PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE…all positions in San Diego, CA
MARKETING SPECIALIST :: NAVY REGION SOUTHWEST :: August 2015 to February 2020. Responsible for day-to-day marketing, strategy and project management for Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) programs.
.. Develop traditional and digital marketing campaigns (Facebook, Instagram) for Naval Base San Diego, the largest 2nd largest Surface ship base in the United States and homeport for the Pacific Fleet.
.. Serve as marketing POC for 10 MWR programs, including in San Diego, Ventura County, Monterey, and Fallon, NV.
.. Responsible for coordination, copywriting and editing for five San Diego metro and regional publications.
.. Collaborate with program managers, senior executives, sponsors, graphic artists and vendors.Manage website updates, social media content curation, and video concepting and coordination
MANAGER, SALES & MARKETING :: THE PEARL HOTEL & LWP GROUP :: July 2013 to September 2014. Developed sales/marketing strategies and tactics for The Pearl Hotel, an award-winning, 23-room boutique hotel and restaurant. Lead marketer for additional LWP Group, a real estate company with hospitality, commercial and residential holdings; launched Tacos Perla fast-casual restaurant.
¨ Increased total hotel revenue by 9% year-to-year
¨ Increased ADR by 9% year-to-year
¨ Increased total restaurant revenue by nearly 10% year-to-year
¨ Achieved record, year-to-year, event revenue increases: NYE party (+61%), Valentine’s Day (+42%) and “Mad Men” party (+47%)
¨ Executed all public relations, advertising and event promotion; performed all copywriting
¨ Managed social media, digital marketing, email marketing and reputation management
¨ Concepted and produced six (6) promotional shorts for YouTube channel
¨ Managed team members toward high levels of performance and customer satisfaction
¨ Representative for local CVB programs, industry groups, and community/charitable activities
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER :: MJE Marketing Services :: September 2010 to April 2013. Managed integrated marketing activities and strategic planning for clients representing banking, hospitality, government, education and nonprofit sectors. Clients: Port of San Diego, California Bank & Trust, Bartell Hotels, Manpower San Diego, San Diego Tourism Marketing District and e3 Civic High School.
¨ Developed strategies for B2B and B2C marketing, public relations and community affairs
¨ Developed social media action plans for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, among other platforms
¨ Managed client accounts and delivered proactive and responsive service
¨ Lead copywriter for web content, press materials, and print, digital and broadcast creative
¨ Scriptwriter for television, radio and video; music supervisor for all video projects
¨ Lead writer for RFPs, award submissions and interactive presentations
¨ Managed internal project teams and coordinated outside vendor activities
¨ Honoree, Writer/Editor - 2012 Graphis Silver Award: 100 Best Annual Reports (International) - San Diego Tourism Marketing District
¨ Authored Helix Electric: 25 Years, a 90-page anniversary book for Helix Electric (2012)
MARKETING/PR CONSULTANT :: Self Employed :: May 2007 to August 2010
Provided counsel to corporate and marketing agencies representing the travel, hospitality, real estate, publishing, and financial service industries. Clients: The Pearl Hotel, The Linkery, L.W.P. Group and Card Express.
¨ Collaborated with executives and marketing teams to implement strategic public relations campaigns and social media activities
¨ Performed media placement and was primary media contact for print, broadcast and Internet
¨ Performed copywriting and editing for press releases, websites, email newsletters, articles, adverts, and sales/trade show collateral
¨ Defined cost-saving opportunities and adhered to assigned budget priorities
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST :: CSA Travel Protection :: July 2006 to April 2007. Creative marketer for provider of travel insurance products and services. Responsible for writing original content, conveying brand identity, and developing editorial guidelines.
¨ Lead copywriter for website content, email newsletters, press releases, advertorials, sales kits and trade show collateral
¨ Lead public relations contact responsible for media relations, media training, database management, and media placement and tracking
¨ Wrote and distributed internal communications in support of executive management
¨ Performed professional sales and administrative tasks for the marketing department
FREELANCE JOURNALIST :: Self Employed :: September 2001 to June 2006.
Researched and wrote features about arts/entertainment, travel, lifestyle trends, technology, and business for San Diego Union-Tribune, UTSanDiego.com, San Diego Magazine, Flavorpill.com.
