My Resume

Kristina Evelyn B. Eng MBA

PROFILE

Highly motivated, self-starter with a technical and business background (BEng/MBA) and over twenty years of experience in engineering, insurance, real estate advisory, event management, digital marketing, brand building, and content creation. Highly proficient at researching new topics, analyzing and reporting on data as well as producing compelling written copy on a wide range of topics. Proven success as a strategic planner, business developer, and team leader. Consistently recognized by employers, clients, partners and event participants for performance excellence and outstanding contributions in various roles. Enthusiastic volunteer and lifelong avid competitive sportsperson.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Strategy | Growth Leadership | Client Wins

Developed the “Advisory” service line at EY Real Estate/Terra Caribbean. Secured valuations for financial reporting with island’s largest conglomerates: Barbados Shipping & Trading and Goddard Enterprises as well as financial services giant – Sagicor and Fortress Caribbean Property Fund. Led multiple valuations with cumulative value in excess of US$15 million.

Strategy | Digital Marketing | Event Management

Created the Barbados Open Water Festival in 2013. With an annual marketing budget < US$10,000 built a globally known brand that has attracted a slew of champions, influencers and recreational swimmers from 35+ countries.

Event Management | Re-Branding | Re-Positioning

Won the contract to host the Government-owned Run Barbados Marathon Weekend annually since 2015. Re-branded, revitalised and grew numbers of participating locals and int’l visitors to all-time high. 2014: 1500. 2019: 2765 entries. 84% increase.

Leadership | Planning | Marketing

Managed all planning and PR for two successful world record attempts (90K and 151K open water swims) by ultra-endurance athlete, Cameron Bellamy. Logistics, support crew, social media, press releases and post event speaking engagements. Feats followed by thousands on social media and reported by media on six continents in multiple languages.

Volunteering | Charitable Cause

Appointed to Board of Ubunye Challenge Charity. To date assisted with procurement of funds: to build two classroom blocks in Zimbabwe (approx. US$60,000); secured tablets for three hundred and sixty school children in the Eastern Cape and fundraised for a Food Relief Program (US$20,000). Designed and promoted two successful digital fundraising campaigns (US$28,000 raised) to support projects (2019-2020).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Leader, Projects & Corporate Real Estate, Terra Caribbean. September 2021 to present.

Operations – Substance Abuse Foundation Inc. – February 2021 to April 2022.

Contracted to: Supervise all aspects of Operations
Develop micro-businesses to help fund non-profit
Promote clinical services locally and regionally
Produce content for the blog, social media, newsletters, annual report, social media communique etc.

The Substance Abuse Foundation operates the internationally accredited Verdun House and Marina House, residential treatment centres for healing from addiction, in Barbados. On staff: Clinical Psychologists, Mental Health & Addiction Therapists, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, Psychologists, a Consultant Psychiatrist, a Consultant Medical Doctor and Creative Art Therapists.

Business Manager, Freelance Writer & Digital Marketing Consultant – June 2020 to present

Due to the pandemic causing cancellation of sports tourism projects. Services offered have included copywriting, digital marketing strategy, management of client services and executive recruitment. Clients to date include:

Diproinduca – an int’l, environmental services company with operating entities in seven countries
Stansfeld Scott – a large regional distributor of consumer products.
Virgo Communications – a leading local PR and Digital Agency
Pirates Swim Club – an active local swim club offering learn to swim and competitive swim training
Bonumic – a Property tech company (Bangladesh)
National Canine Cancer Foundation Inc – a non-profit organisation dedicated to canine cancer cure.
My Engine Lab – a SEO and Digital Marketing Agency (New Zealand).

Writing has included: blogs, websites, social media posts & ads on multiple channels, magazines articles, press releases, job descriptions, bios, email newsletters, proposals and rewriting (to simplify) highly technical articles.

Digital Strategist – September 2018 to present: Cameron Bellamy – Ultra-Endurance Athlete

Managed athlete publicity including social media management and strategic media outreach.
Created content for posts, bio, sponsor proposals, newsletters & press releases.
Coordinated logistics and led support crew for 90K Swim Around Barbados, Nov 2018 and 151K swim from Barbados – St Lucia in Sept 2019 (longest channel swim ever). Watch YouTube Video

Race Director/Marketing Director. July 2015 to 2019 – Run Barbados Marathon Weekend

Planned and executed three-day running event annually to accepted global standards.
Developed a comprehensive, integrated digital marketing campaign annually. Creation of cross-platform strategies for brand across multiple social media platforms. Creation of PPC ads across four channels and creation of an annual email campaign.
Liaised with and managed stakeholder relationships: medical, registration, 200+ volunteers, timing company, sponsors, photographers, charity partner, tourism authorities, police, government officials, media and participants from across the globe.
Planned budgets annually (US$200,000+).
Detailed research of run industry trends and participants annually.
Content creation for sponsor proposals, press releases, website, blog and social posts.
Highly involved in the development of strategic alliances with other race directors, run influencers & elite athletes.

