Kenneth Ellison

I have proven myself in an evolving industry that demands up to date knowledge on best practices and standards. With OSHA10 and Aerial/Boom Lift Certifications my primary focus is maintaining the highest industry and local standards, while coordinating best practices for implementation with end users on site. I pride myself of learning very quickly, but I am particularly skilled in the following:

• Providing configuration recommendations and assistance in customer deployment.
• Running, testing, troubleshooting structural network cable in residential, commercial, and warehouse environments.
• Maintaining stable operation of multiple clients' computer networks.
• Working closely with customers to identify business costs and benefits of implementing computing solutions.
• Diagnosing system hardware and software problems using advanced root-cause analysis.
• Troubleshooting and maintained networking devices and infrastructure across enterprise.
• Communicating with vendors to resolve network outages and periods of reduced performance.

I've been a photographer for most of my life, but I started using my skills commercially in college about 8 years ago when my graphic design classes required images for a project l submitted. I have shot weddings, events, concerts, and even some product photography. Since then I've acquired many skills related to shooting that have provided more revenue than purely artistic shoot sales, but I always go back to my viewfinder when I feel the need to capture something beautiful.

• Scheduled and booked locations for photo shoots, working collaboratively with clients and contacts.
• Digitally edited photos to enhance appearance.
• Edited, toned, captioned, and uploaded photographs for publication.
• Photographed high-quality images for various print and digital projects.
• Planned and prepared for on-location and studio shoots.
• Offered image proofs to help clients choose best photos from shoot.
• Generated cost-effective solutions for client's photography needs.
• Collaborated with other photographers and videographers to capture special events.
• Managed team of photographers for special projects.
• Shot photographs in controlled lab, field, and remote environments.
• Utilized natural and artificial lighting to capture desired images and maintain quality.
• Assisted clients in selecting poses, wardrobe and backgrounds to photograph different looks, concepts and locations.
• Trained new photographers in use of camera equipment and editing software.

I first worked with Kelly Rental Property Services as a general technician mowing lawns and doing general labor tasks, but as the business grew I learned many heavy duty machinery skills including concrete and wood structure demolition and reconstruction, tree trimming and removal, roof remediation and construction, low voltage electrical installations, and plumbing.

After being employed with the company for 3 years I was promoted to Labor Manager to strengthen the teams ability to delegate and complete more tasks while hiring more people.

I created onboarding materials, training, survey forms and implemented a communication thread for staff to communicate to upper management anonymously for better suggestions on workplace practices.

Productivity increased 3x before I left to pursue school and an IT consulting career path, and I gained the following skills from my experience here:

• Promoted harmonious working climate to boost morale and productivity.
• Developed performance metrics and dashboard interfaces to keep track of internal benchmarking and progress against goals.
• Devised robust training programs to strengthen investigatory skills, legal understanding, and motivational strategies.
• Answered management and employee questions, interpreted contracts and resolved issues.
• Implemented team feedback to recommend corrective action to senior leadership.
• Participated in labor-management meetings to discuss labor issues.
• Mediated discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.

I created my own local radio station in Memphis, TN. Grit901 was developed to bring unknown artists to local airwaves and utilize small business networks and venues to market community driven artists to the spotlight in the city.

I filed for ASCAP, SEASAC, and SoundExchange licenses and purchased all music directly from local vendors or artists themselves leveraging these opportunities to offer promotional packages on my social pages, website, media player, and audio stream.

At one point my fully automated station had 8 sponsors, 5 regular shows, and over 1000 unique listeners, but then the pandemic happened and I wasn't able to keep revenue above expenses forcing me to shut down the service.

I gained many skills through the experience not limited to the following:

• Developed schedules for production, editing, and duplication for timely delivery.
• Planned video shoots in studio and remotely by managing production through stages to completion.
• Presented production ideas and determined creative scenarios for production and delivery.
• Liaised with directors, actors and other creative staff to successfully complete projects.
• Facilitated communication between production staff and other departments to synchronize work.
• Maintained project costs through careful budgeting and monitoring of expenditures.
• Remained composed and highly professional in fast-paced and constantly changing environment, effectively handling challenging situations and difficult individuals to achieve objectives.
• Supervised breaking news coverage and determined priority for stories within each broadcast.
• Reviewed scripts and made changes to improve wording, flow or interest levels, consistently producing highly successful shows.
• Alleviated issues between actors on set to keep projects on track and avoid delays or budget overages.
• Booked guests for on-air interviews and assigned stories to reporters to manage coverage and schedule needs.

