“Communication works for those who work at it." - British Film Composer John Powell
Text or Call 604-719-2909
Communications, Advocacy &
Digital Marketing Professional
Cheryl can offer a variety of award-winning strategic communications, digital marketing and advocacy services, based on a successful track record.
Clients include non-profits, academics, public and private sectors, as well as a Fortune 100 international tax firm. References available.
About
Cheryl Ziola is a Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 award-winning executive and strategic public/private sector communications professional. She managed TransLink’s media relations and crisis communications and championed the home, office and industrial building industry for the Urban Development Institute, among other senior roles. She began her career as a Metro Vancouver print journalist. This led to:
-
An executive role at a sustainability education charity in natural resources
-
Contract management of forest fire fighting crews with annual budgets up to $2.5M for the BC Ministry of Forests and as many as 100 seasonal employees
-
Executive Director roles at business and gaming advocacy organizations including the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce and BC Association for Charitable Gaming
Cheryl was a regular bi-weekly panelist on Global TV's news and opinion leader show, speaking on live tv about local and international politics, the economy, health care, education and social issues, on short notice. Her media and social media campaigns featured on front-page daily newspapers and prominent tv/radio spots that reached 20 million people. She has ghostwritten CEO columns that appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times Colonist, national newspapers and stakeholder newsletters like the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC (CPABC).
Giving Back to the Community:
-
Served on various national and provincial volunteer boards of directors, including the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM), VANOC’s Sustainability Group (Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics Committee), the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE-BC Chapter).
-
Former director and governance Chair for the Dunbar Community Center Association (three years)
Professional Services
Crisis and Issues Management
Social Media Marketing
& Graphic Design
Media Relations & Storytelling
Stakeholder Engagement
Solutions
Event Management
Managing events is similar to planning a wedding, with myriad details and tasks. Cheryl can manage small to medium-sized corporate events, ensuring client goals are accomplished.
Speech and Ghostwriting
Cheryl has written a variety of compelling columns, letters to editors, press releases, key messages and more for clients, from academics to international tax consultants and non-profits that reach national and international audiences.
Social Media Management
Digital Marketing and managing multiple social media channels is challenging in an ever-changing landscape. Cheryl can manage organic and digital marketing campaigns targeted to your audience demographics.
Video Creation
Created numerous videos for clients, including this one
with 22,000 views. Remember, the first 5-10 seconds are where you want your most important promotional messages!
Testimonials
Cheryl has recently provided a successful array of services to a prominent BC university, an international Fortune 100 global tax firm (Ryan.com) and local non-profits like Boating BC. A list of professional client references is available.
Christian Johannsen, Chair, Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce
"Cheryl was asked to lead our small business policy and advocacy committee work with government. She drafted a favourable credit card policy, recruited additional business partner volunteers to promote it and saw that policy make the federal government's throne speech to be enshrined in upcoming national legislation."
Cathy McLay, CFO & Executive Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, TransLink
"During her time at TransLink, she improved our crisis communications protocols, eliciting notable praise from the media and public. Her rapport with local media has resulted in some good news stories at major outlets, such as the Vancouver Sun and Global News, aiding public understanding and boosting employee morale."
Brian Simpson, Director, Wildfire Management, BC Ministry of Natural Resource Operations
"Under the leadership of the Cheryl Ziola, FORED maintained a high standard in managing these forest firefighting crew members...and provided excellent value for dollar...during some of the worst fires on record in Barriere & Kelowna."
Mary Beth Roberts, Homes Editor, Vancouver Sun/Province newspapers, Postmedia Network Inc.
"For nearly four years, Cheryl has written a popular and compelling housing solutions column with original photography on behalf of the UDI President and CEO. These columns featured in daily national newspapers across Canada, from the Ottawa Citizen to the Vancouver Sun. Cheryl ensured her stories were well-researched and submitted long before publication deadlines."
Gordon Clark, Vancouver Sun & Province Editorial Pages Editor
"On behalf of clients and employers, Cheryl wrote and submitted columns that were accurate, concise and engaging, eliciting plenty of reader feedback on the Vancouver Sun website and social channels, like this one below."
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/vancouversun.com/opinion/paul-sullivan-making-existing-homeowners-poorer-is-hardly-an-affordability-strategy/wcm/f2812f01-8713-4240-bbf9-1a84b582ddd2/amp/
Dr. Andrey Pavlov, Professor of Real Estate Finance, SFU
"A few years ago, Cheryl approached me on matters of mutual interest related to housing challenges and taxation. Since then, we’ve collaborated on numerous research initiatives exploring housing economics and solutions. Recently, we launched a media campaign about property taxes in Vancouver. Through this joint work, I have found Cheryl to be very thoughtful, insightful, and very competent in media and public relations."
