Executive Director at Community Radio Fund of Canada
Ottawa, Canada Area
- Current
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- Executive Director at Community Radio Fund of Canada
- Past
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- Development Consultant at Community Radio Fund of Canada
- National Coordinator at National Campus and Community Radio Association
- Music Director at CHRY FM
- Stage Manager at various
- Development and Promotions Manager at CHSR FM 97.9
- Executive Assistant, Booking Agent at This Side Up Productions/Sappy Records
- various positions at CHSR FM 97.9
- Announcer, Music Director at WQDY AM/FM
- Counselor/Companion, Assistant Director, Teacher Assistant at St. Stephen High School
- Education
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- University of New Brunswick
- St. Stephen High School
- Recommended
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3 people have recommended Melissa - Connections
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62
connections
- Industry
- Non-Profit Organization Management
- Websites
Melissa Kaestner’s Summary
I am very passionate about my career and my work. It comes from working in areas of community and community development, and from working with fantastic communities and individuals at local, regional, and national levels. I hope to continue this trend down the road while diversifying my experiences and building upon the skills I have now.
My career highlights are around developing and maintaining various organizations, departments, and projects, including:
- coordinating the development of the Community Radio Fund of Canada, its office, and first years of operation;
- establishing the national office for the NCRA/ANREC;
- developing and producing a sever-year nation-wide talent development project called “Dig Your Roots”; and
- creating the Development and Promotions Department at CHSR FM.
My projects have broken records, become annual or year-round ventures, and have been nominated or received local and national awards.
Melissa Kaestner’s Specialties:
Operations (accounting, infrastructure, leadership), human resources, marketing and promotions, project management, event management, fundraising and grant writing, sales.
Melissa Kaestner’s Experience
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Executive Director
Community Radio Fund of Canada
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
October 2008 — Present (1 year 2 months)
It was my pleasure and honour to stay with the CRFC as its first executive director following my consultant contract. Areas of responsibility include raising funds, developing current and new funding programs, and administering the CRFC’s activities and operations. Now that the CRFC has been in operation for nearly two years, I am also looking at consolidating our policies and organizational systems and advancing our role and profile with external stakeholders.
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Development Consultant
Community Radio Fund of Canada
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
April 2008 — October 2008 (7 months)
I established the first office for the CRFC and prepared the organization for its first AGM and election of the first board of directors in September 2008. Areas of responsibility included: membership and board recruitment, operations, policy development, communications, government relations, marketing, and fundraising. I was also responsible for beginning the orientation process for the new board, including resource development and chairing the first board in-person meeting.
The CRFC exists thanks to the work of a dedicated team contributing a considerable amount of time and resources. I was a key leader in keeping these volunteer efforts moving forward until such time as we were ready to being contracting staff to carry the CRFC forward to where it is now. -
National Coordinator
National Campus and Community Radio Association
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
February 2002 — March 2008 (6 years 2 months)
I essentially acted as a central hub for all of our activities and communications. I worked with both the board and our members to ensure that our services were being managed and utilized effectively, and that everyone had the adequate information, resources, and tools to work towards strengthening campus and community radio in Canada. As with many non-profits, I often participated in that work itself.
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Music Director
CHRY FM
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
June 2001 — February 2002 (9 months)
Cooridinated all activities of the music department and its volunteers.
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Stage Manager
various
(Performing Arts industry)
September 1995 — October 2001 (6 years 2 months)
Highlights include working with Tankus Productions and Skipperworld Productions in Toronto, and Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
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Development and Promotions Manager
CHSR FM 97.9
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
January 1999 — March 2001 (2 years 3 months)
Began as an honoraried 1 month/year Fundraising Cooridinator position, I turned it into a year-'round full time position with its own department, which handled all marketing, events, sales, and promotions for the station. The DPM is responsible for all projects and departmental staff/volunteer recruitment and managment.
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Executive Assistant, Booking Agent
This Side Up Productions/Sappy Records
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Music industry)
March 2000 — September 2000 (7 months)
A short stint -- I organized the office both phsically and structurally. I was resposible for handling grant applications and managmenet, and even took on some of other tasks of the business, such as booking gigs and tours.
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various positions
CHSR FM 97.9
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
October 1997 — September 1999 (2 years )
Recruitment Officer, Administrative Assistant, Production Assistant, Reporter, Music Librarian
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Announcer, Music Director
WQDY AM/FM
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
April 1993 — September 1995 (2 years 6 months)
Commercial radio station in Calais, Maine. Evening drive personality (M-W 5pm-Midnight sign off, Sat & Sun sign on 5am-1pm).
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Counselor/Companion, Assistant Director, Teacher Assistant
St. Stephen High School
(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Primary/Secondary Education industry)
October 1993 — June 1994 (9 months)
A volunteer position - I worked with the Drama Teacher (grade 12) throughout the year during class as well as helped direct the annual class play. I also helped the guidance department in listening/talking with students dealing with the loss of 6 students in total for the year (the highest to date) through suicides and car accidents.
Melissa Kaestner’s Education
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University of New Brunswick
BA/Fine Arts minor (in progress) , Multimedia, Fine Arts-Theatre, Anthropology , 1995 — 2001
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St. Stephen High School
1986 — 1990
Honour Roll, Social Distinction Award
- Activities and Societies:
- Drama, Band, Yearbook (photography)
Additional Information
Melissa Kaestner’s Websites:
Melissa Kaestner’s Interests:
Community Radio, Media, Multimedia, Theatre, Project Management, Consulting, Music, Independent Artists, Grassroots Culture
Melissa Kaestner’s Groups:
CHUO FM 89.1 volunteer (community radio)
Third Wall volunteer (theatre company)
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eOffice -
Startup Specialists -
Green -
Music and Entertainment Professionals -
Connecting Community Media -
Web 2.0 for Nonprofit Organizations
Melissa Kaestner’s Honors:
- Lifetime Achievement/Radio Legend Award, National Campus and Community Radio Association, 2008
- CharityVillage Campus Certificate of Completion, Grantseeking, 2007
- Certificate of Achievement, Executive Director's Learning Circle, Centre of Community Organizations (Montreal), 2005
- Director's Award, CHSR FM (Fredericton), 2002
- Standard Radio Award of Excellence in Local Talent Development (for Battle of the Bands), National Campus and Community Radio Association (national), 2001
- Favorite specialty show (Ear Addict Jazz), CHSR FM (Fredericton), 1998
- Best all around Behind the Scenes volunteer, CHSR FM (Fredericton), 1997
- Fred Magee Prize for Excellence in French, University of New Brunswick, 1997
- Dean's List, University of New Brunswick, 1996 and 1997
- Social Distinction Award, St. Stephen High School, 1990
- Honours Distinction, St. Stephen High School, 1990
Melissa Kaestner’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