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER :: NextLeft, Inc. :: January 2001 to August 2001.
Researched, wrote, and edited content for major corporate websites and supervised outside content writers, proofreaders and vendors. Worked as part of Web content team to balance editorial and brand objectives for high tech and business clients.
¨ Conceived and developed optimized content features for client websites
¨ Collaborated with information architects, graphic artists and site builders
¨ Maintained high standards of accuracy, production quality and timeliness
¨ Performed additional writing/editing duties in support of business development goals
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER :: MJE Marketing Services :: October 1995 to June 2000. Managed public relations activities for local and national accounts of this small, San Diego marketing agency. Achieved feature-level, national publicity for clients representing technology, financial services, hospitality, entertainment, government, education and real estate industries. Clients: Xerox, Qualcomm, Manpower, Sheraton Hotels, Simon & Schuster
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS / ACTIVITIES
¨ Industry Contributor, San Diego Super Diners - Hospitality and Culinary Professionals Roundtable/Commentators
- San Diego U-T - 2012 to Present
¨ 2012 PRSA San Diego Bernays Awards - Award of Excellence
o Brochure: Think Blue San Diego (Lead Copywriter)
¨ 2012 PRSA San Diego Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards – Award of Merit
o Media Relations, B2B: Manpower San Diego (Account Lead)
o Annual Report 2011: Tourism Powers Cities (Project Lead; Copywriter)
o Multimedia Communications: Plaza de Panama Project Video (Music Supervision)
¨ 2011 PRSA San Diego Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards - Award of Excellence
o Annual Report: Days Into Nights (Project Lead; Copywriter)
¨ 1st Place - Society of Professional Journalists Award (San Diego Chapter) for Best Online Arts/Entertainment Feature (1998).
EDUCATION
¨ THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON D.C.
Bachelor’s in Public Relations • Bachelor’s in Sociology • Concentration: Marketing
¨ SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY. Completed meeting/event planning certificate program
COMPUTER / DESIGN / EMAIL / CRM SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite • PowerPoint • Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign • Wordpress • Basic HTML/CSS • Constant Contact • OPERA • Salesforce knowledge (limited)
MARKETING SPECIALIST :: NAVY REGION SOUTHWEST :: August 2015 to February 2020. Responsible for day-to-day marketing, strategy and project management for Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) programs.
.. Develop traditional and digital marketing campaigns (Facebook, Instagram) for Naval Base San Diego, the largest 2nd largest Surface ship base in the United States and homeport for the Pacific Fleet.
.. Serve as marketing POC for 10 MWR programs, including in San Diego, Ventura County, Monterey, and Fallon, NV.
.. Responsible for coordination, copywriting and editing for five San Diego metro and regional publications.
.. Collaborate with program managers, senior executives, sponsors, graphic artists and vendors.Manage website updates, social media content curation, and video concepting and coordination
MANAGER, SALES & MARKETING :: THE PEARL HOTEL & LWP GROUP :: July 2013 to September 2014. Developed sales/marketing strategies and tactics for The Pearl Hotel, an award-winning, 23-room boutique hotel and restaurant. Lead marketer for additional LWP Group, a real estate company with hospitality, commercial and residential holdings; launched Tacos Perla fast-casual restaurant.
¨ Increased total hotel revenue by 9% year-to-year
¨ Increased ADR by 9% year-to-year
¨ Increased total restaurant revenue by nearly 10% year-to-year
¨ Achieved record, year-to-year, event revenue increases: NYE party (+61%), Valentine’s Day (+42%) and “Mad Men” party (+47%)
¨ Executed all public relations, advertising and event promotion; performed all copywriting
¨ Managed social media, digital marketing, email marketing and reputation management
¨ Concepted and produced six (6) promotional shorts for YouTube channel
¨ Managed team members toward high levels of performance and customer satisfaction
¨ Representative for local CVB programs, industry groups, and community/charitable activities
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER :: MJE Marketing Services :: September 2010 to April 2013. Managed integrated marketing activities and strategic planning for clients representing banking, hospitality, government, education and nonprofit sectors. Clients: Port of San Diego, California Bank & Trust, Bartell Hotels, Manpower San Diego, San Diego Tourism Marketing District and e3 Civic High School.
