Michael Despotovic is a

Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship (2016 – now)

Mike Despotovic — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 01:36:43 +0000

I started attending Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship in 2016 though I’ve self-identified as a Christian for the vast majority of my life. Since joining the PGIMF congregation, I’ve come to understand, appreciate, and commit myself to the principles of Mennonite worship—even though I have no ethnic or inherited ties to the Mennonite people. After all, anabaptism is open to everybody.

Since 2017, I have been part of various committees that make up the different avenues of leadership at PGIMF. Most consistently, I’ve sat on the Congregational Care Committee with two other great people. I represent this committee on the Board and advise in other topics and initiatives such as refugee sponsorship.

Lastly, like many of us layfolk who make up PGIMF, I volunteer to lead singing, worship service and occasional activities that take place on Sunday mornings.

Caitlin Press & Dagger Editions (2016 – 2018)

Mike Despotovic — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 00:53:17 +0000

Caitlin Press was established in 1977 by Carolyn Zonailo as a feminist literary press. In the 1980s, Caitlin Press expanded its mandate to that of a BC literary press. In March 2008, Vici Johnstone of Halfmoon Bay purchased the press. Under her direction, Caitlin Press continues to publish books that reflect the diverse cultures, histories and concerns of BC, bridging the gap between the urban and the rural. Caitlin also remains committed to its feminist origins by publishing bold works by and about BC women for a local and national readership. In 2016, Caitlin Press launched Dagger Editions, dedicated solely to publishing literary fiction, non-fiction and poetry by and about queer women (those who identify as queer women, including trans women, or include this in their personal history).

For three years I ran all things related to marketing including publicity, event creation/management, copywriting, website development, author relations. It was an absolute pleasure to work as part of a small team to achieve such big goals and I will cherish every memory made with the 60+ authors, editors, poets, etc.

Apples & Oranges Analytics (2019 – now)

Mike Despotovic — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 00:45:38 +0000

As the phrase goes, Apples & Oranges Analytics helps businesses compare two (or more) data sets that they didn’t previously think they could analyze together, so that they can make better business decisions (like comparing apples with oranges). The vast majority of our clients are freelance or independent digital marketers. Sometimes we work with individual brands for their marketing needs.

We excel in Google Analytics, Social Media Analytics, Email Marketing Analytics, Advertising, SEO/SEM, General Sales Data, and other SaaS data. Every client receives a customized Apples & Oranges Monthly Report that outlines 5 key actions they can undertake to achieve their marketing goals by the time of their next report. More often than not, our clients will hire us to achieve these 5 actions.

Head on over to www.applesoranges.ca for all the details about my team and our services.

Whale in the Door (2018)

Mike Despotovic — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 02:09:18 +0000

On Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 2 to 4 PM at the Vancouver Public Library, Alice McKay Room, the public was invited to write one of seventy-five planned letters of action to the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (North Vancouver). Since each letter signifies one of the remaining seventy-five orcas in the Salish Sea, participants were invited to fold their letter into the shape of an orca, with help of nearby volunteers. The event was called Whale in the Door: Fold for the Orcas, named after the 2017 Caitlin Press book, Whale in the Door: A Community Unites to Protect BC’s Howe Sound, written by Pauline Le Bel, with a foreword by the Honourable Elizabeth May. At the event, Pauline sang, read, and was joined on stage by the poets of Refugium: Poems for the Pacific as well as Latash Nahanee of the Squamish Nation.

Reasons for writing these letters, according to prospective attendees, stem from disapproval of BC’s fish farms, the Trans Mountain Pipeline project, and disputes between First Nation’s authority over land and sea. With the recent death of Tahlequah (J-35), also known as the first new baby orca to enter the endangered Southern Resident population in three years, many prospective attendees focused their attention on the futility of current governmental policies intended to help foster more Salish Sea orcas. Over 100 people (ages 5 to 75) were in attendance and over 100 orcas were folded. I hope that every year we can continue to provide a free, public, artistic day of action that unites issues of environmental aid and Indigenous sovereignty.

