John Johnson is the new(ish) director for Sustainable Kingston, as of June 2013. Active in the community for over 40 years, he has made some interesting changes to Sustainable Kingston, helping Kingston become the most sustainable city in Canada. He has a lot to say about sustainability, Kingston, and… windsurfing? Let’s hear from John!
Roland Billings: Environmental Health and Safety Warhorse
Roland Billings is a Kingston fixture. Though he is involved with many great causes in Kingston, including the United Way and the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame, he is probably best known for his work with the Knights of Columbus basketball league. He has been with the league for the past 35 years, including being the president for the last 20. He also has had a sterling career at Alcan and Novelis, both as a plant manager and a global environmental health and safety advocate. Though he has since retired, he still works frequently in the environmental health and safety field, and possesses a wealth of information. Roland was kind enough to share some of that information. Take it away Roland!
Julie Brown: Kingston’s Familiar Face
If you live in Kingston, and have a TV, you probably recognize Julie Brown. She had been an anchor on CKWS for 10 years, providing Kingstonians with thoughtful and professional news content and commentary. I met Julie Brown several years ago when she interviewed me for her KEDCO on the street program. I was very impressed with her interview skills, so I thought I’d turn the tables on her, and pick her brain for tips on conducting interviews. Without further ado.
Jennifer Baker: Media Socialite
Jennifer Baker belongs to a new breed of marketing professionals: social media marketers. This is a field of some interest to me; mainly because I find it bizarre, confusing, and somewhat nonsensical! Based on how I see social media being used, and from conversations with other business owners, I am not alone. Fortunately, Jennifer was able shine some light on social media, clarifying its purpose and providing examples on how to use it. Let’s hear it for Kingston’s preeminent social media marketer!
Rob Howard: Cult Marketing
Summer is officially over, so it’s time to get back to meeting interesting people in Kingston. Rob Howard is a senior strategist at Cult, a Canadian marketing firm. He joins us to talk about marketing, Kingston, and life in general.
BmDodo: Brian and Jen on Design
BmDodo Strategic design has been operating out of Kingston since 2004. Fun fact: my old company, Aureus Solutions, was technically their first client! I sat down with co-owners Brian Dodo and Jen Cameron to get insight into their business and their thoughts on working in Kingston.
Bill Hughes: Master of Kingston’s Intertubes
Bill Hughes is the managing director / owner of Weehooey, a Kingston-based IT company. He has been a part of Kingston’s business community since 2000, as both an entrepreneur and as a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and is currently the Vice Chair of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. I sat down with Bill to learn more about what he does, his thoughts on living in Kingston, and what challenges the business community faces. Also… what is a Weehooey?
Kathy Patterson: Interview Inception
Kathy is a marketing professor at St. Lawrence College. Prior to that, she worked in marketing for various fortune 500 companies and not-for-profits before moving to Kingston and starting her own marketing company. Along the way, she has mastered the art of the information interview. For those of you who have been following the rest of the series, that is exactly what I have been doing! I thought it would be a good idea to some tips and tricks to improve my interviews. Kathy also has some interesting thoughts on living and working in Kingston. So sit down and buckle up, as I interview an interviewer on how to properly interview interviewees.
Dan Hendry: Sustainability Evangelist
How well do you know the sustainability community in Kingston? If you are at all plugged in, you know Dan Hendry. And if you don’t know Dan, well, you’re not as plugged in as you think! Dan has been working on various sustainable projects in Kingston since 2009. I sat down with Dan and he shared his thoughts on Kingston and Sustainability. Take it away, Dan!
Shawn Whalen: A Voice Made for Radio
You may not know Shawn Whalen, but if you live in Kingston, chances are you know his voice from the midday show on Fly 98 FM. In addition to his on-air duties, Shawn is the marketing and promotion manager for all Bell Media radio stations in Kingston. He has been working in radio for over 10 years, both as a radio personality and behind the scenes. Let’s listen, as he answers questions about radio life, the radio universe, and everything.