Media Crate Design is a one-stop shop run by a one-woman show.
Based in Calgary, Michelle Bartleman has been working in media and communications for the past 20 years. A journalist by training, she holds both an undergrad and master’s degree in journalism and has worked at newspapers from Alberta to Anchorage. She spent more than 15 years doing graphic design and most recently worked in non-profit strategic communications.
With a minor in graphics design, she started her career working behind the scenes at her college newspaper, doing page layout, graphic and web design. A former national team skeleton athlete, Michelle turned her creativity into a freelance operation she could take on the road while training and racing, which also led to the opportunity to design the look of the Canadian’s bobsleds that raced in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
After retiring from skeleton, she earned a Master of Journalism from Carleton university, interning at CBC in London, U.K. before hitting the ground as a community reporter in rural Alberta. There she covered everything from junior hockey to town hall meetings, and also managed the newspaper’s social media. A Montreal native, Michelle then went to become a bilingual reporter in Moncton, N.B. before switching gears to do communications for a national climate and energy think tank. There her job description included strategic project planning, media relations, running webinars, posting social media, updating websites, and writing and editing everything from 100-page technical reports to press releases to tweets.
Most recently, Michelle has shifted her focus to academics, teaching communications and journalism as a sessional instructor at MacEwan University in Edmonton, including magazine writing and editing, multimedia development and online reporting.
As a communications freelancer, Michelle likes to work with small businesses, non-profits, athletes and individuals who don’t need all the bells and whistles of a major marketing firm, but could use a hand in putting together whatever pieces they need to help achieve their goals.