idea guy and ace wordsmith
Writer, editor and strategist, crystallizes ideas, writes headlines that grab readers by the hearts, minds, and ticklish places. A wordsmith who extracts the essence of the message and makes complex technology clear.

Broad 20-year experience as an award-winning copywriter and journalist, ad agency president and creative director, technical writer, software marketing director, radio/TV and Web producer. Directs staff and freelance talent, online content, print copy, direct marketing copy broadcast and Web producer. At home on the PC as in a post-production studio or creative department.

key skills

• Writing that captures essence. Lean, grab-em-by-the-eyes copy aims real benefits at customers' hearts, minds and ticklish places.
• Editing clumsy verbiage into lively, benefit-rich copy people can actually read.
• Translating awkward, jargon-laden passive-voiced techspeak to real English.
• Focusing strategic information from multiple sources into a compelling story.
• Commuincating in Web content, advertising, news releases, data sheets, collateral, white papers, catalogs, newsletters, direct marketing, packaging.
• Managing creative teams and freelance contributors, supervising art directors, selecting and directing talent, field producers and studio engineers.
• Generating visibility through public relations contacts, tactics and materials.
• Computing near-nerd in Word, MS Office, Dreamweaver; Photoshop, HTML creation.

awards

• Pulitzer Prize nomination for "Gay Tucson."
• First place, series writing, Arizona Press Club, "The Shrinking Desert."
• Pulitzer Prize nomination for "The Shrinking Desert."
• First place, short stories, American Pen Women Soul-Making contest, "Malaise."
• Tucson Tops for radio advertising, Artisoft LANtastic network software.
• Tucson Tops awards for print, radio and TV issue advertising, "Safe Transportation."

Career highlights (actual chronological order)

• education
  B.A. Journalism, University of Arizona, Tucson.
  Secondary education graduate study, San Francisco State University, 2003
• General Assignment Reporter, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
  Covered full breadth of daily reporting on politics, police, courts, vital statistics and human interest, civil rights, urban planning, technology horizons.
• President and Creative Director, Gold Images, Tucson
  Advertising agency founder and principal, creative director coordinating freelance artists and technicians; writer, producer, director. Clients in retail, homebuilding, automotive, politics, technology, video, professional practices.
• Marketing Director, Metro Software, Tucson
  Developed marketing/advertising themes, collateral and news releases, supervised execution. Editorial interest increased sales 160% in six months.
• Senior Copywriter, Artisoft, Inc. Tucson
  Lead writer for #1 Hot Growth Company. Wrote benefit-oriented trade advertising, newsletters, radio ads, data sheets and packaging for LANtastic networks.
• Senior Editor, OneChannel.net, Mountain View, CA, 1999-2000
  Marketing commentator writing analysis, trends, profiles and commentary on emerging issues of online retail marketing: search engine optimization, wireless, broadband, and emerging companies.
  
• Marketing & Technical Writing Consultant, Gold Images, 1994-present
  • Media coordinator for nonprofit Print Debate project launched during 2004 election
  • Web content and production for Applied Materials intranet, Sprint, business school, public relations agency, author, National Writers Union.
  • Created user-friendly documentation for Tucson School District in-house software.
  • Documented Regee voter registration and election software for Pima County, Arizona.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration subcontractor, generated marketing tools for minority-owned businesses throughout Arizona.

Advertising portfolio