Owner / Organizer / Promoter / Marketing – 2012 to present – Barbados Open Water Festival

Involved in all aspects of planning, budgeting, implementation and execution of this international open water swimming event
Liaising/managing stakeholders: medical, registration, volunteers, timing company, sponsors, photographers, charity partner, tourism authorities, police, coast guard, media and participants from across globe.
Developed a wide range of strategic alliances with elite athletes, owners of swim publications, swim influencers and leaders of global swim groups.
Annual research of open water swim industry and destination swim travel.
Creation of cross-platform strategies for brand across multiple social media platforms, creation of PPC advertising across four channels and email marketing campaign.
Content creation for sponsor proposals, press releases, website, blog and social posts.
Developed critical relationships with well-known organisers, editors and athletes of the open water swim world.

(Personal time off to care for my child with serious medical issues. 2008-2011)

Consultant/Senior Manager/Company Director. 2000-2007 – Ernst & Young/Terra Caribbean (EY Real Estate dissolved 2005 & Terra Caribbean launched).

Directed development of the Real Estate Advisory service line.
Built client base to include all local commercial banks plus multiple off-island banks.
Led commercial valuations for several large regional companies.
Assigned to key Clients with high value residential/commercial real estate portfolios.
Worked with select clients on new development/redevelopment of existing real estate.
Involved in strategic planning across all depts. (Sales, Advisory, Property Management).
Intimately involved in transformation strategy from EY Real Estate to Terra Caribbean
Projects undertaken in Barbados, Grenada & St Lucia

Owner / Manager – 1998-2000 – Value Club Discount program

Gained acceptance of “Value Club” discount card at 200 locations island-wide
Managed a sales force comprising 44 part-time sales people.
Directed production, distribution, sales and marketing.
Negotiated an alliance with the Royal Bank of Canada VISA credit card
Outsourced management of Value Club in 2000 to join EY/Terra.

Engineer / Loss Adjustor – 1997 – 1998 – Crawford THG

Risk surveys of commercial operations including hotels & manufacturing plants.
Investigation of building insurance claims due to a range of losses (flood, wind, fire).
Undertook jobs in Barbados & Dominica.

Junior Engineer – 1995-1996 – Consulting Engineers Partnership Ltd.

Structural design of reinforced concrete elements for a variety of projects.
Condition surveys of numerous residential and commercial properties.
Inspection and reporting on all Government Primary Schools across island.
Hydographic survey (Point Seraphin Cruise Ship Harbour, St Lucia).
Survey and design of residential/industrial access roads & associated drainage.
South Coast Sewage – surveyed existing lay-out, presented proposed modifications and costs estimates for multiple private properties to hook up to system.
Projects undertaken in Barbados & St Lucia

Student Engineer: 1993 – E.G. Pettit & Company, Cork, Ireland.

Engaged in a detailed survey to record and map the existing sewerage system in an urban area serving a population of 7,000 with associated industries and commercial enterprise.

EDUCATION

Masters of Business Administration, MBA (Distinction) University of Surrey via distance learning. (1999-2001). Electives: Project Management & International Business Management. Research Thesis: Demand for Residential Mortgages in Barbados.

Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng). Civil & Structural Engineering and Economics. McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 1990-1994.

Other Courses:

Certificate Program: Business Management Essentials, Cornell University, through eCornell, 2020.
Google Ads Certification (Search & Display). Feb 2020.
Certificate Program: Digital Marketing, Cornell University, through eCornell. 2018.
US Appraisal Institute. Real Estate Appraisal Procedures. Boca Raton. 2001.
Dale Carnegie Course. 1997.

AWARDS

Barbados Exhibition, 1990. Scholarship from Government of Barbados based on A-Level results paid tuition cost for four year engineering degree at McGill University.
Outstanding Contribution to McGill Engineering Student Life. (McGill), 1994.
Most Outstanding Masters Student: Best results University of Surrey Distance Program (2001) awarded by the Barbados Light & Power (2003).
Kristina Evelyn Scholarship Award – by Terra Caribbean “She was a highly motivated member of staff who was passionate about her work and was always an advocate for continuing education. She was the Director of Advisory Services and played a considerable role in the development of the service line. Awarded annually to a Terra employee“.
Sports Tourism Award – National Sports Council – Barbados 2016 “Outstanding Contribution to the Improvement of Run Barbados”

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Barbados National Junior & Senior Tennis Teams, 1983-88
Barbados National Squash Team, 1995-2002/2011-2014 incl. 1998 Commonwealth Games
President/Council Member Barbados Squash Association (BSA), 2000 – 2004
Developed and led the Junior Squash Program for the BSA 2000-2004.
Board Member & Director of Marketing/Comms, Ubunye Challenge, 2018 to present

Testimonials from former employers, work colleagues and clients

Like photos on this site? Visit my portfolio on Picfair to see more!