¨ Developed strategies for B2B and B2C marketing, public relations and community affairs
¨ Developed social media action plans for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, among other platforms
¨ Managed client accounts and delivered proactive and responsive service
¨ Lead copywriter for web content, press materials, and print, digital and broadcast creative
¨ Scriptwriter for television, radio and video; music supervisor for all video projects
¨ Lead writer for RFPs, award submissions and interactive presentations
¨ Managed internal project teams and coordinated outside vendor activities
¨ Honoree, Writer/Editor - 2012 Graphis Silver Award: 100 Best Annual Reports (International) - San Diego Tourism Marketing District
¨ Authored Helix Electric: 25 Years, a 90-page anniversary book for Helix Electric (2012)
MARKETING/PR CONSULTANT :: Self Employed :: May 2007 to August 2010
Provided counsel to corporate and marketing agencies representing the travel, hospitality, real estate, publishing, and financial service industries. Clients: The Pearl Hotel, The Linkery, L.W.P. Group and Card Express.
¨ Collaborated with executives and marketing teams to implement strategic public relations campaigns and social media activities
¨ Performed media placement and was primary media contact for print, broadcast and Internet
¨ Performed copywriting and editing for press releases, websites, email newsletters, articles, adverts, and sales/trade show collateral
¨ Defined cost-saving opportunities and adhered to assigned budget priorities
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST :: CSA Travel Protection :: July 2006 to April 2007. Creative marketer for provider of travel insurance products and services. Responsible for writing original content, conveying brand identity, and developing editorial guidelines.
¨ Lead copywriter for website content, email newsletters, press releases, advertorials, sales kits and trade show collateral
¨ Lead public relations contact responsible for media relations, media training, database management, and media placement and tracking
¨ Wrote and distributed internal communications in support of executive management
¨ Performed professional sales and administrative tasks for the marketing department
FREELANCE JOURNALIST :: Self Employed :: September 2001 to June 2006.
Researched and wrote features about arts/entertainment, travel, lifestyle trends, technology, and business for San Diego Union-Tribune, UTSanDiego.com, San Diego Magazine, Flavorpill.com.
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER :: NextLeft, Inc. :: January 2001 to August 2001.
Researched, wrote, and edited content for major corporate websites and supervised outside content writers, proofreaders and vendors. Worked as part of Web content team to balance editorial and brand objectives for high tech and business clients.
¨ Conceived and developed optimized content features for client websites
¨ Collaborated with information architects, graphic artists and site builders
¨ Maintained high standards of accuracy, production quality and timeliness
¨ Performed additional writing/editing duties in support of business development goals
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER :: MJE Marketing Services :: October 1995 to June 2000. Managed public relations activities for local and national accounts of this small, San Diego marketing agency. Achieved feature-level, national publicity for clients representing technology, financial services, hospitality, entertainment, government, education and real estate industries. Clients: Xerox, Qualcomm, Manpower, Sheraton Hotels, Simon & Schuster
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS / ACTIVITIES
¨ Industry Contributor, San Diego Super Diners - Hospitality and Culinary Professionals Roundtable/Commentators
- San Diego U-T - 2012 to Present
¨ 2012 PRSA San Diego Bernays Awards - Award of Excellence
o Brochure: Think Blue San Diego (Lead Copywriter)
¨ 2012 PRSA San Diego Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards – Award of Merit
o Media Relations, B2B: Manpower San Diego (Account Lead)
o Annual Report 2011: Tourism Powers Cities (Project Lead; Copywriter)
o Multimedia Communications: Plaza de Panama Project Video (Music Supervision)
¨ 2011 PRSA San Diego Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards - Award of Excellence
o Annual Report: Days Into Nights (Project Lead; Copywriter)
¨ 1st Place - Society of Professional Journalists Award (San Diego Chapter) for Best Online Arts/Entertainment Feature (1998).
EDUCATION
¨ THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON D.C.
Bachelor’s in Public Relations • Bachelor’s in Sociology • Concentration: Marketing
¨ SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY. Completed meeting/event planning certificate program
COMPUTER / DESIGN / EMAIL / CRM SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite • PowerPoint • Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign • Wordpress • Basic HTML/CSS • Constant Contact • OPERA • Salesforce knowledge (limited)
