Ryan Jaques

Hi, I’m Ryan! Budtender,
Project Manager,
Digital Marketer.

I’m an experienced Project Manager and Digital Marketer, skilled in leading complex web and digital marketing projects. With a track record of successfully completing hundreds of website implementation and integration projects, I have coordinated with designers, developers, and stakeholders at all levels, to integrate advanced systems and best practices for scalability and performance improvement.

My approach blends an analytical mindset with practical skills in design, development, and content management, underpinned by a strong focus on user experience and effective problem-solving. This mix means I can turn challenging ideas into successful outcomes, delivering custom website projects and digital transformation initiatives that meet clients’ and users’ needs and expectations.

Experience

Budtender
Cannabis Cannabis | Stratford, ON

Apr ’23
– Now

Cultivating a welcoming and informative retail environment, catering to both new and experienced cannabis users.
Providing tailored suggestions for cannabis products that align with customers’ preferences, budget constraints, and sensitivity to different cannabis strains.
Educating customers on the responsible and safe usage of cannabis products, ensuring a well-informed customer base.
Efficiently handling transactions through the dispensary’s Point of Sale (POS) system, ensuring accuracy in processing payments.
Verifying customers’ identification documents to confirm legal age compliance.
Staying well-informed and compliant with all regulatory requirements and standards necessary for the legal and safe sale of cannabis products.

Retail Sales

Customer Service

Cannabis Retail

Senior Project Manager + Special Projects
Candybox Marketing | Oakville, ON

Jan ’22
– Dec ’23

Oversaw the delivery of custom website projects, coordinating with designers and developers for successful scoping, planning, and delivery.
Managed special projects, including integrating an advanced CRM, Billing, and Project Tracking system to streamline customer onboarding.
Engaged in digital transformation initiatives like the Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), creating tailored Digital Adoption Plans.
Improved overall project practices and SOPs, focusing on scalability within the department and organization.

Digital Marketing

Digital Strategy

Project Management

Process Improvement

Agile Methods

Strategic Thinking

User Experience

Journey Mapping

Team Leadership

Engagement Manager
Trustly | San Carlos, CA, USA

Apr ’21
– Oct ’21

Focused on implementing strong UX best practices in the design of checkout and payment experiences for merchant projects.
Coordinated between merchant clients, the design team, and other Engagement Managers, ensuring the integration of the Trustly experience within client interfaces.
Developed practices and resources for the role, setting benchmarks for future EM/UX team members.

Digital Strategy

Engagement Management

Agile Methodologies

Implementation Manager
Q4 Inc. | Hamilton, ON

Dec ’19
– Apr ’21

Managed client website migration projects, overseeing the design, development, and launch of new client websites on the Q4 platform.
Focused on planning, tracking, and reporting project timelines and deliverables, managing client communications and relationships.
Improved individual project output rate and reduced average project delivery timeline by approximately 25%, exceeding quarterly and year-end project launch targets.

Key Accomplishment: maintaining a 25 site per quarter launch schedule through 5 fiscal quarters.

Project Management

Agile Methods

Team Leadership

Launch 48 Team Lead
Candybox Marketing | Mississauga, ON

Dec ’18
– Jun ’19

Supported project managers in the Launch 48 project team, overseeing the delivery of website projects and managing the Launch 48 offering.
Focused on key performance indicators, project capacity, identifying new opportunities with existing clients, and expanding the Launch 48 offering.
Enhanced project practices and SOPs focusing on scalability within the department and organization.

Key Accomplishment: Growing the team to 2 additional full-time Project Managers and training additional team members in Launch 48 Process.

Team Leadership

Digital Strategy

Planning & Scheduling

Marketing Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Process Improvement

Digital Project Manager, Launch 48
Candybox Marketing | Mississauga, ON

Apr ’15
– Jul ’19

Grew the Launch 48 project process from its inception into a defined, efficient project methodology.
Managed a wide range of client web projects across various industries, including eCommerce, real estate, and financial services.
Managed the successful and on-time delivery of client website projects within a 48-hour timeline.
Worked directly with clients to plan and prepare content, design, and build websites, and trained clients on managing their websites.
Gained experience in tier 1 client support and deeper levels of development.

Key Accomplishment: Growing the team to 2 additional full-time Project Managers and training additional team members in Launch 48 Process.

Project Management

WordPress

Digital Strategy

Marketing Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Marketing Assistant
Pink Elephant | Burlington, ON

Aug ’14
– Feb ’15

Created and scheduled weekly social media posts for Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, using Hootsuite. Increased Tweet output by 25 posts per week.
Quality Assurance of email blasts and monthly e-newsletters, white papers, sales decks, conference and event brochures, and social media posts.
Created weekly internal “In The News” email blast, keeping employees up-to-date on industry topics such as IT Service Management; Cyber Security, Risk & Resilience; IT Asset Management; and frameworks like ITIL, COBIT and Lean IT.
Created database of current white papers in Excel, automating notifications for “out-of-date” and “confirmed” papers for easier distribution planning. Ensured all papers were up-to-date and accessible.
Arranged shipment of branded promotional materials to conferences and courses, external trade shows and industry events. Worked with external suppliers to source new potential pieces of collateral.

Copywriting

Copy Editing

Social Media Marketing

Email Marketing

Print Marketing

Education & Training

CannSell
CanSell Standard (2023)

George Brown College
Postgraduate Diploma (2014)
“Strategic Relationship Marketing”

Dalhousie University
Bachelor of Arts, Double Major (2011)
“Philosophy” + “Sociology & Social Anthropology”