Laura Spike

I have my Masters in Family Studies and Gerontology, Bachelors in psychology and gerontology, and a certificate in human services. I have worked and volunteered more than 15 years in the care, social, financial, and engineering sectors under different roles from administrative assistant to accounts receivable, CAD operator, researcher, and planning projects from design and estimating costs to completion.

Policy/Program Development, Research, Analysis, and Focus of Studies

• Master’s degree with graduate level training and additional certification in policy development and analysis, qualitative and quantitative research, and the development of evidence-informed solutions and recommendations.
• More than eight years experience working in office settings or as a board member for various associations. 
• Experienced in office policies and procedures in the social, care, and engineering sectors and receptive to new ideas and changes.
• Strong knowledge of the continuing care sector from five years employment as a formal caregiver and more than 12 years as an informal caregiver for my aging parents.
• Considerable knowledge on family violence, social determinants of health/mental health, and Indigenous issues through courses like ‘Family Violence in the Life Course’ and “Directed Studies: Social Determinants of Mental Health’ in my graduate studies and psychology courses in my undergrad. In addition, many papers and presentations were focused mainly on older adults and Indigenous peoples.
• Well-developed learning on care policies, frameworks, and levels/structures of government during graduate level training (Master’s degree) at Mount Saint Vincent University.
• Considerable knowledge of and more than 15 years experience in the application of regulatory frameworks and contractual requirements in the social, care, and engineering sectors. 

Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Processed various weekly and month-end reports, advised stakeholders of clients’ coverage, regularly opened, and closed the office, and oversaw new employee training on policies and procedures for the successful operation of the office.
• Represented internal and external stakeholder communication networks while being on committees at school, volunteering, and in employment so that information was accessible in a timely manner.
• Collaborated effectively as part of a team while listening to others and expressing ideas and information to achieve collective goals.
• Made complex financial decisions that accounted for an organization's funding, its growth strategy, general economic conditions while gaining experience in assessing management, raising money, complying with regulations, and satisfying shareholders. 

Communication

• Ability to succinctly communicate complex ideas both verbally and in writing using clear language through presentations, briefing notes, and policy papers.
• Ability to organize results in a graph or table demonstrating knowledge gained, data analysis, and suggested interventions.
• Considerable experience working with and communicating with individuals who experience mental health, addiction challenges, and cognitive deficits through practicum in Human Services certificate program at New Brunswick Community College, employment at Hayward House Recovery Centre, and through formal and informal caregiving.
• Facilitated classes and workshops to bring more awareness to those I was teaching on various topics. For example: financial literacy, informed consent, and cultural safety.

Organizational Skills / Time Management

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, working both as a team member and independently to ensure quality work is completed on time.
• Responsive and adaptive with the ability to prioritize work and objectives, as well as to adjust priorities as they shift.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, project management skills, and the ability to build consensus on strategies and messages among peers and stakeholders and to set priorities, meet deadlines and managing competing workload demands.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of credibility, confidentiality, and integrity in my work and able to exercise tact, discretion, sound judgement and initiative while completing duties.
• Highly motivated and organized as demonstrated by completing two university degrees in five years while being a single mother, caregiver for my parents and working part-time.

Technical

• Well-developed communication skills that are demonstrated through more than 20 years experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), email, and networking platforms for presentations (Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Collaborate), briefing notes, policy papers, literature searches, and keeping up to date with colleagues on projects and assignments.
• Possess reliable transportation, a valid drivers license with a clean drivers abstract, and available for overtime as required.

Masters in Family Studies and Gerontology (MFSGN)                                                       2022

Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU)                                                           Halifax, Nova Scotia

Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology (BAA)                                                                 2020           

St. Thomas University  (STU)                                                               Fredericton, New Brunswick

Majors: Gerontology and Psychology; Minor: Irish Studies

Certification in:

• Opioid Poisoning Response Training (St. John Ambulance, 2023)
• The Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment, and Management (SPRAM) Training Program (Alberta Health Services, 2023)
• Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) eLearning Series (Alberta Health Services, 2023)
• Graduate Certificate in Health Communication and Aging (MSVU, 2022) 
• Financial Literacy for Facilitators; Financial Empowerment Foundations; and Foundations of Access to Benefits (Prosper Canada, 2022)
• Innovative Research Methodologies 2021 Program (Canadian Association on Gerontology, 2021)
• Framework for Analyzing Public Policies (National Collaborating Centre for Health Public Policy, 2020)
• Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus (Status of Women Canada, 2020)
• Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Course on Research Ethics (TCPS 2: CORE) (Panel on Research Ethics, 2018)
• Personal Care Aide (The New Brunswick Home Support Association, 2014)
• Human Services (New Brunswick Community College, 2012) 
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (LivingWorks Education, Jan. 2012)

Business Administration                                                                                            2000 – 2002

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology                                                             Edmonton, Alberta

Architectural Technology                                                                                           1998 – 2000

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology                                                                Calgary, Alberta