About

Adventures In Craftsmanship, Foreign Countries, Trail Running

About: I am a communications and creative professional with over 13 years experience in helping businesses to create interesting and effective marketing media and advertising campaigns. I am interested in working with businesses of all sizes and creative, marketing and communications departments to create wonderful things.

Greatest Strengths: Creative concept, writing and organization. I have the seemingly divergent traits of raw creativity, clear communication and and excellent organizational skills.

Work History: I have been employed as a writer and a designer since 1997 when I took a job at a small newspaper in central Montana after finishing my English and French degrees at the University of Montana – Missoula. Since then I have worked as a bike tour guide in France’s Loire Valley and a canoe guide in Minnesota’s BWCAW. Since 2005 I have worked at Hostelling International USA Minnesota Council as a Communications and Programming Director. I have also worked as a freelance designer and writer since 2003.

Skill Set: Perhaps above all I am a friendly, outgoing and über-organized kind of guy. I am the type of guy you would like on your team: confident, capable, responsible, eager both to teach and to learn. I get the job done. Then I go for a long run in the woods.

COMMUNICATIONS + MARKETING

• Copywriting: Advertising, Newsletter, Annual Report, Journal, etc
• Web content writing, Blog writing
• Grant Writing for non-profits
• HTML Email marketing and database management
• Develop overall marketing/fundraising campaigns and strategy
• Social media utilization, marketing, strategy and outreach

DESIGN

• Graphic Design for all manner of print materials and media, logos
• Web design: front end design, theme design
• Book/Magazine/Newsletter design and layout
• Cycling jersey design | T-shirt design

TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING

• WordPress (Blog and web site content management system)
• Google Apps + Google Enterprise for business, schools and non-profits
• Google Analytics | Google AdSense | Google Adwords
• Email Marketing, Listserv admin/utilization
• Better workflow through applications; Technology optimization

CODE

• (X)HTML, CSS; Familiarity with FBML & PHP

SOFTWARE

• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Acrobat
• MS Office; Open Office; Apple iWork
• WordPress CMS platform
• Google Enterprise Apps

PLATFORMS

• Mac + PC

Personal: When I am not working I am spending time outdoors with my family and friends. We garden, bicycle, canoe, fish, camp and explore new places as often as possible. I am curious, and continually desire new input. In 2011 I am learning to tie flies for fly fishing and I am training for a 50 mile trail ultra-marathon. In 2012 I am shooting for a 100 mile ultra-marathon in the Bighorn Mountains of WY.

Travel: I lived, studied, worked and traveled widely in France for over 2 years. While in Europe I also visited the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Spain, England.

I have also traveled throughout Canada and the U.S., Mexico. In 2001 I rode the Continental Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff to Baja – 3000 miles. A few years later I sailed through Central America for 3 months exploring Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. I have been trekking in the mountains of Peru and Chile. I was also lucky to spend about 3 months in Tokyo, Japan. All of my experiences while traveling abroad have made me a better, more understanding and capable person.