SUMMARY:
I am a seasoned professional with nearly 40 years of experience in communications, public relations, event planning and media relations. I have extensive knowledge of marketing campaigns, sales, messaging, and dissemination techniques and methods. I am an award-winning writer and editor with multimedia production experience who communicates effectively with target audiences through strategic brand management and PR campaigns.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Strong Project Manager
- Exceptional Writer
- Deadline Driven
- Decisive Problem Solver With Sound Judgment
- Marketing & Sales Specialist
- Proficient With Web Management & CMS Applications
LINKEDIN PROFILE: To view my LinkedIn Profile, please click here.
EXPERIENCE:
Principal – MissingWordSolutions.com, Chattanooga, Tennessee
June 2016 – Present
Oversee the operation of MissingWordSolutions.com, a creative services brokerage with the capability to provide a broad range of scalable options designed to meet the marketing and communications needs for businesses and organizations of any size. MissingWordSolutions.com specializes in the areas of public relations, journalism, corporate thought leadership, marketing content development, website development and content management, social media strategies and podcast development.
Marketing Copywriter – Elliott Davis Decosimo Certified Public Accountants, Chattanooga, Tennessee
January, 2014 – May 2016
- Responsible for researching technical topics and crafting content that communicates the firm’s professionalism and breadth of experience, expertise and resources in order to cause informed business decisions for clients and prospects.
- Craft marketing messages used in numerous platforms differentiating the firm from competitors.
- Ghostwrite issue-based thought leadership materials by conducting topic research and interviewing the firm’s industry and service line subject matter experts.
- Pitch thought leadership articles and secure placement in publications.
- Write and edit SEO-friendly website copy that influences end-user action.
- Write and distribute press releases that showcase Decosimo’s news, events and knowledge center. Establish and maintain relationships with reporters; track and report on media coverage.
- Maintain speakers bureau/writers bureau resource list and webpage.
- Prepare presentation proposals to submit to outside organizations for speaking opportunities on behalf of the firm’s speakers bureau.
- Craft professional biographies that showcase the expertise, experience and personalities of the firm’s professionals.
- Summarize the firm’s business service engagements and results into relatable case studies that will aid business development efforts.
- Promote the firm’s thought leadership, news and events across social media platforms.
Web Editor & Public Relations Consultant – iTruckTV.com, Chattanooga, Tennessee
November, 2012 – December, 2013
- Managing Editor of all news content for iTruckTV.com.
- Columnist and reporter responsible for development of text-based content.
- On-camera host and interviewer.
- Coordinated public relations and marketing efforts for iTruckTV.com
- Coordinated trade show activities.
- Participated in marketing, proposal development and sales efforts on behalf of iTruckTV.com
Public Relations Manager – U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee
June, 1998 – October, 2012
- Lead communications professional for nation’s fifth largest truckload carrier, with 10,000 employees and $1.5B revenue.
- Researched, planned, implemented and tracked public relations, communications and marketing activities.
- Expanded company recognition in the national press in support various departments, including sales and marketing.
- Cultivated positive relationships with the community and area media outlets through public relations initiatives.
- Organized executive public appearances, lectures and exhibits to increase awareness of U.S. Xpress as a leader in the transportation industry and as a leading business in Chattanooga.
- Planned and organized corporate media and other special events.
- Managed all media, press and public relations issues.
- Developed corporate communications strategies and programs, including company’s crisis communications plan.
- Coached client representatives on effective communication with the public and employees.
- Worked with management to identify trends and developments that might influence PR decisions and strategies.
- Acted as communications liaison for internal teams at the company.
- Designed web and other content, including monthly newsletters, magazines and promotional calendars.
- Served as webmaster for usxpress.com and facilitated company’s social media outreach.
- Managed the editorial content, design and distribution of the company’s e-blasts and video magazines.
- Designed and created marketing collateral for sales meetings, trade shows and company executives.
- Managed both inbound and outbound marketing campaigns to generate new business and to support partner and sales teams.
- Managed the inhouse advertising program consisting of print and media collateral pieces.
