Communications professional with extensive experience in marketing, public relations and digital media development for technology leaders primarily in computer, cleantech and energy-related industries. Special interest and expertise in social media, online/distance training and combining media with technology to creatively and effectively enhance understanding.
Employment
Marketing Communications & Design Consulting
(Self-Employed, primarily an associate of Jennings & Associates Marketing Communications), San Diego, CA 1998-2000, 2002-2005, 2013-Present
Responsible for design, development and launch of multimedia
communications and product training plans primarily for
high-tech clients specializing in power and energy-related
products.
Defined messaging needs and worked with clients to develop
cost-effective PR, multimedia communications and product
training programs.
Developed marketing communications and product training
programs using a variety of media including print, online,
social media, video and other multimedia components.
Researched and wrote numerous technical articles and case
studies about client products and technologies for publication
and internal use, directed at technical, trade, and general
audiences.
Created graphic treatments, design templates, and technical
illustrations for these and other documents including a
paleontology textbook.
Established relationships with numerous editors and analysts
in technology trade press and local media to facilitate
press coverage for clients such as ABB, Emerson, Astec, Ballard
Power, Elgar, Hewlett-Packard, and Anza-Borrego Desert State
Park.
San Diego State
University, San Diego, CA; 2005-2015 Lecturer/Adjunct Instructor
Have taught sections of five different multimedia
courses - on campus and online - covering visual
presentation, web development, social media, digital video, Flash animation,
interactive exhibit design, technology for course delivery,
and related topics.
Prepared and presented live and asynchronous lectures
and lessons using Adobe Connect, Moodle, Wimba, PowerPoint, Web sites,
Listserve, Blackboard, podcasts, wikis, other technologies
and blended approaches.
Monitored
and responded to course listserve postings and student e-mails.
Created
PowerPoint presentations for various course modules.
Developed
content-specific tutorials and job aids.
Performed course web
site and grading database updates.
Assisted
students on campus and online with technical and conceptual
aspects of course assignments.
LevelHead Solutions, Vista, CA; 2013-2015 Marketing & Training
Provide Marketing and Training support for this IT Services/Custom Software development firm.
Manage corporate web site, digital advertising and social media campaigns and analytics.
EcoDog, Inc., San Diego, CA; 2005-2013 VP Marketing
Lead strategic and tactical implementation of communications, promotion, multimedia, and training programs for cleantech start-up developing and marketing advanced home and solar energy monitoring systems.
Created complete literature
kits to familiarize potential customers and investors with
the company’s new technology.
Manage corporate web site, digital advertising and social media campaigns and their respective analytics.
Produce multimedia training, webcasts, and documentary materials.
Metallic
Power; Carlsbad, CA 2000-2002 Marketing Communications Manager
Lead strategic and tactical
implementation of communications, multimedia, and
training programs for technology start-up company.
Created complete literature
kits to familiarize potential customers and investors with
the company’s new technology.
Designed, wrote and implemented
corporate web site for outreach communications and intranet
to facilitate internal communication.
Directed public relations
campaign that generated extensive coverage in national trade,
technical and general press as well as local broadcast media
- even though the company ultimately never launched a product.
Produced (including scripting, staging, directing, shooting
and editing) 11 short documentary and training videos using
in house resources to save more than $100,000 compared to
outsourcing.
Deltec/Exide Electronics (now Eaton Powerware),
San Diego,
CA 1982-1997 (Five positions detailed below) VP Marketing/Corporate
Communications (1994-1997)
Oversaw complete marketing, corporate communications,
and product training operations for electronic manufacturing
company including management of as many as 25 employees
and budgets up to $2.5M.
Developed and implemented annual marketing
plans comprising public relations, press tours, advertising,
product training, collateral, video productions, web content,
trade shows, sales incentives, product management, competitive
analysis, and technical documentation.
Contributed to winning
corporate efforts for Deltec Electronics that increased
worldwide sales from $20M to $130M
Demonstrated notable success in creating
name recognition for both products and company - validated
by numerous industry awards (including PC Magazine Editor’s
Choice Awards), independent market studies and coverage
in trade publications as well as local and national media.
Created
and consulted on comprehensive communications and training
programs for OEM customers such as Compaq, NCR (ATT), Unisys,
HP, IBM and others.
Received 100% positive ratings from my
staff in corporation-wide anonymous employee satisfaction
surveys.
Product Marketing Manager (1987-1991)
and Director
of Marketing (1991-1994)
Managed four- to eight-person marketing and technical
publications departments and budgets up to $1.2M.
Involved in the development and launch of hardware, software
and service products - including participation in product
specification, research, appearance, competitive analysis,
internal communication, training and promotion.
Attained significant cost savings and expedited time-to-market
through intelligent use of existing resources, in-house
talent, integration of computer systems, and implementation
of advanced desktop publishing techniques.
Worked closely with
Engineering Department to define and develop specifications
for products that best met customer needs. Provided engineering,
marketing, and training documentation for development activities
and customer proposals.
Technical Publications Writer/Illustrator (1982-1985)
and Supervisor (1985-1987)
Supervised and
participated in the creation of technical manuals and other
written and graphic support material.
Employed strong
technical skills and in-depth interviews with Engineering
staff to generate all levels of hardware and software documentation
as well as product specifications and technical proposals
for power management product line.
Established corporate style
guide to assure consistent look and feel of product documentation
that had previously been created in a piecemeal fashion.
Supervised
and mentored small entry-level staff to meet documentation
needs of growing corporation.
Implemented corporation’s first use of automated
documentation systems and intradepartmental networking.
Technical Skills
Advanced
Proficient
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Photoshop
Camtasia & Adobe Captivate
iBook Authoring Tools
Adobe Connect, Zoho & Wimba
Online Training & Conferencing
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe In-Design Page Layout
Dreamweaver & WordPress
Blackboard & Moodle Learning Management Systems
iMovie Video Editing
Final Cut Video Editing
Google (& other) Web Analytics
MailChimp eMail Management
HTML5, Flash & GIF Animation
Sound Editing (various programs)
ActionScript and Javascript
Cascading Style Sheets
Basic HTML Programming
FileMaker Pro Database
Microsoft Excel
Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, Other Social Media Tools
Education
San Diego State
University - Master of Arts in Education,
emphasis
in Educational Technology/Multimedia
University
of California at San Diego - Bachelor of Arts, Communications
with concentration in Visual Arts
University of California
at Berkeley - Attended, General Ed
Certificates & Other Training
University
of California at San Diego Extension:
Community College
Instruction Certificate
Coursework in Art, Graphic Design, and Creative Process
San Diego State University - Blackboard LMS Workshop Series
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology - Certificate in Technical Communications
University of Oxford Discovery Programme Arts & Humanities
Lecture Series - Certificate
American Photographer Magazine - Mentor Series Photography
Workshop
National
Association of Photoshop Professionals Seminars - Adobe
Photoshop Training Workshops
AcademicPublications
Connell, S. (2006). Comparing blogs, wikis, and discussion boards
as collaborative learning tools. In Wiki. Hyderabad,
India: ICFAI University Press.
