Tom Radz
Surprise,AZ
Summary
Marketing and Communications Director and former Newspaper Editor, Publicist, and Professor. Keen insight into digital and traditional marketing campaigns, as well as communications and public relations. Creative-type with natural ability to conceptualize and create content.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Marketing and Communications
Pardes School
07.2023 - Current
- Oversee, strategize, and draft all external communications via weekly newsletter, direct emails, press releases, etc
- Strategize and execute all digital marketing efforts and campaigns, including social Media (paid and organic), SEO, PPC, blogs, and all back-end work on a 91-page/5gb website
- Responsible for all content creation
- Graphic design executed through Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, while videography done on Adobe PremierPro
- Capture the culture and mission of the school through taking photos and video of all campus and community events
- Overhauled the guidelines of the school brand
- Sought out opportunities for all traditional marketing efforts including print ads, directory listings, exterior signage, etc.
Communications Specialist
LGE Design Build/Creation
03.2022 - 12.2022
- Responsible for client-facing company messaging for a full-service design build firm and real estate/alternative investment firm
- Copywriter for all collateral, including but not limited to quarterly construction outlook reports, website content, e-mail blasts, press releases, social media, and videos
- Handled SEO for two websites, which included writing a regular blog, keyword optimization, as well as planning and creating infographics
- Conceptualized and executed marketing campaigns, both for social media and through targeted e-mail
- Created and edited video content for social media and e-mail campaigns
- Charged with planning and coordinating all groundbreaking ceremonies
- Took photos of project sites for use on social media and e-mail campaigns
- Budget restrictions due to real estate interest rate hikes eliminated this position.
Marketing Specialist
AZPRO
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Despite the title, oversaw all facets of the marketing department in order to promote the brand for a large graphics company in the southwest valley of Phoenix, through both digital and traditional marketing efforts
- Conceptualizing, creating, and executing all social media and website content
- Responsible for creation of content through photography or videography
- Edit photos and videos via the Adobe suite
- Daily use of Photoshop and Premier
- Media liaison responsible for writing press releases, articles, and coordinating all requests from media outlets
- Handle all internal communication, including the company’s weekly newsletter, internal cascading messaging, and the organization of all company events
- Proficient in both the Adobe and Microsoft suites.
Adjunct English Professor
Joliet Junior College
01.2011 - 01.2018
- Taught three classes of Communications 102 and three classes of English 102 (both classes are Research Writing)
- Responsible for teaching the basics of writing a research paper for the purposes of applying the knowledge to all college subjects
- Incorporated visual and technological aids such as YouTube videos, photography/fine art, popular music, movies, television shows, cartoon strips, Facebook, etc
- For the purposes of formulating research papers
- Taught COM/ENG 101 and one section of Lit 213, a survey on American Literature.
Adjunct Communications Professor
Moraine Valley Community College
01.2009 - 01.2018
- Taught three classes of Communications 102 and three classes of English 102 (both classes are Research Writing)
- Responsible for teaching the basics of writing a research paper for the purposes of applying the knowledge to all college subjects
- Incorporated visual and technological aids such as YouTube videos, photography/fine art, popular music, movies, television shows, cartoon strips, Facebook, etc
- For the purposes of formulating research papers
- Taught COM/ENG 101 and one section of Lit 213, a survey on American Literature.
Director of Marketing for Athletics
Western Illinois University
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Solicited and maintained major sponsorships with local and national businesses for the purpose of generating revenue for athletics programs
- Wrote script for all athletic home events, promotional news releases, as well as all television and radio advertisements
- Handled promotion of all athletic programs and events held on campus through social media, print, radio and television advertising
- Used Photoshop and Adobe InDesign to create various print ads on a weekly basis and worked with WIU-TV to create sport-specific commercials
- Oversaw the operation of all aspects of home athletic events, including security, food vendors, ushers, ticket-takers, PA announcers, marching band, cheerleaders, merchandising, and promotions
- Also oversaw set-up for all of these events
- Oversaw a team of three graduate assistants whose responsibilities ranged from coordinating student spirit groups, cheerleading, pep rallies, etc
- Created graphics for print, television, scoreboard, and message board advertising.
Assistant Editor/Staff Writer
The Macomb Journal
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Copyedited and assigned stories for a team of writers that numbered as many as five
- Served as a staff writer, covering beats such as local and national politics, transportation, agriculture, crime, business, entertainment, lifestyles features and current events
- Served as photographer for all sections
- Wrote an open-ended weekly column
- Responsible for design of a daily newspaper with a circulation of more than 10,000 subscribers
- Also designed weekly Business and Lifestyles sections
- Used Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Quark on a daily basis
- Created graphics for all sections through Photoshop and InDesign.
Education
Undergraduate Coursework -
Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
M.A. - English
Western Illinois Univ.
01.2003
B.A. - English
Western Illinois Univ.
01.2001
Brother Rice High School (Chicago)
01.1996
Skills
- Content Strategy
- Marketing Analytics
- SEO/PPC
- Creative Direction
- Photography/Videography
- Graphic Design/Video Editing
- Strong Writing/Communication Skills
Awards
- In 2006, won a First Place Associated Press Award for “Best Article in a Series” for a three-part feature on sexual abuse.
- Won several Illinois Press Association awards for various articles between 2003-2006.
- Employee of the Month – The Macomb Journal; January, 2005
- Team Member of the Month – AZPRO; January, 2018
References
- Mike Bjella, Marketing Manager, LGE Design Build/Creation, (C) 480.544.0231, mikeb@lgedesignbuild.com
- Scott Wellman, Director of Client Services, AZPRO, (C) 623.826.2912, scott@azprogroup.com
- Gabe Estill, Former Director of Academic Assessment, Moraine Valley Community College, (C) 773.972.1915, jestill@ccc.edu
Timeline
Director of Marketing and Communications
Pardes School
07.2023 - Current
Communications Specialist
LGE Design Build/Creation
03.2022 - 12.2022
Marketing Specialist
AZPRO
01.2018 - 01.2022
Adjunct English Professor
Joliet Junior College
01.2011 - 01.2018
Adjunct Communications Professor
Moraine Valley Community College
01.2009 - 01.2018
Director of Marketing for Athletics
Western Illinois University
01.2006 - 01.2009
Assistant Editor/Staff Writer
The Macomb Journal
01.2003 - 01.2006
Undergraduate Coursework -
Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
M.A. - English
Western Illinois Univ.
B.A. - English
Western Illinois Univ.
Brother Rice High School (Chicago)
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