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Summary

Barry Bronson is a freelance writer, screenwriter, speechwriter, PR consultant, and speaker. He retired as Director of Communications for Valvoline, Inc. where he directed communications for the Valvoline, Zerex and Eagle One brands as well as for Valvoline’s PR efforts in motorsports. As Director of Sports Marketing he helped engineer the landmark agreement in 2000 that saw Valvoline become the first consumer products company to own a NASCAR team. He is a noted speaker at sports marketing seminars and directed the launch of Valvoline’s World Wide Web marketing effort in 1995. He appeared as an automotive expert on MSNBC Jay Leno's Garage.

Since leaving Valvoline Bronson has worked on behalf of clients such as Valvoline, Xerox, 3M, Zinga Frozen Yogurt and Victory Management. Before coming to Valvoline Bronson was an award-winning reporter at the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader and editor of Music City News, the country music monthly magazine In Nashville. As creative director for Host Communications (now JMI Sports) he edited sports publications (NCAA Basketball Championship Program) as well as business and travel industry publications (National Tour Assn.). He also was account supervisor for the largest account at Franco Public Relations in Detroit, and deputy press secretary and speechwriter for Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins. Bronson was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for 10 years and served as its treasurer. He also has served as PR Director for the Keeneland Concours d'Elegance benefitting Kentucky Children's Hospital and directed marketing for the Lexington Lions Bluegrass Fair..

Bronson is a graduate of Transylvania University and holds a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is also a graduate of the Skip Barber Racing School.

Work experience

Reporter, columnist, critic

Lexington Herald-Leader

Award winning reporter, columnist and rock critic for metro daily.

Director Creative Services

Host Communications / JMI Sports

JMI Sports (formerly Host Communications) is the premier collegiate marketing, licensing and media company. Responsibilities included publishing and editing (NCAA Final Four program books), speechwriting, PR and public affairs for National Tour Assn., editor of Lexington Business magazine.

Editor

Music City News

Editor of country music monthly based in Nashville. Set editorial direction for premier fan magazine. Oversaw editorial role in magazine's two syndicated TV shows, The Music City News Country Awards and The Music City News Songwriter Awards (produced by Multimedia Productions).

Deputy Press Secretary

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Speechwriter to Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins

Account Supervisor

Franco Public Relations

Supervised largest account (Stroh Brewery) for Michigan's largest PR agency. Motorsports PR (Indy Car, NHRA) Windsurfing PR (Stroh's American Boardsailing Assn.)

Director Sports Marketing

Valvoline Inc.

Directed worldwide racing program for iconic sponsor in NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, World Rally, SCCA. Invited to speak at worldwide Sports Business Conference in London. Leveraged racing assets to complement Brand marketing goals.

Public Relations

Valvoline Inc.

Directed Brand Communications for iconic international consumer brand. Served as Media Spokesperson for Valvoline and Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Directed motorsports PR and media relations for iconic sponsor. Strategic Consulting, including communications strategy, sponsorship, PR.

Education

Mt. Lebanon H.S.

Let's hear it for one of the top academic public high schools in the country -- and give some applause for Pittsburgh.

B.A.

Transylvania University

Transy is the oldest institution (1780) of higher learning west of the Allegheny Mountains. Bronson's Liberal Arts education and experience as social chairman of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity prepared me for the rigors of corporate life. Barry was named a Distinguished Alumni in 2021. The college experience also provided background for my screenplay, "Jazz Farm," about the jazz band at the Federal Narcotic Hospital in Lexington.

M.A.

University of Missouri-Columbia

As a participant in the London Reporting Program Barry Bronsoon worked on Fleet Street writing for U.S. newspapers about the European Community -- under the direction of the foreign correspondent for the Chicago Daily News.

A Bronson Portfolio

Skills

Speaker

Campus07 (April 2007, London, UK) Leveraging Sponsorship in International Sport Bulldog Reporter Teleconference: Building Brands Using PR; CORE Sponsorship Conference (Chicago); The Ownership Option:  International Motorsports Summit (Las Vegas); Managing Your Program: Sponsorships in Auto Racing (Charlotte); Sponsorship Insights: Value-Added Marketing on the Internet (San Francisco); Interactive Marketing & PR Strategies (San Francisco); Maximizing ROI for Internet Marketing (Scottsdale); Customer 1st Conference (Los Angeles); Internet Strategies for Customer Service & Support (Chicago).

Media Relations

Managed media events, press conferences, lab tours, announcements, etc. Indy 500 Daytona 500 PerformanceTech at Valvoline Peterson Museum, Los Angeles New York Automotive Show Automotive Aftermarket Show, Las Vegas, 3M Innovation Center Media Tour

Interactive Marketing

Directed international brand's first website effort and made accountable to brand objectives. Used PR and special event (Indy 500) to launch. Created Facebook pages, website updates (WordPress).

Publicist

Pitched and successfully placed stories in: The Washington Post; MSNBC; CNBC The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Jay Leno's Garage; Car and Driver; Motor Trend; Motorweek (PBS); Advertising Age; Lexington Herald-Leader  

Writer
Accomplished and award-winning writer of features, news, technical articles.
Editor
Editor of national country music magazine, quarterly magazine for Meeting Planners International, newsletter for National Tour Association, University of Kentucky Football & Basketball Programs, NCAA Basetball Tournament including Final Four.

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