SUMMARY
Talented, results-producing leader with proven abilities in a variety of disciplines including a strong background in marketing, public relations, graphics and communications. I have the ability to bring together multiple facets and provide the flexibility needed to work within an integrated marketing and communications plan.
EXPERTISE
Advertising, Marketing, Media Relations, Government Affairs, Start Up Operation Communications, News Writing, Public Relations, Photography, Community Relations, Graphic Arts, Design, Multi-Media, Corporate Communications, Message Strategy, Crisis Communications, Public Outreach, Copy Writing, Electronic Communications, Editing Written and Oral Communications, Publications Production, Event Coordination and Management, Internal Communications, Employee Communications, Communication Planning, Issues Management, and Project Communications.
PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES
• Ability to work on multiple deadline-driven projects and adapting to changing environments. Used to meeting hundreds of deadlines per year.
• Adept at communicating with customers, management, vendors, and internal departments to coordinate overall marketing, communications and media efforts. Career has spanned both the public and private sectors, while assisting senior level personnel.
• Proven track record of success in public affairs, communications, publication production and e-media.
• Provide leadership, direction and innovation for creative processes of key projects. Mastery of design software and capacity to intuitively learn new software and quickly become productive with it.
• Reputation among my colleagues and peers for attention to detail in the production and completion of creative products.
• Expertise in both print and electronic media and practiced as a liaison between upper management and employees, developing internal communication programs to effectively convey management messages to personnel.
• Proven ability to adapt in fast-changing environments and to new technologies.
• Placed numerous news stories with major regional and local newspaper, radio and television stations. Awarded numerous state and national honors for writing, photography and design.
• Own and operate two successful small businesses.
• Excellent editing and proofreading skills in preparing written and oral products for dissemination to both external and internal audiences, with ability to multitask in print and electronic media.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Employer: East Oregonian Publishing Company
Position: Digital Media Director
Time Period: July 2007 – Present
Location: Astoria, OR
Description: Multimedia, marketing, management of a variety media and social media websites
Employer: URS / Washington Group International
Position: Communications/Media Specialist – Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
Time Period: September 2001 – July 2007
Location: Hermiston, OR
Description:
- Liaison and source of company information with the news media. Develop, implement and maintain the company’s communication objectives.
- Compile and create daily reports, weekly project updates, daily newsletters, monthly newsletter and press releases to increase awareness and internal/external communications.
- Event coordinator for company picnics, holiday parties, Children’s Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts, UMCDF Wellness program, UMCDF Employee Moral program and monthly site luncheons. Chairperson for the site’s nonprofit organization, the Charitable Contribution Fund.
- Coordinate brand management with corporate office. Function as a technical expert in website development, photography, design, writing, editing and video. Provide guidance on graphic technology.
- Write and direct high-impact, multi-dimensional communications including advertising, web content, videos, scripts, multimedia, photographs, presentations, etc.
- Responsible for the development of quality design and layouts and coordination of creative artwork for visual communications. Determining style, size and arrangement of type and illustrations. Coordinate with users to determine illustration objectives to translate facts and features of subject material into graphic terms that best convey the intended meaning.
- Serve as a consultant to site departments. Responsible for training and development of my peers in layout design, software applications, web design and photography. Responsible for reproduction and printing processes through inhouse resources or outside vendors.
- Responsible for the management of graphic production efforts from preparation through publication. Manage all activities involved in creating and interpreting a variety of graphic communications. Contribute to the development of new concepts, graphics standards and templates, and improved processes and workflow.
- Responsible for preparing budget and schedule estimates and solutions that are consistent with organizational objectives.
- Utilize current graphic design technology and computer software packages to produce creative artwork for visual communications
- Documentation of all site activities and progress through film and video. Maintain, develop and organize a functional system of categorizing and filing of thousands of historical photographs, negatives, slides and video. Fill media request for visuals in digital and video formats.
Employer: Columbia River Maritime Museum
Position: Director of Marketing & PR
Time Period: 2001
Location: Astoria, OR
Description:
- Manage all aspects of media and community relations including writing press releases, assuring the distribution of the releases, creating press kits, and act as the spokesperson for the museum. Take, maintain and distribute photographs for the press, ensure deadlines, pitch stories to the media, coordinate media visits and keep the media updated weekly via press releases and photographs of the museum’s renovation and expansion project, as well as day to day operations.
- Manage all aspects of marketing including the advertising budget, brand management, determine placement of advertising, develop advertising from concept to design, coordinate cooperative advertising efforts, maintain advertising files, and coordinate, design and distribution of museum brochures and rack cards. Support membership and educational directors.
