Resume | Diana Crosby

Education

1-Year Business - Algonquin College
2-Year Advertising - Algonquin College
E.C.E.Courses - University of Winnipeg

Experience

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
JOB RELATED KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
~Ten years experience in corporate communications and fund development in the non-profit sector
~Twenty-five years experience with media management, including responding to inquiries, initiating media coverage, and media buying
~Fifteen years administrative and managerial experience
~Comprehensive knowledge of current fund development strategies, capital and annual campaigns, and planned giving
~Knowledgeable of and working familiarity with graphic design concepts and terminology, printing processes, desktop publishing, website management
~Knowledgeable of and working familiarity with database management in particular FundVision and Raiser’s Edge
~Twenty years experience organizing all facets of special event planning, coordination, and delivery

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
~Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communication skills, and leadership skills
~Ability to function effectively as a team member and possess the emotional stability necessary to serve as a model regarding cooperative teamwork, conflict resolution and process improvement
~Ability to respond to the public in a timely and appropriate fashion
~Ability to conceptualize and execute innovative, effective and informative public relations programs
~Ability to coordinate multiple projects and adhere to strict deadlines and to work independently
~Ability to provide leadership and direction in order to establish, maintain and promote an effective communications and fund development program

CAREER DETAILS

2008 - Present
Ladner Baptist Church
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Provide leadership and oversight to provide programs that support the spiritual formation of children through their families and the church through Sunday School, Children's Church, Nursery, AWANA, and other activities as they are developed.
Key Duties
~Promote a church-wide plan of reaching and developing children to become more like Christ within the context of our church vision, mission and values
~Promote a strategy that encourages children to worship God, learn and obey His Word, participate in caring community, reach other children in our community, and serve within the body
~Be the up-front leader of large group teaching sessions and oversee, support, and develop the skills of the volunteers in order to accomplish the mission of forming children spiritually
~Using the pastor’s sermon outline, develop a Junior Church curriculum for children aged three to grade three that compliments his message and create a workbook activity for children grade 4 to 6 who remain in the service
~Provide a safe environment for children to experience God. Champion the developing and updating of church policy statements regarding children. Train volunteers and staff appropriately
~Work together with the coordinators and volunteers to identify and raise up lay staff to serve in the ministry according to their gifts, equipping the lay staff to do the work of the ministry
~Develop and implement all activities related to the children's ministry in conjunction with the coordinators and volunteers
~Work with the Associate Pastor to ensure integration with other church programs including Thrive (midweek, grade 5-7) and Youth

2005-2008
Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Manitoba
COORDINATOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Responsible for media design, coordination of the efficient day-to-day operation of the department and assist in the planning, coordination and implementation of strategies to develop donors and contributions to support the organization.
Key Duties:
~Provide graphic design for various publicity and communications pieces
~Assist in the maintenance of the website for external and intranet access
~Provide assistance with multimedia (video, presentation, PowerPoint, etc) design
~Overall project management for the department
~Work with designated departments and programs to help them achieve their promotional goals through brochures, posters, website, etc.
~Assist with the planning and implementation of development programs
~Develop and design fund raising materials
~Assist in the development of cultivation and solicitation strategies
~Promote and assist with the management of special events related to solicitation and/or stewardship

2001-2005
St. Amant Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
COORDINATOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & FUND DEVELOPMENT
Responsible for providing leadership and direction of all functions required to provide an effective corporate communication program and a fund development plan for the Centre, a resource and residential centre dedicated to providing care and services for Manitobans with developmental disabilities. Provide writing and editing services for the Centre including researching, presentations, annual reports, newsletters, press releases, grant proposals, and information brochures.
Key Duties
~Worked with the members of the St. Amant Foundation Board to evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising initiatives and determine a vision and strategic direction for future fund development
~Coordinated and implemented all fund raising activities as directed by the St. Amant Foundation Board including fundraising special events, grant proposals, annual giving campaigns, donor recognition events, donor cultivation, and planned giving

998-2000
Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation - Kenora, Ontario
DIRECTOR OF FUND RAISING
Oversee all Foundation programs, services, activities and facilities and ensure that all program objectives are met. The main function was to monitor receipts, expenditures and cash flow, report to the board monthly and ensure that all donors are acknowledged. Main thrust had been to improve the foundations profile and create top of mind awareness for it causes. Worked on maximizing the Foundation's database using Raiser's Edge and preparing proposals to major foundations through the BIG Database Software Program.

1987-1990 & 1994-1995
CAMBRIDGE LEASEHOLDS INC. - Bayshore Shopping Centre, Ottawa
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Promoted and implemented advertising programs that ensured this shopping centre with an advertising budget of $1.2 million, maintained a high profile in its trade area to maximize the traffic draw to the centre and helped tenants achieve the highest volume possible.
Key Duties
~Planned and managed all promotional activities including fashion shows, craft shows, anniversary sales, sidewalk sales, fund-raisers, and seasonal events
~Handled all media buying including print, radio, television and transit advertising
~Prepared monthly recap files on all promotions, monthly advertising bulletins, mall event reports and the annual promotional calendar

