William F. Blinn: Résumé

179 Caren Ave., Worthington, OH 43085
Phone: 614.785.9359 • E-mail: william.blinn@blinn.com • LinkedIn

Multi-Talented Marketing Communications Manager

Being trilingual, I am proficient in English, Marketing, and Technology. Every marketing situation presents challenges and problems; my careful analysis leads to solutions, and then constant monitoring of processes and results allows program modifications to meet changing conditions.

Portfolio

Download my portfolio as a PDF document (works best with Acrobat Reader 9 or later) or view the portfolio online (opens in a new window). The PDF document is 14MB.

Professional Experience

The Cobalt Group (PartsVoice division and IntegraLink division)—Columbus, Ohio
Provider of auto dealership websites, parts profit performance services, and dealership data extraction.
Data Analyst, 2007 to present
I was responsible for internal and customer-facing documentation. When a division of General Motors needed dealer-facing communications support, I was assigned to the task. As an analyst, I have obtained, analyzed, and verified vehicle sales data from various dealership management systems.
Marketing Manager, 2003 to 2007
Corporate management tasked me with doubling the number of participants in the PartsVoice Cash Discovery Program. I worked with an outside firm to conduct focus-group research, then designed and implemented multi-part direct mail campaigns and print campaigns that were coordinated with outbound telemarketing.

Management Computer Services/Proficient Computing Solutions—Columbus, Ohio
Regional software development firm for general business applications and the automotive industry.
Marketing/Communications Manager, 1983 to 2003
I provided internal and external communications ranging from advertising and public relations to documentation for clients. With the advent of personal computers, I became the chief proponent of PCs and provided editorial, design, hardware, and software support to clients that were interested in using PC-based typesetting applications. I was also responsible for the highly successful launch of a new application for auto dealership parts departments; the most significant challenge was the service's ground breaking capabilities that weren't immediately obvious to parts managers.

Photo Reflections—Worthington, Ohio
Commercial, portrait, and wedding photography.
Principal/Photographer/Marketing Communications, 1976 to 1985
I established a photo studio in a suburban community and developed advertising materials that allowed the small, independent studio to compete with larger operations. After accepting a position with Management Computer Services, I continued to serve as the operation's photographer for 18 months and then sold the business.

Ohio Department of Economic and Community Development—Columbus, Ohio
State agency responsible for assisting existing businesses and attracting new businesses to the state.
Public Information Officer, 1974 to 1976
Assigned to the Travel and Tourism Bureau, I worked with hundreds of tourist attractions around the state, prepared the quarterly calendar of events, and arranged for printing and distribution of the calendar. Working with the Department of Transportation, I was responsible for staffing and managing tourist information centers in rest areas on Interstate highways. During the annual travel writers conference, I provided photos that were used in the writers' publications.

Various Radio Stations—Columbus, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, & Wheeling
WCOL and WTVN (Columbus), WLYV (Fort Wayne), WIFE (Indianapolis), WOMP (Wheeling), WNCI and WTVN (Columbus)
Disk Jockey, Reporter, Broadcast News Anchor, Assistant News Director, and News Director
1966 to 1974 and 1982 to 2006
Starting in 1968, I accepted an evening news position at Fort Wayne's top-rated station and was quickly elevated to the morning news team and then to assistant news director. In Wheeling, the news/talk station covered both Ohio and West Virginia news. Despite a tiny staff, we produced more hours of broadcast news than any other station in Ohio or West Virginia except for an all-news station in Cleveland. Returning to WTVN, I worked with the station to create a weekly technology report.

Citizens for Humane Action—Columbus, Ohio
Low-kill shelter for homeless animals.
Website Developer, 2001 to 2007 (pro bono)
As a volunteer, I designed, developed, and implemented a website that was used, in conjunction with the shelter's long-established weekly report on a local radio station, to publicize adoptable animals. Within a year, the site routinely recorded 6000 to 9000 individual visitors each week and both adoptions and contributions had increased substantially.