I started off interning here as a part time ad hoc on air personality playing local favorites and hosting artists to talk about themselves, but eventually grew into accepting more responsibility for programming blocks, marketing packages/products, sound engineering, and eventually was asked to own the radio station, which I reluctantly declined. I learned about scheduling and social media engagement while working here, and the following experiences give me skills I wouldn't trade for a lifetime:

• Played songs fitting station's format and monitored each song's length to avoid dead air.
• Engaged guests at special events by playing fun, lively songs and encouraging dancing.
• Found, researched, fact-checked and wrote scripts for relevant topics in local news.
• Interviewed special guests and took callers' questions and song requests on air, using exemplary communication and client engagement skills.
• Participated in community events and fundraisers and professionally represented station.
• Ran visual effects to supplement audio equipment output.
• Entertained guests with music matching desired genres and tempo.
• Arranged libraries and playlists of music in advance of live events.
• Installed, operated and maintained audio and video equipment at venues.
• Used controllers and mixers to mix and sample music.

Started this position as a afternoon host, but was soon promoted to morning show host after position opened. After my numbers exceeded expectations, and I was given an impromptu opportunity interview with the Shelby County Mayor, I was moved to mid day to maintain ratings and add to the sales team. I was promoted to Sales Director after 6 months and was offered the Program Director position, but turned it down to pursue commercial radio rather than stay nonprofit at the university.

The following experience shaped my skills:

• Played songs fitting station's format and monitored each song's length to avoid dead air.
• Prepared 8 daily stories to discuss during broadcasts.
• Participated in community events and fundraisers and professionally represented station.
• Found, researched, fact-checked and wrote scripts for relevant topics in local news.
• Interviewed special guests and took callers' questions and song requests on air, using exemplary communication and client engagement skills.
• Adjusted music plans based on crowd preferences and mood.
• Used controllers and mixers to mix and sample music.
• Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Created innovative sales strategies through monitoring and evaluating market trends and competitive offerings.

I was given an outstanding performance award during my time assisting the Provost of the university of Memphis. I was able to meet many departments heads and work closely with the Provost to keep university day to day activities functional. The following skills allowed me to become an outstanding asset.

• Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
• Maintained inventory of office supplies and placed orders.
• Continually sought methods for improving daily operations, communications with clients, recordkeeping, and data entry for increased efficiency.
• Managed paper and electronic filing systems by routing various documents, taking messages and managing incoming and outgoing mail.
• Established administrative work procedures to track staff's daily tasks.
• Organized logistics and materials for each meeting and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders.
• Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
• Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
• Surpassed team goals by partnering with colleagues to implement best practices and protocols.
• Managed filing system, entered data and completed other clerical tasks.

I started at Costco as a cart crew associate, and was promoted to security officer after a year of working for the company.

Costco was an absolutely great experience, but I felt like I didn't have an idea of what I'd want to do there in 10 years and no longer felt challenged by the work, so I left to pursue a career in radio while I was enrolled at University of Memphis. Before I left I gained some knowledge and skills through the following experiences:

• Provided security incident triage and response.
• Assisted with implementing security system for inventory room.
• Handled security issues and emergency situations.
• Programmed security, access control and CCTV systems.
• Oversaw security policy management framework and departmental security policies using policy lifecycle approach.
• Liaised between security staff and other departments to coordinate security operations and resolve issues.
• Followed designated loss prevention, security and safety practices.
• Reported security and service incidents to management.
• Monitored gate areas and addressed security situations with management.
• Monitored door access and security cameras to provide safety and security of facility.
• Investigated security related accidents.

This was my first real job I carried into after High School. Initially employed as a sales associate, my attention to details on floor sets immediately put me on a manager's radar for promotion after a year. I worked as a Lead Stock manager until my departure completing my goal of lifting my Store Manager to District Manager.

Throughout our time there my team trained and lead new training strategies for promoting diversity within corporate standards. My Store Manager and I coordinated with the corporate global Loss Prevention Director and by using out of the box inventory methods that pushed the boundaries of fire code, but held up throughout every inspection, made us the most profitable store in our region.

• Inventoried warehouse stock on monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Maintained neat and organized backroom to easily access merchandise and drive sales.
• Set up displays of merchandise to market new products to customers.
• Labeled, organized and located inventory items in staging areas or on shelves according to quantity, size, or type of material.
• Censor-tagged merchandise to help deter theft and maximize sales of merchandise.
• Coordinated driver dispatch to accomplish daily delivery requirements.
• Created and enforced detailed organization processes to increase quality and service standards.
• Tracked production and quality control systems to proactively identify deficiencies.
• Developed and maintained knowledgeable and productive team of employees.
• Maintained established levels of goods based on sales forecasts and demand to fulfill orders on time.
• Led improvement initiatives to advance operational efficiencies and increase revenue.
• Trained new staff on job duties, company policies, and safety procedures for rapid onboarding.
• Promoted brand at industry events and through ongoing networking efforts.