Andrea - The Professional Side

What I do @ ConnectsUs

  • Manage Technical Website Development Crew
  • Website System Architect
  • Head of Complaints Department

Background

Andrea studied Computer Science at the University of Toronto, specializing in Cognitive Science & Artificial Intelligence. It was at this time that she founded Brainflex, a project that began life as a computer enrichment program for children.

Upon graduation, Andrea knew that she was definitely not interested in being a ‘code monkey’ (not that there’s anything wrong with that :-) ). So she packed her bags, left the big city, and traveled to Asia.

For the next three years she spent her time teaching, dancing, trekking, lounging, becoming a frog in a puddle during the monsoons… you get the picture. She learned a lot about herself, including the fact that “the mountains help me to breathe.” When she returned from her travels, she landed on the west coast of BC (mountains, yes, but still lots of puddles), and traveled inland to find community, less puddles, and a career building websites for a Photoshop wizard of a designer.

Ten years have passed, and Andrea’s communication, planning, and organization skills, together with her desire for creativity and variety in her work, have led her into the chair of project manager/website architect. When she’s not working with us at ConnectsUs, this talented and versatile web mistress builds and administers systems for a myriad of online businesses, including potters, painters, candle makers, landscapers, singers, firefighters, inventors, photographers, importers, social services, and professional associations. You can see her extensive portfolio at brainflex.ca.

One project that is particularly close to Andrea’s heart and definitely keeps her busy is WWOOF Canada (our tech wiz, Fish, is an integral member of the WWOOF Canada team too!).

  • "... We had a menu of everything we could possibly need to quickly create HR best practices. The toolkit helped me understand what every small business should have in place."

    Salina Visram Landstad | Partner, Creative Spirits
  • "...In a small business, best HR practices are sometimes not implemented due to a lack of resources or HR knowledge. With ConnectsUs products, we were able to implement them quickly and easily."

    Chris Breikss | President, 6S Marketing Inc. | New York, New York
  • “…What a great product! I cannot emphasize enough how delighted I am with it…Your work is thorough, detailed, comprehensive, thought provoking, well laid out, easy to work with, professional, and great value. Thank you and compliments on a job very well done.”

    Grant Hodgins, B.Comm | CEO, Hodgins Auctioneers Inc.
  • “…I finished my first draft of the whole manual yesterday; after only 3 weeks of having your product. It would have taken me months to do the same thing by myself. THANKS A LOT FOR A WONDERFUL TOOL!...”

    Jorge O. Aviles | Arrow Energy Ltd.
  • “…We were constantly “reinventing” the wheel when it came to establishing even the most basic administrative policies, procedures and templates (we were constantly “borrowing” examples from our sister organizations).  Your product provides us with virtually everything we were looking for in one nice, neat customizable package.”

    Brenda Taillefer | Executive Assistant, Athabasca Watershed Council
  •  "... covers all the bases and really do let us focus on fine-tuning an existing product to meet our needs instead of starting completely from scratch."

    Ed Anderson | President, Dyrand Systems