Mark Kotzin, Professional Communicator

Objective:

Seeking to relocate for a Communications Manager/Director position. Target areas include Pittsburgh PA, Boca Raton FL, or the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or California.

Summary of Qualifications

Public Relations/Communications Specialist with 20 years experience and increasing responsibilities driving non-profit membership association’s internal and external messaging, advising senior leadership, developing communication strategies and expanding association’s community affairs program. Exceptional verbal/writing skills. Expertise in communication planning, media relations and graphic design. Noted for outstanding creativity, project/event management abilities, team leadership and computing skills.

Professional Experience

Communications Specialist, Central New York Region
Albany, NY, 1989-Present

Strategic Planning/Leadership Advisement

· Functioned as advisor to senior management in developing core messaging and strategies for community outreach, crisis management, reputation management and organizational growth.

· Developed materials utilized statewide to support the use of targeted communications plans for association groups to increase visibility and effectiveness.

· Worked on an executive team to collaboratively develop and launch innovative internal campaign to increase association involvement by members, within 1 year recruiting more than 1,000 individuals committed to supporting association’s goals.

· Developed successful communications campaign strategies to defeat several hostile takeover attempts by rival associations, resulting in the retention of more than 4,000 members, accounting for more than $800,000 in annual revenues.

Public Affairs/Governmental Relations

· Developed marketing collateral to promote regional community affairs program, increasing association involvement in community service projects.

· Managed several large charity fund raising projects, generating more than $10,000 for three area charities, and earning community visibility and positive press coverage for association.

· Worked closely with and advised political staff to coordinate communications strategy for lobbying government officials, and targeting media outreach for political issue campaigns.

· Managed annual volunteer recruitment, logistics, promotions and display creation for association’s booth at the State Fair, with attendance of 1 million visitors. Coordinated association’s participation in various statewide, regional and community charity/visibility events.

Media Relations

· Managed media contacts in 20 counties, regularly obtaining positive coverage of association issues/events and serving as key contact and spokesperson.

· Pitched stories and disseminated information to media on regular basis to promote organization’s goals, including generating hundreds of press releases, setting up media events and press conferences, developing press kits, maintaining relationships with reporters/editors and preparing management for media appearances.

· Worked as liaison with ad agency/production studio personnel to assist in development of local and statewide marketing campaigns including theme/creative development and talent recruitment.

Training

· Prepared and delivered numerous training modules on communications topics for association members and staff, for both regional and statewide audiences.

· Assisted with the field-training of new hires to the organization’s Communications Department.

· Developed the communications component for an innovative political activist training workshop, including producing on-the-spot video and radio news broadcasts and mock TV advertisements.

· Developed and taught regional newsletter training programs, increasing the number of newsletters in the region through an ongoing program of training, assessment and volunteer recruitment.

Writing/Editing/Photography

· Wrote and photographed more than 500 articles for monthly newspaper with statewide circulation of 225,000, often under tight deadlines and utilizing AP style. Dozens of photos earned prestigious ‘cover’ status. Won awards for writing and photography from trade associations.

· Edited, wrote stories and designed semi-annual Safety & Health Newsletter to promote corporate safety achievements within region.

· Served as webmaster/designer for regional internet web site, also developing content for statewide templates. Developed intranet for regional staff and several strategic campaign websites.

· Wrote speeches, talking points, letters to the editor and monthly columns on behalf of senior management.

· Composed, designed and published all regional printed collateral, ad copy and key document templates for statewide organizational use.

Education

State University of New York at Albany, 1989
Bachelor of Arts, Rhetoric and Communication

Proficiencies

Highly computer literate, with proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access and FrontPage. Skilled in use of Adobe Photoshop and desktop publishing software.

Professional Affiliations

Member, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
Treasurer, PRSA, Central New York Chapter
Member, National Association of Photoshop Professionals
Member, International Labor Communications Association

Community Involvement

· Cicero Cub Scout Pack #116 Committee Chair - 2008-2009

· Cub Scout Den Leader, Asst. Den Leader – 2005 – 2007

· Red Cross “Champion For Life” Blood Donor – more than 7 gallons donated

· Board Member, Syracuse Civic Theater, 1996-1998

· Publicity Co-Chair, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Syracuse Planning Committee, 1995-1996

· Publicity Coordinator, CNY Labor Council Solidarity Parade, 1992-93

· Volunteer, Museum of Science and Technology, Syracuse, 1997

References available upon request.