VisualCV

• Improve readability, value, and quality of all publications by researching, editing, writing, and proof reading visitor guides and business directories for communities and chambers of commerce.

Under incredibly tight deadlines and high-stakes pressure, communicate union news to the teachers of the nation's second largest school district.

• Promote a positive image of the union to the public through ad campaigns and earned media.
• Edit, write, photograph, and coordinate composition, printing and mailing of award-winning monthly newspaper with circulation of 60,000.
• Progressively improve electronic communications starting with the organization's first website. Initiated e-mail newsletter that grew from less than 1,000 subscribers to more than 10,000 in nine months.
• Oversee print shop with three staff members, two presses, pre-press department, and three high-speed copiers that produced millions of printed pieces annually for the union, political campaigns, and several LA non-profits.
• Write scripts and coordinate production of videos, radio ads, and mass phone blasts.
• Administer surveys and interpret results to target areas of needed reform in Los Angeles Unified School District.
• Supervise and motivate communications staff of six full-time employees.

Self-employed as advertising and public relations consultant. Two main clients were International E-Z UP, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of cabana-style shelters that set up in seconds, and United Teachers Los Angeles, a labor union for teachers, counselors, school nurses, and school librarians who work in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Involved since inception of International E-Z Up, Inc., in promoting "The World's Fastest Shelter" by producing magazine ads, dealer kits, package design, media releases, instruction sheets, direct mail programs.

• Designed and produced an innovative "flip book" that intrigued customers with a hand-held  "movie" that uniquely shows the product in action.
• Coordinate photo shoots in studio and on location to ensure consistent E-Z Up look.
• Pitch product and do "face-to-face" market research at Los Angeles County Fair.

• Seamlessly continued communication programs of nation's second largest teachers union local when two communications staff members went on maternity leave, and fulfilled both jobs simultaneously without previous experience in the organization.
• When union faced crisis situation and department manager was out for extended periods on medical leave, met challenging deadlines and fast paced developments to continue flow of critical information to 38,000 union members.
• Demonstrated flexibility by fulfilling broad range of assignments: edit, write and lay-out union newspaper, published twice monthly; heavy media contact, press releases, press conferences; report major news events and take photos; design posters, buttons, banners, brochures; coordinate frequent mass mailings.

• Effectively promote financial products and services to 30,000 credit union members through writing and DTP composition of newsletters, fliers, and brochures.
• Recommend marketing strategies and assist with marketing budget.
• Initiate use of Marketing Customer Information Files (MCIF) system, allowing target marketing of products and services to specific segments of FFCU members.
• Reliably fulfill many and varied assignments, including overseeing mass mailings, developing signage and displays, recording messages for calls on hold, and publishing employee newsletter that helped associates in branch offices feel part of the team.