Pride Reading Series (2017 – now)

Mike Despotovic — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 01:54:39 +0000

Every summer, I host a public poetry and prose reading series at the Jim Deva Plaza (on Davie & Bute Streets) in Vancouver. Sponsored by Dagger Editions and the West End Business Improvement Association, each event has three to four queer readers who self-identify as women. Past readers include: Rabbit Richards, jaye simpson, Sara Graefe, Tina Biello, Monica Meneghetti, Jane Byers, Fatima Amarshi, Sempulyan, Adèle Barcalay, Beni Xiao, Jane Shi, Cicely-Belle Blain, Betsy Warland, and Nicola Harwood. Past community supporters have been: QMUNITY, Queer Arts Festival, Queer Film Festival, and Little Sisters Bookstore.

I hope that every year we can continue to provide a free, public, queer, literary reading experience in a very visible, high-traffic area of Vancouver.

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (2017 – 2018)

Mike Despotovic — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 01:45:50 +0000

For about eight months, I volunteered at the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House as a Family Literacy Outreach tutor. Instead of going into family homes like most of tutors, I was part of a Saturday morning group of tutors who all met at MPNH to do group literacy tutoring (45 min) and individual literacy tutoring (45 min). I had the same mentee for the entire term though I substituted once-in-a-while for other tutors when my mentee was away. Occasionally I would lead the group literacy tutoring, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you have any questions about this program, I encourage you go to their website and learn more. They’re always looking for tutors!

SCFWA (2016 – 2018)

Mike Despotovic — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 01:40:24 +0000

For the three years I worked at Caitlin Press/Dagger Editions, I also volunteered for the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts located in Sechelt, BC. My first role was to assist authors with feeling comfortable and welcome on the festival grounds, wherein they had a private space to relax and prepare for their presentations. My second role was as a “gofer”, i.e. someone who assisted those managing the festival stage and the various responsibilities involved. I volunteered for these roles alongside Publisher of Caitlin Press & Dagger Editions, Vici Johnstone, who sits on the board of the festival.

If you ever get a chance to go to the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, I highly recommend it. It is unlike any literary festival in Canada and very much worth the trip for those who don’t live nearby.

Teaching & Mentorship (2008 – 2018)

Mike Despotovic — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:50:38 +0000

During my teenage years, I fell into teaching piano, musical theory, and music history to children at O Music Studios. Half-way through my undergraduate studies, I was hired to mentor first-year students in a cohort program based in SFU’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This would go on for four semesters between two cohorts (total 50+ students). After returning from my internship at Penguin Random House, I was a Teaching Assistant to SFU’s Publishing 101 for two semesters (total 100+ students). During one of those semesters, I was a Tutor-Marker for SFU’s Publishing 355W. Currently, I have been promoted to a Sessional Instructor position with which I will co-instruct Publishing 101 for the Spring 2016 semester at SFU. Additionally, I have been hired to host workshops/one-on-one training on digital literacy (ex. Check Your Head).

Eleven Fifty-Nine (2015 – 2016)

Mike Despotovic — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:45:04 +0000

Eleven Fifty-Nine was born out of a mutual desire for meaningful fashion and authentic business. I launched this venture with Ketan Jogia, a musical producer who comes from a long legacy of watch repairmen and jewellery crafters. Together, Eleven Fifty-Nine was about reaching that level of readiness we believe everyone strives for in life. Our stock was competitively priced and we offer many servicing options thanks to our trusted affiliates.

Like most other entrepreneurs, Ketan and I split all the responsibilities and manage to complete all our business objectives between the two of us.

We shot all our own photography and edit them using Adobe Creative Suite and VSCO.
We made a custom database to house our inventory and sync metadata with Shopify’s CMS.
We ran all our social media marketing and PR with aid from partners in our network.

We closed up shop when the company we partnered with sold all the inventory in one fell swoop (which we felt was a good business decision).

Freelance Digital Marketing (2012 – 2018)

Mike Despotovic — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:36:30 +0000

Like many others of my generation, I’m perpetually intrigued by the possibilities of digital technology. I’ve been fortunate enough to infuse this fascination with the work I’ve done for publishing and publishing-type companies. My specialities lie in web development, digital asset management, social media marketing, and online advertising.

From Oct 2015 to Dec 2015, I was contracted as a Data Analyst by Massive Media to manage a nation-wide Google Display advertising campaign for a CBC documentary (produced by Force Four Productions). Half way through, the client increased the budget due to great performance. Note: I am a certified Google Partner.
From March 2015 to Sept 2015, I worked for Clevers Media where I represented multiple three publications as their advertising sales representative.
From Sept 2014 to Dec 2014, I managed ZG Communication’s social media assets and ran a Facebook ad campaign in partnership with Page Two Strategies.