Backgrounder

Early speaking and research assignments 

Mary Harvey’s training as a Parks Canada historic site interpreter was an early step on her road to corporate communications. Speaking to large groups in citadel parade squares or fortress dungeons was the norm for several summers as Mary worked her way through university. Part of the job included researching and writing backgrounder notes for historic site guides. As a museum professional she was responsible for the research, restoration and historical interpretation of Ross-Thomson House (1785-1820) in Shelburne, NS. She wrote historic house manuals which described the artifacts and their context in the historic buildings. She also wrote a major research study on the Gardens of Shelburne 1785-1820 published by the Nova Scotia Museum. Her publication list includes the biography of Gideon White, an entry in vol VI of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

After kids, and after Mary and her family moved to Brampton, Ontario, she once again took up her museum career. She established the first Ontario Provincial Police Museum at the OPP Academy in Brampton, Ontario until the museum was closed (1991). The museum eventually moved to OPP headquarters in Orillia.

On her own

In 1991 Mary began refining her writing and editing skills by taking courses at Ryerson and with the Editors’ Association of Canada. While operating Mary Harvey Editorial Services she wrote a monthly women-in-business column, new business profiles and restaurant reviews for the Brampton Business Bulletin. She wrote for the Ontario Historical Society, the Peel Museum at the Peel Heritage Complex, the Toronto Star and the Brampton Guardian. At the same time she wrote sales and marketing material for a wide variety of small business clients. As a freelance editorial assistant Mary Harvey spent seven years working with a electronics trade magazine. During that time she learned what editors consider well written and timely press releases.

Goes in-house

In 1998 she decided it was time to work on the other side of the table – this time working as corporate communications specialist for a machinery manufacturer. In this business-to-business environment she wrote media releases, newsletters and web content to increase the exposure of the company in its international market. She coordinated the development of web sites, wrote web content, sales brochures and specification sheets. She worked with engineering and sales staff to improve their presentation skills for sales proposals and for trade shows. She worked with ad agencies, trade journal editors, graphic designers, photographers, video production companies, printers and trade show exhibit design houses.

Time to rebrand

Following the elimination of her position with the machinery manufacturer, she decided to take her own company out of hibernation. Now with buzz4biz you can reap the benefits of this broad (or broad’s) experience and use your corporate communications and marketing efforts to get results you need.