SUMMARY: 

Creative, precise, and highly organized technical and business writer/editor with broad expertise in magazine and newspaper journalism, public relations, and marketing communications. Equally adept in staff, consulting, and freelance roles. Recognized for insightful approach to complex topics and issues, effective interviewing skills, presentation of complex technical material for lay and/or peer audiences, production of clean copy, and adherence to deadlines and length requirements.

EXPERIENCE:

AMERIJET INTERNATIONAL, INC., Miami, Florida                                                  January-April 2008

A provider of multi-modal (land, sea, and air) cargo-transportation services.

Consultant, assigned by Computer Express, Intl., Plantation, Florida (a contract staffing firm).

Wrote content for Amerijet’s new interactive Web site, which provides sophisticated account-management and shipment-tracking features.

FREELANCE WRITER AND EDITOR                                                                                   2006-present

Specializing in technical writing, writing about travel and hospitality (especially the timeshare and vacation-ownership industry), and advertising and collateral copywriting.

AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY, Miami, Florida                                                                      2003-2006

The premier worldwide professional/technical society in welding and allied processes.

Senior Manager-Marketing Communications

Wrote, edited, and managed graphic design for a wide variety of brochures, news releases, and other promotional materials.

·        Revised, reorganized, and supervised redesign of catalog that increased global sales of industrial standards and other publications.

·        Wrote programs for trade shows and brochures for educational conferences and seminars that met or exceeded attendance goals.

·        Composed interpretive study guides to industrial codes, enabling readers to prepare for certification exams based on these codes.

·        Revamped and expanded welding careers information packet and promotional Web site, attracting prospective welders to the industry.

·        Compiled media lists and distributed news releases using Vocus database, maximizing efficiency and media exposure.

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION, Miami, Florida                                                                          2002-2003

A manufacturer of audio equipment for custom-installed home-entertainment systems.                             

Technical Writer

Wrote and edited technical documents, advertising and marketing materials, news releases, specification sheets, and Web-page content that enhanced sales and the company’s image.

·        Enabled technicians to install and set up operation of a sophisticated multizone audio-video receiver by writing a book-length instruction manual.

·        Wrote detailed RoboHelp-based text, guiding installers efficiently through a complex amplifier installation.

·        Created and maintained style manual that standardized corporate documents, reducing confusion and enhancing the company’s internal and external communications.

·        Conducted in-house training classes in technical and business writing in which engineers and information-technology staff improved their writing skills.

·        Introduced the company’s newest models and communicated current pricing by editing Quark files that contained text of trade show exhibit panels.

INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL, South Miami, Florida                                                                 1985-2001

A global vacation-exchange and leisure-services company.

Editor (1991-2001) and Managing Editor (1985-1991) of Vacation Industry Review

Director of Communications (1991-1999)

Determined editorial content, wrote and edited, managed freelance writers, and supervised design and production for trade magazine covering timeshare and vacation ownership. Also managed and executed communications and publications projects for company offices, member resorts, consumers, and media around the world; and wrote speeches for corporate executives.

·        Supervised production of foreign-language editions, and managed translation of articles into French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish, increasing company’s global market penetration.

·        Traveled extensively in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and southeast Asia to research, write, and publish articles successfully promoting resort development in those markets.

·        Managed communications aspects of company’s recovery from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, eliciting understanding from member resorts and consumer clients, and attracting material assistance from sympathetic colleagues in the industry.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

·        Editor and co-owner of Ampersand Communications, a newsfeatures syndicate.

·        Independent public relations and marketing-communications consultant.

·        Independent technical writer and editor.

·        Freelance writer and photographer.

·        Director of Public Relations at Mercy Hospital, Miami, Florida.

·        Publications Manager at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida.

·        Adjunct instructor teaching business and writing courses at several Miami-area colleges and universities.

·        Account Executive with Dale O'Brien & Company, Chicago, Illinois.

·        Science and Environment Writer for Chicago Today and its predecessor, Chicago's American.

·        Reporter for City News Bureau of Chicago, a local wire service.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:

·        B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

·        Fellow, Advanced Science Writing Program, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York.

·        Completed American Management Association’s "Supervisory Management Course" on in-service basis at Mercy Hospital, Miami, Florida.

Ampersand Communications 

George Leposky's publications list.

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