- Planned and negotiated media buys, including TV, radio, print and digital.
Project Development Specialist – Chattanooga Publishing Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee
November, 1994 – June, 1998
- Responsible for taking a prototype interactive phone service and customizing the computer program to fit the audioinformation and marketing needs of the Chattanooga Free Press and Chattanooga Times.
- Designer and developer of the Infoline phone service, which received an average of 50,000 calls per week during my tenure. The service featured audio updates on the latest news, sports and lottery results, entertainment updates, horoscopes & other news.
- During my tenure, the InfoLine became a vital new resource for Chattanoogans, who made more than six million calls to the service in its first three-plus years.
- Coordinating producer for all inhouse recording on Infoline. These duties include the following: Both write of all locally-generated Infoline scripts; narrator for over 90 percent of these scripts.
- Served as liaison to editorial staffs of Free Press and Times in designing public opinion polls and other special features.
Sports & Feature Writer – Chattanooga Free Press, Chattanooga, Tennessee
November, 1985 – November, 1994
- Offered daily coverage of sports and special events for the Chattanooga Free Press, the city’s largest newspaper at the time of my tenure.
- Provided coverage of the following major events: Both 1991 and 1992 World Series, the 1991 NCAA football national championship victory by Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl, the 1992 college basketball Final Four and the 1993 Presidential Inauguration.
- Interviewed the following major sports figures: Arthur Ashe, Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Bobby Orr, Chris Evert,John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Bob Costas.
- Recognized by the Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association as one of the state’s best writers covering high school sports, winning awards in 1988, 1992 and 1995.
- Coordinated production of 48-page souvenir programs for Southern Tennis Association Championships in 1991 and 1992.
AWARDS & HONORS:
Critic’s Board Advertising Award
Traffic World Magazine, 2008
- Recognition of ad that I coordinated and assisted in developing with ad agency for U.S. Xpress
“Xcellence In Action Award”
U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc,, 2005
- Honored for the developed of video production for company’s orientation overview.
- Award represents the highest honor given to a U.S. Xpress employee at the time.
Best Internal Communications Program
Lookout Chapter of PRSA, 2004
- Earned recognition for development of U.S. Xpress Driver InfoLine platform.
- Platform collected more than 100.000 calls in one year from 6,000-driver community.
Achievement In Advertising Award
Traffic World Magazine, 2004
- Recognition for an ad that developed in conjuction with an independent designer.
Best Audio-Visual Presentation – 2nd Place
Transportation Sales & Marketing Association, 2003
- Recognized for 90-minute cassette recording that I wrote and produced for drivers and contractors at U.S. Xpress.
Crisis Communications Management Award
Lookout Chapter of PRSA, 2002
- Recognized for strategies developed and employed after a U.S. Xpress truck destroyed a national historic landmark in Seattle.
Best Overall Public Relations Campaign
Lookout Chapter of PRSA, 2001
- Recognized for the PR campaign I developed and coordinated for U.S. Xpress related to a lobbying effort raising questions about Department of Transportation policies.
Best Prep Writer – Third Place
Tennessee Sports Writers Association, 1995
- Recognized for excellence in coverage of high school sports for the Chattanooga Free Press.
Best Prep Writer – Second Place
Tennessee Sports Writers Association, 1992
- Recognized for excellence in coverage of high school sports for the Chattanooga Free Press.
Best Prep Writer – Second Place
Tennessee Sports Writers Association, 1988
- Recognized for excellence in coverage of high school sports for the Chattanooga Free Press.
SKILLS:
- Proficient in SiteCore and other CMS platforms
- Proficient with Microsoft Office.
- Proficient with Mac and PC-based platforms.
- Good listener and team contributor.
- Strong communications skills.
- Strong editor and competent with Associated Press Style
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Sciences, Mass Communications – St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota
September, 1980 – November, 1984
- Radio and television emphasis of study.
- Training and experience in journalism.
- Training and experience in public relations.
- Graduated with a 3.2 GPA on a 4-point scale.
REFERENCES:
References are available upon request.