I am often retained by my clients fill some role that involves marketing communications. Sometimes I hold a title – as you see from the list below. In all cases, I am writing, editing, and publishing (print-online) and managing special projects as needed.
6/2008 – present
Greenway Design Group, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA
Marketing Communications Director: I manage all communications for this company, including marketing (design/implementation) and public relations (media/investor). I work directly with the senior executives of the company to plan communications strategies and programs. I designed and produced nearly all of the company ID materials including logos, packaging, websites, collateral materials, and videos. The company is publicly traded under the symbol GDGI.PK.
Highlights
TechAmerica/Harvey Mudd College 2011 High Tech Engineering Award: I wrote the nominating materials and made oral presentations regarding the company’s patented energy-saving technology to engineers at Harvey Mudd College. Greenway won the highest honor, out of more than 100 nominees.
Investor Relations: The company recently went public and began trading public stock March 2011. I prepared investor overviews, a 50-page private placement memorandum, and take all incoming communication for the company.
Redesigned Corporate ID, Branding, Packaging: An effort that began almost immediately to redo all of the company’s retail and b2b branding: company logo, product logos, branding elements, websites, literature.
1/2004 – 10/2008
WollnerStudios, Inc., Buena Park, CA
Senior Writer/Editor: WollnerStudios specialized in preparing marketing materials for it’s clients in hospitality, lodging, financial/insurance services, and commercial real estate development. As senior writer/editor, I was responsible for all “copywriting” work for the agency. I was also the lead marketing communications strategist and also scheduled work requirements, set production goals, and workflow. I managed other writers and editors, and worked directly with clients on planning, strategy, and communications implementation. I worked directly with Michael Wollner to assess client’s needs and wrote most of our client proposals and market study reports. The agency closed after the financial shock in 2008.
Highlights
Marriott Los Angeles Downtown Redevelopment Plan: Co-researched and wrote 200+ page strategic business plan. Created “LA Touch” marketing campaign. Worked with owner’s financial representatives to assist with financial analysis, constructed spreadsheet. For Hotel Ventures, Inc. and Bedian International, Inc.
Bowermaster and Associates: Co-researched branding assessment and made recommendations for client’s efforts to modernize. I interviewed clients and in-house executives for responses and ideas. The agency delivered a new logo, corporate ID package, and website.
UGMC Stone, Inc.: Created new corporate communications package for the company, researched and wrote presentation documents and content for website.
Cal Neva Resort and Casino Redevelopment/Rebranding Plan: Co-researched and wrote 80-page strategic plan for investors and developer. For Hotel Ventures, Inc. and Bedian International, Inc.
Atrium (Duxiana) Hotel, Las Vegas Redevelopment/Rebranding Plan: research and all writing for 160+ page business plan. Worked closely with owner and owner’s financial representatives to construct property commercial viability analysis. For Bedian International, Inc.
4/2000 – 9/2004
Aperture Health, Inc., Mission Viejo, CA
Marketing Communications Director: The company promoted online wellness with information and incentives to more than 400,000 opt-in members. I managed all content development for the company’s membership website, marketing communications including special events and investor relations, developed publications for dissemination to members and employers, maintained SEO campaign and managed regular press release submissions in support of the company’s investment relations and stock reporting requirements. The company was forced to downsize and retained me as a consultant from 2004 to 2009.
Highlights
HRA360: Co-researched and designed a detailed health risk assessment survey. Designed the test form, database, and results criteria (personal and corporate results). At the time of launch, this program was one of the company’s most popular ‘free’ services.
Video Package: I produced a 20 minute “tour” video for the company with actor John Schneider. The “tour” video included testimonials and demonstrations, two 30 second commercials, and corporate interviews for broadcast use.
Wellness360 Magazine: Developed a prototype magazine for evaluation by the board of directors and investors. Credited as “executive editor.” Researched revenue model and created advertising fee schedule, financial production analysis. Generated editorial schedule and media kit. Assigned stories, managed all writers and photographer. Worked with corporation attorneys and accountants to generate financial production analysis.
4/1997 – 3/2000
WTCA – Business Tourism, Los Angeles, CA
Vice President, Communications, Business Tourism Div.: I was contracted as the lead marketing communications strategist, project manager, and presenter for a special project sponsored by the World Trade Centers Association to promote branded business tourism services designed to encourage international commerce. I was the keynote speaker for all WTCA Business Tourism events (1997-1999) that were held in various locations in the U.S. and in Spain (Seville, Barcelona), France (Lyons), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa), South Korea (Seoul), and Italy (Trieste).
I scheduled, organized, and managed appearances at trade shows and other public events and, at the height of the project, managed a staff of two travel advisers and five travel writers. I scheduled, organized, and managed 11 ‘business tourism missions’ to Europe, Asia, and in the United States; my staff and I cataloged 85 business tourism destinations for our members. Scheduled work requirements, setting goals, and workflow for staff.
Highlights
Keynote Presenter: I was the keynote presenter for all WTCA-sponsored “business tourism” events held in Europe, Asia, and North America. I produced compelling oral presentations to groups of people – sometimes as large as 300 – to promote WTCA-branded travel services. Presentations included regular appearances at annual General Assembly meetings and bi-annual WTCA board of directors meetings. During my three-year involvement with the program, I produced and performed dozens of such presentations, complete with handouts, PowerPoint presentation, speech, and Q&A.
Website: Produced and designed a WTCA branded membership site called “TourismNOW.com.” The site featured online reservations (air, hotel, car rental) and was promoted as a business tourism service to the worldwide membership body. I also created an online “Business Tourism Magazine” that promoted member locations as business tourism destinations to non-members. The website featured more than half of the membership body (about 120 centers worldwide) and successfully sold thousands of airline tickets and hotel reservations until funding rain out in 2000.
Business Tourism Magazine: Developed a prototype print magazine for evaluation by the board of directors and investors. Generated editorial schedule, advertising fee scheme (my first attempt), and a catalog of 85 travel destinations in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Korea. Project was declined due to lack of funding from investors.
Education, Honors
2004, Jack Kirby Award. In recognition for ongoing work as a writer/historian and preservation of the cultural legacy of American comic books (Projects: “The Art of Jack Kirby,” “Conversations with Jack,” and “Captain Marvel Culture”).
2003, Emergency Teacher Credentials, State of California. Declared specialty in English and History. Registered with Orange County Dept. of Education.
1997, Proclamation by the Orange County Board of Supervisors in recognition for “Volunteer Leadership in Education” for work performed on behalf of Netday96 and Project Tomorrow.
1988, Dale Carnegie – Public Speaking/Presenting, (2) 14-week training programs for development of public speaking and public presentation skills; special citation for “Impromptu Speaking”
1982, Bachelor’s Degree from California State University Long Beach; degree in Journalism with undeclared minors in Art History and Earth Science.
