My Background

I've been lucky in my career as writer, editor, designer, and proofreader — the situations I've found myself in have given me the chance to learn different skills. That's a great advantage when your projects often require both wide vision and focused insights.

 

What are the possibilities? How can I make it happen? Read on to find out! Or if you're more interested in seeing examples, click here to view my portfolio.

 

Ross Edwards

552 South Elizabeth Street; Lombard, IL 60148

Phone: 630-561-2160 Fax: 630-261-9039

Email: Ross@FreelanceScribe.com

 

Areas of Strength

 

Employee Communications

Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate corporate initiatives through several channels.

 

Media Relations

Experience includes launching corporate sponsorships in conjunction with third parties and securing publication for news about national and local corporate events.

 

Marketing

Proven ability to create customer-centric marketing vehicles that increase customer

retention and acquisitions.

 

Full-Time Professional Experience

 

SERVICEMASTER HOME SERVICE CENTER, Downers Grove, Ill. 2000-2001

Fortune 500 outsourcing company providing its members several residential home services, including lawn care, pest control, cleaning, and other consumer services through the brand names of TruGreen ChemLawn, Terminix, ServiceMaster Clean, and Merry Maids.

 

Copywriter and Editor (2000-2001)

Reported to Direct Marketing Manager and Vice President of Affiliate Marketing with responsibility for e-mail marketing campaign conceptualization, generation, design, fulfillment and analysis. Also had sole responsibility for print marketing production and Web site content management. Key accomplishments include:

• Increased company’s business-to-consumer e-mail newsletter clickthrough rate by 400 percent over a ten-month period.
• Guided e-mail marketing activity through reporting on best practices in copy creation and design.
• Generated new revenue and increased member retention by achieving customer conversion rates as high as 40 percent per e-mail campaign.
• Consolidated marketing creation duties by serving as sole copywriter and designer for company from startup phase through national launch.

TRUE VALUE COMPANY, Chicago, Ill.  1997-2000

One of the country’s largest national co-operatives serving the hardware and home center industries through the True Value, Home & Garden Showplace, Taylor Rental, and other retailer identities.

 

Senior Editor, Corporate Communications (1997-2000)

Reported to Corporate Communications Director with authority over several internal publications as well as corporate news publishing in print and electronic media. Selected accomplishments included:

• Generating new revenue by writing and editing Hardware Business Advisor, a subscription-based educational newsletter with circulation of 8,000 True Value storeowners.
• Improving efficiency of publication process by streamlining and automating production through QuarkXPress.
• Facilitating distribution of corporate publications by writing, editing, and creating templates for publications to accommodate different audiences and media.
• Improving communications between headquarters, employees, and storeowners by organizing and designing news section of corporate extranet.

DOUGLAS PRESS, INC., Bellwood, Ill.  1996-1997

Manufacturer of lottery tickets and collateral materials for the gaming industry.

 

Prepress Quality Assurance Manager (1996-1997)

Reported to Art Director with responsibility for copywriting and proofreading of marketing and advertising collateral pieces.

• Guaranteed aesthetic integrity of lottery tickets by analyzing prepress proofs.
• Avoided potential legal issues by ensuring lottery tickets adhered to various legal codes across the country.
• Reduced print costs by creating process that minimized errors before going to press.
• Ensured grammatical and spelling consistency through creation of in-house style manual.

EDUCATION

BA in English, University of Illinois at Chicago (1995)

BA in History, University of Illinois at Chicago (1995)

 

SPECIAL SKILLS
(in order of proficiency)

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• AP Style Guide
• HTML
• QuarkXPress
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign
• Microsoft PowerPoint

PORTFOLIO

Available here.