Seasoned, creative and strategic content specialist, experienced in applying the branding power of professionally crafted custom content for marketers and associations in the food and farming sector. Your one-call outsource for concepting, writing, editing, graphic design, art direction and digital repurposing. The natural choice to leverage quality content’s trustworthiness and credibility, permitting even the smallest organizations and businesses to earn greater customer receptivity, higher buy-in and better business.
24195 W. 63rd St., Shawnee, KS 66226
(913) 441-3970 (913) 485-4183
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.CustomPublications.com
Proficiencies
- Writing and editing, including feature editorial, long-form digital, news editorial, audio/video scripting, search-optimized web content, e-mail marketing, public relations, advertising, technical, scientific and medical formats. AP- and AMA-style proficient
- Art and graphic design, digital and print (excluding complex illustration)
- Development, implementation and measurement of internal and external communication strategy
- Print/internet research, including international life-science, physical, and social-science literature index databases
- Live-source interviewing technique
- HTML, PHP-based, Photoshop and Adobe Flash web design
- Print-production process, including digital photo manipulation/pre-press file preparation/pagination and layout, video and audio editing
- Photography and videography
- Database design and manipulation
- Direct-mail production and mailing requirements
- Media relations/public-relations planning and execution
- Writer/editor coaching and training
Computer software proficiencies
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Flash
- Adobe Soundbooth
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Google Analytics
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Access
- Corel Draw
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Excel
- HTML coding/cascading style sheets
- Joomla CMS
Professional Experience
Custom Publications
Shawnee, Kan. USA
Current position. Concept, write, design, illustrate and produce custom technical business-to-business marketing media, predominantly farm- and food-related. Manage freelance contributors and vendors as necessary. See individual project descriptions under Publications and Projects
Vance Publishing
Lincolnshire, Ill. USA
Three years, nine months. Managing Editor: Managed editorial staff and periodic free-lance authors; budgeted and planned editorial content; wrote news, feature, opinion, newsletter and promotional copy; and coordinated production of monthly national vertical trade magazine.
Professional References
Steve Kopperud
Senior Vice President
Policy Directions
818 Connecticut Ave NW l Washington, DC 20006
(202) 776-0071 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cliff Becker
Vice President, Publishing Director
Farm Journal Media
5700 Broadmoor Street l Mission, KS 66202
(913) 553.4124 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Steven Clark, DVM, ACPV
Senior Technical Services Veterinarian
Zoetis/Pfizer
599 Chestnut Creek Rd l West Jefferson, NC 28694
(336) 877-2528 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Publications and Projects
AGCO COMBINES, AGCO Corporation
One-time 16- and 44-page branding brochures announcing introduction of new equipment line for top global manufacturer. (Graphic design and project management by AGCO Corp.)
FOR THE RECORD, Alpharma/Pfizer
Quarterly 4-page newsletter designed to educate readers about the debate over antibiotic use in veterinary medicine. Featured by American Business Media as an outstanding example of successful branding through custom media.
LABLINES, Colorado State University
Bi-annual 12- to 16-page newsletter designed to market the services of the Colorado State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory system to stakeholders.
TRUTH IN FOOD
Web-forward publishing project designed to educate stakeholders about food-chain issues, what goes into your food (and doesn’t) and what goes on to get food to you.
FARMER GOES TO MARKET, Food-Chain Communications
E-mail newsletter publication designed to bring information about food and farming issues to members of key state grocer associations and improve understanding and consumer education. Includes websites and newsletter content.
I MAGAZINE, National Grocers Association
Publication start-up and redesign centered around the annual convention of the largest U.S. association representing independent food retailers. Turn-key editorial, design, production.
THE BRIEFCASE, BI Vetmedica
Quarterly e-mail newsletter for U.S. distributors outlining product-specific sales strategy and industry news.
EQUINE DISEASES BROCHURE SERIES, Fort Dodge Animal Health
Series of 3-panel brochures written at a layman’s level detailing the significant diseases affecting horses in the United States. Designed to be used as customer support for product retailers.
DAIRY HEALTH UPDATE MAGAZINE, Walco International
Quarterly custom magazine for U.S. dairy producers, including editorial, design, production, mailing/fulfillment, custom database to provide reader-conversion alerts to field sales staff.
PRACTICAL HEALTH MAGAZINE SERIES, Farmland Industries
Quarterly custom magazines for U.S. dairy and cow/calf producers, including editorial, design and production. Also included collateral merchandising newsletter for dealers.
PIG IMPROVER NEWSLETTER, PIC North America/Genus
Quarterly technical newsletter for Canadian, Mexican and U.S. swine producers detailing significant new research and production tips. (Note: Non-English translations subcontracted.)
Education (Reverse chronologically)
Continuing education (non degreed), Johnson County community college, Overland Park, Ks
Undergraduate credit in Spanish language and algorithm programming using C/C++ language.
Masters study (no degree), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Colonial U.S., post-WWI U.S., Latin American, philosophy of, and oral history. All requirements for Master of Arts completed except thesis.
Undergraduate credit, Johnson County community college
Including honors work, in U.S., post-Renaissance European, modern World and Western Civilization history.
Bachelor of Science, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN
With honors, Agricultural Communication. Curriculum included journalism, communication, agribusiness, agriculture.
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