Laurena Rehbein (Weninger)

Key Skills:

Customer Service: I have a history of providing accurate, thorough, and high-touch technical support.

Problem-solving and troubleshooting: I enjoy working on problems and breaking down complex issues. My ability to read and interpret code helps me to consider problems from multiple angles, and is one of the tools I use to help find elegant solutions.

Leadership: Both my work as a team lead in the VIP division and my time as a newspaper editor have helped to hone my leadership and project management skills. I am strong at team building, coaching individuals, goal setting and providing feedback.

Communication and relationship building: I connect easily with project partners via active listening and effective questioning. My written and verbal communication are both proficient and eloquent. I am responsive and warm, and quickly build strong, long-term relationships that help withstand the problems that inevitably arise in a technical setting.

Planning and organizing: Refined planning and organizational skills allow me to balance work, team support, and ad-hoc responsibilities in a timely and professional manner. I am self-motivated and able to work independently, and have fostered my ability to meet deadlines while maintaining a great team environment.

Employment History:

WordPress VIP Enterprise Support Team Lead – Automattic
Remote. Nov. 2020 to present

As a team lead at WordPress VIP, I lead a group of Premier Support Engineers to provide accurate and thorough, high-touch technical support to some of the biggest and best WordPress sites on the web. In this role, in addition to leading a team of Support Engineers, I contribute to the business goals of the company with related project work.

WordPress VIP Support Engineer – Automattic
Remote. Oct. 2019 to Nov. 2020

As a Premier-level Support Engineer at WordPress VIP, I was part of a team that provided accurate and thorough high-touch technical support to some of the biggest and best WordPress sites on the web. My daily work involved solving tough problems with customer sites, themes, and platform tools; building and updating documentation, and collaborating with teammates to help maintain quality technical support.

WooCommerce Happiness Engineer – Automattic
Remote position. April 2016 to September 2019

Here, I helped people who were using Automattic’s products; primarily WooCommerce. Daily work included troubleshooting, investigating, and creating detailed bug reports, and building a community of support by sharing knowledge and insight among team members around the world. Supported users primarily via live chat and email tickets.

Write this Down Freelancing
Oliver, B.C. March 2001 to April 2016

Self-employed, contracting on a freelance basis to various businesses and organizations. Work included graphic and web design and development (WordPress), information architecture, presentation, publication design and layout, writing, reporting, editing, professional photography, server management, social media marketing and consulting.

Reporter/Photographer – Osoyoos Times Weekly Newspaper
Osoyoos, B.C. July 2009 to Oct. 2010

Responsible for investigating, writing articles and taking photographs to cover a wide range of town and community events. This position included maintaining a solid network of contacts as well as page design and layout.

Editor – Oliver Chronicle Weekly Newspaper
Oliver, B.C. February 2006 to January 2009

This full-time position involved investigating news, writing articles, photography, and coordination of all editorial content with the other newspaper staff members. This was a weekly publication with an approximate circulation of 2,400.

Reporter/Photographer – Penticton Herald Daily Newspaper

Penticton, B.C. June 2004 to February 2005
Reporter/photographer

Certifications & Awards:

PI Under Supervision Security Worker Licence, B.C. Ministry of Justice

Gold, Spot News Photography Award
2007 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards, Circulation under 10,000 (Oliver Chronicle)

Gold, Feature Photography Award, Colour
2007 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards, Circulation under 10,000 (Oliver Chronicle)

Education:

Introduction to Private Investigation, Private Security Training Network
An online, comprehensive training course required by the British Columbia Ministry prior to issuance of a Private Investigator’s Licence.

Event Planning Series, Okanagan College
This series of five courses provided an in-depth look at how to plan and execute events ranging from Annual General Meetings, to conferences, to weddings, including budget considerations, marketing, volunteer recruitment and logistics.

Web Design, HTML and CSS, self-study via YouLearn.ca and Lynda.com
Both YouLearn.ca and Lynda.com provide instruction in computer-related programming, website design and development, and other computer programs like Excel, Adobe Dreamweaver and WordPress. Ongoing studies as time permits.

Litigation Procedures I, online via Vancouver Community College
This course was an introduction to the functions and duties of a legal administrative assistant working in civil litigation in British Columbia. Keyboard, computer, transcription and document formatting skills were integrated with a knowledge of civil law. Final Grade: 87.86 per cent.

Introduction to the Canadian Legal System, online via Capilano University: This course provided a general understanding and working knowledge of the Canadian legal system. Final Grade: 98 per cent.

Police Reporting
This webinar, hosted by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), covered police reporting. Instructed by Toronto Sun crime reporter Rob Lamberti.

Legal Issues Affecting the Newsroom
Media lawyer Stuart Robertson taught this webinar, hosted by the Canadian Newspapers Association and the OCNA. Topics included court reporting and defamation.

Shooting Pictures Tight and Bright
Tom Braid, photo editor from the Edmonton Sun, taught this photography seminar. Hosted by the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA).

True Stories
Jack Hart, managing editor of the Oregonian, taught this seminar about the use of storytelling in news writing. Hosted by the BCYCNA.

Allan Bonner Communications Management Inc.
Media relations training seminar

Okanagan University College
Elementary School Teacher Certification, four-year program

Graduated from Rutland Senior Secondary School, in Kelowna, B.C.

References:

Available upon request