IlluminArts Communications: Testimonials

"I hired Heather to help me update and standardize the language on one of our large and complex websites. Though it was a daunting task, Heather jumped right in without much direction and soon presented a well thought out, very methodical way of tackling the job. Her communication skills are such that she has ability to take complex technical information and make it easy to understand and appealing to the end user, no matter their level of technical expertise. It’s one thing to edit a single document, but to take documents from many different sources, written in many different styles and make it readable, is a skill that not many possess.

"Throughout the project, she was the utmost professional with everything she did and everyone she met. She was well prepared for her client meetings, showing up on time and with a summary of progress with footnotes, questions, and suggestions or opportunities. She is a 'big picture' thinker and was always a few moves ahead of the game in anticipating challenges and coming up with solutions.

"All in all, working with Heather was a pleasure and her work, impeccable. There should be no hesitation in hiring her and I would be happy to give a glowing reference to anyone who asks."

From complex to key

"Heather did an excellent job of taking a complex body of work and distilling it down to the key issues. Plus, she developed a logical process for delivering the information in an interactive space. Her experience and understanding of the digital media industry was a real asset to the project."

Kathleen Webb,
Project Director, C3 Network at Communitech

"Heather began working with me in the marketing department of Teknion Furniture Systems in 1989. The company was young and growing rapidly. Our marketing had to adapt constantly as we learned daily lessons about how to position ourselves while creating a new market niche. Heather was responsible for trade shows, sales promotions and several different communications vehicles. We knew we could count on her to get things done on time, within budget and with the right messages clearly articulated.

"Since founding IlluminArts, Heather has also consulted to my new venture, Advanced Glazings, as a writer and as a sounding board. Heather does the homework to understand our business, and presents ideas that are thought-provoking. She thinks strategically about how to bridge the gap between ourselves as producers and our various client types.

"Heather is definitely a translator. She takes complex ideas and finds the most effective way to articulate them."

"Heather's integrity shows in everything she does. She works within the team, but isn't afraid to bring new ideas to the table. Since 2002, she's written two websites, one brochure and dozens of newsletters for us. And in each case, she's given us material that crystallizes and clearly articulates the ideas we want to get out."

"Heather is a creative and strategic problem-solver. Her writing style and use of metaphor makes technical information very readable. What's more, her work is organized so that other people involved -- managers, team members, developers and designers -- can see exactly how the end-user will follow the information, whether in print or on the web."

Nancy Adderley-Colby
Communications Manager, Supply Chain
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario

Professional, detailed, organized

"Heather Finley is easily one of the most professional and talented writers I have had the pleasure to work with. Always ready to take on new challenges, Heather manages to make the most complicated and technical projects appear to be seamless. She is always professional, organized, detailed and friendly. Projects she has worked on through us are always completed on schedule (if not sooner). When I first met with Heather, I was impressed by her intelligence, knowledge and eagerness to delve into what she does best - writing!"

Anne Roosman,
Account Manager , Freelancers Unlimited Inc.

"We're a large organization with a lot of different personalities and communications objectives. Heather has worked with us on many projects and consistently gives us material that suits the message, the medium and the audience. She's worked with our instructors, other consultants, donors, students and staff at all levels of the university, and is able to draw out and communicate the information we need. She's organized, professional and adaptable, and she delivers on time."

"Heather and I have worked together since 1989 through two different companies. When we first met, she was hired to run a complex sales promotion. I was impressed with her ability to think analytically and then use that analysis to come up with creative ideas to get the job done. In recent years, she's done a number of projects for my current company, and it's a pleasure to continue working with her."

"Heather's sense of community shows in how she uses her knowledge. She explains technical information so that it's accessible and interesting. From the start, she gave us detailed steps, making it simple for us to roll this website out."

"I wanted to say thank you for the great job you did on the FEAS Annual Report. It's a big undertaking ... I will certainly be happy to recommend that they work with your company again."

Sandra Solomon
Office of the Associate Dean
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science
Ryerson University

We are delighted with the new e-invitations we are sending to our 10,000 members across Canada. We received a compliment from our Montreal Advisory Board this morning who told us how great the new e-invitations looked and read. Thank you for establishing a new standard for us, Heather.