vancouver in order to promote this product. This work provided me with the opportunity to learn how to actively engage with potential customers in a marketing setting.

I worked as a labourer at Pacific Metals Recycling between my first and second years at university. During my time at Pacific Metals my work days would be 12 hours long, and it was very difficult and strenuous physical labour. However, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people from very different backgrounds and also earn valuable work and life experience.

I worked as an on-floor sales associate as well as cashier. At Staples I learned how to interact with customers and to provide them with a positive shopping experience. Customers came to me with their problems and I learned how to identify the customers’ needs and appropriately address them.

My experience at McDonalds was very useful in learning to work with a team of people and provide exceptional customer service. I had to coordinate with the cooks, my fellow cashiers, and report to managers, all while attempting to keep customers satisfied.Reason for leaving: moved to a new community