1986-1987
DUMONT PUBLICATIONS - Orleans Star, Ottawa
GENERAL MANAGER
Recommended by a former colleague to give structure to this newly formed community newspaper. Reorganized operation of the newspaper creating departments and appointing responsible officers.
Key Duties
~Planned and managed the budget for the entire operation, controlling the accounting department.
~Coordinated a staff of 2 full-time and 3 part-time writers, numerous freelancers and 1 photographer.
~Designed page layouts and acted as a liaison between production and editorial staff.
~Supervised a staff of 3 sales people. Created special supplements and advertising campaigns to promote sales
~Assisted and supervised total production of the newspaper including creative, typesetting, paste-up and dark room work

1983-1986
OTTAWA HERALD PUBLISHING CO. - Ottawa Sunday Herald
CREATIVE ADVERTISING MANAGER
Joined this weekly newspaper in its start-up phase and initiated departmental policies, procedures and systems. Over three and a half years assumed progressively more responsible planning and administrative functions.
Key Duties
~Coordinated advertising sales through nine sales representatives including forecasting and advising on strategies
~Recruited, trained and supervised design staff responsible for creating ads for both national and local accounts
~Assigned projects to advertising agencies and played an active role in designing ads, preparing copy and identifying clients' advertising objectives
~Assisted in the planning, management and evaluation of public relations and special promotional events

Skills/Interests/Awards

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

STAFF POSITION
2008-Present
Children’s Ministry Director
Ladner Baptist Church | Delta, BC
Summary of Duties
• Evaluate and establish policies and procedures
• Ensure all volunteers are properly screened, managing criminal record checks, ministry affirmation documentation and applications
• Lead open sessions ‘Tehellim Time’ before Sunday School (worship, object lesson, celebrations)
• Sit in on classes to evaluate teachers and curriculum
• Mentor new volunteers
• Lead Junior Church “H.I.S. Kidz”, teaching and activity time for children aged 3 to grade 3, using the sermon summary notes of the pastor
• Design an 8-page activity booklet for children from grade 4 to 6 to work on during the sermon
• Lead open session for Awana, helper in T & T workbook time and teach Bible lesson during closing time for Sparks and T & T
• Thrive leader, Friday evening program for tweeners (grades 4-7)
• Coordinate volunteer leaders; Sunday School Coordinator, Awana Commander, Nursery Coordinator
• Lead training sessions and regular meetings of Sunday School teachers
• Lead and coordinate VBS
• Coordinate annual Harvestfest (Halloween alternative event)
• Assist with the annual Christmas pageant
• Design and execute advertising for Children’s Ministry events

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
2006-Present
Camp Speaker
Turtle Mountain Bible Camp | Boissevain, MB
• Lead morning and evening chapel including Scripture memory, object lessons, and expository scripture teaching
• Children's speaker for Family Camp
• Design Camp brochures

2006-2008
Sunday School Teacher
Rowandale Baptist Church | Winnipeg, MB
• Taught Grades 3 & 4
• Assisted with leading worship
• Assisted with Large Group object lessons
• Special Feature presenter

2004-2006
Sunday School Leader
Southside Bible Church | Winnipeg, MB

Teacher and Group Leader
• Taught Kindergarten to Grade 5
• Coordinated teacher and helper volunteers
• Worship Leader
Christmas Cantata
• Produced and directed two Christmas musicals, one original "Joy Story".

Spring Break VBS
• Created a Spring Break program using the theme from the popular TV show CSI (Careful Scripture Investigation). The program included skits, Bible lessons and memory verses, craft activities, object lessons, outings and creative workshops including drama and cooking. (Program never materialized because there was not enough volunteer interest, but did eventually get to use the concept in the summer of 2009 for VBS)

2002-2004
Children's Ministry Worker
Abundant Life Baptist Church | Winnipeg, MB
• Sunday School Worship Leader
• Produced and directed an original Christmas musical
• Assisted with March Break VBS, speaker and worship leader

1999 & 2000
Camp Speaker
Bird River Bible Camp | Manitoba
• Led morning and evening chapel including worship, Scripture memory, object lessons, expository scripture teaching, and counselling

1996-1999
Children's Ministry Leader
Lakeside Baptist Church | Kenora, Ontario

Pioneer Clubs Leader & Teacher
• Led opening and closing session, taught Grades 1 & 2, and helped co-ordinate the program

Sunday Evening Kids Klub Leader
• Helped revive Sunday evening services by working with Senior Pastor to create a children's program that would attract families. Took Pastor's speaking notes and adapted the message for children aged 5-12 and created craft activities, games, and stories to coincide with the lesson.

Christmas Cantata Director
• Produced and directed an original Christmas musical.

1990-1995
Children's Ministry Leader
West Carleton Christian Assembly | Ottawa, Ontario

Children's Church Leader and Teacher
• Accepted the responsibility of leading the Children's Ministry when the incumbent leader resigned her position.
• Taught Children's Church (children aged 5 to 12) for two years using a purchased curriculum and then created my own curriculum
• Trained leaders to take over position when husband was transferred to Kenora

Christmas Cantata Director
• Directed three Christmas Cantatas ... (Psalty's Christmas, Baa Baa Bethlehem, and Rip Van Christmas)
• Produced and directed two original cantata's (Jesus is the Reason and Christmas is a Time)

VBS Coordinator
• Led three VBS events, two with purchased programs and created one.