Director/Manager/Writer/Editor - Corporate Communications

BRAD SMITH
972 745 4316 bsdc0732@westpost.net Coppell, Texas
VALUE OFFERING
Corporate communications director, program manager and writer leading teams to d
evelop key communications strategies, create effective and compelling content, s
upport business priorities, manage multiple editorial calendars and deadlines, w
ork effectively in fast-paced environments, build contacts at all levels, unders
tand audiences' expectations, and measure impact of communications contributions
. Cross functional team leadership for global and small firms and startups in o
utsourcing, high technology, government, cloud computing, semiconductor industri
es.
ACHIEVEMENT PREVIEW
* Researched and wrote text for first public showing of Mrs. Tom Landry's privat
e collection reflecting her late husband's life in professional football. Featur
ed exhibit at the 2010 State Fair of Texas.
* Offer packaged communication assessment and plan solution with readiness check
list and template. Off-the-shelf implementation or consultative delivery.
* Saved $1 million recurring annually by leading the transition from a paper-bas
ed communications system to an electronic global communications portfolio for gl
obal technology firm
* Created award-winning weekly e-mail news summary of top corporate news stories
, with regional updates, for employees worldwide.
* Researched and wrote eight chapters of a book commemorating TI's 75th annivers
ary.
* Wrote bi-weekly and monthly chairman's messages to employees for two CEOs.
* Co-led implementation of a global internal communications toolkit to create a
unified and consistent corporate voice and identity.
* Placed stories on corporate direction and successes with national and trade me
dia.
* Led public relations effort for transportation security related service offeri
ngs post-9/11.
* Wrote electronic success stories and video scripts showcasing innovative ways
customers use technology - it became part of CEO's quarterly broadcasts to emplo
yees.
* Received numerous awards, including two IABC Gold Quills, one regional Silver
Quill, 11 IABC Bronze Quills and a Dallas Press Club Katie Award.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BRAD SMITH COMMUNICATIONS - business writer/editor (2002 - present)
Research and write business, technology and product success stories, communicati
ons plans, video scripts, and thought leadership articles for Texas Instruments.
* Contributed chapters to TI's 75th commemorative history book, which won an IAB
C Silver Quill Award, and text for an online interactive museum, which won an IA
BC Gold Quill Award.
* Wrote op-ed marking the 50th anniversary of the invention of the integrated ci
rcuit. It appeared in major daily newspapers nationwide.
Researched and wrote text for 2010 State Fair of Texas' featured exhibit, "Remem
bering Tom Landry: The Personal Collection." Worked closely with Alicia Landry t
o identify and research artifacts for the showing. Completed work in less than t
hree months; similarly sized exhibits typically require up to 18 months to compl
ete. The exhibit drew more than 200,000 visitors.
Wrote internal news stories, leadership opinion pieces, online video scripts, sp
eeches and other communications collateral for EDS, Verizon and Boy Scouts of Am
erica.
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS, director, manager, editor, writer (2002 - present)
Director of 15-member multi-functional internal communications team, responsible
for feeding daily news stories to intranet, writing weekly news recaps, researc
hing and writing white papers and thought leadership articles and mining success
stories as PR fodder.
* Saved $1 million annually by transitioning to electronic distribution of news.
* Created electronic-based communications portfolio with templated communication
s vehicles tailored by audience and purpose for business units worldwide.
* Launched a successful interactive, global e-mail news summary for EDS, earning
an IABC Gold Quill Award.
* Worldwide reader surveys showed a 90 percent approval rating for online news a
nd other staff-supported communications vehicles.
* Led pilot of desktop video streaming newscast, which drew a 98 percent approva
l rating during 2001 COMDEX tradeshow.
* Team developed success and news stories repurposed in sales proposals, board p
resentations, executive speeches and press releases.
* Led internal communications strategy and implementation for company's transiti
on to a new CEO and organizational model.
As a writer and editor, interpreted complex business, technical and governmental
issues in compelling and easily understood copy. Developed contacts at analyst
firms and technical and professional associations.
FREE-LANCE JOURNALIST, (1987 - 1988) Arlington, Texas
Wrote news and feature stories for The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth-Star Tele
gram, Southwest Art, VistaUSA and Southern Magazine. Wrote Sunday Life Magazine
cover articles on Olympians living in the metroplex, employee suggestion program
s among local employers and playing hockey in the South as a northern transplant
.
CITY OF DALLAS, writer/editor (1985 - 1987) Dallas, Texas
Wrote and edited City of Dallas twice-monthly employee newsletter, wrote speeche
s for mayor and city manager, worked with news media and created a marketing cam
paign to increase enrollment in the Dallas Police Academy.
Arlington Daily News and New Boston Citizens Tribune, reporter (1982-1984)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Journalism, Ohio University, 1982