As the founder and principal of CGL Communications, I help individuals and organizations communicate effectively – online, in print and in person.

Along with my trusted network of talented colleagues, I enjoy providing support with research, planning or executing communication plans, strategies and tools. I also offer professional writing for all forms of media to ensure that clients’ communications are always clear and compelling.

These clients include nonprofit organizations, professional service firms, government agencies, small businesses and international corporations. I’ve been working with some organizations for over a decade. For others, I provide support for single projects. I enjoy the variety and challenge of working with different organizations for different communication needs.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/BEST PRACTICES

Since communication concepts and practices evolve quickly, I need to ensure that my knowledge is up to speed and I have access to the world’s best communications practices. This is why I’m actively involved with two internationally respected professional associations.

I’m an accredited public relations practitioner (APR) with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and an accredited business communicator (ABC) with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). For CPRS I’ve served as a student mentor and as an accreditation appeals judge. I judge some of the international and local communication award programs for IABC. I also served on IABC's advisory panel for its global magazine, Communication World and as a member of the steering committee of a global task force charged with helping IABC to expand around the world. For the Toronto branch of IABC, I mentor students and accreditation candidates and have served as a member of the brand advisory and accreditation committees.

As well, I’m a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, which develops and maintains professional standards in editor-writer and client-writer relationships.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Believing that a strong nonprofit sector is important for healthy communities, I've worked with many nonprofits as a volunteer since I was a teenager.  I recently served as an engagement manager with Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits, working on a project with the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance. In the past, I was a communications volunteer with Mary Centre, which supports individuals with developmental challenges; a board member of The Dorothy Ley Hospice; and public relations counsel for the Toronto chapter of Parkinson Society Canada. I’ve also been a literacy tutor for the LAMP Community Health Centre; a reader/visitor for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; and I co-chaired the public relations committee of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

RECOGNITION

To enable clients to receive recognition for their communication efforts, from time to time I have entered our work in awards programs. Among the projects that have been honoured are The Story of the Loving Hand, a history of The Dorothy Ley Hospice, and the book Caring, Sharing, Investing, Growing: The Story of Horwath International, both of which received international APEX awards for publication excellence. The Dorothy Ley Hospice branding program also received a Dalton Pen award.