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Career Summary
 

Throughout my career, I have exhibited critical thought, sage marketing strategies and a sensitivity to brand look and feel--all flowing through my writing. I often share my opinion on graphic elements and how they work with the written word. I am highly motivated and work well both independently and as part of a team.

Work experience
 

After a shutdown and multi-million dollar renovation project, the resort spent a sizeable advertising budget announcing the new facilities, and management had subsequently placed a moratorium on airtime and ad space purchases. Occupancy rates were stagnant and the marketing department’s hands were tied. Two years into my tenure, a new director of marketing was appointed to increase occupancy and rebuild the brand. Under his direction, the department reworked the brand. I wrote copy for concert promotion, casino events and two historic, luxury hotels. Delivery systems included on-site signage, quarterly and monthly newsletters, direct mail postcards, eblasts, invitations, a complete website overhaul; and eventually, :30 radio and television spots plus newspaper and magazine ads. Over the past year, we have also embarked on a target market tour in which we exhibited in shopping malls, taking a little bit of French Lick Resort to each town. As a result, more than 780 projects were turned out to increase hotel occupancy to an average of 80% of more than 600 rooms; and concerts over the years, such as Kenny G and Travis Tritt, have sold out.

Copywriter . French Lick Resort

2008 - 2016

Areas of Interest

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Public Relations
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Fundraising
• Development
• Emergency Medicine
• Physician Recruiting
• Higher Education
• Home Improvement
• Pets

Skills

·  Mac Proficient
·  PC Proficient
·  Microsoft Office
·  Writing
·  Copy Editing
·  Strategic Planning
·  Brainstorming
·  Creative Direction

2010 - present

2010 - present

Account Executive . Finelight

2007 - 2008

Acted as liaison between the agency and clients, as well as clients and the agency's creative team. I listened as clients described their marketing situations and worked with an account team and a creative team to assist in driving market share and increasing profits through advertising. I proofread, edited and circulated projects for three clients. Tracked billable hours and processed invoices. General project management for three clients: Revolution Health, Connect Your Care, American Enterprise Group. Met or exceeded project deadlines. Supervised projects through their development process. Communicated progress on various projects to clients and agency personnel. Wrote new business proposals.

WGVU is a not-for-profit Public Broadcasting Station—television and am/fm radio in west Michigan. Since the turn of the last century, the Michigan economy has suffered a great deal, thus charitable giving was at an all-time low and going lower. To combat this divot in profits, WGVU’s development department was charged with creating and executing a number of compelling fundraising opportunities, including but not limited to, wine events, on-air pledge drives and community activities. As a result, the wine events, of which there were two annually, grossed $30k each and the team raised $2 million dollars overall. Specifically, I recruited volunteers, was on-air talent for radio and television pledge drives, solicited refreshments for volunteers, calculated pledge drive totals and handled customer service situations.

Development Events Coordinator . WGVU/Grand Valley State University

2003 - 2007

Faculty Teaching & Learning Center . Grand Valley State University

2002 - 2003

The Faculty Teaching & Learning Center at Grand Valley State University provides a multitude of support for professors including both financial and educational. Awareness of FTLC processes, grants and continuing education opportunities for faculty was steady, but not robust. Faculty, like most individuals, are bombarded with information on a daily basis—FTLC needed to cut through the clutter. To get their attention, I wrote/edited/created layout of Winter 2003 newsletter, coordinated Winter 2003 Workshop series, processed grant requests and payments, tracked money available and money released. To this end, more faculty members took advantage of the programs and funds available. So much so that FTLC ceased accepting applications in October to avoid over-committing funds.

International Business Program . Grand Valley State University

2001 - 2002

The Seidman Business School’s International Business Program’s study-abroad enrollment was down. The events of September 11, 2001, had dampened students’ enthusiasm for participating in the semester-abroad program. To combat this downturn in enrollment in the study-abroad program, I wrote and produced the program’s newsletter, wrote press releases, conducted marketing and strategic planning for the International Business Program and updated website information. As part of the local World Trade Association committee, I researched and produced the CD Doing Business in China—Resource Directory for World Trade Week 2002. Program enrollment was up and our efforts were successful.

Department of Communication Studies . The University of Michigan

2001

Wrote and produced departmental annual report, updated departmental website, planned/coordinated and advertised departmental seminars and conferences.

Physician Relations/Recruiting . Emergency Physicians Medical Group

1999 - 2001

EPMG is a hospital emergency department contract management company seeking qualified physicians to work in emergency departments in the upper-lower peninsula of Michigan. The emergency departments were in rural and often undesirable locations. It was imperative to reach the physician and their spouse who enjoyed outdoor activities and the simple pleasures in life. In order to get the attention of the ideal physician for this market, I wrote/produced/designed postcards, flyers, employment ads, and contract information sheets. I Identified audiences, engaged in strategic planning and participated on a company-wide marketing committee. In addition, I coordinated external communications, and managed physician relations for twelve hospital emergency departments in the state of Michigan. Emergency departments in my charge were consistently staffed and operational.

Regional Coordinator of Alumni Programs . Bowling Green State University

1998 - 1999

The changing face of politics necessitated organizing a grass roots effort to impact funding for higher education in the state of Ohio. The state government was becoming less and less likely to financially support colleges and universities throughout the state. A position was created that would write the Legislative Advocates Program Manual, write the Board Briefs newsletter, along with proposals and various staff reports. Also involved in assisting in concept to completion of fundraising and “fun” raising events. I was a member of alumni marketing committee. The result of these efforts was an open line of communication between the state government of Ohio and the university and its alumni community.

Taught composition I, composition II and remedial reading classes to community college students.

Adjunct Instructor . Owens Community College

1998 - 1999

Account Coordinator . Fahlgren, Inc.

1997 - 1998

Fahlgren, an advertising agency in Toledo, Ohio, was contracted as the agency of record for a healthcare system in the area. The client needed to re-brand. They were acquiring hospitals and incorporating hundreds of doctors’ offices into the brand. The agency developed the brand, marketing strategies and created four television spots, several outdoor boards and numerous print ad templates to promote the system as a whole and recognize each individual entity within the brand. To this end, I wrote conference reports, job updates, media requests and creative work plans. Within these activities, I managed deadlines and updates on print and broadcast projects. Additionally, I edited and proofed copy. I was able to assist in the creation and production of print, outdoor, collateral and broadcast projects; research music/lyric rights. I was liaison to clients, creative staff, account service, traffic and production departments. As a result, the agency successfully branded the doctors’ offices and four hospitals, making the system one of the largest healthcare providers in the Northwest Ohio area.

Freelance Writer/Marketing Consultant . Bent Whisker

1995 - Present

Write brochures, newsletters, print ads, signs, memos, speeches, and press releases. Strategic planning for a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

Client Service Representative . Sterling Healthcare Group

1994 - 1997

Scheduled and recruited hospital emergency department physicians using my writing skills to create flyers, press releases, forms, signs and employment ads.

Marketing Coordinator . Charter Behavioral Health System of Toledo

1992 - 1996

Wrote/edited/produced bimonthly employee newsletter. Wrote brochures, flyers, slogans, press releases, policies and procedures. Organized and managed speakers' bureau as well as the ever popular other duties as assigned.​

Education

Communications, MS, 2006
Grand Valley State University,

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thesis topic: Advertising in Ukraine


Creative Writing, BFA, 1991
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

Educational focus: Short Fiction

Explore Southern Indiana

Board of Directors 2012-Present

Bowling Green State University Southwest Michigan Alumni Chapter

Vice President 2001 - 2007

 

Extracurricular

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