- Manage all aspects of public relations including serving as a liaison for public inquiry disseminate information upon request to various organizations (local, state and national), develop and distribute media kits and story/photograph packages, maintain graphic files both digital and hard copies, coordinate and promote tours and exhibit openings, event coordination, and serve on various tourism and travel task forces throughout the Northwest.
- Manage the concept, design, development, printing and distribution of a quarterly membership newsletter including coordination of editorial contributions, taking photographs and editing of the publication. Design and maintain the museum’s Website.
- Coordinate special events, open houses, and projects including design, development, and printing/distribution of the museum’s brochures and rack cards.
- Manage stock photography and event photography files, both electronically and hard copies, billboard advertising maintenance, and arrangement and design of promotional materials for events including invitations, programs, handouts signage, displays and presentation materials.
Employer: The Daily Astorian
Position: Coast Weekend Editor/Features Editor
Time Period: 1997 – 2001
Location: Astoria, OR
Description:
- Weekly arts and entertainment guide editor, 25,000+ circulation and 24-36 pages.
- Responsible for electronic design, layout, quality and content of various special projects such as Visitors’ Guides, Bridal and Holiday publications and festival guides. Directed a redesign overhaul of the magazine, including the logo.
- Brand management of redesign.
- Direct graphic quality (content, layout design, printing, processing and all pre-press coordination) using computers, peripherals and various graphic and layout software of Coast Weekend. Manage electronic pagination, design, graphic quality, production, processing, printing of the feature, business, and almanac sections of the daily newspaper.
- Supervise, coordinate and hire staff and freelance writers. Communicate with the public, staff and management on a daily basis. Write, photograph, assign, edit and research stories and artwork, which reflects coastal living and events that are popular with readers. Assign and oversee the content and information provided on Coast Weekend’s Web pages. Train staff on computer hardware, programs, peripherals and other items.
- Member of the Technology Committee which oversees problems and solutions that pertain to computers – hardware and software, decisions, research of new computer products and which items to purchase.
Employer: The Daily Astorian
Position: Grahpic Designer
Time Period: 10/1996 – 8/1997
Location: Astoria, OR
Description:
- Coordinate and advise production, time estimates, artwork, color formats and typefaces with sales representatives, customers and clients to create and design print advertising concepts and finished products.
- Design various types of advertising in the form of newspaper ads, visitor and tourism guides, flyers, inserts, festival guides, brochures, business cards, letterhead, posters, postcards, etc.
- Manage electronic section pagination, design, graphic quality, production, processing, printing of special advertisements and publications.
- Utilizing desktop publishing equipment and software to develop graphic layouts. Create illustrations, digital output and sketches; perform digital imposition and coordinate printing.
Employer: Oregon Department of Transportation
Position: Public Information Officer, Region 5
Time Period: 6/1995 – 10/1996
Location: La Grande, OR
Description:
- Director of Region 5 Communications Team; provide public and media relations consultation to all levels of Region 5 staff and train the staff to work with media and public in a variety of situations.
- Manage event coordination, marketing strategies and promotion of ODOT, Region 5.
- Act as the media spokesperson for the region and community point of contact for Region 5. Consult with management, staff, customers and the ODOT Communications Branch on a daily basis. Staff writer/photographer for the department’s newsletter Transcript.
- Liaison between the public and ODOT on a daily basis. Implement, coordinate, organize and manage communications/marketing program and budget for Region 5 for internal/external relations. Extensive travel throughout the state of Oregon.
- Maintain positive relations with the media, local community, agencies and other government agencies. Represent ODOT and Region 5 at a variety of local, regional and statewide events. Customer relations and presentation coordination.
- Manage production and presentation of customer education materials and tools to promote it, such as news releases, brochures, pamphlets, advertisements, press kits, posters and public meetings and presentation materials and preparation.
- Public meeting coordination, handling of multiple projects at the same time; attended a variety of internal and public meetings. Creation and maintenance of web site for ODOT Region 5.
Employer: The Nickel Want Ad Newspaper
Position: Graphic Designer / Sales Rep
Time Period: 1992-1993
Location: La Grande, OR
Description:
Employer: La Grande School District
Position: Coach
Time Period: 1993-1996
Location: La Grande, OR
Description: La Grande Junior High School coach: co-ed volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, co-ed track and field
Employer: La Grande Observer
Position: Sports Writer/Photographer
Time Period: 1990 – 1992
Location: La Grande, OR
Description: Covered high school sports (La Grande, Imbler, Cove, Union, Elgin, Wallowa, Enterprise, Joseph, North Powder) and college sports (Eastern Oregon University) while I was in high school and college sports myself (even covered my own games I was playing in a time or two)
Employer: Granada Theater & Drive-In
Position: Concessions, film splicer, ticket sales
Time Period: 1989-1990
Location: La Grande, OR
Description: Worked in the summers at the local movie theater and drive-in.
