Research and special projects

I enjoy tackling any kind of research issue--and I’m happy to go beyond research to help implement my findings in a hands-on role. Examples:
  • Researched, for a Toronto brokerage firm (Pepper-Weberg Trading and Investment Corp), a continent-wide list of qualified prospective investors for a real estate development project, and assisted the sales team in carrying out a successful contacting campaign, which attracted substantial additional investor support.
  • Ran an aggressive publicity program for a non-profit telephone information and crisis response centre in Fredericton, N.B.  With my co-chair, Wendy Scott of CBC Radio, we regularly solicited and received media coverage and free ads in local news media over a one-year period. Our call rates doubled during that time, and the centre was approved for United Way funding.
  • Researched, for a spa resort near Boone, North Carolina, a two-week rotating menu of vegetarian meals, to serve an average daily population of 150 diners. I conducted focus meetings with clients, presented findings to the spa directors, and sourced the recipes. I scaled them up to our population size, tested each one in the kitchen, and followed up with the cooks to make sure the recipes were easy to execute. I also produced vegetable prep sheets, plus order quantities for the purchaser. The new menu was enthusiastically received by the clients.
  • Researched, prepared, and administered, for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, a province-wide survey of environmental attitudes, in consultation with Statistics Canada. After the survey, I compiled the data and publicized the results on behalf of my client. The organization was pleased with the information gathered and with the substantial surge of publicity that resulted.
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  • Researched and designed this website, using the DIY web design service, Weebly (www.weebly.com). Title-banners composed by graphic artist Adam Price at Metropol Printing, Victoria.
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I am happy to endorse Neil Dickie’s skills as a researcher, writer and communicator. During his time with us at a company affiliated with Pepper-Weberg Corporation, he was very effective in finding and synthesizing information that was extremely useful to the company. One reason for this was his calm and friendly manner, which quickly put people at ease and won cooperation. We also appreciated Neil’s help in locating and bringing in valuable clients. He made a major contribution to our company.
--Bob Pepper, President, Pepper-Weberg Corporation, Fonthill, Ontario
Neil is one of the best people I have worked with. He was good at all aspects of editing: working with volunteer writers, writing creative captions and headlines, cutting text to fit, etc. At the same time he was great at pulling together all the other elements necessary to complete a major publication: organizing photo shoots, checking facts, getting executive approvals, etc. All the while, he maintained a cheerful, upbeat temperament, and was a pleasure to work with.

--Shepley Hansen, Art Director, Bluebird Graphics Inc., Fairfield, Iowa