Ventura Summit/Corel World/PowerPoint Live—San Jose, California; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida
Rick Altman's annual conferences focusing on Ventura Publisher, Corel Graphics Suite, and PowerPoint.
Presenter/Conference Photographer, 1995 to 2003
I was responsible for developing and presenting popular programs on writing and editing (Ventura); photography, Javascript, and Perl (Corel World); and website remakes (PowerPoint Live).

Technology Corner/TechByter Worldwide—Columbus, Ohio
High tech in plain English: Initially a radio program on a multi-state station, now it's a worldwide podcast.
Technology Writer, 1986 to present
Starting on WTVN radio, Technology Corner became a website in 1994 and, after leaving WTVN in 2006, became a podcast that has proven to be more popular than the radio program. I now prepare a weekly report that focuses on photography, home computers, and SOHO (small office/home office) applications in both website and audio formats.

Recommendations

"I have known and worked with Bill since 1983. He is a man of integrity and an outstanding communicator who has been key in developing internal and external documentation, letters, e-mails, etc. I highly recommend Bill."
Kevin Distelhorst, General Manager (my employer)
IntegraLink division of ADP, Ohio

"Bill continually looks to expand his knowledge and to find the best possible solutions for both internal processes and for client needs. Bill has excellent communication skills."
Dave Lukens, Production Manager (my manager)
IntegraLink division of ADP, Ohio

"Bill has been a reliable, conscientious, knowledgeable resource for our entire Internet strategy for these past 10 years. He's done a great job as our Web master and marketing master."
Eric Herzog, President
Quest Consulting & Training, California

"Over the dozen or so years that Bill and I participated in my annual conferences, he never failed to provide fresh perspectives. Some people speak on the importance of effective and consistent communication with clients and potential clients, but most of us fail to execute. Bill actually does it. That impresses me to no end."
Rick Altman, Principal
Rick Altman & Associates, California

"I worked with Bill on a relatively complex project. He developed an inexpensive solution utilizing an outside service. Favorable cost, quick turnaround and happy customers were the result. Moreover, Bill met numerous short notice deadlines which included weekend and holiday work."
Ron Bellow, Manager – Decision Analytics
GM Customer Care and Aftersales, Michigan

"For 11 years I have used Bill Blinn for all of my website development. His knowledge is encyclopedic and when something new comes up there is a only short pause while he digests it. Bill brings both the broad view and attention to the minutia to a project."
Jim Vormelker, Owner
Wedding Hearts by Jim, California

"When you put your company's goals in Bill's hands, you'll find a collaborator who communicates superbly."
Nancy Jutkins, Partner
Rockingham Jutkins Marketing, California

"Bill has worked for Pediatric Services for the past 15 years. He is honest, trustworthy, and easy to get along with. Flexible and understanding, he is a pleasure to work with, both from a personal aspect as well as professional quality and conscientiousness of work."
Julie Loe, MA, Executive Director
Pediatric Services, California

"I've known Bill since roughly 1991 and I appreciate his profound understanding of all matters related to computers, software, and their use in communication. Bill is my number-one go-to guy when I have a question I can't solve myself."
Geoff Hart, Editor
Geoff-Hart.com, Quebec

"Since 1987, he has edited and designed some of our books that are used in college logistics courses and has provided useful advice on our monthly newsletter."
Kenneth B. Ackerman, Principal
The K. B. Ackerman Company, Ohio

"Schedules are not your long suit—you're always ahead of whatever timetable we agree upon. Your work ethic is without equal. You make what I write better. You know there is a purpose for marketing, sales promotion, public relations, merchandising, and sales messages, and you know how to write them."
Ray Jutkins, Partner (deceased)
Rockingham Jutkins Marketing, California

"Bill guided me until I was able to visualize what I wanted, and he worked with great care to implement that vision."
Miriam Bloom, PhD, ELS(D)
SciWrite Biomedical Writing & Editing, Utah

Contents and design ©2011 by William F. Blinn