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Communication Connections of New England is working on a delightful project that has its principal brushing up on her very rusty French while helping a neighbor to the north polish the English version of a dual-language Web site. C’est fun …

Community Service: DFS Western Massachusetts brochure/branding project

Many hands had created many views of a community branch of Dress for Success® International. What was missing was a cohesive brand for the local affiliate and a clear connection with its intended audiences. Dress for Success Western Massachusetts received a redesigned brochure and new branding tagline capturing its mission to help women transitioning to the workforce "Dress The Part; Act The Part; Earn The Encore." A new brochure explains the job-candidate referral process for referring agencies, the services referred candidates receive from DFS, and the many volunteer and donor opportunities making a difference for women in the community; separate materials may be used with specific organizations or kitted for general presentations. With a more personal touch, the new material connects DFS Western Massachusetts and the community members key to its success.

Transportation Services

Rebranded and designed a suite of marketing material, from concept to photography, layout and copywriting. Suggesting this regional affiliate should proudly represent its locale, I photographed one of its fleet vehicles against our trademark autumn foliage. My original photograph provides the cover for the presentation folder and could not have said “Ryder New England” any better. Inside, full-color photographs showcase custom-branded lease trucks, exemplifying the Ryder-customer connection.

Financial Services

More than 12 years experience as a communications consultant and regulatory compliance specialist with a Fortune 100 and smaller financial services firm. Strong background in regulatory compliance, business operations and communications. Proficient author, editor, mentor and consultative liaison for business-processing and compliance communications, successfully connecting financial services products, services, administrative processes and regulatory requirements with sales and marketing initiatives to mitigate risk for the company and its representatives.

Former Communications Chair and President, LOMA Society of Greater Hartford-Springfield, a non-profit created to connect financial services professionals with ongoing development and networking support. This organization received two outstanding society awards (OSAs) for communications and an OSA for community service under my leadership.

Food Services: Restaurant branding and marketing, and gift-basket brochures

Worked with seven restaurants, branding each restaurant in a unique joint marketing campaign, and designing their marketing brochure and restaurant gift certificate. This project led to a referral to a hand-made gift-basket company for which I completed holiday marketing material, including a brochure, advertisement and original gift-basket tags. One of my favorite contributions was tagging the description for a breakfast-themed gift basket with the phrase, “Go ahead, sleep in,” connecting with customers through one of their generation’s oft-quoted movie lines, and providing “sudden impact” for gift recipients awakening from their long winter’s naps.

Gift Manufacturer

Designer and go-to copywriter for catalogs, advertisements, product inserts, store displays, packaging, promotions and advertising. For catalog descriptions of products designed to resemble shotgun shells, I invited coworkers to brainstorm terms associated with guns. All suggestions were incorporated in two consecutive specialty-gift catalogs with variations on the following love-it-or-not copy: "Discharge ordinary marketing campaigns and shoot for something a little more exciting—loaded with visual impact, these cartridge-size kaleidoscopes will fire anyone’s imagination. This is your ammo for explosive marketing appeal."

I also wrote radio scripts for a new store opening, prepared press kits for radio, print and trade show marketing, and wrote press releases announcing new products and a unique historical discovery.

Resumes

My resume writing and editing has helped many associates connect with new job opportunities. Your resume should be professional, portray your role in specific successes and demonstrate the value you contributed to your employers. Don’t skimp on accomplishments; don’t undersell yourself. And remember to correct those typos.