Getting to Know - Disa-marie Cameron

Name: Disa-marie Cameron 
Industry Position: Account Manager
Employer: Encore Canada
Current Volunteer Role: VP of Communications, MPI Ottawa Board of Directors
Joined MPI in: 2018

Contact information: 
Email: disa.cameron@encoreglobal.com
Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disa-cameron-16302345/

Disa is nominated for this years 2022 #WomenToWatch List!

Tell us a bit about yourself

• I am Born and raised in British Columbia.
• I graduated from Terry Fox Secondary School in 2003.
• I graduated from Post-Secondary studies at Hot Sole Music Inc. in 2004 receiving Certification in Audio Engineering (Now called the Nimbus School of Recording & Media).
• Started working with Frischkorn AudioVisual Inc. in 2005 as a freelance audiovisual technician and started full-time employment in 2006. The company is now under the Encore brand.
• Moved from a technical role to a sales and venue management role in 2011 after a distracted driver rear-ended me on my way to work; my car accident recovery required modified duties as I could no longer lift heavy equipment.

How did you join the industry?
I started out doing audio engineering, lighting, and video in my high school theatre called the Terry Fox Theatre.  I had amazing mentors from my Juno award winning music teacher, Steve Sainas (who is actually retiring this year!), to the technicians that were employed to work at the theatre and took me under their wing.  I was about 16 years old at the time and by the time I was graduated from high school, I had 1000’s of hours of experience (they say that it takes 10,000 hours to master your craft) and was already applying for my Audio Engineering certification.

Social Media:

What do you recommend following on social media?
Other than MPI, of course, I have been active with the AV Educate community throughout the pandemic.  This community has been focused on equipping today’s industry technicians with the latest and greatest for virtual and hybrid technology solutions.  They bring in experts to discuss a product or solution and then do a live demo experience with moderated Q&A.

More information can be found here: https://aveducate.com/

What is the best industry blog or Ted Talk you’d recommend to fellow members?
I’m really interested in personal development.  Some of my recent books / audio books include “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins, “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, “The Art of Possibility” by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander, “Linchpin” by Seth Godin, and “Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferriss

What is your favourite industry app?
My favourite industry app is: EVENT DESIGN COLLECTIVE
More information can be found here: https://edco.global/ 
The training helps you to apply the Event Canvas methodology to your events.

Inspiration:

What are you currently reading or would recommend reading?
I recommend reading Good to Great by Jim Collins

Professional:

What is one small adjustment that has had a big impact on you professionally?
A big impact has been making the shift in selling over video conference instead of meeting in-person at an office. Much more time for productive work!

Personal:

What is your hidden talent?
I am an electronic dance music artist and a multi-instrumentalist.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
My high school music teacher talked me out of quitting my first, minimum wage job and encouraged me to stick with it.  It's better to have the seniority and manager title than to move to another minimum wage that I also hate with no seniority and no important title.  He taught me to stick through the tough times.

What is your best way to tame your nerves before a work event?
Have a quiet coffee on my own to collect my thoughts and review the paperwork again to feel like I am prepared before going into the hustle and bustle of the setup!

 Article edited by Darlene Kelly-Stewart | LinkedIn at Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services