I am a writer. I have experience interviewing, reporting, writing, researching, editing and using social media. I specialize in Ottawa's tech beat and have done print, radio and online journalism. I also enjoy fictional writing. I'm the author of Once, We Were Stolen, currently available on Amazon.com in ebook and hard copy formats. I'm also the author of a blog called The Daily Stranger, where I spin vignettes from chance encounters with strangers. I pretend to know their stories and try to get inside their heads. I was named a finalist in the Hot Momma's Project global case study competition, which collects the success stories of women across the globe. http://dailystrangerblog.com http://about.me/courtneysymons http://www.courtneysymons.com @CourtneySymons

Partner Marketing Manager @ Manage communications, copy and content creation for the Shopify Partner Program. Oversee media coverage for Shopify's Build A Business Competition. Assist with various Business Development initiatives. From September 2013 to Present (2 years 2 months) Ottawa, Canada AreaAuthor @ Once, Violet and Ben Wrigley were stolen. The siblings discover what it takes to find love in desolation, to seek beauty in everyday ugliness, and to battle emotions for a man they struggle to hate. As their time together passes, the Wrigleys learn that their keeper is as much a captive as they are, and wonder if the three of them will ever break free. From January 2010 to Present (5 years 10 months) Ottawa, Canada AreaMarketing Specialist @ Responsible for social media, inbound marketing efforts, customer communications and media outreach. From July 2013 to September 2013 (3 months) Ottawa, Canada AreaReporter @ Technology reporter for the OBJ, a bi-weekly publication covering Ottawa's business news. From February 2012 to June 2013 (1 year 5 months) 3500 Canotek Rd. Unit 30Researcher and writer @ Assisted a team of researchers in assembling a paper on women in entrepreneurship for the OECD Gender Initiative. From January 2012 to February 2012 (2 months) Ottawa, Canada AreaReporter & Photographer for the West Carleton Review @ Was the sole reporter for the newspaper, generated my own story ideas, did photography for stories, assisted with newspaper layout (using Adobe InDesign), posted stories online, utilized social media (Twitter, Facebook) to share content, assembled Community Calendar, travelled throughout West Carleton to meet with community members. From June 2011 to January 2012 (8 months) Research Assistant @ Assembled bibliographies and wrote article reviews for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, a monthly publication summarizing recent literature on innovation and entrepreneurship. From January 2010 to January 2012 (2 years 1 month) Ottawa, Canada AreaWriter @ Wrote a series of modules for a life skills curriculum to be implemented in Ukraine orphanages. From March 2011 to May 2011 (3 months) UkraineResearch Assistant @ Assembled research, coordinated interviews, tracked down artifacts, and generally assisted Mr. Gardner with his book. From April 2009 to April 2010 (1 year 1 month) Ottawa, Canada Area

Bachelor of Journalism, Minors in Psychology, Women's Studies @ Carleton University From 2004 to 2008 Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Education @ University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa From 2008 to 2009 Georgetown District High School From 2000 to 2004 Courtney Symons is skilled in: Writing, Editing, Research, Interviewing, Web, Adobe, Microsoft Office, Twitter, Social Media, Time Management, Psychology, Women's Health, Photography, Journalism, Online Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Creative Writing, Facebook, Excel, Education, English, InDesign, Innovation, Organizing, Public Relations, Media Relations, Microsoft Excel, Magazines, Marketing Communications, Newspapers, Interviews, Internal Communications, Web Content, Blogging, News Writing, Newsletters, Press Releases, Proofreading, Copywriting, Publishing, Radio, Feature Articles, Strategic Communications, Books, Speech Writing, Social Networking, Content Development, Social Media Marketing, Corporate Communications, Entrepreneurship