For the printable PDF version of my one-page resume, click here.
 

B E T S Y  T H A G G A R D
Versatile writer, editor and manager for print and new media

MANAGEMENT & ORGANIZATION

  • Directed new-product development, working with management, programmers and sales to implement new features for emerging e-commerce site.
  • Developed and managed interdepartmental online projects for editorial/e-commerce companies, including Web sites, e-mail newsletters, content procurement and documentation and training.
  • Created communications departments (Web and print) for high-tech start-ups.
  • Managed publications, budget, staff and contract employees for an international membership organization and a publicly held telecommunications company.
  • Oversaw advertising, budget, copywriting, design, retail, promotions and public relations for a Texas marketing campaign and the first Texas Black Rodeo and Folklife Festival.
  • Created and produced comedy revue for The Improv.

    EDITING & WRITING

  • Edited, wrote and managed technical documentation and production for IT, hardware and consumer-software companies.
  • Copy-edited for major daily newspaper, software companies, Web publishers and specialty firms.
  • Developed annual reports, advertising copy, business plans, internal and external news stories and Web sites as a corporate senior staff writer.
  • Wrote articles, reviews and columns for magazines, newspapers and Web sites as a freelance journalist.
  • Published short fiction, plays and screenplays.

    MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

  • Developed marketing strategies and oversaw direction of brochures, Web sites, press kits and other publications for established and growing companies.
  • Consulted with and created corporate identity packages for fledgling businesses.
  • Marketed songs nationwide, produced demos and coordinated publishing for aspiring songwriters and performers.
     

    SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES
    Framemaker, InDesign, Pagemaker, Quark, Photoshop, Acrobat, HTML (hand-code, Dreamweaver), CSS, JavaScript, Web XML, Microsoft (Windows XP) Help and Support Center customization, Vignette (front end), and Word, Excel and the other usual office/productivity programs

    EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS
    Writer and editor - IBM, Austin. 2003-present. Write copy for the ibm. com homepage; write, edit and lay out marketing documents and Web page articles for internal marketing clients; edit and publish technical books written by subject matter experts from around the world. Won a Bravo Award for work with developing a marketing initiative.

    Writer, editor and project manager for marketing, technical, promotional and non-profit companies. 2000-2004.
    Clients included:
     LANWrights: project management of books for Gateway Computers, writing and editing for IT-certification Web sites and America Online
     Legacy Publishing: series of profiles about Austin and Houston businesses
     Motion Computing: user guides and packaging docs for new Windows XP-based Tablet PC
     Knowbility: direct-mail fundraising package (writing and layout) for Internet-accessibility organization

    Content Director and Managing Editor - MaterialNetwork.com, Austin. 2000. Responsible for all online content (industry news, B2B transactions, site re-design, acquisition) for this former industry/e-commerce Web site. Worked closely with CTO, Chief Architect, sales and content coordinators to upgrade site and improve usability.

    Editorial Project Manager - pennNET, INC., Houston and San Mateo, Calif. 1999-2000. Turned ideas into reality for the online division of PennWell Publications, Inc., from concept through production to finished products (examples: managed editorial end of Oil & Gas Journal's content management system conversion to Vignette; created prototypes for series of e-newsletters). Wrote user documentation for projects. Managed or collaborated with editorial, business and technical development, sales and fulfillment.

    Editorial and marketing consultant for print and new media - Austin, Dallas and Becket, Mass. 1997-99.
     - Ad and brochure copy
     - Layout (Quark, Framemaker, Pagemaker)
     - Articles and reviews
     - Newsletters and scripts
     - Copy editing
     - Technical writing, editing and management
     - Editorial project management 
     - Web sites

    Director of Communications - ACTIVE PAPER / ACTIVERSE INC., Austin. 1995-97. Managed publications and Web site for growing software company. Translated tech-talk into user-friendly English, brought documentation and marketing collateral to print, and oversaw smooth transition of MarCom materials during product acquisition.

    Writer and consultant - WRITE NOW, Dallas and Austin. 1991-95. Produced quick, quality, creative copy, articles, newsletters and scripts, and worked as a newspaper and corporate copy editor, Internet content editor, software trainer and desktop publisher for business, journalism, advertising and entertainment. Specialized in making the familiar fascinating.

    Senior Editorial Associate - YOUNG PRESIDENTS' ORGANIZATION, Dallas. 1989-91. Marketed international conferences, seminars and leadership activities to 7,000 CEOs worldwide. Wrote and edited members' magazine, annual reports and collateral materials; provided desktop publishing design; produced daily, on-site newsletters for conferences in Sydney, Buenos Aires, Palo Alto and Acapulco.

    Writer, Dallas. 1983-89. Specialized in writing features on topics from hunger to Elvis for newspapers, magazines and wire services. Reviewed film, theater, books and restaurants; wrote weekly humor column. Published short fiction in hardcover.

    Writer/Editor - U.S. TELEPHONE INC., Dallas. 1982-83. Wrote and edited newsletters, handbooks and brochures during the company's first public stock offering; supervised photography, design and production; managed publications budget.

    Director, Creative Services - BUCHANAN-SHANNON INC., Dallas. 1980-81. Marketed songs nationwide, produced demos and coordinated publishing for aspiring songwriters and performers. For BSI subsidiary ADIOS (a tongue-in-cheek Texas marketing campaign), took the reins on advertising, budget, copywriting, design, retail, promotions and public relations.

    ETCETERA
    People's Choice Award, AIR Austin (we created an accessible Web site for Sara Hickman)
    Marketing coordinator, first Texas Black Invitational Rodeo & Folklife Festival, Dallas
    Executive producer, Brave Combo's "World Dance Music" and "No Sad Faces"
    Finalist, National Ten-Minute Play Contest, Actors Theatre of Louisville
    Creator/co-writer, "Love, Lust and Other Facts of Life" at The Improv
    Semifinalist, Writers' Network National Screenwriting Contest
    First prize, Breakup Girl's Valentine's Day Haiku Contest
    Worked at the very first Blockbuster video store
    Radio announcer (Dallas, San Antonio)
    Gourmet/macrobiotic chef
    TV production assistant
    Photographer
    Volunteer

    EDUCATION
    SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, Dallas
            BFA, Communications (broadcast/film)
            post-graduate MBA courses (marketing, finance)
    STEPHENS COLLEGE, Columbia, Missouri

    References, writing clips and photography portfolio available on request.

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